With the Calgary Marathon coming up for Alex and Unbound 200 for Meredith, spring training is in full swing and along with it all of the aches and pains that can be expected when volume is high! New this year, the concurrent self work that is somatic based therapy.

In this episode, we dive into the structural changes present in both of our programs and how the more drastic training changes are going for Alex. We talk about he work through injuries and decide when to push and when to pull back. And we wrap up with a preview of where you can find us this summer!

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Deb Armstrong is truly one of a kind. She is an Olympic gold medalist but as you will learn quickly in this episode, that accomplishment doesn't define who she is. After retiring from a successful World Cup racing career, Deb went on to get her degree in history from the University of New Mexico where she also learned more about who she was outside of her athletics. She jumped into ski coaching with both feet and went on to hold several high level coaching and directing roles where she helped develop some of the best young ski talent in the US.

Deb's approach to coaching is playful, light, and distinctly unserious - despite being a very serious athlete for her entire life. Which tells you everything you need to know about her magic. She has an electric enthusiasm for sharing, coaching, and giving back.

All of this comes through when you see her in action on her YouTube channel, Ski Strong, where she's published hundreds of coaching and instructional videos.

We are so grateful to have spent time with Deb in Colorado and once again when recording this episode. It's rare to see someone live with such passion and curiosity for life. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did!

You can find Deb's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@DebArmstrongSkiStrong

You can find her on instagram here:

https://www.instagram.com/armstrong.deb/

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Alex and Meredith Dive into aerobic development, the 2 ventilatory thresholds (VT1, VT2), zone 2 training, field testing for everyday athletes, the downsides to intensity training, and how the same concepts that are fundamental to aerobic training are also present in strength training, skill development, and non-athletic pursuits as well.

This episode is full to the gills of information! If you find this episode interesting and want to learn in more detail, we would recommend Training for the Uphill Athlete by Scott Johnson and The Norwegian Method by Brad Culp.

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Can one word change your life? Yes. Pun intended. Yes embodies a way of being and making decisions that can sometimes feel against the grain, scary, and add odds with a felt sense of safety and comfort. But often that area of discomfort, if leaned into, precipitates tremendous growth. In this episode, we walk through some personal stories where we said YES to opportunities, invitations, and ways of thinking that have helped us grow as humans.

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Artificial intelligence is undoubtedly here to stay but the way people choose to use it has implications beyond the obvious. Join us as we discuss AI use in the coaching and creative spaces and how coming face to face with a moral and monetary dilemma has forced us to grapple with the very real impacts of artificial intelligence in business.

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If you know Alex, you know that she struggles with change. Especially big ones. And you also probably know how seriously she takes her training for running, strength, and triathlon. Which makes changing coaches and training programs probably the biggest and most impactful change that she's made since deciding to step away from a legal career.

And a change that big deserves a podcast episode! So for this episode, we are diving deep on the drivers behind making a training change like this and how she is handling it mentally.

Whether your interests lie in training and program design for hybrid training or in the more personal side of things, this episode is for you.

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In my first solo episode, I (Meredith) step behind the mic to reflect on the tension between joy, guilt, and real resistance. This show dives into the nuance of emotional substitution and how feel-good phrases like “Joy is Resistance” can unintentionally bypass the real work of activism.

We will explore what true resistance looks like (spoiler: it’s not always comfortable), and how we can hold both joy and responsibility without confusing the two.

I'm going to challenge you to build your emotional capacity, reflect on your guilt, and start engaging with real sustained action.

You don’t need to agree, you just need to stay curious.

Topics Covered:

The myth of "joy as resistance"

Baldwin, Lorde, and the call for responsibility

Emotional partitioning (hello, divided plate metaphor!)

Guilt vs. action in the face of injustice

What real resistance actually looks like

🎧 This is one to share—especially with someone who’s been struggling to find clarity in the chaos.

Black Feminism & Structural Critique

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This episode is a research round up! We are discussing three

Nutrition: The

Strength Training: Muscular

Changed our Minds: The Sweet Tooth Trial

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In this episode, I sit down with Kristi Mohn to talk about the 20 year anniversary of Unbound Gravel, the impact of community and local flavor on race longevity, and why the work for women and diversity is always worth doing. We talk about leadership in every day life and the power of subtle influence that occurs independent of platform size.

Kristi has some very cool new things coming up including a gravel training camp called Training Grounds in Patagonia, AZ in late February that's meant to help riders get ready for the big spring classic races like Mid South and Unbound. You can learn more about Training Grounds here:

https://www.ridebikeseatfood.com/traininggroundspatagonia

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When public figures, athletes, celebrities, and most especially - women, speak out after political or social crises, they're often met with the same tired command: “Stay in your lane.” In this episode, we unpack why that phrase is more than just dismissive, it’s a tool of patriarchal control. From celebrity activism to everyday leadership, we explore how visibility equals influence, and why using your voice is a form of power. This episode challenges the idea that any of us should remain quiet or apolitical and makes the case that all people, regardless of their platform, are leaders with the ability to drive change.

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