What makes a successful, long-term triathlete? Today we look at some key characteristics of some of our most successful athletes. How they think about training, life, and the process. Much of that starts with the right perspective on what’s really important to you as a person. And that goes along with not getting bogged down by the little things. Looking at the big picture and how things will play out if you keep doing the work on a consistent basis. There truly are no shortcuts in triathlon. It’s a process and something we “perfect” by doing it over and over. Find your reasons why.
Topics:
Coaching Inquires:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
Today’s cast is inspired by Thanksgiving, of course, but also a documentary called Stutz . . . which is focused on the therapists who changed Jonah Hills’ life. Digging deep for ways that truly make us happy and grateful in life. In the film they talk about the “Life Force Pyramid” which breaks down into three parts: Body, people, and yourself. We look at different ways we try to apply these simple principles to keep moving forward and finding those sweet spots in life. We really look at how things can be simple instead of trying to “think” our way into a better place.
Happy Thanksgiving. Move, connect, reflect.
2023 Training Plans on Sale Now!
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Coaching Inquiries:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
Training is like pulling weeds . . . the job is never done. Our 6-year streak of two podcasts a week is over but not because we don’t love it. And that is what we discuss today, along with, how streaks are made to be broken. We look at how a goal far into the future can disrupt the happiness along the way and explore ways to truly enjoy the concept of “body maintenance.” Training is really never done and it is our aim to figure out ways to find joy in the process. From today to tomorrow, from this month to next, and year after year. Our streak came from passion, not a goal. We believe this can be translated to training. We explore the concept of being 100% “half in” and why overcommitting can be a recipe for let down.
Check out our 2023 Training Plans for Fulls and 70.3s
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Coaching Inquiries:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
Remember how hard things seemed when you started triathlon? Don’t forget that. Today, we look at how easy it is to forget where we came from and how we lose track of the power of the journey. We both reflect on how it started, what we went through to get here, and how important it is to feel good. And, never take health for granted, because eventually it will be the most important thing in your life. We talk about training and how that should look in the process. What to take away from workouts. How important it is to train with your breath. There is a lot of power in the present because we really don’t know what the future holds. Plan, don’t hope. The best things in life take time.
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Coaching Inquiries:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
“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:
Coaching Inquires:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
www.crushingiron.com
“I just need a break” is something we hear a lot as coaches, but a break from what? Today we look at your life in triathlon and things that can supplement, compliment and keep the passion alive. There is a trap of being ALL IN or ALL OUT. The road is in the middle. The middle way. Taking a break doesn’t mean nothing and we always have to do SOMETHING, so what is that something that makes you feel happy and alive? We all get trapped in ultimatums, but (and especially this time of year) you always have options. Today is about finding them and understanding how you can be a triathlete without feeling the pressure of it all the time. When we are grounded in our body and mind or decisions make more sense. Mike also tells the story about his first car.
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Coaching Inquiries:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
www.crushingiron.com
We’ve talked about your “why” a lot, but today we get into motivation and clarity on your WANT. What do you like and want from daily training and life? Change is hard and it becomes even harder when we are always reacting. Today, we look at how you can step back and see things a little more clearly. Define what makes you happy and keeps you on the the right track. How do you create an avalanche of “goodness” in your life that keeps fueling itself? Training seems much “easier” when we have a race on the calendar because the outside motivation is there. But how do we create that motivation from the inside/out? Thoughts and decisions connect and either create positive forward movement, or a backslide. Find what you want, and let that lead the way.
Topics:
Coaching Inquires:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
This is one of our biggest mantras and today we take a deep dive into how you can start, keep good momentum, and start next season on top of your game. Sometimes it’s as simple as making a commitment to “exercise frequently.” Learning how to “win in training” is something we all struggle with at times, but it shouldn’t be so complicated. Exercise is supposed to give you energy, not take it away. Today we look at patterns you can start now to put you in a better place to deal with the holidays and be in a better place for the new year. Your number one goal should be health, fitness and wellness. What does that take? We look at dealing with sugar and social media, along with the repercussions of being tired and hungry. Teach your body to crave doing something good for itself.
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
You’re not getting younger, but do you believe your best is yet to come? We do and today that drives the topic. Mike just had a birthday and talks about what it meant and how he tends to ignore the aging process. We get into overstimulation and how that takes away from your performance in training, racing and life. We look at the concept of extremes that drive the middle, not living off your best or worst days. Self-talk is a giant issue with a lot of athletes and we explore ways to change what’s going on so that you have the belief that you ARE a swimmer, cyclist and runner. Break through what’s holding you back and find the mindset that takes you to the next level.
Topics:
Coaching inquiries:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
This is one of those podcasts where we talk about things we believe everyone is thinking about during their race experience. We start with conversation about Ironman California where once again it was proven that no Ironman is easy. We started talking about some things that happened on the course and it took us into the demand for volunteers which rolled into a big discussion about how Ironman is evolving. We feel like the trend is to 70.3 but is that the right direction for the sport? We realize Ironman isn’t asking our opinion, but we are continually thinking of ways to increase engagement in the sport we love. In the end we make some suggestions that we feel would help energize the volunteer base and create longer lasting relationships with Ironman and triathlon in general.
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Brucke - C26Coach@gmail.com
Today we get into listener questions and some key areas for longevity in the sport. We start with swimming in open water and how you can train to be stronger and more confident, even when the water is rough. We look at coming back from an illness and talk about some of the techniques we have used to stay healthy, including being pro-active at the first sign and how to recognize your level of sickness. We get into consuming stress and how that builds up over time and literally makes us sick. We talk pacing your Ironman marathon and the importance of understanding pacing by effort. And we get into what are the most important things for beginners with regard to long-term success, and this also applies to coming back after taking a chunk of time off.
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
How do you have fun in your training and life? Do you have enough or is there a low-level tension around at all times? This is a great time of year to detach from pressure and teach yourself how to do things in a way that let’s you be free . . . and get better. Being faster is often about letting go and enjoying the ability of your body to adapt and flow. We have to test these limits. We don’t fail, we learn. Are you doing the same things over and over and wondering why you’re not improving? We look at creating patterns, how setbacks can propel you, and how to go out and live a little. There’s nothing worse than an endless cycle of forcing yourself to do things you don’t enjoy. Find the sweet spots this off season. Make a plan you know you’re going to stick to and re-energize your soul.
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
www.crushingiron.com
You don’t have to make drastic changes. In fact, that may be why you struggle with burnout in Triathlon. Today we talk about why little steps are always the key to success and happiness. Banking on an Ironman finish to change your life is a slippery slope. Happiness in triathlons (and life) is about having a clear grasp of purpose. Training effectively is always about the right amount so you can adapt and recover. We talk about burning the wick too fast, donating time back to yourself, and letting go of perfectionism. We get into doing things you LIKE and how to scratch your own itch. Now is the time to invest in yourself and find a happy “rest of your life.”
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
Today we recap the Ironman World Championship and look at racing strategy, the coverage, and what lessons we can learn as age groupers from an unbelievable race. We look at Iden and Blummenfelt and what their real training secret likely is. We talk about the big swim pack, drafting on the bike, and what all that did to set up the run. We talk about the shift in qualification standards, the move to make things seem easier, and fast shoes. Our belief that “once you get too hot, it’s over” played out again as did “you don’t have to catch them, they’ll come back to you.” Lots of interesting topics to go over from KONA, but we also bring it back to the amateur level and ask important questions about your dreams of getting faster, including, “Are your buddies slowing you down?”
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
The smart money is on Blummenfelt, Iden, and Ryf, but who do we think has a chance to knock them off?
We give our predictions, plus get into Kona racing strategy, including why the swim is so important, how athletes position themselves on the bike, and why it really all boils down the the run. We talk about the legend of the Island, local perspective, and respect for the land, along with why experience is so important. Some athletes are always in the news, but it’s the ones you don’t really hear about much that understand what it takes to be a World Champion. Will that matter or will Blummenfelt and Iden run away with it? Will Ryf show her dominance from start to finish? Will Patrick Lange re-emerge? Is Lionel ready? While there are favorites, this is one of the more spread out fields in a while.
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
Are you truly willing to do what it takes to have your most success? This is one of our “look in the mirror” podcasts and a lot of interesting thoughts came forward. It’s easy to set goals, but it’s hard to do what it takes to reach them. We contend next year’s success starts right now, but it doesn’t have to be hard. Will you fall prey to resistance or will you have a genuine talk with yourself and do better with your time and energy? The most successful athletes have a longer attention span. They can focus on details and get pleasure from the process. Now is the time to train so you can train like you need to train when it matters. Are you upset with your performance or because you did everything the same and expect different results. Sometimes it’s good to get fed up with our own excuses.
Topics:
Coaching Inquiries:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
After your big race always comes the million dollar question: What can I do this off-season to be better next year? It can be a confusing time and it’s easy to think crushing things is the way to get faster. But today we look at an approach based on developing skills along with getting your mindset in a place to work on things you’re not good at OR don’t like. The off-season is a great time to give yourself time while looking at the goals after the goals. Things that used to work might not work anymore and you can find yourself in a perpetual loop where everything remains the same. Maybe it’s as simple as developing patience for your training. Building in a way that feels good and reclaims your body. Get better while feeling good and rekindle that passion.
Topics:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
Ironman Chattanooga was a poster child for the challenge of being prepared for race day. The fast swim lulls you to sleep, then the rain on the bike, and hot and humid sunshine just in time for the run. We talk about different things that went wrong for a lot of athletes and how it can be prevented in training. We also go into pacing and how to practice it in training long before you blow up on the race course. We look at swim safety and why most theories don’t work. Training by and understanding effort and why it’s so important when your race plan goes to sh*t.
Topics:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
www.crushingiron.com
It’s not the end of the race season, but today we answer questions from you and take a closer look at how you can truly get better this off season – along with tackle the comedown after your big race. We look at strength training and how it should compliment your goals, how to ease expectations after an injury or a funk, and how to strip training down so it is something you can look forward to. We joke about finisher shirts, discuss which bike you should be riding and when, and look at the importance of building lateral stability by either strength training or hitting the trails or mountain/gravel bikes. This is a good reminder that we have to be flexible and everything can’t always be “on.”
Topics:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
Sooner or later, your top priority will be your health. Don't take it for granted.
Today starts with a question from the group on how to get out of a funk. We hear that a lot and today we get into the best ways to make make this sport something you really look forward to. We talk about the dangers of setting expectations and focusing on the “fast” part of endurance racing. We look at the “I can’t wait to…” endless cycle of getting out of the moment. We talk about what will truly get you to the start line with confidence. Choose to be present and energized for what comes today. And Just. Get. Healthy.
Topics:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
What did we learn on the coaching from Ironman Wisconsin? Turns out a ton. We take a close look at the avalanche of energy and how it impacts a race. We look at why the swim is so important for the rest of your race. Especially on a course like this. We also talk about how to peak at the right time for your race. There’s nothing worse than training too hard and being burnt out way before you get there. We look how bad form on the run makes you work harder to go slower. We talk about overtraining on the run. We look at hills and the nutrition crutch. Having a plan B, C, D, and E. In races like this, it’s not usually about how fast you go, but how little you slow down.
Topics:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
www.crushingiron.com
It wasn’t as much of a race as it was a battle of attrition. Today, we break down Ironman Wisconsin from the beginning of the swim through the brutal bike and the dark and lonely run. The emotions on this day were all over the map and we share stories from on the course and the spectator perspective. Roughly 1500 started and 1020 finished. No one expected that weather at Ironman Wisconsin, but it turned out to be one for the ages.
Topics:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
How do you react when something doesn’t go your way? Today, Coach Robbie shares a very personal story about his sobriety and we tie it into things that can shake us up in a race. We can train well, taper perfectly, but something unexpected always seems to pop up on race day? How will you handle it? How can you get your mind straight, re-focus and turn it into a positive. We’re out there on our own and we need to find a way.
Topics:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
We’re both racing this week at Wisconsin and we talk about what’s going on in our heads. We take a deeper dive into taper and look at what it should be feeling like. We talk about how to know if you’re peaking, how to keep the pop, and what not to be focusing on. Less than a week from Wisconsin 70.3 and Full… but this translates to everyone who has a race coming up this Fall. Handle your Race Week smart.
Topics:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com
You’ve come this far, don’t confuse “getting fresh” with being lazy. Taper means so many things to so many people, but today we look at the best ways to approach taper, both mentally and physically. We talk about everything from how to handle your workouts, to packing, and mental roller coasters throughout taper. We look at phantom pains, visualizing and a gradual recovery. We also talk about your plan when you GET to the race so you can stay focused and on point. Stay in your zone, don’t let the body shut down, and get rid of as much life stress as you can.
Topics:
Mike Tarrolly - CrushingIron@gmail.com
Robbie Bruce - C26Coach@gmail.com