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

In this episode of Find Your Edge, Coach Chris Newport breaks down popular supplements for endurance athletes—backed by science, tested in real-world training. Learn which ones are worth your attention, and which ones may depend on your unique physiology and genetics.

🔹 The #1 most proven supplement for endurance
🔹 Why sodium—not just electrolytes—is your race-day MVP
🔹 How sweat testing can reveal your exact electrolyte needs
🔹 The caffeine conundrum: why your genes matter more than you think
🔹 Beetroot juice & nitric oxide: helpful or hype?
🔹 Beta-alanine, creatine, and sodium bicarb—when (or if) they make sense
🔹 The real risk of high-dose antioxidants on training adaptation
🔹 Why every supplement must be tested in training first

🎯 Ready to personalize your plan?
Join our Fueling and Hydration Bootcamp to get sweat testing, expert coaching, and customized protocols that actually work for YOU!

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

Do our cholesterol numbers tell the full story? Cardiometabolic health encompasses more than just heart function—it includes metabolic processes, blood sugar control, lipid levels, and inflammation markers that affect your entire body's health. Fewer than 12% of Americans are metabolically healthy, making it crucial to look beyond standard cholesterol numbers to understand your complete cardiovascular risk profile.

In today's episode, functional nutritionist Chris Newport explores hidden factors that could be quietly impacting your heart and metabolic health.

You’ll discover:
 • Why traditional cholesterol tests might miss critical warning signs
 • What the size of your LDL particles can reveal about your risk
 • The simple blood test that offers a clearer picture of heart disease risk
 • A genetic marker that could influence your heart health—whether your labs are "normal" or not
 • How your body's ability to shift between fuel sources impacts your long-term health
 • The surprising link between blood sugar, carbs, and cholesterol problems
 • A fresh look at heart health through the American Heart Association’s updated roadmap
 • How your environment and lifestyle could silently shape your risk
 • Why tiny daily habits can lead to massive improvements over time

👉 Want to go deeper?
In our Longevity Nutrition Coaching Program, we help you track the right biomarkers, explore your genetics, and build a plan that's customized to your body and goals.
Learn more at theenduranceedge.com/longevity.

Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health goals. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk.

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 Newport, lead performance nutritionist at The Endurance Edge, who discusses how race day nutrition for endurance events lasting over two hours isn’t one-size-fits-all. It takes a personalized, well-rehearsed plan that accounts for your unique physiology, the demands of your race, and the realities of fueling on the go. When done right, it can be the difference between crushing your goals and crawling to the finish.

Tune in to learn:

• Why sticking to a single carbohydrate source might limit your performance—and how mixing the right types can unlock up to 90g/hour of energy.
• When your fueling strategy can fall apart if your gut isn’t ready—and how to “train your gut” like you train your legs.
• How hydration needs shift with heat, intensity, and even your outfit—and why copying someone else's strategy could backfire.
• What sweat testing reveals about your personal fluid and electrolyte losses—and how this data helps you fuel smarter, not harder.
• How to top off your energy stores before the race without risking gut issues—and which common mistakes to avoid.
• Why race-day nerves might sabotage digestion—and how to keep your gut in the game when stress levels rise.
• What to do when things don’t go as planned—because having a Plan B (and C) can save your race.

Want to perform your best at your next endurance event? Get on the priority list for our Fueling and Hydration Bootcamp starting in May, where we'll create personalized nutrition plans based on your unique needs. Head to theenduranceedge.com/fuelingbootcamp to get on the priority list and we hope to see you there!

Grab some of our other freebies below or at www.theenduranceedge.com/freebies

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 explains the science behind bonking and outlines practical strategies to prevent it during long-distance triathlon, running or cycling events.

She explains:

• What bonking is and and why this extreme fatigue happens, often occurring around 3 hours into intense exercise
• How much glycogen the body can store in calories and carbs
• How many carbs to ingest per hour, depending on your gender, size and race distance. 
• Why two types of carbs are better than one (and which ones are currently being researched to push the gut) 
• Why heat decreases carbohydrate oxidation 
• Why your gut requires training just like your muscles
• How your personalized fueling plan should be based on your sweat rate, body size, and event conditions 
• Why you should avoid trying anything new on race day

Want to go deeper and create your personalized fueling and hydration strategy based on your unique sweat? Get on the waitlist for our Fueling and Hydration Bootcamp at theenduranceedge.com/fuelingbootcamp to take the guesswork out of your fueling strategy and make your next race your best one yet.

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 explores the most common fueling and hydration mistakes that wreck performance and sometimes lead to dangerous health complications for endurance athletes, like:

• Guessing with nutrition instead of using science-based approaches tailored to individual needs
• Using the "kitchen sink approach" by throwing random products at problems like cramping without understanding root causes
• Failing to train your gut alongside physical training for at least 8-12 weeks before events
• Choosing the wrong types of carbohydrates that slow gastric emptying during exercise
• Using identical fueling strategies across different distances and conditions rather than adjusting for intensity and environment
• Ignoring underlying GI conditions that impact performance and fuel utilization
• Overusing or improperly balancing electrolytes, especially sodium and potassium, which can be potentially fatal

To help you stop guessing and start fueling and hydrating with confidence, we just released our brand new hydration guide. It's updated, short, super practical and packed with easy ways to check if you're hydrating properly. For a more comprehensive approach, check out our Fueling and Hydration 6-week Bootcamp at 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

Join Chris Newport, functional sports nutritionist, to discuss magnesium. It's a critical mineral involved in over 300 biochemical reactions, yet 50-60% of both the general population and endurance athletes fail to consume adequate amounts through diet alone.

Here's what we review:

• What percentage of people actually get the RDA for magnesium
• How endurance training decreases magnesium levels in red blood cells
• Why heavy sweaters may need to increase magnesium intake
• Common food sources
• Different types of magnesium supplements offer varying benefits, including oxide, citrate, glycinate, malate, l-threonate and more
• Benefits of magnesium, like improved sleep, reduced muscle cramps, decreased inflammation, better cardiovascular health, and mood enhancement
• Why starting with a certain dose is important

Learn more about magnesium and precision genetic nutrition in our Longevity Program at theenduranceedge.com/longevity or join our upcoming Fueling and Hydration Bootcamp by getting on the waitlist at 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

Join Coach Chris Newport as she makes the case for why AI can't replace a coach when training for a multisport event. While AI might be cheap, it just doesn't yet compare to the element of a good coach-athlete relationship. 

Here's what's discussed:

• AI plans offer structure but miss crucial context about your life circumstances
• Coaches interpret data beyond numbers, considering genetic factors affecting recovery and adaptation
• Device accuracy significantly impacts AI plan effectiveness, while coaches can recognize flawed inputs
• Technique assessment and personalized race strategy require human observation
• Coaching provides crucial accountability and motivation during challenging periods
• Ideal coaching candidates include newcomers to the sport, experienced athletes with ambitious goals, and those with complex schedules
• Injury management and breaking through plateaus benefit significantly from personalized coaching

Visit theenduranceedge.com/triathloncoaching and join our daily open houses at 8am, 12pm, or 5pm to learn about our special coaching offer running through March 2025.

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

This episode features Dr. Matthew Stratton discussing intermittent fasting and its implications for health and fitness. We dive into various fasting protocols, the psychological effects, and the latest research findings including:

• Overview of intermittent fasting and its growing popularity
• Discussion on different fasting protocols and their efficiency
• Insights into the psychological impact of fasting on adherence
• Findings from recent research on intermittent fasting and exercise performance
• Key takeaways for implementing intermittent fasting into one’s lifestyle
• Encouragement to explore various dietary strategies for personal health goals

We encourage listeners to explore our Longevity Nutrition Coaching Program, which incorporates genetic testing and personalized nutrition strategies for optimal health, including information on intermittent fasting. 

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