On ESP Tipcast 86 I wade into the mysterious explosion of meldonium positives in Sports. From Maria Sharapova, to state run Russian doping, meldonium appears to be the latest drug of choice. How does its it work, and what are the implications of this new scandal?

Taken as a whole, meldonium:

• Decreases fat use, shifting the heart, and possibly working muscles to greater carb use
• Reduces oxygen demand on the heart and the incidence of arrhtymias
• Increases blood flow throughout the body
• Improves CNS function and mood
• Appears to have few or no serious side effects

On Tipcast 85 I wrap-up my XTerra Series with some final tips, as well as recap the highlights of the recent USAT off-road nationals. 

Here are my final tips:

1. Swim in your wetsuit
2. Prep your swim with a short warm-up, fast starts, and running recoveries
3. Lower your tire pressure
4. Don’t leave it all in the preview
5. Pre-load the swim
6. Use a camel bak…preferably frozen
7. Don’t be a pack mule.
8. Put you shoes on in transition!
9. Stop daudling out of T1
10. Eat early
11. Pre-load the run
12. Don’t forget your ice sock
13. Stay focused and pace yourself (start slower build turn-over)
14. Break down the race into small chunks.

The new Rudy Project Tralyx delivers on every level! However, if you’re in the market for a more affordable package of glasses and lenses, then XX2i is a perfect alternative. These are some great glasses, and most packages include 2 spare lenses for a variety of light conditions.

On Tipcast 84 I wrap up the great cadence debate by discussing if you

Honey Stinger

Rudy Project North America offering

The ESP Podcast is

SLS3 Custom

On Tipcast's 83 I'll be discussing advising triathletes to use a

Rudy Project North America offering

The ESP Podcast is

SLS3 Custom triathlon,

On Tipcast's 82 and 83 I'll be discussing some recent debates with ill-informed coaches regarding indoor training and cadence.

On ESP Tipcast 81 I discuss tips for improving your off-the-bike run in XTerra. 

Rudy Project North America offering technically cool products and awesome deals.

The ESP Podcast is supported in part by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. For more than 19 years, Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine has been the definitive guide to outdoor sports, health, and adventure travel in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Published free every month, BRO has established itself as the nation’s top regional outdoor publication. For more information checkout www.blueridgeoutdoors.com.

On Tipcast 80 I give tips on getting back on track after a spring of mishaps. Whether illness, injury, or life, this tipcast will help set your right. 

Special thanks to these sponsors:

Honey Stinger, Checkout my new review series on Honey Stinger here.

The ESP Podcast is supported in part by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. For more than 19 years, Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine has been the definitive guide to outdoor sports, health, and adventure travel in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Published free every month, BRO has established itself as the nation’s top regional outdoor publication. For more information checkout www.blueridgeoutdoors.com.

In part VI of my XTerra series I cover why you need to be training on the road to improve your MTB times, and how to do that. Road training is ideal for all of the following training:

Special Thanks to:

Rudy Project North America

Honey Stinger, Checkout my new review series on Honey Stinger here.

The ESP Podcast is supported in part by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. For more than 19 years, Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine has been the definitive guide to outdoor sports, health, and adventure travel in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Published free every month, BRO has established itself as the nation’s top regional outdoor publication. For more information checkout www.blueridgeoutdoors.com.

FEED Zone Table

How to feed your performance and your soul! @skratchlabs 

 Join us for dinner: Chef Biju Thomas and Dr. Allen Lim have returned to the kitchen to champion the most social meal of the day. In their new cookbook Feed Zone Table, Biju and Allen offer 100 all-new dinner recipes to bring friends and family to the table.

On tipcast 78, I review parts 4 and 5 of my XTerra blog series and give you the tips to moving beyond a subpar swim.

FEED Zone Table

How to feed your performance and your soul! @skratchlabs 

Pre-order your copy of our newest cookbook, Feed Zone Table! Please note that all items purchased with your cookbook will ship together by January 27th 2016!

For a limited time, pre-order Feed Zone Table and get a free box of Cookie Mix!

Join us for dinner: Chef Biju Thomas and Dr. Allen Lim have returned to the kitchen to champion the most social meal of the day. In their new cookbook Feed Zone Table, Biju and Allen offer 100 all-new dinner recipes to bring friends and family to the table.

"Chef Biju and I wrote the Feed Zone Cookbook and Feed Zone Portables for anyone interested in improving athletic performance. So when we heard that people who don’t necessarily consider themselves athletes were using our cookbooks because they wanted simple, healthy recipes to share with their friends and family, we were pleasantly surprised . . . and inspired.

For us, neither sports nor nutrition is solely about performance. The reality is that we value activity and food not just because we want to perform better but also because both have this amazing ability to bring people together, to give us pleasure, and to feed our souls." ~ Dr. Allen

I kick off 2016 with a discussion of two tips for optimizing your performance w/o training more!