In this week’s episode, Colin interview Endure IQ Coach, Aaron Geiser. They discuss Aaron’s athletic background and journey into triathlon coaching. They also chat about the differences between age group and professional training. Aaron coached Colin throughout his highly successful 2024 season and they reflect back on his year. They both express gratitude for their productive working relationship and look forward to working with each other in the future. Thanks for joining the podcast, Aaron!

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Show Notes:

Aaron Geiser's athletic background @ 0:00

Aaron discusses his childhood growing up in Louisville, Kentucky and the influence of his older brother who played baseball at the University of Louisville. This exposure to college athletics at a young age shaped Aaron's understanding of balancing academics, athletics, and life. After playing baseball through college, Aaron transitioned into sports medicine and athletic training, gaining valuable experience working with college sports teams.

Aaron's journey to triathlon coaching @ 6:40

After a stint in Florida, Aaron returned to Louisville and worked in banking, quickly rising through the ranks. However, he ultimately decided the banking career was not fulfilling and transitioned into health coaching. This led Aaron to discover triathlon, which quickly became a passion. He began coaching triathletes and in 2016 joined the EndureIQ team, where he has thrived as a coach.

Overcoming a persistent injury @ 18:23

Aaron describes a frustrating injury he dealt with for several months, which prevented him from racing as planned. After trying various treatments without success, he finally found the right solution through working with a chiropractor who specialized in myofascial release. This allowed Aaron to recover and shift his focus to supporting his athletes rather than racing himself.

Differences between age group and pro training @ 45:01

Aaron discusses the key differences between how professional and age group triathletes approach training. He emphasizes the importance of accounting for an age grouper's work, family, and other life commitments when designing their training plan, rather than simply trying to emulate a pro's high-volume approach.

Reflections on coaching Colin @ 58:16

Aaron reflects positively on his experience coaching Colin, highlighting Colin's excellent communication and willingness to provide feedback. He notes Colin's exceptional running speed as a strength, and expresses optimism about Colin's future potential. Overall, Aaron describes the coaching relationship as highly productive and enjoyable.

Recap and future outlook @ 1:09:21

The discussion concludes with both Aaron and Colin expressing gratitude for their productive working relationship and excitement about continuing to work together in the future.

In this Age Grouper for Life episode, Colin interviews the great, Raymond Botelho. Raymond recounts how he got into triathlon in 1994 after a friend dared him to do a race near his hometown of Newport, Rhode Island. He had no prior experience but was eager to try it, and was mentored by an experienced triathlete named Jim Merchant who helped him train for his first Ironman race in 1996. Since, he started racing professionally in 1999. They discuss the importance of swimming, coaching philosophies and experiences, and reflections on a storied career. Thanks for joining the podcast, Raymond!

You can visit Raymond’s coaching website at https://www.raybotelhofitness.com/.

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Show Notes:

Becoming a Professional Triathlete @ 3:00

Raymond started racing professionally in 1999, working multiple jobs to support his training. He had some early successes but also struggled with fueling and pacing, leading to a few DNFs. He eventually broke the 9-hour Ironman barrier in 2014 and continued to improve his times over the next several years.

The Importance of Swimming @ 7:40

Raymond emphasizes the importance of swimming, especially open water swimming, for triathletes. He discusses how he became a strong swimmer through lifeguarding and self-teaching, and how he incorporates long, steady swim sessions into his training. He encourages athletes to focus on improving their swimming rather than neglecting it.

Coaching Philosophy and Experiences @ 11:20

Raymond shares his coaching philosophy, which focuses on helping athletes of all levels and backgrounds achieve their goals. He recounts a story of coaching a novice triathlete to an Ironman finish, highlighting the importance of building trust and providing the right guidance. He believes the training is often harder than the race itself.

Reflections on a Storied Career @ 19:30

Raymond reflects on his triathlon career, including the highs of breaking 9 hours in Ironman and the lows of DNFs that he now sees as learning experiences. He emphasizes the importance of pushing one's limits and not being afraid to fail, as it is part of the journey to becoming a better athlete.

In this Age Grouper for Life podcast, Colin introduces Norman Kim, a long-time triathlete and coach who has been in the sport for over 35 years. Norman shares details about his family, work as a toxicologist, and early athletic background in running and rowing in college. He also discusses his success in both long- and short-course racing, the mental and physical benefits of triathlon, involvement with Northeast Multisport and the Top Gunz teams, and future aspirations in the sport. Thanks for joining the podcast, Norman!

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Show Notes:

Norman's triathlon origin story @ 10:00

Norman describes how he got into triathlon in the 1980s, starting with his first race in Newport, Rhode Island which had a very different format and equipment compared to today's triathlons. He discusses the evolution of the sport and how he gradually transitioned to longer distances over time.

Norman's success in short course and long course racing @ 21:52

Norman talks about his extensive experience representing Team USA in long course world championships, where he has achieved several top finishes. He shares the challenges and rewards of competing at that high level as he has aged.

The mental and physical benefits of triathlon @ 39:00

Norman explains how triathlon has positively impacted his life and career, helping him develop mental toughness and the ability to overcome challenges. He discusses the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

The triathlon community and team experiences @ 40:52

Norman reflects on the value of the triathlon community, including his involvement with the Northeast Multisport and Top Gunz teams. He emphasizes the importance of active participation and supporting others at all levels of the sport.

Advice and closing thoughts @ 1:03:05

Norman shares his hopes for the continued growth and evolution of triathlon, and encourages others to embrace the sport as a lifelong pursuit that can provide valuable lessons beyond just racing and results.

In this Age Grouper for Life episode, Colin interview Leslie Battle. Leslie shares how she got into triathlon in 2009 after being inspired by a friend's Ironman race. She started with a sprint triathlon and was hooked, going on to complete over 350 triathlons, including winning numerous national championships as an Athena athlete. Leslie discusses how triathlon helped her lose 100 pounds and find a sense of community and belonging that was missing in her life. She also discusses her training approach and mindset, favorite races and experiences, and future goals and aspirations. Thanks for joining the podcast, Leslie!

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Show Notes:

Advocating for Athena/Clydesdale Representation @ 8:07

Leslie has been a vocal advocate for greater recognition and equal treatment of Athena and Clydesdale athletes within the sport of triathlon. She has worked tirelessly to ensure these categories have a place at national championships and other major events, fighting for parity in terms of awards, athlete of the year honors, and qualification for Team USA. Leslie's efforts have helped open more doors for Athena and Clydesdale athletes to compete at the highest levels.

Training Approach and Mindset @ 31:34

Leslie discusses her training approach, noting that she prefers shorter, more frequent swim sessions rather than long, infrequent swims. She emphasizes the importance of balancing triathlon with other aspects of life and not letting it become an unhealthy obsession. Leslie also shares her perspective on the mental side of the sport, encouraging athletes to celebrate their accomplishments rather than focusing on shortcomings.

Favorite Races and Experiences @ 52:47

When asked about her favorite race, Leslie fondly recalls the Musselman Triathlon, which had a strong community feel with local bands, wine prizes, and a pre-race lecture in the concert hall. She also discusses her experiences racing internationally, including the World Championships in Australia, and how the logistics of traveling with a bike have become more challenging in recent years.

Looking Ahead @ 55:25

As Leslie has gotten older, her drive to compete in certain high-profile events like Kona has waned, though she remains passionate about the sport. She is exploring new challenges, such as gravel races, and focusing on enjoying the journey rather than chasing specific time goals or accolades. Leslie emphasizes the importance of staying active and engaged in the sport, even as priorities and interests evolve over time.

In this episode, Colin recaps his incredible 2025 season. He first discusses his recent sports hernia surgery which he has been dealing with for several months. Colin reflects on his training approach this season, which consisted of a lot more run and bike volume compared to previous seasons. Some of his race highlights of the year include the overall win at the White Mountains Half Ironman, setting a course record at the Boston Triathlon, going sub nine hours at Ironman Lake Placid. Colin also chats about his 2025 plans and goals. Another phenomenal, inspiring season, Colin!

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Show Notes:

Injury and Surgery @ 0:00

Colin discusses his recent sports hernia surgery, which he had to undergo after dealing with the injury for several months leading up to the Kona Ironman. He describes the challenges of training and racing through the injury, and the decision to finally get it surgically repaired.

Training Volume and Strengths @ 6:00

Colin reflects on his training volume and approach in 2024, noting that he increased his run and bike training significantly compared to previous years. However, he acknowledges that this high volume may have contributed to his injury. He highlights his success in areas like stretching and self-care, as well as his improved bike power and speed.

Race Recaps @ 15:00

Colin provides detailed recaps of his key races in 2024, including winning the White Mountains Half, setting a course record at the Boston Triathlon, and his strong performance at Ironman Lake Placid where he went under 9 hours. He also discusses his challenges at the Kona Ironman, where the hernia injury impacted his run.

2025 Goals and Plans @ 39:00

Looking ahead to 2025, Colin outlines his goals and race plans, including a focus on improving his swimming through more strength training and video analysis. He plans to race the Boston Marathon, Eagleman 70.3, White Mountains Half, and Ironman Lake Placid with the goal of qualifying for the Ironman World Championships in Nice, France.

Recap and Reflections @ 1:02:00

In closing, Colin reflects on his overall 2024 season, noting both the successes and challenges. He is proud of his accomplishments but acknowledges areas for improvement, and expresses excitement for the opportunities in 2025 as he continues to push his limits in the sport

In this Age Grouper for Life Podcast, Colin interviews Clay Emge from the Every Man Jack triathlon team. Clay is a 40-year old triathlete from Tyler, Texas who works as a financial advisor and has four young kids. He and Colin discuss their similar backgrounds in swimming and running, as well as their experience with triathlon over the past 16+ years. It’s been quite the journey for Clay and looking forward to following his future endeavors, including a trip to Nice for the Ironman World Championship in 2025. Thanks for joining the

podcast, Clay!

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Show Notes-

Clay's professional triathlon career @ 3:31

Clay shares that he raced as a professional triathlete for a few years, including qualifying for and competing in Kona. However, after an injury and with the uncertainty of becoming a father, he transitioned back to age-group racing in 2015. He found more success as an age-grouper, including a 2nd place finish at Kona in 2018, before returning to pro racing for a couple more years.

Motivations and the inclusive nature of triathlon @ 14:06

Clay discusses what keeps him motivated in the sport, highlighting the relationships and community he's built through triathlon. He shares a story about how watching the midnight finishers at Ironman Texas inspired his wife to take up the sport. Clay emphasizes the inclusive and inspiring nature of triathlon.

Training and balancing family life @ 16:40

Clay explains how he structures his training around his busy family life, prioritizing early morning workouts before his kids wake up. He discusses the importance of discipline and making sacrifices to maintain a high level of fitness. Clay also shares insights on the mental challenges of taking time off due to injury.

Cycling training and Zwift @ 35:00

Clay details his approach to cycling training, including a focus on power-based workouts on Zwift, as well as group rides on his TT bike. He discusses the benefits of Zwift for structured workouts and mental engagement.

Reflections and advice @ 47:18

Clay provides advice and reflections for fellow age-group triathletes, emphasizing the importance of keeping the sport fun, building a supportive community, and not getting too caught up in strict goals and metrics. He encourages athletes to appreciate the ups and downs of the journey.

Upcoming races and the World Championship in Nice @ 58:31

Clay shares his race plans, including Galveston 70.3 and the Ironman World Championship in Nice, France. He discusses his excitement and strategy for the hilly Nice course, as well as the strong European competition he expects to face.

In this Age Grouper for Life episode, Scott Tindal at Fuelin joins us again to discuss updates to the Fuelin nutrition app, explore off-season nutrition strategies for triathletes, and other beneficial nutrition advice. Enjoy the latest podcast and thanks for joining again, Scott!

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Show Notes:

• Fuelin launching revamped app with improved UI, food logging, and expanded features

• Off-season nutrition should balance recovery, injury rehab, and gradual body composition changes

• Consistent nutrition habits (protein, fiber, hydration) remain crucial even during reduced training

• Avoiding extremes and tailoring nutrition to individual needs/goals is key for triathletes

Topics

Fuelin App Updates

• New version launching in a few weeks with soft launch

• Completely revamped backend for improved stability

• New home page allowing users to customize their experience

• Improved food logging with AI assistant "Scooter" for easier tracking

• Enhanced sweat and carb testing features

• Android version expected Jan/Feb 2025

• Expansion into German market planned

Off-Season Nutrition Strategies

• Balance between recovery and maintaining habits

• Focus on protein intake for injury recovery and lean mass maintenance

• Gradual, controlled weight fluctuations (2-3kg) can be beneficial for periodization

• Maintain fiber intake (fruits/veggies) for overall health

• Adjust calorie intake based on reduced training load, but don't drastically cut back

• Nutrition remains crucial for injury recovery and rehabilitation

Common Triathlete Nutrition Mistakes

• Pigeonholing into extreme "camps" (e.g., very low-carb vs. high-carb)

• Neglecting nutrition during injury recovery periods

• Misunderstanding that weight loss is primarily about calorie deficit, not specific diets

• Lack of consistency in nutrition habits across training cycles

Personal Insights from Scott

• Completed multiple marathons (Sydney, New York) and working towards 70.3 races

• Emphasizes learning from personal nutrition mistakes (e.g., hydration issues in NY Marathon)

• Advocates for balance between structure and flexibility in nutrition plans

Next Steps

• Watch for Fuelin app update launch in coming weeks

• Consider how to implement off-season nutrition strategies (protein, fiber, adjusted calories)

• Evaluate personal nutrition "camps" and aim for more balanced approach

• Maintain nutrition focus even during injury recovery or reduced training periods

• Look for announcements about potential Kona 2025 changes (hinted at, unconfirmed)

In this episode, Colin interviews the amazing Donald Brooks. Donald won his age group at the World Championship in Kona by over 20 minutes, with an impressive time of 8:58:51. His training emphasizes consistency, balancing family life, and adapting workouts around commitments. Enjoy the latest podcast as they discuss Donald’s athletic background, keys to his successes, training approach, nutrition strategies, and upcoming races. Thanks for joining the Age Grouper for Life Podcast, Donald!

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Show notes:

Donald's Athletic Background

• Started triathlon in 2014 after background in underwater hockey and masters swimming

Underwater hockey provided strong cardiovascular base and hypoxic training benefits

Transitioned to triathlon, quickly entering an Ironman-distance race (too soon, in retrospect)

Recent Race Successes

• Won 4 world championships in 4 weeks in 2023:

o 70.3 Worlds in Finland (age group win)

o Ironman Worlds in Nice (age group win by 17 seconds)

o World Triathlon Championships in Spain (super sprint and standard distance wins)

o Kona 2023: Age group win with 8:58:51 (52min swim, 4:36 bike, 3:00 run)

• Key to success: proper fueling (94g carbs/hour at Kona), heat acclimatization, and strategic race execution

Training Approach

• Swim: 4x/week (3 morning sessions, 1 evening speed work)

o Heavy use of paddles to build upper body strength

• Bike: 6 days/week, mix of outdoor rides and indoor trainer

o Tuesday night "chain gang" group ride for high intensity

o Long rides on TT bike closer to race

• Run: 3x/week, mostly steady-state (5:00/km pace)

o Parkrun on Saturdays for speed work

• Minimal strength training, some single-leg squats for stability

Race Nutrition Strategy

• Focused on increasing carb intake: 94g/hour at Kona vs. 43g/hour at Nice

o Proper hydration crucial for absorbing nutrition during the race

• Heat Acclimation

o Used heat chamber at local university for 10 days before Nice

o Improved sweat rate and ability to maintain effort in heat

Balancing Training and Life

• Works as director of an electrical company

• Married with two children (ages 12 and 9)

• Adapts training schedule around family commitments

Next Steps

• Focus on 2024 race season:

• 70.3 World Championships in Taupō, New Zealand (declined)

• Ironman World Championship in Nice, France

• 70.3 World Championship in Marbella, Spain

In this episode, Colin interviews Marcel van Duinen the founder Tri-Excellence, which focuses on developing technology and sensors to help endurance athletes optimize their health and performance. He discusses his background in healthcare and how that led him to start Tri-Excellence about a year ago. Colin had the privilege of experiencing their core cooling product in Kona this year. Enjoy the latest podcast as they discuss this product in depth, offer many insights, and talk about future plans of the company. Thanks for joining the Age Grouper for Life podcast, Marcel!

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Show Notes:

Tri-Excellence Core Cooling Product @ 5:36

Marcel explains the motivation behind Tri-Excellence core cooling product, which aims to help endurance athletes better manage their core body temperature during training and competition. He discusses the limitations of existing cooling solutions and the research that went into designing an effective, comfortable, and practical cooling system.

Colin's Experience Using the Core Cooling Product at Kona @ 18:47

Colin shares his experience using the Tri-Excellence core cooling product during the Kona Ironman World Championship. He describes the benefits he experienced, including improved ability to maintain pace and finish the marathon strongly, as well as the ease of use and integration with the race environment.

Insights on Core Temperature Management and Recovery @ 38:13

Marcel and Colin discuss the importance of core temperature management not just during exercise, but also for post-exercise recovery and long-term health. They highlight research showing the negative impacts of prolonged elevated core temperatures and how the Tri-Excellence product can help mitigate these effects.

Future Plans for Tri-Excellence Continuous Lactate Monitoring @ 59:30

Marcel briefly introduces Tri-Excellence continuous lactate monitoring product, which aims to provide a more practical and less invasive way for athletes to track their lactate levels during training and competition. They agree to discuss this product in more detail in a future conversation.

Recap and Next Steps @ 1:03:10

Colin and Marcel wrap up the discussion, with Colin expressing his enthusiasm for the Tri-Excellence core cooling product and interest in continuing to use and provide feedback on it. They agree to reconnect soon to discuss the lactate monitoring product in more depth.

Website: https://tri-excellence.com/

In this episode, Colin interviews guest Matthew Schuster, an age group triathlete and co-founder of a sports nutrition startup called Addra Labs. Matthew shares his background, including transitioning from a corporate career to becoming an endurance athlete and entrepreneur. Enjoy the listen as we dive into Matthew’s triathlon journey. Thanks for joining the Age Grouper for Life podcast, Matthew!

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Show Notes:

Matthew's journey into triathlon @ 4:11

Matthew describes how he got into triathlon after a period of being out of shape and unhealthy. He hired a coach early on which helped him get started and fall in love with the sport. Matthew discusses his progression from shorter races to Ironman, including overcoming a major crash injury before qualifying for Kona.

The mental and physical benefits of training @ 11:14

Colin and Matthew discuss the strong connection between physical fitness and mental health, and how maintaining a high level of fitness can positively impact one's overall well-being, even during periods of reduced training.

Nutrition strategies and approaches @ 13:27

The conversation turns to nutrition, with Matthew and Colin sharing their perspectives on topics like calorie tracking, macronutrient balance, and the challenges of fueling properly as an endurance athlete. They also touch on the role of protein intake and the potential benefits of supplements like creatine.

Matthew's first Kona experience @ 46:32

Matthew reflects on his first Kona World Championship race, describing how he intentionally went into the event with low expectations, which ultimately impacted his performance and satisfaction with the outcome. He shares the lessons he learned about the importance of having specific goals and the "killer instinct" to push through discomfort.

Addra Labs and the focus on endurance protein @ 1:03:23

Matthew provides an in-depth overview of the motivation and science behind Addra Lab's protein bars, which are formulated specifically for endurance athletes. He discusses the company's approach to product development, the unique nutritional profile, and the feedback they've received from athletes.

Wrap-up and partnership announcement @ 1:18:11

Colin and Matthew conclude the discussion by announcing a partnership between Addra Labs and Top Gunz, including a discount code for listeners. They express excitement about the collaboration and encourage listeners to try the Addra Lab protein bars.