On the heels of our last 2018 Crushing Iron Triathlon Camp, we look at what we learned and how everyone helped Re-Ground the reason we do triathlon. We talk about awareness and how understanding the mind is the key to reducing distraction in our lives. There's also good stuff on how to execute YOUR RACE amongst the distractions and a good section on staying calm in open water.

Re-Framing Isolation In Triathlon
Practicing Awareness
How To Beat In-Race Distractions
Training Alone
Finding and Keeping Energy
Reenforcing Positive Habits
The Law of Practice…
Remembering How Many Good People There Are
It’s Not Always About The Numbers
Let’s Remember Why We Like To Ride Our Bike
Take It Out of Self
Why Do We Panic in the Open Water?
Testing the 10/17 - Zone 2 Run With Outsiders
The Adrenaline and Endorphin Lies
Executing Your Race Amongst Course Distraction

Looking for a fun weekend of training and meeting awesome people? Check out our 2019 Camp Schedule here. 

www.crushingiron.com  

Mike Tarrolly - crushingiron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - c26coach@gmail.com 

The Temptation to Make Drastic Changes
The worst ways to beat low energy
The 3 symptoms of "I’m About To Screw Everything Up"
Overthinking Things as You Lead Into Your Race
Look for Specific, Provable Data
How To Get True Indicators Of What You Can Do
Are you the type of person who trusts the critics?
Too Much Information from people you don’t align with
The Netflix Training Analogy
The More You Change, the Longer it will take you to figure out what works
Don’t Interrupt the Process of Paying Attention
Is this me panicking or is it justified?
Go To Bed and Wake Up Tomorrow

Looking for a fun weekend of training and meeting awesome people? Check out our 2019 Camp Schedule here. 

www.crushingiron.com  

Recovery is a major part of triathlon training, but a "Day Off" isn't always the right method. Today we get into why days off can derail you, along with looking at the next 24 - 48 hours in a different way, including "creating" days off without using one, and using two days to build one solid workout.

• Why Monday’s Are the Worst Day To Take Off
• 24 Hours Doesn’t Have To Be The Same Day
• Beating Negative Thoughts
• "Checking Out" is not The Best Recovery
• Training while you travel
• How Days Off Can Derail You
• Same Day Recovery
• Staying In The Groove after Vacation
• Coach Hints At What’s Next For Him This Season
• One Mile At A Time
• Final Ohio 70.3 Recap

Looking for a fun weekend of training and meeting awesome people? Check out our 2019 Camp Schedule here. 

www.crushingiron.com  

The last 2-3 months of training for an Ironman can bring a lot of doubt and confusion. You're tired, burned out, and the road seems like it may never end. But it will . . . and the key is understanding how to handle your build, see the light in your Taper, and be ready to leave it on the course for ONE DAY. Today we look at understanding the reasoning behind the build phase and how to best approach your taper and race. 

If you enjoy the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us with a direct pledge here. Thanks for listening!

TOPICS FOR TODAY:

How To Stop Overanalyzing
Burned out late in training?
Late Season Training Guilt
Family and Friends Week in Training
Ironman Build Phase is like Summer School
Closing In On Your A-Race
Why People Overdue Big Builds
What a Taper Should Feel Like
The Importance of Keeping Tension in Your Muscles
Long Term Calluses in the Body
Being Ready To Dig Your Biggest Hole on Race Day
Why and When You Need to Push Faster and Harder in Training
Racing vs. Running the Marathon?

Looking for a fun weekend of training and meeting awesome people? Check out our 2019 Camp Schedule here. 

www.crushingiron.com  

Ohio 70.3 Race Reviews

An unbelievable coincidence and awkward moment

Rating Our Hotel Accommodations and Location

The Swim - Tough, Long, or Fair?

Should They Just Let Everyone Race in a Wetsuit? 

The Kayak Calvary 

How was the split transition?

How Was The Rolling Start?

Volunteer Performance

Spectator Recap/Review

Run Course Breakdown/Analysis

Bike Course Aid Station Talk

Spectator Support

How Was The Expo?

The Easiest Solution For Post Race Athlete Meal 

Looking for a fun weekend of training and meeting awesome people? Check out our 2019 Camp Schedule here. 

www.crushingiron.com  

Pre-Race for Ohio 70.3 
Seasonal Doping
Easing Into Runs and Rides
Why Zero To 60 Can Ruin Your Race
Mountain Biking Pros and Cons
Two 70.3's in a month
DTT - Deserved Triathlon Time 
Bad Day Or Bonk?
Life Stresses and How They Affect Training
The Hill Climbing Mindset
Climate Change Racing 

Coach Robbie and Mike, along with 12 or so Crushing Iron coached athletes will be at Ohio 70.3 this year so please say hi if you see them around.

Looking for a fun weekend of training and meeting awesome people? Check out our 2019 Camp Schedule here. 

www.crushingiron.com  

Battling "funks" is a huge part of triathlon training, but do coaches get them too? Today, Coach Robbie opens up about why he can get down on himself after a race weekend and how he digs out. We also get into listener questions involving picking your next race, stepping up to the next distance, and planning for next season, along with explaining the keys for finding the biggest gains in all three disciplines. Mike addresses his failed podium prediction. 

If you enjoy the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us with a direct pledge here. 

Today's Topics: 

Do Coaches Have Funks, Too?
The Never-Ending Quest To Find Better Ways
Pre-Race Plan Thought Process
Why listening and adjusting are the keys to coaching
When Should A Coach Give Tough Love or Encouragement?
Mike Recaps His Podium Prediction Fail
What is the smallest change an athlete could make in each discipline that would result in the largest gain? What little thing is holding you back?
When's the right time to start planning for next season?
What is the perfect race calendar? Does it have to go in order by distance? Where does camp best fit/benefit?
How do you know when the right time to move up to the next race distance? What should you look for?
How do you know when the right time to move up to the next race distance? What should you look for?
Would You Train if You Didn’t Race?
How Mike and Robbie Met
Planning for Ohio

Coach Robbie and Mike, along with 12 or so Crushing Iron coached athletes will be at Ohio 70.3 this year so please say hi if you see them around.

Looking for a fun weekend of training and meeting awesome people? Check out our 2019 Camp Schedule here. 

www.crushingiron.com  

"I had GI issues" might be one of the most commonly uttered phrases in triathlon, but why does it keep popping up? Probably because we don't train enough to our NUTRITION and HYDRATION. We hate to say it, but Nutrition takes practice and there are hundreds of variables, like did you have spicy food and 3 margaritas last night? Today, we give you some better ways to keep your energy and stomach solid on the way to a great race.

If you enjoy the Crushing Iron podcast, you can support us with a direct one time pledge here. 

- From Kuwait to Chattanooga
- Liquid vs solid nutrition on the bike? Benefits of each?
- How do you experiment with nutrition throughout training?
- Is there a good way to calculate liquid needs in training to thread the needle between over/under hydrating?
- How to train for a race that is no where close to the conditions you have to train in? (IE a hilly course when you live someplace with no hill access. Training for heat in a cooler climate)
- Any opinions on the newest IM run training trend that’s sweeping the nation, 10-17?
- Is your heart rate monitor slowing you down? 
- Would you ever consider trying to start your own triathlon event?
- "Should I or shouldn't I do this race?"... what factors do you recommend taking into consideration?

Coach Robbie and Mike, along with 12 or so Crushing Iron coached athletes will be at Ohio 70.3 this year so please say hi if you see them around.

Looking for a fun weekend of training and meeting awesome people? Check out our 2019 Camp Schedule here. 

www.crushingiron.com  

You finish a race, then reflect. What did you learn? Typically it's "I need to do more work," but do your expectations and perspective align with what that work should be? Today we talk about why "traditional" triathlon and Ironman training can throw you out of whack and take away the fun. 

- What Do You Learn From Your Races?
- Are you in the overthinking trap?
- "Traditional" Ironman Training
- Mosh Pit history that transfers to the swim
- Getting Rid of Tunnel Vision
- Balancing family and Training
- You always learn something and you always have more work to do
- What she learned from a bike wreck
- Getting tougher with every race
- The Sport of Triathlon and Growth
- Long Rides Followed By Long Runs???
- Fitting Training into your Life or Your Life into Training?
- This is a Hobby and We Lose Money

Coach Robbie and Mike, along with 12 or so Crushing Iron coached athletes will be at Ohio 70.3 this year so please say hi if you see them around.

Looking for a fun weekend of training and meeting awesome people? Check out our 2019 Camp Schedule here. 

www.crushingiron.com  

If you're racing Ironman 70.3 Ohio, this interview with Race Director, Ken Hammond, is a must listen. From the multiple transition set up to swim changes to insights on wind, water temperature, and nailing the run. He genuinely captivated us with inside information about the high standards and practices Ironman uses to make their races enjoyable, safe, and rewarding for a community. 

- The painstaking lengths IM goes to for a safe bike course
- How a Police Officer helped improve the bike course
- Navigating Multiple Transitions
- What to do with your Tire Pump
- How and Why The Swim Course Has Changed
- Inside The Politics of Host Communities
- What happened to Ironman 70.3 Syracuse?
- Why he thinks Ohio 70.3 has a great future
- How Ironman sets limits on number of participants
- Behind the scenes of planning for unexpected weather
- The sleeper hills on the run course
- Where spectators can get a great view of the finish
- Do Pros help draw triathletes to race?
- How to best enjoy your race experience

Coach Robbie and Mike, along with 12 or so Crushing Iron coached athletes will be at Ohio 70.3 this year so please say hi if you see them around.

Looking for a fun weekend of training and meeting awesome people? Check out our 2019 Camp Schedule here. 

Today on the Crushing Iron Podcast we explore the reasoning behind feeling obligated to do 20 Mile Training Runs and Century Rides. Are they in themselves keys to racing an Ironman or is it just a "peace of mind" strategy. In general, how do you stay consistent and want to wake up each day ready to get better.   

Most Builds for Ironman are . . . too long
Do You Really Need Bricks?
The One Thing That Makes You Run Better Off The Bike
How Far Do You REALLY Need To Run in Ironman Training?
Racing Without A Watch
Announcement of Next Guest on Podcast
Music City Triathlon
Mike's Podium Prediction
There’s Only So Much Volume A Body Can Handle
Stress Scores As They Relate To Training
Mental and Emotional Burnout
Peaking at the Right Time
Practicing at staying the Same Speed
What is it with benchmarks?
Power of Accumulated Fatigue Podcast #78
Check out the Aim Low Blog Post

Looking for a fun weekend of training and meeting awesome people? Check out our 2019 Camp Schedule here. 

Travel, hotel, check-in, Taper, Diet, phantom pains . . . They all dominate our brains before a race. So, how do we reduce that stress and turn anxiety into excited? Turning your thought pattern from fear to confidence is a great place to start. Today, we walk through all the stuff that comes the week or two before races and look at ways to shift your mindset. 

Park and Walk
When and How To Pack for a Race
Sending Positive Signals to Your Body and Brain
Race Logistics
Less is more
Taper Diet
Unrealistic Expectations
Ghost Pains
Antsy vs. Anxious
Compounding Confidence vs. Anxiety
When to Talk and Not Listen
Treating a Race Not a Race

Looking for a fun weekend of training and meeting awesome people? Check out our 2019 Camp Schedule here. 

Triathlon doesn't always have to be hard. In fact, it shouldn't be. And sometimes stopping, relaxing, and taking your time can actually be faster. Today we talk about how to train with full body experience instead of focusing on the pavement for hours on end. Tend to the part of the garden you can reach. 

We Announce the THREE Team Races for 2019
Mike Updates His 10/17 Running
Great Story from our Facebook Group - Say Hi To a Neighbor
What’s Really Important, and What’s not
C26 Meditation Music??
Triathlon isn’t our LIFE
How Willing Are You To Stop and Take a Moment In Training
Why Relaxing Makes You Faster
Return on Investment Training
How Triathlon Can Enhance Everything Else You Do
Quit Staring Down At Your Bike Computer
Finding HEALTHY Pain
The Relaxation Tape Series

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C26 Camp Dates for 2019 Are Announced here: www.crushingiron.com/camps

Do you approach your workouts as a class or the test? If it's the latter, it probably stands to reason that training can seem more like pressure than enjoyment. This is an easy way to beat yourself up instead of finding praise. Today, we talk about a lot including how you can re-define the idea of PR'ing your workouts.

Hydrating More As You Age
Working Out The Hamstrings
Double Run Days
Double Bike Days
Navigating Work and Long Workouts
Do What You Want To Do
Heather Wurtel Story - What’s your definition of success?
Taking Things Too Personally
Setting Goals Is One Thing But . . . How Do You Appreciate Them?
How Today Can Be Your Best Workout of the Year
Redefining PR’ing Every Workout
Two Types of Athletes
Are Your Workouts a Class or a Test?
Do You Beat Yourself Up or Praise?

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The Crushing Iron Triathlon Camp always reminds us how important attitude can be in life. When 20 virtual strangers with common goals meet for the first time it can really turn into magic. Today, how positive people, good energy, and the BELIEF in yourself can help you dive into the fear. 

Surrounding Yourself With Positive People
Solving Open Water Swim Panic
Leaving Your Comfort Zone On Your Own
Rising to a Different Level
Re-Defining Your “hard” or “best effort”
The Power of Change
The Body vs. The Mind
How to Not Walk On The Run
Sometimes it’s Best Not To Think
Running Into Your Fears
Why Overworking Could Be Lack of Confidence
Sleep, Nutrition, and Mobility
Stacking Lasting Gains on Top of Each Other
Wave Start at Muncie - Did we practice a rolling start?

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Remember when you were a kid and played all day long without a second thought to how how tired you were? There's nothing worse than staring at a training week and dreading the tough workouts ahead. There's a lot of power in finding fun in training and racing and today we talk about how to find more enjoyment.  

Traffic Report Rant 
The Crushing Iron Closed Group hits 1000 members
Camp Preview
Treating Training Like A Kid
Can Everyone Do An Ironman?
Is Ironman Really That Hard or is it the Commitment?
Motivation and Commitment
Would You Still Train if You Didn’t Have a Watch?
Get In Touch With Your Body, Not The Numbers
Is More Always Better?
What Parents Can Learn From Training
How Coaching Should Work

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If triathlon is supposed to be fun, why does it hurt so often? Today, we discuss how to manage training like you would manage a race and why preparation is the solution to more enjoyable training and racing. There's a lot to think about in this sport but information is there . . . it comes down to remembering and building habits that don't turn you into a sacrificial lamb of training. 

How To Keep Things From Seeming Out of Control
Keeping Balance Within Each Workout
The Psyche of The Run
The Mentality of Walking on The Run
The Gigantic Difference between Hydrating and Fueling
You’re Not Supposed To Be Trashed After Every Workout and Race
Running Slow To Get Fast
The Different Mindset of Triathlon vs. Running an Open Race
How Do You Slow Down The Least?
The HUGE difference between Staying Cool vs. Getting Cool
Managing the Temps and Conditions of the Day
Should You Walk The First Mile of an Ironman?
Building A Foundation vs. Digging Yourself a Hole
The Triathlon Therapist

Think about what it takes to put together a PR . . . solid training, great mindset, optimal weather, perfect nutrition, incredible effort, and impeccable execution. Is that realistic for every race? Today, we get into a great discussion of how "just enough" in all those areas can come together, and while it may not mean a PR, it COULD mean a great performance. And a great performance should always be the goal.  

The Complications of Chasing PRs
Detaching from Devices
Do you put too much weight on your numbers?
How do you FEEL?
How to build real and lasting appreciation
Are you Being Programmed to a pace or heart rate?
Virtual Triathlons
Link to article - Metric Fixation
What Does Race Day REALLY Represent??
What is your best PERFORMANCE?
Execution vs. Fitness
Are You Really Dialing In Nutrition?
Fueling On The Bike To Satisfy Your Run

Imagine coaching 40 athletes that are racing triathlon on the same weekend. Today, Coach Robbie takes us through a play by play of how he tracks athletes and retains his sanity with all the notifications. The highs, the lows, the stresses, the rewards. He also shares his "secrets" as a coach, which usually boil down to building relationships and trust. 

• Coaching the Week of race preparation
• Race outlines
• An Athlete’s Happiness is #1
• Handling different skill levels and ages
• Most stressful part of a race weekend
• Dealing with sickness and stress
• The journey and the obstacles
• Endless Variables to Consider
• Big race, fun race, set up
• Just finish, podium, or win?
• Expectations or Future Resentments? 
• Or, Expectations as Restraints?
• Why Athletes Never Let a Coach Down

The reason WHY we do Triathlon is always a good question to explore. Some people have changed their lives dramatically, while others simply find it fun. We posed the question to our closed Facebook Group and got a ton of good response on how to find and keep your WHY. Plus, Mike and Coach Robbie unveil moments in training that changed everything. 

- David Goggins and Doing Something that Sucks Every Day
- Mike's Turning Point
- Dozens of good reasons to get in and stay in this sport
- Eagleman Course Strategy Breakdown at end of Cast
- Andrew Starykowicz's Camp

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David Goggins on Instagram 

Information on Andrew Starykowicz Camp

What if, instead of thinking of races as A, B, C, etc., you thought of them all with equal importance as it relates to the big picture? Sort of like a final exam with quizzes and midterms. Today we discuss why "little" races matter and how to get your mind right to take advantage of what they offer. 

- Getting Your Mind in The Game
- Training Our Brain To Go Fast or Slow
- Why Tapering Doesn’t Mean Shutting It Down
- Making Sure You Peak at the Right Time
- The Best Way to Use Countdown Clocks
- The Final Exam Analogy
- When and How To Work on Speed
- Missing Links In Training
- Who Slows Down The Least?
- Strength and Flexibility
- Adjusting Your Attitude Race Morning
- Moderate Lifestyle Meets Intensity

The Power of Spontaneity if Racing

Celebrating A Race vs. Stressing 

The “Device Funk”

How Obsessing With Data Kills Races

I Feel Like I Didn’t Really “Race"

How To Navigate “I Had To Play It Safe" 

What’s Wrong With Feeling Good After A Race?

Dealing with that “unfinished business” feel

Give me another crack at it

Deep Fitness

Making Mid-Season Changes

When is it Time To Go Harder?

When is is Time To Stay The Course?

Training and Racing Without a Watch

Please be patient with our opening discussion about LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan. It's always something. After that we get into some great stuff from our C26 Athletes and what they learned at Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga. We also talk about the intensity of a Half Ironman vs. an Olympic and how that gap is closing. Lots of good advice and learning points. 

One of the best times for big gains is following the effort of a race. Today, our C26 athletes give us some great feedback from racing in the heat at Chattanooga. How they prepared, raced, and what paid off the most. Also, what they plan to do better next time. Some awesome lessons from a lot of people who PR'd and hit the podium at Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga.

Some of the topics:

- Her pre-race week and why it was the key to her PR
- The best advice for racing and life
- Sponges, Ice, Walking the Aid Stations
- Listen to your body for nutritional advice
- The one thing I'd pay more attention to before my next race
- Stop Telling Yourself You Can't and Start Telling Yourself You Can
- The songs he sang in his head gave him 15 seconds per mile on the run
- How to deal with the feeling that "you didn't race" to your capabilities
- Why scissors are key for pre-race prep
- NFL Draft Comes To Nashville 

A tough but fair race is in the books, and today Mike and Coach Robbie recap their experience. With 27 coached athletes on site it was a huge weekend for C26. Many first timers, nearly 20 PRs, and 2 podiums, we have a lot to talk about. We also talk about the course, the heat, and . . . how why we think a course marshal may have been targeting C26 athletes. 

• PRs
• Podiums
• Swim Course
• Bike Course
• C26 Athletes
• Run Course struggles
• The Heat
• Awards Ceremony
• On course marshals
• Volunteer Shout Out
• Transition
• Wetsuit strippers
• Downtown Chattanooga
• IM 70.3 Chattanooga Race Director Review