Today, it’s all about how to handle race week. We have over 40 athletes racing at Wisconsin, but this holds for all race week. We talk about what we've learned at our many pre-races and how to be calm, relaxed, and ready… both physically and mentally. We get into the best time to show up, check in, and how to pack for the least amount of stress. We also talk about driving the bike course and the important things to focus on while you’re out there. We look at pre-bagging transition, nutrition prep, and carb loading. Where and when should you eat? How to not get stressed about dining options. We also talk about shrinking your circle on site, recognizing positive energy, reducing negative, and how to avoid the chaos of real life Facebook groups. And we talk about your pre-race swim and how to set the tone for a great race.
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
More awesome questions today, starting with taper discussion and going through back to back threshold sessions. What happens if you have a big setback before a race? What if you’re dealing with nagging injuries or soreness? Are you a strong runner or a fast runner? How should you approach the bike in each case. Is it easier to chase the clock, or fend it off? How do you build confidence as you get closer to your race? Creating smart variation in your training. Is your default to always do more to build your race confidence? How to experiment in training. Listening to your body before your ego. When does it make sense to go rip the bike? Talking treadmill vs. running outside. When, why? How to keep things fresh and fun.
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
Good questions from the group today. We start with understanding how this heat affects us and how we can handle it better in workouts. We look at cooling down on the fly and when it’s not possible. We talk about what we would do if somehow we were running the Ironman brand. We talk about swimming in the ocean and/or with big chop. Strategies for current, waves and other people in the way. We look at negative splitting workouts and talk about it from an effort perspective as well. Settling in on your swims. We also talk about watts and whether or not you should try to increase them at the end of a 70.3 or Full. And, we get into bike fit, position, seat angle, etc. and look at how all of these things affect you on the run.
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
A lot of athletes are closing in on their big race and for many it turns into freak out stage. But we’re here today to remind you to keep checking boxes. Race energy can be calming and energizing if you channel it the right way. Positioning “race day” or other athletes as competition can put you in the wrong mindset from the jump. Think of the day as being with the peloton. Hundreds of other athletes inspiring and supporting you to get to the finish line. Today we look at how to stay focused in your last big block, your taper, and on race morning. It may be a race, but the day is all about pace. Start working through your anxiety now. Practice race moments while you have time. Learn how to go out at your own pace when the rest of the field is trying to distract you. Roll with the punches. Stay in your own box. Use the side of your magnet that attracts good energy instead of repelling it.
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
There’s nothing better than being excited about the day’s training. So, how do we keep that feeling alive all year, or at least, more often? Today we start with a little state of Ironman discussion. Fulls cutback… 70.3’s on the rise… and maybe why. Then we look at the mindset of athletes and how they think of training and racing. Hard things might suck at times, but we can use them as a compass for life. We offer a lot of thoughts on how to take the rigidity out of training and make it more enjoyable. Your plan isn’t written in stone and it’s important to understand your body and how it feels each day. Be open to going longer if you feel it. Be okay with going slower or shorter. There is mystery in the training cycle. Some days we don’t think we have it and we do. Other times . . . Be aware of what’s going on, give yourself some love and flexibility. Find purpose in what you do. And what you’re training for is just one day. Save a little pain and effort for the race.
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
Be the best of who you are, not the worst of who you aren’t. Today, we talk about the importance of marginal gains in training, and life. Why do we do this sport? To get stronger, more resilient, and build the foundation we take on this journey. We talk about shifting our perspective on gains and comparison. There’s a lot of power in marginal gains, and frankly, they are the key to better racing. No more beating yourself up because you’re not “fast.” Fast is relative in endurance sports. It’s about how little you slow down. You can’t go back and fix training, but what you can do is train for a better understanding of your effort and execution. Focus on recovery and being the best you can be today. With love to Somer and her family.
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
Whether you feel behind or confident going into your race, this podcast is for you. Today, we look at the most important things you can do in your final training block to be ready on race day. We look at the demands of the swim and how you can prepare with your last month or so of training. We talk about the importance of the bike, including strength, ability to stay even, and how to stay away from too many surges. We look at stress, lactic build up, going from coasting to engaged, and how to balance your bike effort for 112 miles. We also look at the run and talk about why it’s so dependent on a good bike. And finally, if you’re behind, we talk about the most important parts of getting yourself into the strongest position possible on race day.
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
Today we go through what we learned at our Wisconsin Camp this last weekend. We look at things like the “walking the plank effect” and how to build confidence by just showing up. We get into how we all crave validation, but sometimes it’s hard when training alone. We touch on how social media can ignite lingering anxiety. We talk about illness and how to conquer fears of the unknown. We all need emotional re-charges in this sport and why stepping out of your comfort zone is often the best place to do it. Anxiety is energy, it’s up to us to transform that into confidence and excitement.
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com