Coaches on Couches

Okay campers, rise, and shine, and don't forget your booties 'cause it's cold out there… it's cold out there every day. Today we are throwing it back to an oldie but goodie for all of you cyclists, runners, and triathletes that loath getting up before the sun. As always, please don't forget to subscribe, leave comments, and high five your neighbor.

For you cyclists, runners, and triathletes who just love to race every chance you get, this one is for you! We've talked a lot in past episodes about racing too much (they can't all be A races), putting all your eggs in one basket (having too much weight on one single event), or not having a goal at all (not the worst thing ever). On this go round, we're going to try to bring it all together and help you event crazed athletes manage a long season while avoiding burnout, managing expectations, and preventing a trip to the big D (and I don't mean Dallas). It's all about balance on the couch today baby!

When someone is considering taking on an epic event like a half or full ironman, the first question we get is "when should I start?" The next question we get about 3 months later would be "is it too late now?" The truth is the way you feel on race day is directly linked to your longevity in the sport. If you constantly go in under prepared and crawl across the finish line, there's a small chance you'll stick around the sport of triathlon. So in this episode we chat about some considerations for when you should start training based on two major things: experience and the duration you'll be out there. We also talk about the pros and cons of going at it alone with an off the shelf plan, versus having a coach, or being involved in a training group like our BPC Squad. So if you are wondering when you need to start getting at it, join us for another episode of Coaches on Couches. If you are interested in the BPC Squad or our Memphis 70.3 Beginner Group, you can find out more info by going to www.buildpeakcompete.com/immem or buildpeakcompete.com/squad

We are totally stoked to have Jonny Brown on our growing team of coaches. Having known Jonny for some time, this is a full circle, we are old, moment for us. He brings a ton of experience and clearly knows how to train at a high level. So Coach D and Coach B-Fun sit down with the former US Pro National Road Race Champion and chat about his role as a coach with BPC, what he's excited about as a coach, and naturally get into his professional career and how his training has changed. There is one major nugget in this podcast, and that is, no matter if you are purely recreational, or an elite athlete, setting NEW goals after achieving a BIG goal is TOUGH!

Stick it to the end and find out how you can win two 3 day passes and mobile lodging to the 2022 Cyclocross World Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas! New year, new you! Despite the ongoing uncertainties of the pandemic, Coach D and Coach B-Fun talk about what they are excited for in 2022. They chat about everything from local races, to athletes with big goals, and the exciting aspects of the pro racing world in 2022. There is a lot to be jazzed about in cycling, running, and triathlon!

Prepare yourself for an award show so big, so disorganized, so flashy, that it could only be dubbed...The Hammies. Coach D and Coach B-Fun look back on the cycling, running, and triathlon world in 2021 and recap some of the best and worst moments both globally and locally. Some categories include:

- Best Race Moment(s)

- Biggest Race Disappointment

- Breakout Professional Season

- Biggest Event Attended by BPC Athletes

- Best Local Event

- Best Cheering Section by an Individual

- Best Cheering Section by a Group

The list goes on! So join us for an amazing stint on you comfiest lounge piece and witness the wondery of... The Hammies! Don't forget to send us your ideas for more categories in 2022!

If you could have a smart trainer OR a power meter and a dumb trainer, which would you choose? That is the question that sparked this episode.

Our athletes do a lot of training indoors, especially in the fall and winter. For most, it's a matter of pure convenience. For some fair weather riders, well, it's the less fair weather that drives them to the turbo. No one really get's into cycling or triathlon to train inside all the time, but when it comes down to getting in the work or not, you can't deny the efficiency and ease of training in your own little house of pain.

So in this episode Coach D and Coach B-Fun chat about the different types of indoor trainers, some pros and cons of both smart and "dumb" trainers, and run through several different aspects of choosing the right trainer for your needs.

We say it all the time, fueling is the 4th sport in triathlon. The longer you are out there, the more dialed in your nutrition and hydration strategies need to be. Since Ironman Memphis 70.3 is coming up soon, we figured it timely to talk about how to fuel the entire day, from the time the alarm goes off to the time you cross that finish line. Coach D will be giving a lot of personal examples and his own time schedule for staying topped off. So all you long course triathletes load up on snacks and join us for another episode of Coaches on Couches.

On this episode we were super excited to have Erika Larsen (Ironman Race Director) and Caroline Norris (Head of Sales and Events at the race venue, Shelby Farms Park) on the couch. A lot has changed in a year, including every single leg of the Memphis Ironman 70.3 race course. So we figured we'd call in the big guns and get the info straight from the folks who...well...make the info. If you are doing this event, you will not want to miss this. It's better than reading the athlete guide. :) We cover everything from check-in, to parking, to what there is to do in this giant park for 4-8 hours. And yeah, we cover the courses in detail. Who better to describe the course than a couple of slouches who spend hours each week riding and running these routes!? So sit back, go all zone 2, and join us for another episode of Coaches on Couches

-----

We need volunteers! Go to https://ironman.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=52424 to sign up to help with the event. You can literally choose your location and shift on the site.

With the TN State Criterium coming to our home turf, we figured it timely to talk about some of the golden rules of criterium racing. We'll cover a little on what crit racing is, what to expect, some strategy, and how NOT to look like a total greenhorn. So if you are newer to bike racing or are considering jumping in on your first crit, grab your chamois, your hammers, and join us for another episode of Coaches on Couches.