Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast

Are you selling your ability short based on past experience? What if you detached from digital results that can contain you? Today, the stresses under the surface, plus, how to approach your return to the pool. Also, aligning your confidence with your potential the power of chipping away at goals. 

Races are not expiration dates. This is about a never ending journey to be and get better. Today we look at some of the things that wedge their way into consistency with training. Whether it the Devil and Angel on your shoulder, or biting off more than you can chew because you feel good one day. We talk training outlines, recovery, and general perspectives on how you can find a groove and stay in it. 

This title comes from two things: The strategy behind days off and cherishing the ability to do what you do before you can't anymore. How good perspective can minimize stress and increase enjoyability. TONS of cycling talk, including power, cadence and riding against the wind, and how to taper/prepare for two races that might wind up close together. An awesome post from an athlete who described his "when" as his why. How being grateful for what you're able to do can be motivate each day.

Are you being too hard on yourself right now? We start with a look at adjusting your workouts for success. Then get into why FTP tests may be the most overrated thing for long course racing. Can you get away with doing your own bike fit? Bike injuries that affect your run. Unsupported races. The most useless things in triathlon. And how to ride intervals when you're outside. 

Remember that time when you got done with a workout and said, "I suck?" Get out of that place. Today, we look at a never ending positive process. We talk about the challenges of social distancing and isolation for triathletes. Depression and the immune system. How do you respond to challenges and turn them into race and life wins? 

This is the story behind the podcast . . . the community . . . and how Crushing Iron almost didn't happen because of a bad hangover. Mike and Robbie talk about the early days of their athlete/coach relationship all the way through a humble morning in a Nashville coffee shop that laid the groundwork for what would become the Crushing Iron podcast. Alcohol recovery, healthy career changes, and an epic bike ride that changed everything.

You can't make up lost time, so get out the door and find a win. Today, Coach shares what he's talking about with his athletes during this time and gives his perspective on how to find optimism. We look at why races shouldn't matter. What's most important. And dealing with the voice inside trying to talk you out of it. When life throws you a curveball, sit back, wait, and drive it into the gap.

You work so hard, but can't seem to find that speed you want in the water. You’re still sinking, gasping, and not seeing much return from your investments. It's time to use the water and not let use you. Swimming doesn't have to be so hard. Today we break it down in the simplest terms and make the swim stroke easy. We dive into the reach/entry, catch along with early vertical forearm, a solid pull, and powerful finish. Have your mind ready when you get back in the pool!

Today's guest is The Voice of Ironman, Mike Reilly. Like everyone else, he's just waiting and anxious to share more special red carpet moments and say, "You Are and Ironman." Mike has seen it all and shares his patient wisdom about our current situation, along with his optimism for the future. He also talks about the finish line and what it's like to be a part of so many life changing moments. 

Are you quick to pull the "relief plug?" Training for long course triathlon (and living in uncertain times) demands the ability to "stay with the pain" and go through it. Life, and triathlon are saddled with "uncomfortable moments" and the best way to remove the sting is to go through them with control and confidence. As David Goggins said, "Build calluses on the brain." How all this applies to life, training, and racing.

We've all seen the fan get upset with the coach in the first quarter, only to see the team slowly dismantle the opponent over the long haul of the game. It's that mentality, that strategy, that patience that we all have to focus on now. Smart triathletes are managing their body and mind for the long game because no one really knows when racing will start again. What are you doing each day that will pay off when that day comes?

Today we turned things over to athletes from our Facebook group to guide our discussion. They asked us about maintaining base fitness and mental stability. Live Zoom podcasts. Too much core work? Emerging from this as better humans. Virtual racing. Ethical debates of training outside. Time based vs. Distance training. 

How are you talking to yourself these days? Does the body buy in with the mind's strategy? Today, we continue to look at the positive and what's going on in our own backyards. We talk about the accumulated fatigue of life, the future of endurance sports, having a true understanding of Zone 2 (and why it's so important), heart rate comparison between cycling and running, when and how to test heart rate and FTP, and most importantly, are you enjoying yourself? 

Today we open the podcast to Athlete/Listener Questions from our Facebook Group. We hit on how to adjust when your race is canceled, swimming challenges and open water training, and hit on one of Coach's rants about over-dependence on Training Peak graphs and numbers. Meditation. Yoga. Critical thinking.

Often our biggest breakthroughs come at a time when we're about to throw in the towel. Now is a great time to learn about yourself and build experience for later. Today we talk about building little wins that pay off down the road and help you become better athletes and humans. There is opportunity in all situations.