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Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast

Find out why thousands of beginner, intermediate, and advanced athletes are improving their training and racing with accessible, functional and genuine conversation about triathlon. Two coaches, who aren't afraid to laugh at themselves, look for smart and enjoyable solutions in a sport that's often dumb and painful. Mike Tarrolly and Robbie Bruce explore the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual side of training and racing everything from Ironman to a Sprint. on Monday and Thursday.
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Now displaying: 2023
Dec 28, 2023

(This is a re-post of Episode #645 from this time last year)

This is the perfect de-motivational storm and it’s up to us to create “something” that starts some momentum. Do you have 20 minutes today? Tomorrow? This is a great way to stay in the game and prime yourself for next week. We get in bad habits of thinking we need more time to do a workout that “is meaningful” but little movements create big results. Now is the time to stay on the train. Don’t put it off until next week or the next. Don’t talk yourself into postponing the progress train. Action creates understanding.

Topics:

  • 2023 Training Plans for 70.3s and Ironman
  • Christmas Gifts and Gorging 
  • Staying on the Train
  • Off The Grid too far?
  • Taking a Day Off Is a Skill
  • Hibernation and Nature
  • Shorter Days
  • It’s the perfect De-Motivation Storm
  • Positive momentum
  • Staying engaged with the process
  • Internal Battles
  • Negotiating with ourselves
  • The Lazy Devil on your shoulder 
  • The underrated 20 Minutes
  • 20 minutes a day is 130 Hours a year 
  • This helps you feel better
  • Action creates understanding 
  • Quit talking yourself out of progress
  • Experience creates understanding
  • Mountain of Hell (Mountain Bike Race)

Coaching Inquiries:

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Dec 21, 2023

These next few weeks are tricky to navigate, so a good approach might be to focus on simply feeling good. 

It’s easy to overplay our goals way too early when we should be setting ourselves up to train, so we can train, like we need to train.

Exercise is supposed to give you energy and now is a good time to keep that in mind. Motivation is thin, so don’t waste it. There is a lot of pressure on being perfect, so look to the liberation in imperfection. Set yourself up for repeated successes. Train to feel good.

Put yourself in a position to hit the ground running under control when the new year drops. 

Thank you for listening to our podcasts. We really appreciate you and wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

Topics:

  • Fake work 
  • Stock Traders getting lax 
  • No man’s land for training 
  • Wasting motivation?
  • New Years Day on a Monday
  • Choice Days 
  • New car or used car
  • Brand new bike lessons
  • The liberation in imperfection 
  • Self sabotage
  • Unsustainable progress
  • Great is the enemy of good
  • I’m doing this to feel good
  • Attainable goals
  • Setting up for repeated success
  • What’s wrong with feeling good?
  • “I just don’t want to get behind” 
  • Exercise is supposed to give you energy
  • Stop Short
  • It’s “easy access to the downward spiral season”
  • What was old is new

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Dec 19, 2023

The range of emotions we face after a single workout can be staggering. Sometimes it can seem like the end of the world or the best day ever, but today we look at why these feelings shouldn’t dictate the big picture. We talk about deception tough training weather, even when you think you feel great. We talk about mental toughness and micro recoveries throughout the day. We look at reacting slowly when you want to find the truth. We all have stress building in the undercurrents of our lives and it’s important to recognize what’s going on below the surface. We get into tackling challenges and really learning from your mistakes. Also understanding zone 2 pace vs. zone 2 effort. Control expectations and stay in the pocket. Thoughts are fleeting . . . let them go. 

Topics:

  • AKA Divining Rods
  • Micro recoveries
  • Tough training weather
  • Heat vs. Cold
  • How does your body respond?
  • Ideal running conditions
  • The body works hard to heat and cool
  • It’s all about how you use energy
  • Usual Zone 2 pace . . . or effort?
  • Build mental toughness
  • Learning from mistakes
  • Making macro decisions on micro feelings
  • Don’t go pedal to the metal then slam the beaks
  • Crappy attitude . . . why?
  • What’s building your background stress
  • Thoughts are fleeting . . . let them go
  • Know your weaknesses
  • Think through what went wrong
  • Expecting too much 
  • Momento
  • Bad yelp reviews

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Dec 14, 2023

Are you working on the right things for long enough? Today, we look at base, build and peak phases from the perspective of different athletes with different backgrounds and personalities. We talk about building training in a way that keeps you engaged, but also moves you in the right direction over the course of a year. We look at why one of our goals as athletes is to figure out how to become a fan of “boring” in the sense that not much replaces a strong aerobic base in long course. Can we figure out how to love what we hate and do it more? That’s usually a good sign of what needs to be worked on. Also, having the confidence to be creative with training to make it more enjoyable. What about blocks with no recovery weeks? Can you be dedicated to aerobic work? Maybe need less peak training? Tons of questions and observations about how we approach a season and how you can get the most out of your mind and body. 

Topics: 

  • Best and worst Christmas Gifts
  • Water sticks?
  • Practical training for individual athletes
  • Base, Build, Race Specific (Peak)
  • Train so you can train like you need to train
  • Periodization is about progression
  • Peaking on one day
  • 4 years building for the Olympics? Wow 
  • Be a huge fan of “boring”
  • Build - strength
  • Peak - increase intensity
  • Airing grievances 
  • When is the phase going to transition??
  • The problem with planning a full year 
  • Figure out how to love what you hate
  • Getting uncomfortable 
  • Reverse periodization
  • Confidence to be creative
  • No recovery weeks - 10 day weeks?
  • Dedication to aerobic work
  • Hansel and Gretel 

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Dec 12, 2023

Change, both good and bad, can be hard to recognize because real change happens over time. Today, we look at how to appreciate the actions you take, even though they don’t seem like much right now.

How do we know that we’re improving, getting stronger, or moving the right direction? Sometimes it’s about shifting your “satisfaction perspective” and knowing what’s best for you. We get into diet changes, building strength, getting faster, and recognizing things that truly make us happy. We look at being an advocate for yourself and recognizing your trends. We talk about why being “fit” doesn’t always mean someone’s “healthy.” And we talk about the difference between looking and seeing something. The clarity of what’s real and what’s not. 

Topics: 

  • Growing when you have the opportunities
  • Over the road trucker 
  • When tears are shed
  • The Coach/Athlete relationship is personal
  • High burnout rate for coaches AND athletes
  • We all want return on investment
  • It’s hard to recognize slow improvement
  • Being “fit” doesn’t always equal “healthy”
  • Overall health is the goal
  • Creating your best life?
  • What is happiness?
  • Shifting perspective on satisfaction
  • Development is long-term
  • Gradual change isn’t “exciting”
  • Bad diets with good people
  • Empathy - Advocate for your life
  • Don’t absorb what’s going on around you
  • Recognizing growth
  • When you become unrecognizable 
  • Constant decisions
  • Recognizing your own trends
  • When we look but don’t see
  • Slow down and you’ll soak it in
  • Everyone wants to do sooo much
  • Things are never going to be “perfect”

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Dec 5, 2023

Run Camp is always an “awakening” of sorts and today we recall the dark places and ask, how much are we all leaving on the table?

Everyone at our camp last weekend went out of their comfort zone. When we take these actions we usually thrive and come out learning something important about ourselves. We talk about embracing hard things, believing in yourself, and dropping the complainer mindset. We look at the power of doing hard things and surrounding yourself with other people who will help you fuel these challenges. But we also get into the unenviable toughness we gain when we’re alone with our thoughts. Figuring out ways to get something done when it seems nearly impossible. How far can you push yourself when no one is around? Look into approaching workouts from a perspective of the challenge rather than the time. 

Topics:

  • Run Camp Experience
  • Sport that’s overcomplicated
  • The Stage Race
  • 10k Feet & 50+ miles
  • Marketing the easy life
  • The low complaining bar
  • Embracing something hard
  • Excuses 
  • Attitude is contagious
  • Surround yourself with tough people
  • Sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong
  • Chipping away fear
  • The changing moods
  • How much are we leaving on the table?
  • Staying in the moment?
  • Embracing a real challenge
  • Lonely stretches
  • Nutrition - Hydration
  • Working through thoughts and emotions
  • Soothing pain
  • Underachieving
  • Neuromuscular development
  • Comparing hardships and grief 
  • Unspoken understanding
  • The body adapts 

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Nov 27, 2023

Solid questions from our listeners today. We get into how to handle this off season with regard to strength, durability, and what is “triathlon specific” training. We look at cross training, load balance, and how to get better at “going to the well” so you understand it and build confidence. Is it more important to work on your core, or upper, or lower body with supplementary work? Finding the best running shoe for you. And, is swimming and cycling more ultimately the simplest solution to better long course racing?

Topics:

  • The Off Season leaves more time to “think”
  • Struggling with finding good running shoes?
  • Biggest pet peeve in endurance sports
  • Mixing in strength training for off season
  • What’s most important: Core, Upper or Lower body?
  • Run pacing
  • Leaving your race in training
  • Stacking logs for the fire later
  • You can’t run more if it’s not easy
  • Learning by mistakes
  • Don’t be afraid to “go to the well”
  • Training stage fright
  • How much off season “triathlon specific” training
  • What are you most confident about?
  • Do things that make you fitter
  • Wayne Gretzky and cross training 
  • Balance your load 
  • What is triathlon specific??
  • Are you having fun?
  • Volume benchmarks for improvement
  • The return on swimming
  • It’s not really how fast you are 
  • Is more cycling the easiest long course solution?
  • Keeping durability
  • Where do you find fun

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Nov 26, 2023

(This is a re-post of cast 633)

“Opportunity is often missed because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work” – Thomas Edison

Ever fear the regret of not living up to your potential? Today we dig into what work looks like in your training and your life. “Work” often has a negative connotation, but it is the essence of what makes us who we are, both as people and triathletes. Not only that, it is rewarding and can be fun if you have the right passion and purpose. We also look at seizing the moment to find breakthroughs in your training. Our bodies tell us long before they need to do something and it’s up to you to recognize the opportunity. The work and the challenges ARE life. To get better and find more satisfaction, we need to take calculated risks along the way. We also need to develop healthy fears so our Sophomore Slumps don’t last for several years. 

Topics:

  • It’s not about the result, it’s the hard work
  • The benefits of hard work
  • When going rogue is good
  • Taking chances
  • “I just felt like I needed this today”
  • Know thyself
  • Is there Risk? Is there more reward?
  • The body tells you long before 
  • It’s YOUR journey
  • Why do you feel like you need something?
  • Measure you’re own intent
  • Taking risks
  • No one is ever done
  • Opportunity is often missed because it shows up in overalls and looks like work
  • Winner’s work
  • Negative connotations of work
  • Healthy fear 
  • Sophomore Slumps that last for years
  • Appetite to work hard for passion and purpose
  • Community
  • “Why do you do Ironman?”

Coaching Inquires: 

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

www.crushingiron.com

Nov 21, 2023

Today is about digging deep inside as an athlete and a human all with the mission of a happy and healthy life. Many times we know the right things to do, but for some reason we don’t follow that path. We look at 6 topics of Stoicism and how they relate to triathlon. We get into positive thought patterns, humility and discretion, moderation, staying out of the future, being grateful, and avoiding complaining. We tend to look for ways to fix specific problems, but most of the time it comes back to fixing how we think and act first. It’s also hard to recognize progress along a journey of self-improvement, but if we take time for gratitude things seem to be a little easier along the way. Speaking of gratitude, we’re very grateful for you and this podcast. We wish you all a great Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

Here are the 6 topics we discuss:

  • Don’t speak ill of yourself. 
  • Don’t boast about self improvement. 
  • Don’t be a glutton. 
  • Don’t be too focused on the future. 
  • Don’t be ungrateful. 
  • Avoid complaining for a happier life.

Sub-Topics:

  • An Hour A Day
  • Will anything ever be good enough?
  • The greatest week
  • Our favorite Thanksgiving food
  • The integrity of your plate
  • Stoicism - Feeling under control
  • 10% theory
  • Built in Excuses
  • Capture the moment with your eyes
  • Social media is tricky
  • Excessive Greed
  • People who live in the future
  • Future tripping 
  • Is anything wrong right now?
  • Living in the “what ifs” 
  • Choose to be grateful
  • Health is a gift 
  • Don’t bring problems, bring solutions
  • Stay out of extreme emotions

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Nov 16, 2023

Try this . . . strip away the excuses and then figure out why you don’t want to take action. Today, we look at being paralyzed in planning and waiting for the perfect moment. That perfect moment is usually right now. We don’t control the universe and thinking we do is a sure plan for failure or procrastination. We all face challenges and those obstacles never seem to go away. But they are also your guide. Do what works for you. Find a passion for filling your cup. This is an important time of the year for training, but what does that really mean? Today, we look at how to not waste your precious time.

Topics:

  • Turning the clocks back
  • Sleep troubles
  • Micro quitting
  • Look for meaningful opportunities
  • The obstacle is the way
  • Do things that go your way
  • Practice what you preach
  • Stopped in our tracks
  • Be in the moment but don’t get stuck in the moment
  • High expectations vs. reasonable expectations
  • Planning for perfection
  • Finland - the happiest place in the world?
  • Is what you’re doing setting up for success?
  • Body composition
  • Never judge a day by the weather
  • Self sabotage
  • Heading in the right direction
  • Cutting corners
  • Passion for filling the cup
  • Be like a kid
  • Pay attention to what you’re putting on your plate
  • Don’t mess with nature - rest and restore
  • This time is important, but not for crushing it
  • Comparison is the thief of joy
  • Bullet proof plan??
  • Sun is energy
  • Performance pressure
  • When work is always on the periphery 
  • How do we disconnect 
  • Mode: What works for you
  • Paralyzed in planning
  • Perfection is relative 
  • Stripped of excuses
  • The only thing left is action
  • Why wait?
  • We don’t control the universe
  • The time is now
  • Bad lighting in dressing room 

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Nov 14, 2023

Today is about living, training, and racing to your fullest. Robbie’s grandmother passed last week and he shares some of her secrets to life and living. We get into the essence of what matters and how to cut through every day stress. We look at feeling disconnected and the power of friends, family and community. We look at how having a clear purpose is one of the best ways to reduce daily stress. We talk about soaking in the sun and knowing that you’re doing the right things without always having to understand the metrics and science. Living a bubble proof doesn’t lead to true satisfaction.

Topics: 

  • Passion for becoming a more fulfilled person
  • Detaching from day to day stress
  • Micro casts
  • Robbie’s grandmother passes
  • Hospice - special people
  • Feeling disconnected
  • The essence of life and mortality
  • Knowing and feeling at peace
  • Maxing out life
  • Keep moving
  • Connecting with people and community
  • Not wanting to sit still
  • Having a purpose
  • We are what we expose ourselves to
  • Take a leap and don’t look back
  • Removing stress by having a clear purpose
  • Unselfish commitment
  • Cycle of grief
  • Soak in the sun
  • Be proud of your effort
  • Bubble proofing life

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Nov 8, 2023

RE-POST 

We are attending to family concerns this week, so we are re-posting a popular series, Micro Goals, from a couple years ago. These are timed perfectly for your off-season. Here is the first one on Running. We'll be back with new episodes next week! 

How do you REALLY get faster at running in triathlon. Today, we go through all the smart, small, and important steps. As we know, Ironman is usually more about who slows down the least than who is fastest. How do you get there? Where do you start? It’s really pretty simple, but that doesn’t make it easy. Find out the rule of thumb for your long runs and why it’s so important to run in a way that leaves you wanting more.

Micro Goals - Swimming Focus - #519
Micro Goals - Cycling Focus - #520

Topics:

  • The past is the future
  • Running is pure
  • Marginal gains vs. diminishing returns
  • Cutting corners the wrong way
  • 3 times a week??
  • You need to run often
  • Rule of Thumb for your long runs
  • How to beat yourself into the ground
  • Progression - Now is your chance
  • Running is the most demanding
  • Heavy impact - being careful
  • Energized vs. Wiped
  • Where do you start?
  • 20/40/60
  • No need to run over Zone 3 in IM training??
  • Do you have the engine for speed work?
  • Big engines in Miattas
  • How little you slow down
  • 5ks and Ironman Marathons
  • Accumulated Fatigue
  • The biggest recipe for disaster
  • Hill work
  • No such thing as running too easy??
  • Keeping up with the Joneses
  • Burning Fat
  • Building strength

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Nov 2, 2023

Today we focus on three key parts of swimming: Balance, Body Position, and Leverage.

If things are out of whack, it’s a good idea to slow down. Force yourself to move through the stroke in a way that you can master it, then bump up turnover. Swimming is so much about pressure and feel in the water and if your spatula is cutting through rather than creating resistance, things will be out of balance. Are you working against your fitness? Keep the process as simple as possible. Work on one or two things at a time and find that stroke that makes things feel easier… so you can go further and faster.

Topics:

  • Now is the time
  • Balance/Body Position
  • Pressure and Feel
  • Forcing a slow stroke rate
  • Following through with pressure
  • Crossover and balance - mid line
  • Scissor kick
  • Legs following/mimicking arms
  • Moving against yourself
  • Sculling
  • Precise and purposeful
  • Bumping up stroke rate
  • Sweet spot
  • Beyonce or Elaine?
  • Metronome
  • Body positioning
  • High vs. low in the water
  • Head and body
  • Too deep on catch?
  • Relax
  • Kick more?
  • Drills that are valuable
  • Trust the stroke and don’t be distracted
  • Become more still
  • Building fitness over speed
  • Working against your fitness
  • Going east and west to go north
  • Unlock your fitness
  • Leverage - the key to power
  • EVF
  • Shoulder above elbow over wrist
  • Petting the kitty
  • The hot stove
  • High hand
  • Elbow hits the water first
  • Shallow strokes
  • Momentum - leverage- sinking
  • Fix one or two things at a time
  • Swimming elevator pitch
  • Not 25 things at once
  • Feet and legs - last
  • Actions speak louder than words

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

All Episodes from our How To Not Suck At Swimming Series:

1- Episode 12

2 - Episode 20

3 - Episode 125

4 - Episode 126

5 - Episode 236

6 - Episode 365

7 - Episode 484

8 - Episode 537

9 - Episode 657

10- Episode 658

11- Episode 683

12 - Episode 727

13 - Episode 728

Oct 31, 2023

Today we look at how to be faster and stronger in the water. Good news, there’s a lot of great ideas here to make that happen. Bad news, actions speak louder than words. Many of us like the “idea” of getting faster, but will we put in the work. Lucy Charles swam 50k a week to give her a minute or so edge. How much will you swim? We also get into Knowing your flaws so you can work on them. There are so many moving parts in swimming, but often the best solution is just to figure out your weaknesses and adjust. And finally, are you “slicing” through the water or actually doing work with your hand and forearm? We take a deep look at what this really means and how to stop from spinning out in the water.

Topics:

  • The worst Halloween candy
  • Swimming is usually the hardest to master
  • Something has to click
  • The plastic ball drill
  • Actions speak louder than words
  • No swim background?
  • We like the “idea” of getting faster
  • You have to invest the time
  • Are you fit enough for your turnover?
  • Higher intensity/shorter period of time
  • Know your flaws and body type
  • Running analogy to swimming
  • Cycling to swimming
  • Walking to swimming
  • Swimming is about taking things away
  • Fitness vs. Technique adjustments
  • Slicing through the water
  • Just because your arm is in the water . . .
  • Im working hard to go nowhere
  • Spatula analogy
  • It’s about pushing water back
  • Spinning out in the water

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

All Episodes from our How To Not Suck At Swimming Series:

1- Episode 12

2 - Episode 20

3 - Episode 125

4 - Episode 126

5 - Episode 236

6 - Episode 365

7 - Episode 484

8 - Episode 537

9 - Episode 657

10- Episode 658

11- Episode 683

12 - Episode 727

13 - Episode 728

Oct 26, 2023

We know training and racing and life can suck at times, but a large part of that is building the skill of resilience. That doesn’t mean everything should be a constant grind that makes it all miserable, though. Today, we talk about the importance of pushing through and testing the limits, but choosing the right times and learning along the way. This sport is a complex puzzle and learning to build clusters that fit together is the right strategy. We all want to race well, but shifting perspective about our “why” can make everything more rewarding. The best memories are usually when we fought through the biggest challenges. The concept of resilience is different for everyone, but the essence is the same. Facing things that are hard and maybe even scare you is the way. Doing things nobody can take from you. Change the world one person at a time starting with yourself. (We also talk a lot about halloween candy rankings).

Topics:

  • Halloween Candy Swap
  • Laying on a cold beach
  • Unleashing confidence
  • Working on the chin up
  • Resilient sessions
  • We all tend to look for “easier” ways
  • When we had pagers
  • Pain begets pain
  • Soft or content?
  • Unlocking mental toughness
  • Picking spots for testing resilience
  • Do hard things
  • Do you know your true ability?
  • We all want to race well . . . but . . .
  • This is a complex puzzle
  • Find clusters of things that fit together
  • This could be Mike’s mom’s favorite podcast
  • Will we look back at one race or the entire career?
  • What are you learning from racing and training?
  • One hit wonders
  • Resilience is different for everyone
  • Don’t take your health for granted
  • When we lose perspective

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Oct 24, 2023

The off season is where the greatest dreams go to die, so if you really want to fix something or get better, now is your chance. Today, we talk about how a lot of athletes are trying to fix a problem that doesn’t exist, but don’t work on something that’s actually broke. Both Mike and Robbie talk about their struggles in this area and how they are addressing them, because now is the best time. We get into how and why it’s best to uandercommit and over deliver vs. the opposite track that most take. We look at resilience and how it has to be practiced or you won’t have it in a race. We also look at the concept of failing to learn and grow. We also talk about why losing fitness is actually good for you.

Topics:

  • What if there's nothing to freak out about?
  • iTunes review
  • Free up emotional and mental space
  • Don’t change for the sake of it . . . but
  • Now is the time to fix something if it’s broke
  • Square pegs, round holes
  • Robbie’s training struggles
  • When there are no set “off days” for a coach
  • Overcommitting to races
  • Fit the training plan around your life
  • Country strong
  • Losing strength
  • The best thing you can do Right Now
  • Get stronger to feel good
  • Nutrition focus? Does it make you faster?
  • Look at racing as a chess board
  • Losing fitness is good for you
  • Demanding Days off
  • Work things in throughout your day
  • Give yourself more energy
  • Undercommitt/over-deliver
  • Most athletes overcommit and under deliver
  • We learn when we fail
  • We grow when we fail
  • On resilience session per month?
  • You have to find the ability to dig out of tough spots on your own

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Oct 19, 2023

Even when they’re losing, you just get the feeling that certain teams are going to come back and win. It's that winning culture insilled deep in the program. Today, we talk about how to create that winning culture in yourself. It’s not an overnight fix and we’ll look at the power in little things on the way to making yourself a powerhouse. Great teams don’t force things, they don’t sweat the small stuff, and they certainly don’t give up. Lots of good nuggets here about training yourself in a way that let’s the body figure things out on its own. Imagine looking back two months from now and seeing real gains, but not noticing much along the way. Let the body adapt and get out of its way.

Topics:

  • Taking baby steps
  • The power in little things
  • Body Adaptation
  • Shocking the system
  • Making things attainable
  • Overcommitting
  • Introducing good stress
  • When the body craves
  • Let the body take care of things on its own
  • It’s not volume, it’s behavior
  • Not forcing
  • Feeling shame at missing
  • It’s a Hack and I want it now world
  • Holiday stress
  • Lack of confidence or proof to remember?
  • Annoyingly conservative progression
  • Warming up
  • Stop trying to change what works
  • A form of distraction
  • Changes are a form of distraction
  • Cutting everything out
  • Do you trust how you feel?
  • Exact same routes
  • In session re-start
  • Let thoughts and feelings flow through and not stick
  • When everything is win or loss, but a draw is okay

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Oct 17, 2023

Lucy Charles-Barclay goes wire to wire at Kona in a performance for the ages. Today, we look at tons of the little details we saw on Saturday, including pacing, strategy, nutrition, and straight up toughness. We also talk about the broadcast and a lot of the good things Ironman is doing for the sport. We get into the chess match on the course, Lucy trusting her instincts on the swim, and her decision to take control on the bike. There were tons of little stories sprinkled into an amazing race that athletes of all skill and experiences can learn from. What do pros do that can make YOU a better triathlete.

Topics:

  • Our prediction wins and losses
  • C26 is the Madden cover of triathlon
  • Ironman is a tough sport for a mainstream watch
  • Production value discussion
  • Ironman racing is like chess
  • Strategy over drama
  • Understanding swim current
  • Did Lucy make a conscious decision to put the pressure on Knibb?
  • It turned out to be a 140.6 mile time trial
  • Dropping bottles
  • The penalty tent incident
  • Running through pain
  • Haug is a machine on the run
  • Why Taylor Knibb was so impressive
  • Bike position can make the difference
  • Getting through your marathon pain
  • Dan Lorang
  • Using your free time more effectively

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Oct 12, 2023

Today, we start with some of the moves Ironman is making from a product perspective and discuss why they seem to be good calls. We look at the pros and whether or not they should be the marketing angle for the sport. Then we get into this year’s Ironman Women’s World Championship. We define the contenders, talk about how the race may play out, and why there could be chaos on the bike. Will the runners be able to stay close enough to top bikers? Will there be too much separation in the swim? How will the run unfold? On paper, tons of variables make this one of the more intriguing races we’ve ever seen. Plus, Mike and Robbie’s podium picks.

Topics:

  • Ironman New Announcements
  • Is Separate Men and Women’s Racing good?
  • What’s going on between Ironman and KONA?
  • Ironman Pro Series
  • Investing in the Pros
  • The Contenders at KONA
  • Could this race be chaos?
  • Top 3 Out of the water
  • What situation out of the swim could mean game over
  • What’s the gap the runners can give up?
  • Will the bike be a panic?
  • The old guard v. the upstarts
  • Allen and Scott
  • Who leads the bike?
  • Robbie’s Picks
  • Mike’s Picks
  • In Ironman it’s not if, but when, something will go wrong and then, how will you solve it?

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Oct 10, 2023

We can have big dreams, but the way to get there is by taking small, consistent steps. Not too high, not too low. Today is back getting rid of things that suck that energy dry. It’s very hard but how to we make our world less noisy and calm an overactive mind that can pre-dispose us to patters of self-sabotage? Today we get into training habit changes, addiction to pain, and playing the blame game. We all do this shit and there’s nothing wrong with getting it in the open. We need energy to be effective and stay consistent in training. Ego and insecurity cloud judgement. Get out of your own way.

Topics:

  • Perfect Swim Weather
  • What’s the best water temperature?
  • Not too high, not too low
  • Most stacked Kona field ever?
  • A world less noisy
  • Excuses time three
  • Over active mind
  • Can’t think about much in the cold.
  • Keeping energy as we get older
  • Triathlon training can be very simple
  • The wind, the sun, the rain
  • Playing the blame game
  • The quickening of life
  • Coach . . . I wanna qualify for Kona
  • Are you ready for a 2-3 year build?
  • Start with habit changing
  • Goal: Be consistent
  • Habit of stopping short?
  • Addicted to pain
  • Skip all week then go long?
  • Self sabotage patters
  • Just because it’s offered doesn’t mean you need it
  • Blaming your race on nutrition

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Oct 5, 2023

In a world with millions of distractions, it’s up to us to figure out what we really want out of life. Training and racing can be a great compass, but we have to shut off the noise and figure out internal motivation. Being accountable to ourselves is an easy concept, but difficult to master. Today we talk about figuring out structure and finding solutions to the real problems that keep us away from training and doing things we really want to do in life. Chasing perfection often turns into procrastination so we look at anticipating imperfections and keeping our eyes and momentum on the honest journey. Get back to the fundamentals of the sport and your life.

Topics:

  • Accountability to yourself
  • Things are easier than ever, but harder than ever
  • Simple lessons from structure
  • Finding solutions when they don’t seem to be there
  • Changing your life for the good
  • Internal or external motivation?
  • The amount of distraction in this world
  • You pick up your phone, then . . .
  • The most valuable thing in our lives
  • Being aware of what’s really going on
  • The most frustrating time for athletes
  • Low level irritability
  • The “perfection” attitude
  • When perfection equals procrastination
  • Anticipating imperfection
  • Get back to the fundamentals
  • You keep you accountable
  • People who argue

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Oct 4, 2023

Being fresh, fit and energized is VERY underrated. Today we look at a common loop triathletes get themselves in when they are not paying heed to the truth of nature. This is the time of year to build habits that work for you next year, and frankly all the time. There’s nothing more powerful than looking forward to training and today we look at ways to get there. Training for 3 sports all year long isn’t the right formula for everyone. Frankly, it can seem overwhelming and today we look at why focusing on what feels right and good will help build your overall goal, which is fitness. We’ve said it before, but having a well-trained, fit, and energized 70.3 athlete is much better than an overtrained full athlete. If you love this sport and want to be in for the long haul, keep this in mind: Being overtired is overrated. The best track is a slow and steady burn.

Topics:

  • This time of year
  • Nature doesn’t lie
  • Fitness is fitness
  • Stress is stress
  • Wallowing in the past
  • Transcend and include
  • The weight of stress
  • Gaining fitness or gaining tiredness
  • Craving structure
  • Global life stress
  • Coach the person, training the athlete
  • Right now it’s all about enjoying it
  • Single sport focus
  • What gets you the best results?
  • Wanting to be perfect
  • 30 minute runs
  • Hopping on the bike and not knowing
  • Removing the stress of not being good at all 3 sports
  • Year round swim, bike, and run
  • Rounding out the entire athlete
  • Overtired is overrated
  • Poster child for under training
  • Long or sort game?
  • Promote recovery
  • Wire yourself in a way that teaches consistency, recovery and restraint
  • Time for 40 but not 20?
  • Everything matters, but do it slowly
  • Recognizing progress
  • That extra 2 miles can crush you
  • Bing fresh, fit, and energized is very underrated
  • Getting better returns on your race
  • A slow and steady burn

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Sep 30, 2023

Topics:

  • Sweat Tests
  • Millions
  • Alex Harrison - Saturday App
  • Dependent on wearables and tests?
  • Thinking and making your own decisions
  • You can’t be at your best when afraid
  • Body chemistry and health
  • The funniest things we’ve heard/seen on the race course
  • Are LOLs real?
  • Mike talks getting over swim anxiety
  • What’s the best pre-race meal?
  • Getting in the water before your race
  • Favorite inspirational movies
  • Intervention
  • Is your inspiration internal or external?
  • Body adaptation
  • Muncie 70.3 back to July
  • Our thoughts on Run Power

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Sep 27, 2023

 

Today is a grab bag of awesome topics. We look back after 7 years of podcasts to decide if/what we regret saying. We talk about changing coaching philosophy. How long should you recover after an Ironman? What should you do? Not giving into post-ironman temptation. The #1 challenge after your Ironman. When to switch from road bike to TT bike. What is proper finish line etiquette (this one gets interesting). Mass swim starts solve a lot of problems. Moving past a DNF. What podcasts do we listen to in our free time? Who is poised to win KONA

Topics:

  • Fall Hoodie Ritual
  • With over 700 podcasts, what do we look back at and regret?
  • Biggest changes in our philosophies over the years
  • The temptation to change has never been higher
  • Recovery time after an Ironman?
  • 400 mile bike relay
  • Will Mike do the double challenge next year at Wisconsin?
  • You think you’re ready but you’re not
  • The #1 challenge after an Ironman
  • Road bike to TT - when to make the switch?
  • Finish line Etiquette
  • Who really gives a Fk*
  • Mass swim starts
  • Moving past a DNF
  • Bad races as fuel
  • What podcasts to we listen to?
  • Who is poised to win Kona

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

Sep 21, 2023

Today we look at injecting your late season race/training with a little positive mojo. We look at the positives and the tough spots you might face and how to get through them. Seasonal EPO, Late season FOMO as others sit around watching football, and understanding the emotional swings of peak training. We get into excitement vs. fulfillment so you can have a better perspective on your upcoming race. We look at how hard things create breakthroughs when we least expect it. We talk about overly ambitious goals and why they can be a good thing. We also remind you that every single race is HARD. Be ready for the challenge while you’re out there. Choose strong and steady over Epic as you benchmark. And finally we go down memory lane on Louisville. Mike’s humble beginnings. Robbie’s rocky period. And how all of this has come together better than we imagined, or maybe even recognize.

Topics:

  • Even perfect days are messy
  • New York, Chattanooga, Augusta
  • Sundown Swims
  • Louisville is Back
  • Every race is hard
  • Seasonal EPO
  • Late Season FOMO
  • The hardest Ironman you’ll do is the one you’re training for now
  • Healthy level of fear and self doubt
  • 100% jacked
  • The blame game
  • Overly ambitious Goal? - go for it.
  • Greatest time of year for training
  • Isolating sport to the 10th power
  • Emotion and motivation levels
  • Excitement vs. Fulfillment
  • Something new always gets old
  • How to find new in the old?
  • When you’re tired you need more
  • The mood swings of peak training
  • You’re doing it for the right reasons. . . remember that
  • Hard things create breakthroughs
  • Trains and training
  • Slow Burn
  • Reaping rewards from the journey
  • Race day is graduation
  • Body of work - Remember what you went through
  • The leverage of a completion of a race
  • No one’s guaranteed a good race day
  • We’re hardest on ourselves
  • Chasing EPIC
  • How many highs and lows you go through
  • There’s no hiding from race pain

 

Coaching Inquiries

Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com

Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com

www.c26triathlon.com

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