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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: June, 2025
Jun 26, 2025

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It's easy to blame a bad race on the run, but it goes much deeper. Today, we look at how to train in a way that gives you the best shot at running well in races. We talk about the realities of a race and why you're most likely not giving yourself the best shot to run how you want. We look at training techniques, including the possibilty of running less than you are to be better prepared for race day. It can be a complicated puzzle, but the reality comes down to being ready and able to run.

Topics:

  • Stress and how it impacts your run
  • 35 full days days of triathlon goodwill and therapy
  • It's not how fast you go, but how little you slow down
  • Preloading
  • Rank your training priorities
  • Should you bike or run more?
  • Stop looking at your training runs as the main indicator
  • Why do C26 athletes swim so much?
  • Your biggest return on investment of time
  • Going for runs is the simplest 
  • Don't blame the run
  • Hard to take in calories on the run
  • Would you pick only to swim and bike or swim and run?
  • Think about the feeling of being fresh off the bike
  • Experiments with swim and bike
  • Who says the swim doesn't matter??
  • Depleting buffers 

Mike Tarrolly - mike@c26triathlon.com

Robbie Bruce - robbie@c26triathlon.com

Jun 24, 2025

Today, we go through all the lessons learned at Rockford 70.3 to give you strategy and ammunition for the rest of the summer. We talk about everything from race prep to nutrition to power to HR to pacing to cooling and your mindset. We go over Rockford as a host and talk about things that went right for the first time host. There are a ton of great thoughts about performing to your best in the next hot (and windy) race.

Topics:

  • Rockford as a host
  • Shoutout to Race Directors 
  • Why no race is easy
  • Leveling your expectations
  • Being smart and respectable within aid stations
  • How to handle hills appropriate to the wind
  • How the heat can deceive you
  • The city and the venue
  • Nutrition
  • Riding with the wind vs. against
  • Uphills and downhills
  • When you’re dealing with oppressive conditions
  • Heart Rate over all other factors
  • Wetsuit decisions
  • Should there be a new “wetsuit optional” formula?
  • Accepting slower paces
  • Easing in and systems checks
  • How to start each event and especially the run
  • Heat and pacing
  • Whoever makes the fewest mistakes, wins

 

Mike Tarrolly - mike@c26triathlon.com

Robbie Bruce - robbie@c26triathlon.com

Jun 19, 2025

Today we take a look at the inaugural Rockford 70.3. We get into the course, race strategies, and how to handle what looks to be a hot day. We talk about the city, wetsuit or not, river flow and a pre-race HR test. We also get into how to stay as cool as possible all day with tips for pre-race, T1, the bike, T2 and the run. This will be a game of being smart and patient and we’ll give you thoughts on how to do just that.

Topics:

  • Rockford Downtown - Mike’s old stomping grounds
  • Will this race jumpstart the city?
  • Dealing with the heat
  • Wetsuit or not?
  • Why it’s too late for heat prep
  • Don’t drain your body this week
  • Stay out of the heat
  • River flow
  • Pre-race HR test
  • A lot of first timers
  • Pop a gel at the end of the swim
  • Cold water after the swim
  • Too eager to push a higher zone
  • Once you overheat, there’s no turning back
  • Wind mind games
  • It’s all about being smart and patient
  • Carrying nutrition on the run?
  • Carrying ice
  • Zip lock tricks
  • When you’re dehydrated and full
  • Plain water on board?
  • Body glide
  • Wearing hats
  • Your swim route (based on the map)
  • The finish line vibe

 

 

mike@c26triathlon.com

robbie@c26triathlon.com

Jun 10, 2025

A lot of times we don’t “feel it” and the workout seems daunting. Today we look at why it’s important to use priming to get things going whether you’re racing, training, or tapering. We’ll explain some of the ways to shift your mindset to start the day and get more out of your workouts. We look at some of the key indicators with regard to how to predict your race performance. We look at aerobic threshold and compare trainer rides to outside.

Topics:

  • Just start
  • Priming your workouts
  • Taper weeks
  • Workouts seem daunting?
  • Making decisions when stress is high
  • Missed workouts
  • Prisoner of the moment
  • Rigid triathletes
  • Taking ownership of the work
  • What gets you excited?
  • What drains you?
  • Making priorities
  • Ball park training
  • Being good with ranges
  • The longer you’re in the game . . .
  • Tri Calc addiction
  • Looking at the wrong indicators
  • Integrity of workouts
  • Benchmarks
  • Watt range
  • Total body of work is key
  • 80% for 80%
  • Mental capacity
  • Treating your training like a business
  • Aerobic threshold
  • Trainer vs. Outside
  • Don’t be distracted

 

Mike Tarrolly - mike@c26triathlon.com

Robbie Bruce - robbie@c26triathlon.com

Jun 6, 2025

Some great questions today! We look at run form and economy and how to be a better runner for a longer distance. We talk about what do do when you lose your motivation to train and race. We get into how much you should swim in open water vs. the pool. The differences and how to approach open water. And we talk about trail racing and how to train for races based on their terrain.

Topics:

  • Big 70.3 weekend
  • Run efficiency and technique
  • Economy and form
  • Running hills
  • How to feel like you’re “cruising” on your run
  • Negative split running
  • Unbalance and injuries
  • How to find the spark again
  • Struggling with motivation
  • Playing the long game
  • Do it for yourself
  • Turning inward to find your motivation
  • Pick a fake race date
  • How much open water swimming do you need?
  • How much running is too much
  • Different courses and terrain
  • Cross training for ultras

 

Mike Tarrolly - mike@c26triathlon.com

Robbie Bruce - robbie@c26triathlon.com

Jun 4, 2025

It’s easy to get your emotions twisted during tough blocks or on race week. Today we look at the little things that can frustrate us in triathlon and offer ways to get through them, or let them go, or better yet, embrace them as the journey. You likely picked this sport to be a stronger, more durable, and healthier person, so reframe your struggles as positive steps. Figure out how to get through the tough spots and be better off. We look at the power of being grateful for the opportunity, races as adventures, and why decisions you make in the moment are often the most impactful. Finding a way to get it done can be the biggest win.

Topics:

  • Being Grateful
  • Algorithms
  • Conversational Therapy
  • Race FB Pages
  • Race free
  • Put your head down for a while
  • Phantom pains
  • Races as adventures
  • Race week emotions
  • Don’t let your morning mood dictate
  • How are your framing your race?
  • Don’t think about it
  • The decisions you make in the moment
  • No one has to change for you to win
  • If you’ve ever felt good you can do it again
  • Getting trapped in the metrics
  • Leave the door cracked open
  • Don’t let the warm up fool you
  • Find a way to get it done
  • Just one more when you don’t want to
  • What is your real goal in all of this?

 

Mike Tarrolly - mike@c26triathlon.com

Robbie Bruce - robbie@c26triathlon.com

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