Primal Endurance Podcast

Host Brad Kearns catches up with Mark Allen, the greatest triathlete in history, who has a record six victories at the Hawaii Ironman and ten victories at the Nice, France World Long Course Championship. Today, he is a popular triathlon coach at MarkAllenCoaching.com, TV commentator, corporate speaker, author, and presenter of “Fit Soul, Fit Body” retreats with Brant Secunda, a Huichol shaman and healer.

First, Mark talks about the importance of releasing attachment to outcomes and being committed to the enjoyment and appreciation of the process. He discusses how, after a series of unfortunate setbacks, Mark’s first victory in 1989 precipitated five Ironman attempts before he retired at the top of his game at age 39.

Mark talks about balancing the pursuit of extreme endurance goals with maintaining health and how research on Heart Rate Variability has been a great breakthrough in monitoring stress and planning training.

Mark and Brad discuss the importance of sleep when training and Mark elaborates on how he was able to live a normal, laid back lifestyle once his grueling training sessions or competitive seasons were over.

Finally, they discuss how Mark has released a book called The Art of Competition, which blends stunning nature photography with inspirational quotes chosen by Mark for their significance to competitors seeking a healthy perspective and inspiration to pursue athletic goals.

Note: This show previously aired as episode #44 on the Primal Blueprint Podcast channel.

Host Brad Kearns is back this week to answer a smattering of listener questions, starting with Jesse, who is finding difficulty training for an upcoming triathlon while building his aerobic base.

This episode is also available on YouTube for your viewing pleasure!

Host Brad Kearns sounds off on the popular topic of testosterone - specifically how to optimize your levels through diet, exercise and lifestyle behaviors. Brad details how his testosterone nosedived in 2015 due to a bout of chronic aerobic exercise, and how he more than doubled his free T levels (6.8 - clinically low; to 14.3 - teenager level) in only five months by lowering his training heart rate by 12 beats, taking power naps, and making high-intensity strength training sessions shorter in duration. Other tips are provided, especially relating to how primal-style eating can optimize sex hormone function for both males and females.

This episode is also available on YouTube.

Host Brad Kearns travels to the mountains of Colorado for a video podcast (listen here, as always, or check out YouTube for an enhanced experience) with Dr. Cate and Luke. They have been busy working on a comprehensive update and re-release of their bestseller, Deep Nutrition. The conversation focuses on the dangers of refined high polyunsaturated vegetable/seed oils and the urgent need to completely cease consuming these toxic agents, and all the processed, packaged, snacks, frozen, and fast foods they are found in. If you care about your health, this show could change your life by giving you the clarity to adopt a zero tolerance policy.

Host Brad Kearns talks with 33Shake.com founder Warren Pole about their revolutionary new natural energy gel product made from chia seeds. While the Primal Endurance approach rips on sugary performance nutrition products like drinks, gels, and bars, there are minimal alternatives for fat adapted athletes trying to get a quality source of energy on the go. While this podcast is not an advertising venue to tout products, we make an exception to discuss a consumer product on this episode because it represents an interesting breakthrough in the energy foods market. Warren describes just why consuming sugar during exercise is health and performance compromising, and the interesting approach of creating an all-natural dry product that you can add water to and create a gel-like fuel for use during exercise. 

Brad Kearns visits with elite professional ultra-runner Zach Bitter. Besides being the national 100k champion and holder of many other titles and records, Zach is noted in the ultra community for his insightful blogging at zachbitter.com, and for his success at pushing the edges of human performance as a ketogenic endurance athlete.

As a participant in Dr. Jeff Volek's landmark FASTER study, Zach metabolized fat during exercise at nearly twice the previously believed absolute human maximum. Listen or watch on YouTube, as Zach discusses his revolutionary training methods, including how he uses ketogenic eating patterns to race more efficiently and recover faster. This dude is the real deal, and once ran 38 miles in 8.5 hours on no food!

Brad Kearns mixes things up with a narration format podcast, addressing the most common question of Primal Endurance enthusiasts: Can I really slow down to go faster?

This commentary will get you focused and motivated to slow down and appreciate the importance and the scientific rationale for building an aerobic base, and being highly disciplined to keep your training heart rate at or below Dr. Phil Maffetone's "180-age" formula.

Brad Kearns addresses an assortment of podcast listeners/Primal Endurance reader questions. Topics covered include the all-important issue of building an aerobic base, and the importance of slowing down to go faster. Other questions about diet, cramping and effective scheduling are covered. Brad's secret solution to prevent cramping? Get in shape (seriously!). This episode is also available in video format on YouTube (more video podcasting coming in the future.

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