In order to train hard, you have to adapt and recover even harder. Or . . . you'll stay the same. Same athlete. Same issues. Same speed. Discipline takes focus, energy, and dedication. Your lifecycle as a triathlete doesn't end on the day of your A Race. It lasts as long as you want . . . until you quit. Recovery is the most underrated aspect of training and life. Today we hit all these topics and more.
• Nailing your training starts with nailing your recovery.
• Adjusting your recovery cycle to your body and lifestyle
• Reigning in a high-octane
• Why (and how) your coach should adjust to you
• What are the best signs that you’re overtraining?
• How coffee affects your recovery
• Mentally and emotionally guiding your recovery
• What cravings for sugar, caffeine, and pizza really mean
• How being tired and being tempted work together
• The most underrated recovery tools on the market
• Why mental stress = physical stress
• How your fascia can affect your brain
• A surefire way to remain the same speed
• The magic of active recovery
Be sure to check out our awesome training plans here
We have 13 training plans for everything from Olympic to Full Ironman, plus, Swimming and a few custom designed for certain races.
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Email: CrushingIron@gmail.com
www.crushingiron.com
I (Mike) asked coach Robbie a question two days after Wisconsin lost to Florida on a last second shot in March Madness: How can I still be so bummed out? Robbie said it's all about emotional investment, how much effort have you put into "your team" or in the case of most of this podcast "your race."
- How do we rebound from a race that didn't go how we planned?
- Why we set ourselves up to fail
- Why bad or great days can throw you off
- The best way to predict your next race result
- Life stress and physical stress hit you the same
- How to find the lesson in failure
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Email: CrushingIron@gmail.com
www.crushingiron.com
When family, work, injury, or another setback gets in the way, how do you adapt, adjust and keep a positive mindset on the big picture of a long season? Mike is training for Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga and has been traveling two weeks with very little training. Today, Coach Robbie gets him back on track two months from the race.
- Getting your legs back fast after a short layoff
- Why you may not be as out of shape as you think you are
- Releasing the wound up tightness
- Ramp up test to see where you're at after a layoff
- Why a two week training absence may be the best thing for your race
- Drinking too much coffee and how it really affects you
- How to understand your expectations vs. adjusting your goals
- Why being undertrained is far better than being overtrained
- Why you should never do a long brick run
- How to avoid deep fatigue that you might not recognize
- How to stay mentally fresh
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www.crushingiron.com
Believe that running slow in training can make you faster? Today, Coach Robbie shows you the evidence. He spent 10 Weeks keeping it under control and knocked over 1:30 off his 5K time with a lower heart rate. It's all here... in an abbreviated version of How Not To Suck at Running. This cast is a little shorter, so we'll give you a bonus cast soon. Thanks for listening.
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Email: CrushingIron@gmail.com
www.crushingiron.com
Most of us know about the foam roller, but what's the right way to use it? How else can we help keep your muscles from getting sore and injured? Is it good or bad for triathletes to lift weights? Should you go heavy, or keep it light with a lot of reps? We also talk about how to handle semi-bonks within your race and why it's so important to train for them before hand. Lots of viable/useable stuff in today's podcast.
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www.crushingiron.com
Most of us has had at least a mild panic attack in the open water, but it doesn't have to be that way. Nor do you have to fear turns and other riders on the bike course. Today we talk about ways to get by the tension that holds you back. We also talk about how to craft a routine that builds confidence and appreciate your gains. And finally, how to grow when critics beat you down.
- Ways to beat open water swim anxiety and panic
- Bike handling techniques to make you more comfortable
- Where to look and what to think about while cycling
- Patterns that will make you more confident
- How to not let others get you down
- How to get a DISCOUNT on our TRAINING PLANS
Crushing Iron Training Plans on Training Peaks
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As much as everyone seemed to love the Dog Cast, we are excited to be back to normal programming. Today's show is powered by listener email, which is definitely the right direction. Lots of good questions and we unleash nuggets in and around each of the topics, including:
- Preparing for multi-day events like Triple-T and stage races
- Adult Tri Camps
- How to not suck at Cycling and Running
- Injury work-a-rounds in each discipline
- Training for a wetsuit race
- Future Crushing Iron Training weekend camp
- Crushing Iron athletes that had great weekend races
- The future of Dog Casts
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Email us: CrushingIron@gmail.com
www.crushingiron.com
Hopefully this will be the first and last Crushing Iron Dog Cast, but that's up to you! Last week we asked for 10 emails at Crushingiron@gmail.com ... and got pretty close, but didn't quite make it. We're looking for your input, stories, ideas, and inspiration. We're 33 podcasts in and want to build an interactive community on some level. So please spread the word and get involved. In the meantime, enjoy how raising a dog relates and inspires triathlon!
Today's is hardcore and honest dialogue between about why Mike and Robbie REALLY got into triathlon. The guys talk about the low points, how triathlon drove them, eventually backfired and how they turned it all around . . . sort of. This is also a bit of a test to see if we can get some emails. We want your stories, ideas, and questions at CrushingIron@gmail.com .... if we don't get 10 emails by Monday, the podcasts will be Mike and Robbie talking about their dogs until we do. Thanks for being a part of the community!
Quick talk about Kim Chambers - Marathon Swimmer with the sharks
The Boys Open Up
How triathlon has helped with:
- Depression
- Addiction
- Purpose
- Competitive fuel
"Swimming is good for your bike and your run. Cycling is good for swimming and running. Running is good for running." - Coach Robbie
Today, we look at the benefits of the cross train on all disciplines, along with other random triathlon insights. We talk about the Crushing Iron documentary, which is in the works again, along with why focusing on one sport could be a huge advantage in the long run.
Today's Topics:
- Crushing Iron: The Documentary
- Why swimming is so good for your run
- Running may be King, but it's the most likely to make you a pauper
- Focusing on one discipline for a year
- When to schedule your half marathon prep race
- How and why recovery swims and rides work
- Finding rhythm in your training
- How to make friends at the race expo
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Send your questions to: CrushingIron@gmail.com
www.crushingiron.com
The pre-race taper is one of the most confusing parts of triathlon. A lot of us make the mistake of calling it "rest" but it really should be a strategic one, two, or three week approach to fine tuning your muscles and mind. Today, we go deep into tapering philosophy to give you some good food for thought based on your fitness level, PLUS, tell you about the new Crushing Iron Training Plans and how you can get a 30% discount.
- How long should your taper be for a Sprint, Olympic, Half, or Full?
- How long should your workouts be during race week
- How to handle the day before the race
- Why your fitness level should determine "how" you taper
- Why losing intensity during your taper is a huge mistake
- Why you should never say "I'm training through my 'B' race"
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Email us questions at CrushingIron@gmail.com
Seems like it's that time of the year when everybody's getting sick or worn down from an early season surge and change in the weather. Today we look at when it's okay to push through and when (and how) you should reel it in. There's also a lot in here on how to get over the hump when you're not feeling like doing a workout. But there's much more, including:
- The mental and emotional sides of being sick and/or worn down
- Planning Swim, Bike, Run as one Race vs. 3 sports
- Building a “different” kind of confidence
- When to trash today’s workout
- When Zone One Is Your Best Friend
- Aligning patience with pure motives
- Do what’s going to make you feel the best
- How to motivate when you’re not feeling it
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www.crushingiron.com
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If you're looking for passion about triathlon, look no further than Stephen Del Monte, Race Director for Ironman 70.3 Atlantic City and several others events on the south Jersey Shore. He's all about customer service and goes out of his way to make sure every athlete succeeds. He has tons of videos where he personally guides you how to sight the swims and what to watch for as potential problems on the bike and run. He's a great storyteller and explains how he went from a teacher to a race announcer to a race director, along with:
- The secrets to producing a great race
- The one thing that pisses off triathletes most
- He addresses the Ironman critics and explains why WTC is the best event company in the world
- He explains how the Ironman relationship works with local race directors
- Why many triathletes are intimidated by Ironman Branded Races and why they shouldn’t be
- What he thinks is the best Half
- The ONE THING Race Directors cannot get away with
- Your number one concern as an athlete entering any race.
- Why Ironman gets so many volunteers
- How he deals with weather cancellations and shortened courses
- How Ironman is putting pressure on grass roots races and why that’s a good thing
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Email your questions to: CrushingIron@gmail.com
www.crushingiron.com
Did you spend more money on your helmet than your bike fit? That could be problem number one, especially considering a bad bike fit can not only hurt your ride, it can destroy your run. It's easy to get sidetracked by the glitzy temptations of cycling gear, but there are many better options for your time and money. Today we discuss a smart and well-rounded approach to being a better cyclist. How To Not Suck At Cycling discusses:
- Choosing the right bike
- What results you need from a bike fit
- Solid Baselines for your training
- Understanding Zones 1-5
- Why you're likely making a common training Zone Mistake
- Training with RPE, HR, and Power Meters
- Picking the right helmet
- Buying a suit
- Hydration set up
- Race Wheels
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Email us: CrushingIron@gmail.com
www.crushingiron.com
It's natural to get excited about triathlon, but when does it work against you? Mike and Coach Robbie recently read an article called "When Passion Becomes Destructive" by Brad Stulberg and it kicked off a lot of bad memories. Times when the only thing that mattered in their lives was their "A Race" and how that took them away from things that are really important. Today's podcast covers:
- The difference between harmonious and obsessive passion
- How we can apply lessons from the Super Bowl to our Big Race
- Cultivating long-term health, happiness, and performance while avoiding suffering
- Why we take training failures personally
- How to not get sucked into a never ending cycle of searching for satisfaction
- Why obsessive passion can lead to depression
- How to trade awards and rankings for mastering your body
- The number one recipe for distress and failure
Email us: crushingiron@gmail.com
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www.crushingiron.com
This is a podcast based off a TED talk by Julian Treasure. It's titled "How to speak so that people want to listen." Once we heard his 7 Deadly Sins of Speaking, we thought it really applied to triathlete talk, and more specifically the things we probably shouldn't be doing. We both agree that we have fallen into these traps, but want to approach it consciously moving forward and think it will benefit the sport, and the image of the sport to outsiders. We also offer ways to change thinking during these discussions.
7 Deadly Sins of Triathlete Speak
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It's easy to get excited when you sign up for your first race or an Ironman, but it's quite another to get into the groove in cold winter months. Today we dig into methods to regain a "love for the game" and to keep wanting more.
- A Swim Challenge
- A Run Challenge
- How to Design an Early Season Run Week
- Recognizing When To Turn it up a Notch
- Frequency Vs. Volume
- How To Finish Your Workouts Wanting More
- Why Consistency Rules
- You're Not Ready Now, So Don't Prove It
- Swim The Suck
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www.crushingiron.com
There are lots of tools to train by, but the most important feedback comes from your own body. Today's cast gets into:
- Finding a rhythm while swimming
- Running by feel to get faster
- How to find the right passion
- Being Consistently Recovered
- The best ways for long-term progression
- Why Lionel Sanders will skip Kona and why it's important
- Why taking a year off Ironman will make you better
- Bucket-listers
- Leadville 100 Update
LINKS:
- Training By Feel
- Steven Pressfield - Do The Work
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www.crushingiron.com
Today we hit on a ton of topics for the beginner and intermediate triathlete with our new "Ask The Coach" segment. These are questions (or versions of) we see all over the internet. This is one of our favorite podcasts to date. Enjoy!
Please subscribe and comment on iTunes and email your questions to: crushingiron@gmail.com
www.crushingiron.com
They say Nutrition is the 4th Discipline of triathlon, so we brought on Registered Dietician, Lizzy Miller to fill us in. There are tons of philosophies on the right ways to fuel -in and out- of the race and we're opening the dialogue. We also discuss a body image. More on today's podcast:
- How to get started on the right diet without blowback from your body
- How to teach your body to use fat for energy
- The easiest way to balance your diet
- How much should your meals vary?
- Anorexia and Bulimia
- Ketosis
- In race nutrition
Please subscribe/leave comments on iTunes and keep sending your questions at crushingiron@gmail.com
www.crushingiron.com
Triathlon has changed many people's lives, including ours. Many of us can't talk about it enough and one of the tricky parts is figuring out when and how to find connection with others who understand your journey. Today we go dive into things like why, after trekking 138 miles in an Ironman and every bone in our body hurts, we can be sad the day is almost over. We also talk about training APPS like Strava and how they can make you feel like you're in a continual race. Is that good or bad? How can we tell if triathlon is helping us grow or creating bad habits? And, of course, the quest for the ultimate high.
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We've committed to releasing a podcast every Monday and Thursday, but today's podcast is delayed because of a computer issue. We hope to post it later this afternoon or tonight, so keep checking back. Thanks for all your comments on iTunes and feedback through email at crushingiron@gmail.com.
Due to a huge reaction to Part 1 of How To Not Suck At Swimming, we're back with a companion piece. Coach Robbie lives and breathes open water swimming and he's back with another round of great insight to becoming faster, stronger, and more efficient in open water. Topics covered today are:
- Proper breathing - How and When
- Body Positioning and how to get it right
- Hand entry and exit - How and When
- How to deprogram from bad advice, including workouts that get you there
- How to structure a swim week of workouts
- Should you join a Master's Team?
- Swimming square and why you swim crooked
Coach Robbie also has a big announcement and we'll tell you which country is second in Crushing Iron listenership.
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www.crushingiron.com
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Jumping into triathlon can be daunting. You have to decide which race, what do I need to buy, and most importantly, WHY you want to do triathlon. This is for beginners and intermediate, but there are tons of little nuggets for all skill levels including how you can plan for long-term racing success and make triathlon a better sport along the way.
Today's Topics:
- things to consider before signing up for your first race (location, brand, race management, time of year)
- what made you want to do a "triathlon" in the first place - finding your "why"
- items you HAVE to have, would be nice to have , and items that are just because you WANT to have them
- how to set up a plan for success
- how to know if you are ready to go to the next distance
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www.crushingiron.com