Join hydration, fueling and performance nutrition expert, Chris Newport, as she uncovers the critical mistakes athletes make and shares science-backed methods to dial in your plan, so you can train and race your best. 

Here's what she reviews:

• Why guessing, or taking the "shiny object" strategy, can get you in trouble
• How to avoid the "kitchen sink approach" 
• Why gut and physical training need to align
• Why carb choice matters
• How your fueling plan should vary (and why it really should be unique)
• How GI issues may lead to something deeper to address
• How electrolytes can be misused (and potentially fatal)

Skip all these mistakes and take a shortcut to dialing in your fueling and hydration plan, by joining our Fueling & Hydration Bootcamp here: https://www.theenduranceedge.com/fuelingbootcamp

Support the show

Download our free resources:

• 6 Steps to Triathlon Success: Free Guide
• Hydration Guide for Athletes
• Runner's Fueling & Hydration Cheat Sheet
• Guide to High Performance Healthy Eating

Find us here: TheEnduranceEdge.com
Race with us: Humans of Steel Olympic & Sprint Triathlon at Harris Lake, NC
Purchase Safe Supplements here.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook

Coach Chris discusses sweat rate, and why it matters more than you think for optimal hydration. Sweat is your body’s primary cooling mechanism—and how understanding yours could be the key to unlocking better performance and smarter hydration. In this episode, we dive into what influences your sweat rate, how to test it, and why it’s one of the most overlooked (yet powerful) tools for endurance athletes.

You'll learn:

🔥 What you think is enough hydration might be way off
🌡️ One environmental factor matters more than you realize
⚖️ A small shift in body weight could mean a big drop in performance
💧 There’s a sweet spot for hydration—and yes, you can overdo it
🔬 One part of your sweat profile never changes (and why that matters)
🏃‍♀️ Why two workouts in the same week could require totally different fueling plans
📈 How to uncover trends in your sweat rate (and what to do with the data)
🤯 Real-world examples that may surprise you

Ready to dial in your hydration and fueling plan?
 👉 Get our free sweat rate calculator (only available through the hydration guide (link below) or priority list for the Fueling & Hydration Bootcamp--and IN the bootcamp)
👉 Join the Fueling & Hydration Bootcamp waitlist at theenduranceedge.com/fuelingbootcamp
👉 Explore home or in-office sweat testing options if you’re ready for personalized support

Support the show

Download our free resources:

• 6 Steps to Triathlon Success: Free Guide
• Hydration Guide for Athletes
• Runner's Fueling & Hydration Cheat Sheet
• Guide to High Performance Healthy Eating

Find us here: TheEnduranceEdge.com
Race with us: Humans of Steel Olympic & Sprint Triathlon at Harris Lake, NC
Purchase Safe Supplements here.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook

Join Coach Chris (and Race Director) as she discusses why racing local matters! 

She discusses how:

• Local race fees support small race directors, vendors, volunteers, and sometimes charitable causes like Girls on the Run
• Racing locally eliminates the logistical complexities of travel, shipping bikes, and hotel stays
• Local events help you build community by connecting with potential training partners
• Use local races to test nutrition, pacing strategies, and transition skills for bigger events
• The relaxed atmosphere of community races means less pressure and more fun
• North Carolina offers diverse racing companies including Setup Events, Jones Racing Company, She Tris, FS Series, Brick Endurance, Trivium Racing, OBX Triathlon, and Whitewater Center
• Our Humans of Steel Triathlon (August 3rd, 2025) features a unique reverse format (run-bike-swim) and supports Girls on the Run of the Triangle. 

Join us at humansofsteelracing.com for our next event, or check out one of the many other fantastic local racing companies in North Carolina!

Support the show

Download our free resources:

• 6 Steps to Triathlon Success: Free Guide
• Hydration Guide for Athletes
• Runner's Fueling & Hydration Cheat Sheet
• Guide to High Performance Healthy Eating

Find us here: TheEnduranceEdge.com
Race with us: Humans of Steel Olympic & Sprint Triathlon at Harris Lake, NC
Purchase Safe Supplements here.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook

Coach Chris interviews Thomas Henson, a personal injury attorney specializing in catastrophic injuries and avid cyclist, who shares critical insurance and safety information that can protect cyclists and all active individuals on the roads.

We discuss: 

• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) is vital but often overlooked insurance that protects you beyond just car accidents
• UM/UIM coverage follows you when cycling, running, or even walking, and extends to family members in your household
• North Carolina's minimum required auto insurance ($30,000) is often insufficient to cover medical expenses from even moderate injuries
• Catastrophic cycling injuries can result in medical expenses reaching hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars
• Detailed documentation after a cycling accident is crucial, including medical attention, police reports, witness information, and photographs
• North Carolina's contributory negligence law means cyclists could recover nothing if found even 1% at fault for an accident
• Safety practices like wearing helmets, using lights, and avoiding confrontational behavior protect you physically and legally
• Keep detailed records of all cycling equipment purchases and upgrades to ensure proper valuation after an accident
• GoPro cameras can provide valuable evidence in cycling accidents
• Always seek proper medical attention after an accident, particularly for head injuries which should be evaluated by concussion specialists. 

Want more info? Check out the episode photos, video and more here: https://www.theenduranceedge.com/cycling-safely-legal-issues-the-insurance-you-need/

Support the show

Download our free resources:

• 6 Steps to Triathlon Success: Free Guide
• Hydration Guide for Athletes
• Runner's Fueling & Hydration Cheat Sheet
• Guide to High Performance Healthy Eating

Find us here: TheEnduranceEdge.com
Race with us: Humans of Steel Olympic & Sprint Triathlon at Harris Lake, NC
Purchase Safe Supplements here.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook

Coach Chris Newport interviews fellow Coach Jason, who shares his journey of getting faster on the bike—without getting any fitter. Discover how he became 60 watts more efficient through aerodynamic tweaks and smart upgrades that any athlete can implement.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• What clue tipped Jason off that he could be faster—without training harder
 • The eye-opening stat that changed how he thought about riding into the wind
 • How one small gear upgrade can help you gain a full mile per hour
 • Why your clothing might be sabotaging your speed
 • A simple race-day ritual that helped him reduce drag (and raised a few eyebrows)
 • The under-the-radar gear swap that gave him a measurable wattage boost
 • How a hydration setup can either help—or hurt—your aerodynamics
 • When it actually makes sense to break out of aero position
• The often-overlooked maintenance trick that could be costing you speed
• An affordable upgrade that delivers the look (and benefits) of a full disc wheel
• Why raw power isn’t the full story when it comes to cycling speed
• How focusing on the right things can keep you grounded—even when conditions throw a curveball

Spoiler alert: it’s not just about what you can do on the bike—it’s about what you should do to make sure you’re ready to run strong off it.

Want to work with us? Check out our 6 Steps to Triathlon Success freebie below or head right over to www.theenduranceedge.com/triathloncoaching to apply to work with us!

Support the show

Download our free resources:

• 6 Steps to Triathlon Success: Free Guide
• Hydration Guide for Athletes
• Runner's Fueling & Hydration Cheat Sheet
• Guide to High Performance Healthy Eating

Find us here: TheEnduranceEdge.com
Race with us: Humans of Steel Olympic & Sprint Triathlon at Harris Lake, NC
Purchase Safe Supplements here.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook

In this episode dedicated to functional nutrition, Coach Chris and her dietetic intern discuss gut health. Our gut is truly our second brain, affecting everything from immunity and inflammation to mood and mental health, with 99% of our DNA coming from our microbiome rather than our human cells.

**I'm not loving the audio, but hang tight through the end, as there's some great stories and pearls, AND a gut reset challenge!

You'll learn:

• The DIGIN framework to gut health. 
• Identify the five key disruptors of gut health via the STAIN framework. 
• Why gut health is crucial for immunity and inflammation control. 
• How the nervous system creates a powerful brain-gut connection, explaining why stress (like trauma) impacts digestion and gut health affects mood
• How your gut has its own circadian rhythm, and what to do to support it
• The Five R healing framework (Remove, Replace, Re-inoculate, Repair, and Rebalance), that offers a systematic approach to gut healing

Try our gut reset challenge (add one fermented food daily, eat 25-30g of fiber, and get 8 hours of sleep) and share your experience with us on social media @theenduranceedge – we'd love to hear how your gut health improves!

Learn more about our Longevity Nutrition Coaching program, where you'll get access to this content, plus 20% off nutrition consults, genetic testing, and fee-free gut testing and more at https://www.theenduranceedge.com/longevity 

Support the show

Download our free resources:

• 6 Steps to Triathlon Success: Free Guide
• Hydration Guide for Athletes
• Runner's Fueling & Hydration Cheat Sheet
• Guide to High Performance Healthy Eating

Find us here: TheEnduranceEdge.com
Race with us: Humans of Steel Olympic & Sprint Triathlon at Harris Lake, NC
Purchase Safe Supplements here.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook

 Coach Chris unpacks what it really takes to improve as an endurance athlete—beyond just logging more miles or training harder. 

She dives into some of the methodology that she and her coaching team use for their athletes, including:

• The key principle that underpins every successful training plan (and how to know if you're doing it right)
• Why your heart rate zones might be steering you wrong—and how to truly dial in your intensity
• The real secret weapon for recovery (hint: it’s not a supplement or fancy device)
• How to decode your fitness, fatigue, and form using data that many athletes overlook
• Why big performance gains often come from small technical tweaks—not more time on the road
• What elite athletes are tracking that most weekend warriors aren’t (but should be)
• And why the smartest athletes focus less on doing more—and more on doing it better

Ready to stop guessing and start progressing? 

Visit theenduranceedge.com/triathloncoaching to learn more about our coaching programs and sign up for one of our open houses to apply to work with us. 

Visit theenduranceedge.com/fuelingbootcamp to learn more about the Fueling & Hydration bootcamp, and how to improve your fitness with proper fueling for endurance sports. 

Support the show

Download our free resources:

• 6 Steps to Triathlon Success: Free Guide
• Hydration Guide for Athletes
• Runner's Fueling & Hydration Cheat Sheet
• Guide to High Performance Healthy Eating

Find us here: TheEnduranceEdge.com
Race with us: Humans of Steel Olympic & Sprint Triathlon at Harris Lake, NC
Purchase Safe Supplements here.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook

If open water freaks you out—you’re not alone. It’s one of the biggest reasons people avoid triathlon altogether. In this episode, Coach Chris takes you behind the scenes of what it really takes to feel calm, confident, and in control during your swim. 

You’ll discover:

• How to figure out what’s actually triggering your anxiety so you can stop guessing and start addressing it
• How to stay calm (and moving forward) even when you need to take a break mid-swim
• How to stop zigzagging and start swimming straight—no matter how choppy the water is
• How to prevent that dreaded heart rate spike right at the start of your swim
• How to get comfortable in your wetsuit before it messes with your race day
• How to mentally break down long courses so they don’t feel overwhelming
• How to place yourself in the pack for the most comfortable swim experience
• How to safely build confidence by using the support that’s already there for you

Want a handy tip sheet to reinforce these tools? Grab our free Open Water Swim Tips PDF at theenduranceedge.com/freebies

If you're local, join us for our weekly open water swim workouts at Jordan Lake and Falls Lake, including beginner only swims as well as intermediate/advanced swims. 

Support the show

Download our free resources:

• 6 Steps to Triathlon Success: Free Guide
• Hydration Guide for Athletes
• Runner's Fueling & Hydration Cheat Sheet
• Guide to High Performance Healthy Eating

Find us here: TheEnduranceEdge.com
Race with us: Humans of Steel Olympic & Sprint Triathlon at Harris Lake, NC
Purchase Safe Supplements here.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook

Coach Chris Newport takes listeners behind the scenes of the XTERRA North American Championships in Alabama, sharing insights from training preparation to race day execution. The race represented both a personal challenge to face mountain biking fears and a test of athletic growth after six months of dedicated preparation.

• Consistent training, especially on the mountain bike, led to improved technical skills and higher functional threshold power
• Thunder and lightning delayed race morning, but race directors made smart adjustments to ensure safety
• Swimming felt strong with plenty of drafting opportunities in the mass start format
• The muddy bike course created a playful, challenging experience through technical single-track and rock gardens
• Qualifying for XTERRA World Championships in Italy became an unexpected bonus achievement
• Creating your own post-race reports helps capture valuable insights about performance, mindset, and future improvements
• Growth happens when you step into the unknown and face your fears on purpose

If you've been sitting on a big, scary goal, take this as your sign to go for it. You don't need all the answers or perfection—just show up, trust your training, and be willing to learn along the way.

Support the show

Download our free resources:

• 6 Steps to Triathlon Success: Free Guide
• Hydration Guide for Athletes
• Runner's Fueling & Hydration Cheat Sheet
• Guide to High Performance Healthy Eating

Find us here: TheEnduranceEdge.com
Race with us: Humans of Steel Olympic & Sprint Triathlon at Harris Lake, NC
Purchase Safe Supplements here.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook

Coach Chris Newport shares her methodology for developing an evidence-based fueling and hydration plan for her upcoming off-road Olympic triathlon. She demonstrates how tracking personal sweat data, testing products, and adjusting for logistics leads to a race nutrition strategy that works specifically for her body's unique needs (and will help translate to yours!)

She discusses:

• Using the four T's approach: Track it, Try it, Tweak it, Trust it
• The importance of tracking sweat rate based on dew point, workout type, and intensity
• Calculating exact sodium, fluid, and carbohydrate needs using personal sweat testing data
• Choosing products that match your specific requirements (plus her specific products she uses)
• Managing pre-race logistics when traveling, including food planning and sleep considerations
• Preparing familiar foods that work well with your system before races
• Creating workable solutions for carrying nutrition during events with restrictions
• Planning recovery nutrition immediately after racing

Join our Fueling and Hydration Bootcamp at theenduranceedge.com/fuelingbootcamp to develop your own personalized plan and stop letting nutrition be the reason you fall short.

Support the show

Download our free resources:

• 6 Steps to Triathlon Success: Free Guide
• Hydration Guide for Athletes
• Runner's Fueling & Hydration Cheat Sheet
• Guide to High Performance Healthy Eating

Find us here: TheEnduranceEdge.com
Race with us: Humans of Steel Olympic & Sprint Triathlon at Harris Lake, NC
Purchase Safe Supplements here.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook