Endurance Unlimited

In this episode, we have none other than Joe Friel, a legendary figure in the world of endurance coaching. As the co-founder of TrainingPeaks and author of several seminal books on athletic training, Joe has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of endurance sports. The fifth edition of the Triathlon Training Bible hit shelves earlier this month. Plus, he has kept his peak health and participation in the sports scene into his 80s.

In our conversation, Joe takes us on a journey through his career: from opening the first triathlon store in the U.S. in the late 1980s to becoming a pioneering coach when the concept was still in its infancy. He shares the challenges and triumphs of building a coaching business, from charging a mere $5 for training plans to achieving his goal of having 70 clients.

We'll break down Joe's philosophy on integrating RPE and data, stressing the importance of experienced athletes tuning into their own bodies in conjunction with the objective metrics from technology.

Joe also provides insights into the evolution of triathlon coaching, his prolific writing career started by personal health challenges, and his peers' concerns about sharing his knowledge too freely — a concern echoed in today's discussions around technology and AI.

**pardon the audio quality in the first five minutes of the interview, as there were some technical difficulties.

In this episode, Dr. Brian Gearity, professor and director of the Master of Arts Sport Coaching program at the University of Denver, talks with Dirk Friel about the intersection of sociology and coaching.

Dr. Gearity, with his extensive experience in sports sociology, coaching and exercise science, provides valuable insights into the complexities of coaching that come from social constructs. The thought-provoking discussion also delves into the difference between sports psychology and sports sociology. After listening to the episode, coaches and athletes will better understand how coaches are shaped by various social factors, from historical contexts to cultural influences.

From the significance of inclusivity in sports to the nuanced societal dynamics that influence team cohesion and performance, Dirk and Dr. Gearity talk through some contemporary challenges that coaches face today. The discussion is a reminder to coaches and athletes that excellence in coaching transcends physical training.

Dirk Friel digs into Chris' approach to strength training. His philosophy is underpinned by thorough body movement assessments, identifying and targeting an athlete's limiters, and a belief in the vital role of strength work for injury prevention and performance improvement. He points out that he advocates year-round strength training tailored to each phase of an athlete's season.

Lee, the director of Sports Performance at Kinesis Integrated, holds a physical education and exercise science degree and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the NSCA. With almost a decade of experience, he serves as a strength coach for the Tinman Elite Running Team and has worked extensively with endurance coaches to integrate effective strength programs.

In addition to coaching Dirk's strength training program, he is also an advisor to new strength training features being added to TrainingPeaks, providing guidance and feedback for new tools coming to the platform in early 2024. Over 90% of TrainingPeaks coaches prescribe strength training through TrainingPeaks.

In this episode, Lance and Dirk discuss the importance of cultivating a multidimensional sports foundation for young athletes before zeroing in on a particular sport. Hear about the upsides of a mixed sporting background and the risks of early specialization. Lance also shares insightful experiences as a coach (guiding Brent McMahon from the junior ranks to retirement from the pro circuit) and a parent of two high-performing kids.

When is the right time for a young athlete to specialize in a sport? How far is too far for those athletes? What role do parents play in the progression of their children's athletics? Why is it important for young athletes to have a broad range of skills? Find out what has worked for Lance and his athletes for over 25 years, including his son and daughter. 

Mike Ricci, founder and head coach at D3 Multisport and After 40 Reboot, joins the CoachCast this month to talk all things triathlon offseason. Mike shares several tips that any athlete can do to take the offseason into race season with more momentum. 

With over 20 years of coaching experience, Mike has worked with IRONMAN age group winners and national champions. He believes in working on weaknesses during the offseason to set up the coming season of success. From goal setting to blood testing to strength and mobility programming, Mike and Dirk discuss how small adjustments to your training routine during this time can lead to significant improvements. 

Whether you're a coach looking to navigate the business landscape or an athlete considering hiring a coach, this episode offers valuable insights and perspectives from seasoned professionals.

Three diverse coaches in business structure, sport type and location open up to shed light on their sources of income, ranging from subscription-based coaching to book royalties and bike fits. Learn the differences between U.S.-based and European-based coaching businesses. They discuss the challenges and opportunities coaches face in the marketplace and where they see the future of coaching going beyond an increased focus on personalized services. 

The physical demands of cyclists and cyclors take center stage in this episode of the CoachCast. Ben Day, a retired pro cyclist and head performance coach of the American Magic team, shares his insights on his transition from pro cycling to yacht racing and the advent of cyclors crewing race boats. 

Cyclors, using their lower-body strength, can produce 30-40% more power than arm grinders, making them more efficient in manipulating sail shapes and setting up the boat for optimal performance. The evolving rules of the America's Cup have opened the door to the importance of cyclists and the physical abilities they bring to the table. 

Learn how absolute power is the key to a great cyclor, and the concerns of watts per kilogram, so critical to World Tour riders, do not apply. Churning out 450 watts for nearly 20 minutes is the baseline for any cyclist or rower looking to take on racing boats skimming the water's surface at 100 kph. Ben and Dirk also examine the training and nutrition it takes to develop and maintain these efforts to claim the trophy of the oldest international competition still operating. 

In this episode of the TrainingPeaks CoachCast, host Dirk Friel interviews Jill Colangelo, a researcher focusing on mental health in endurance athletes. Colangelo shares insights from her ultra endurance experiences, sports psychiatry work and research, highlighting the higher prevalence of mental illness among ultra endurance athletes. 

She discusses the need for recognition and treatment of exercise addiction, as well as the importance of balancing athletic pursuits with a fulfilling life outside of sports. Colangelo also delves into overtraining syndrome, its symptoms and the challenges in diagnosing it. Offering practical solutions for maintaining physical and mental well-being, she stresses the role of coaches in promoting rest, nutrition and mindful training. 

Tune in for an eye-opening discussion on mental health in the endurance sports community.

Renee Eastman explains the details of the five mistakes people make in losing weight as endurance athletes, which she published in a blog post on the CTS website. From overcompensating for nutrition deficits to fad diets to short-term fixes and misplaced belief that cardio drives weight loss, learn how to use slow and boring tactics to have the best results in losing weight while maintaining performance goals. 

Eastman is a Premier Coach for CTS with over 20 years of experience coaching endurance sports. She has a master’s degree in Exercise Science and is a NASM-certified nutrition coach.

In this episode, Gordo Byrn explains the importance of base training, which he defines as "the ability to move for the duration of your goal event." Highlighting that athletes should focus on building general capacity before moving on to specific capacity training. He believes that many endurance athletes make the mistake of focusing too much on specific capacity training and not enough on general capacity training, which can lead to overtraining and injury.

Byrn has been called the Tony Robbins in a Speedo because he is a self-help guru and an ex-pro IRONMAN athlete with seven sub-nine-hour IRONMAN finishes. Byrn is also a past winner of the Ultraman triathlon in Kona, Hawaii. He is a coach and author of the book "Going Long." He has taken about a decade off to focus on his family and is now focusing on being fit after 50. Still, the lessons he shares in the episode apply to any athlete at any age.

Listen in as Bryn and Dirk Friel also discuss the importance of recovery and adaptation. Breaking down how Byrn uses a "5:2" training approach in combination with physiological testing to ensure he and his athletes get the most out of training and a readiness test he performs each morning and night to determine how his body manages the training load to dynamically guide subsequent workouts.