Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast

Once again, C26 Triathlon was on the ground for the entire day at Ironman Louisville. Today, we recap the sites and sounds of another truly moving experience. We're always reminded of how grateful we should be to be able to do this sport and Sunday we saw loads of incredible moments. We also talk about the cancelled swim, the volunteers, the modified start, and feedback from the new run course.

What does it take to stay at the top of your game? Today, we look at what professional triathletes do to race at the highest level and translate that to age grouper training. Simulating race environments, forgiving yourself, and reducing stress through the process. We also give KONA predictions for the men and women. 

Most of us are in the transitional period (off season) and today we talk about how to re-locate passion and fun in your life (and the sport). We are all "more" than triathlon, but it can sort of take over the brain. A lot of time it's about taking off blinders and setting boundaries. So many options, how do we settle into what's right for us and nurture our hobby at the same time? 

An underrated challenging swim, a tough but fair bike, and a new run course that offers a little more elevation and three loops. Today, we look at the little things that can make a difference on the course at Ironman Louisville. We also talk about some of our favorite moments since 2012, take a few jabs at triathlon expos, and look at the overall experience that is Ironman Louisville. 

The faces told the story, and the obvious topic from Ironman Chattanooga is the tough conditions–but how did athletes that raced well handle heat better than others? Today, we dig deeper into why expectations can turn into future resentments and why the toughest race you'll ever face is the one you're training for. What we learned from Chattanooga and how tough days like this help us find our "why." 

Mike and Robbie hit the Ironman Chattanooga Expo for a race preview podcast recorded at the Blue Plate. The vibe, the scene, some more race tips for what promises to be a hot day. 

Have you ever thought of post-races as a reverse taper? Sort of a cool down back to your baseline? Today, we look at some struggles Mike has faced since Ironman Wisconsin and how shifting perspective and balancing expectations is the right approach to the next goal. Moving on but taking what you have with you. How do we "re-discover discovery" after a long goal is met? We also take a look at Ironman Chattanooga race strategy towards the end. 

Who wins? An athlete with the most talent or the one who makes the best decisions? In long course racing, we lean toward the latter. The only things you control are effort and execution and when it's hot, those play an amplified role. Today we talk about how to make the right decisions and why you need to calibrate your thought process when race conditions are tougher than normal. 

How do you move Speed and Durability Needles for long distance racing? Planning your calendar in cycles and blocks is one of the trickiest parts of training. Mike talks about some mistakes he made going into Wisconsin and Coach Robbie gives us lots to think about when it comes to improving cardio vs. building your chassis. Plus, the key to "un-loading," why hills are so important, and how to prepare for open water swimming.

A lot of times our first instinct is to blame someone or something, but the truth usually sits within us. Our effort, our consistency, and our timing. Today, we talk a lot about off season and the best ways to make sure you're tinkering from a smart place. We also look at the concept of training backwards and the importance of building a chassis that can support the engine. 

Today we stare down the barrel of brutally honest reflection on the training we’ve done for a particular race. How do we genuinely solve our problems. Were we lulled to sleep by peaking too early? Did you confuse a weakness for a strength? Did you run too far and not enough? Midway through this cast Robbie asks Mike a question that may entirely change the way he trains. 

Mike raced, and Robbie coached over 20 athletes at Ironman Wisconsin. Today, they talk about the experience both from on and off the course. The washing machine of a swim and how that can affect the rest of the race. The ever present onslaught of hills. And the deceivingly tough run course. They also talk about what it was like to experience Madison with a huge throng of C26 athletes and their families. All that, plus thoughts on how you should the Ironman course that’s best for your mind and body. 

Mike and Robbie celebrate #300 podcast by recording in front of a live audience in Madison, Wisconsin. Today, they are joined by 2011 Ironman Wisconsin winner, Jessica Jacobs. Jessica is a former pro and current C26 athlete who is back racing as an amateur after hitting the bottom as a pro. She talks about how she found the Crushing Iron podcast, her run duel with Meredith Kessler at Ironman Wisconsin and how she has found a new peace with racing. 

We feel like the world is watching and our time will define us, but racing success is in the effort and execution. There are a lot of little things we can do before and during a race to ease the load. Putting all these goals, specifically time related may be unfair to yourself and will certainly increase the weight and the burden of what is already a big enough challenge. 

We focus on the Ironman Wisconsin course, but anyone doing an Ironman will benefit from the strategies discussed today. We talk about the unique transition, tactics for the rectangle swim, how to tackle the hills, and what you should be doing on different parts of the run. Robbie has coached over 35 IMWI finishers and this will be Mike's 3rd time doing Wisconsin. Lots of turns, gearing, and opportunity to get caught up in the energy of the amazing spectators.