Matt Dixon hosts the Purple Patch Podcast from the Hawaii IRONMAN training camp, featuring Susie Orcutt, a busy Mother and Physician's Assistant from Atlanta. Susie discusses her journey with Purple Patch, highlighting her coaching relationship with Nancy Clark and the challenges they faced initially. Susie emphasizes the importance of communication and trust in coaching, noting her significant improvements in performance, including winning her age group in an IRONMAN 70.3 and improving her rankings at the 70.3 World Championships. She also credits the team environment and the bike classes for her growth, particularly in bike handling and fueling strategies. Susie advises athletes to define their goals and be open to feedback clearly.

Susie explains her decision to join Purple Patch after outgrowing her previous coaching relationship, focusing on longevity and avoiding injuries. Susie's journey involved multiple conversations with different coaches to find the right fit, emphasizing the importance of finding a coach who sees potential in her. The relationship evolved, with Susie learning to adjust workouts based on her feelings and not just metrics, fostering a more holistic approach to training.

If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at [email protected].

Purple Patch and Episode Resources

 Check out our world-class coaching and training options:

Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad

1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached

Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad

Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1

Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike

Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi

Ready to book a consultation with Purple patch? Sign up: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/coachingconsult

Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com

 Everything you need to know about our methodology:

https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology

 Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin

https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch

Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

A fresh new format featuring a coaching conversation with Host Matt Dixon and Co-Host Max Gering. This Valentine’s Day, we explore how athletes can integrate sport into life in a way that strengthens relationships rather than strains them—because true performance isn’t just about results, it’s about the bigger picture. IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon and Purple Patch Coach Max Gering discuss the importance of integrating sport into life sustainably, especially for athletes with busy schedules. They emphasize the need for effective training that fits within one's life, rather than overloading with long rides every weekend. They highlight the significance of communication with partners and family, planning together, and ensuring sport enhances life rather than compromising it. Practical tips include the "Sunday special" for reflection and planning, and making training a family activity. They stress that consistent, effective training over time leads to better performance and overall well-being, rather than focusing solely on training hours.

If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at [email protected].

Purple Patch and Episode Resources

 Check out our world-class coaching and training options:

Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad

1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached

Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad

Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1

Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike

Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi

Ready to book a consultation with Purple patch? Sign up: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/coachingconsult

Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com

 Everything you need to know about our methodology:

https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology

 Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin

https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch

 Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon interviews Panos Kakoullis, a long-time Purple Patch athlete, at the Hawaii IRONMAN training camp. From Boardroom to Finish Line—Listen to Panos Kakoullis on Balancing High-Stakes Leadership with Elite-Level Endurance Performance. Panos shares his Greek Cypriot background, growing up above a fish and chip shop, and his journey from becoming an accountant, later Senior Partner at Deloitte to CFO at Rolls Royce. He discusses his transition from powerlifting to endurance sports, influenced by his wife, and his 16 IRONMAN completions. Panos emphasizes the importance of consistency, recovery, and integrating sport into life. He highlights the role of curiosity, growth mindset, and releasing mental weight in his success. Looking ahead, he plans more marathons and a cycling trip across Italy.

Panos reflects on the challenges and successes in his professional life, including the importance of integrating sport into his busy schedule. Panos recounts how he and his wife decided to do a marathon and then a triathlon, despite initially swearing never to do an IRONMAN. He emphasizes the importance of consistency over heroism and the need to prioritize recovery and nutrition. Matt and Panos wrap up the conversation, with Matt expressing his admiration for Panos' journey and achievements

If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at [email protected].

Purple Patch and Episode Resources

 Check out our world-class coaching and training options:

Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad

1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached

Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad

Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1

Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike

Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi

Ready to book a consultation with Purple patch? Sign up: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/coachingconsult

Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com

 Everything you need to know about our methodology:

https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology

 Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin

https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch

 Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon concludes a four-part series on winning at triathlon in 2025, emphasizing the importance of defining success, embracing the journey, and adopting a high-flex integration mindset. He highlights key strategies such as choosing races that align with strengths and weaknesses, avoiding common pitfalls like under-fueling and over-reliance on FTP, and prioritizing sleep and consistent strength training. Dixon also shares insights from a Purple Patch athlete, Dave Pray, who emphasizes the broader impact of endurance sports on health and longevity. Dixon explains how Pray and his focus on cycling and participation in the Purple Patch program has fueled his success and performance in triathlon and life. He emphasizes the importance of a high VO2 max for longevity and health, and how his training and social life are intertwined. 

Matt Dixon explains the importance of defining success and embracing the journey, emphasizing that athletes should not live to race but live through the process. Matt Dixon advises athletes to choose races that align with their strengths and weaknesses, rather than just selecting races based on location or convenience. He lists 10 common pitfalls that athletes make, starting with the check-the-box mindset and the obsession with outcomes. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to apply these lessons and engage with the Purple Patch community.

If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at [email protected].

Purple Patch and Episode Resources

 Check out our world-class coaching and training options:

Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad

1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached

Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad

Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1

Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike

Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi

Ready to book a consultation with Purple patch? Sign up: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/coachingconsult

Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com

 Everything you need to know about our methodology:

https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology

 Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin

https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch

 Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

In Part 3 of Beyond the Finish Line: Winning as a Triathlete in 2025, IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon from Purple Patch Fitness discusses his high-performance coaching approach, emphasizing a team-based methodology that has helped over 1,500 athletes qualify for world championships. Their coaching includes remote sessions with real-time feedback and ongoing education. Dixon outlines five principles for success: focusing on daily actions rather than outcomes, keeping things simple, responding proactively to challenges, reflecting regularly, and building a supportive team. He uses Stuart, an athlete with ambitious goals, as a case study to illustrate these principles, highlighting Stuart's resilience and adaptability in the face of life's challenges, eventually placing at a podium in triathlon.

Apply the five principles discussed (being results-driven but process-focused, keeping things simple, responding vs reacting, practicing reflection, and building a support team) to your own athletic journey in 2025. Matt Dixon explains that great success often comes from what is removed rather than added, emphasizing the importance of simplicity. Matt Dixon discusses the importance of responding proactively to challenges rather than reacting impulsively. He also reviews the cycle of the Purple Patch Method.

If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at [email protected]

Purple Patch and Episode Resources

Check out our world-class coaching and training options:

Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad

1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached

Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad

Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1

Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike

Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi

Ready to book a consultation with Purple patch? Sign up: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/coachingconsult

Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com

Everything you need to know about our methodology:

https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology

Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin

https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch

Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com 

In part two of a four-part series on winning at triathlon in 2025 IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon outlines Purple Patch's coaching offerings, including individual coaching and the tri squad program. He discusses the Purple Patch coaching model for triathletes, emphasizing a smart mindset and practical strategies for performance improvement. He outlines the training phases: off-season (October-December), pre-season (January-March), build phase (April-June), and race-specific (July-December). Dixon advises a preparatory mindset in pre-season, focusing on winning workouts and building foundational fitness. He recommends a three-week training block structure, balancing key sessions with supporting workouts, and integrating strength training. Dixon stresses the importance of life balance, flexibility, and the optimization mindset to avoid burnout and ensure long-term success.

Dixon asks listeners to Reflect on your actions for Q1, including tackling a weakness, leveraging a strength, and refining a baseline habit. Adopt a preparatory mindset for the first 6 weeks, focusing on winning workouts and building supporting habits. Structure your training in 3-week cycles, with the first two weeks being challenging and the third week being a transition week with lighter load. Identify your key sessions for the week and build your training around them, incorporating strength training and supporting workouts.

If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at [email protected]

Purple Patch and Episode Resources

Check out our world-class coaching and training options:

Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad

1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached

Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad

Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1

Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike

Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi

Ready to book a consultation with Purple patch? Sign up: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/coachingconsult

Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com

Everything you need to know about our methodology:

https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology

Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin

https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch

Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com 

IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon introduces a four-part series on winning at triathlon in 2025, emphasizing personalized performance improvement. He outlines Purple Patch's coaching offerings, including individual coaching and the tri squad program. Dixon shares a case study of an athlete named Sam, detailing her goals, strengths, and weaknesses, and the three-pronged approach to her training: a swim project, a bike booster project, and a nutrition project. Sam's success in 2024 included improved swimming, stronger cycling, and faster running. Dixon encourages listeners to adopt an optimization mindset, focus on strengths, address weaknesses, and maintain supportive habits for sustainable high performance.

He emphasizes the importance of defining what "winning" means for each listener. Using Sam’s example, Dixon emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader context of an athlete's life, including family, work, and social connections. He explains the practical steps taken to implement these projects, including recruiting a buddy for swimming and incorporating group rides for bike training. Matt highlights the importance of maintaining social connections and community support during the training process. He encourages listeners to reflect on their current state, identify strengths and weaknesses, and commit to clear, actionable goals.

If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at [email protected]

Purple Patch and Episode Resources

Check out our world-class coaching and training options:

Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad

1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached

Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad

Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1

Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike

Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi

Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com

Everything you need to know about our methodology:

https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology

Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin

https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch

Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com 

IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon, host of the Purple Patch Podcast, outlines the mission for 2025, emphasizing the importance of setting clear goals and maintaining a high-performance mindset. He introduces a four-part series, "Winning in Triathlon 2025," focusing on training strategies and mindset. Dixon shares his coaching philosophy, which includes setting a vision, planning priorities, executing with accountability, and reflecting on progress. He advises athletes to focus on strength training, conversational running, and technique in swimming during January. Dixon also highlights the importance of alignment between coach and athlete, ensuring clarity and commitment to long-term success.

He explains the importance of the word "winning" in the context of personal growth and achieving success beyond just race outcomes. He shares his passion for developing high performers and world champions, emphasizing the broader impact of coaching on athletes' lives beyond sport. Matt explains the four pillars of the Purple Patch methodology: smart training, strength and conditioning, high-quality nutrition, and recovery. Matt describes the infinity loop model, which consists of four main components: vision, planning, execution, and reflection.

If you have any questions about the Purple Patch program, feel free to reach out at [email protected]

Purple Patch and Episode Resources

Check out our world-class coaching and training options:

Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad

1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached

Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad

Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1

Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike

Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi

Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com

Everything you need to know about our methodology:

https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology

Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin

https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch

Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

Welcome to the Purple Patch Podcast!

On this episode IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon highlights the achievements of Purple Patch in 2024, including qualifying over 50 athletes for world championships with an average weekly training of 10.6 hours, and 30 athletes for the Boston Marathon using a multi-sport approach. The organization also launched a leadership program, added new team members, and introduced the Performance Hub for better community engagement. Key events included a fundraiser for the Challenged Athletes Foundation, a team race in Santa Cruz, and transformative camps in Hawaii, Napa, and Greenville. Notable athlete achievements featured Jeff Dolan and Susie Orca qualifying for multiple world championships, and Jake, CEO of Fellow Products, excelling in various endurance events.

Dixon sets the stage for a fun and reflective episode, highlighting 24 key things that happened to Purple Patch in 2024. He emphasizes the importance of reflection for high performers and the lessons learned throughout the year. Matt shares his personal reflections as the leader at Purple Patch, discussing the organization's accomplishments and challenges. He encourages listeners to start planning their performance goals for 2025 and mentions the proven coaching programs available at Purple Patch. Matt Dixon reflects on the history of Purple Patch pros, highlighting the journey from coaching professional athletes to developing a high-performance culture.

Purple Patch and Episode Resources

Check out our world-class coaching and training options:

Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad

1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached

Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad

Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1

Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike

Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi

Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com

Everything you need to know about our methodology:

https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology

Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin

https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch

Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

Matt Dixon from Purple Patch Coaching emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to performance, aiming for success beyond just race goals. He discusses the need for athletes to define their vision of success, align with their coaches, and create a roadmap for their goals for 2025. Dixon introduces the concept of a two-to-three-day performance retreat, focusing on education, workshops, and activities like hiking and kayaking. He also highlights the importance of foundational habits such as proper eating, sleep, and hydration. Dixon encourages listeners to start these habits now to ensure a smooth transition into the new year and maximize their performance journey.

He reiterates the importance of vision, road mapping, and foundational habits for achieving breakthrough performance in 2025. Matt encourages athletes to build their technique and skills to set the tone for the upcoming year. IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon shares an example of a time-starved CEO who wanted to train for a marathon but needed a broader perspective on performance

Purple Patch and Episode Resources

Check out our world-class coaching and training options:

Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad

1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached

Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad

Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1

Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike

Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi

Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com

Everything you need to know about our methodology:

https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology

Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin

https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch

Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com