The Middle Miles

The tag line of the Norseman Triathlon is "This Race is Not For You." The Norseman is a full distance triathlon in Norway comprised of a freezing cold 2.4 mile swim, over 10,000 feet of climbing in 112 miles, and a marathon with a hill called "Zombie Hill." Over 5000 people apply each year for only 250 slots. So what motivated Frankie Forzoni, as a newbie triathlete, to enter the lottery and claim her spot? Her story is incredible. She was hit by a car in 2020 and had serious injuries, began swimming in her rehab, and decided to jump into triathlon. The Norseman was her FIRST long course triathlon and not only that, she trained for this race in hot and flat Singapore. But once you hear Frankie talk in this podcast, you will realize why and how she succeeded in one the hardest triathlons in the world. This is a great race recap, from her build to equipment, to race day. Have a listen!

This past weekend, it was the men's turn to have their World Championship at Kona, and Angela was there for the race week build and for race day! She tells us what the vibe was like, the pre race details, and what she saw on the ground on race day. We also discuss the merits of a split World Championship. Lots of great performances on race day on a tough course. Have a listen!

The off season can be a tricky time for an athlete. In fact, we don't even love the phrase "off season", so we came up with a NEW name halfway through this episode! While some athletes may look forward to a break from training or more unstructured workouts, other athletes may want to keep a schedule of swim, bike, run and are still motivated to train through the end of the year. So what's the right approach? We are here in this episode to tell you that there isn't one right approach to the off season. There are no hard and fast "rules" because every athlete is different. And while we do agree that most athletes need a small break to let their mind and body recover, there are many ways to have a successful off season! Have a listen!

What happens when an injury becomes chronic and the way out is not what you envisioned? This is not just an episode about recovering from an injury (or in Amy's case, perhaps two injuries). It's about the journey into Amy's chronic injury, how it progressed and became constant, and the frustrating mental toll over 18 months that included multiple doctors, treatments, false starts, fear, doubt, and finally hope and a change in perspective. The first half of this podcast focuses on the physical- the progression of low back and hip labrum pain- symptoms, treatments, and more. And the second half delves into what happened when Amy basically hit rock bottom and spiraled into a place she needed help getting out of. The way out was found not only externally (with PT and strength and progression), but also was found within, by taking a deep dive into her brain and the subject of neuroplastic pain in order to get out of chronic pain and also find a new path forward, mentally and physically. Have a listen!

It was a great day for Angela Naeth at Ironman Chattanooga with a 6th place finish at her first Ironman after recovering from a broken hip and surgery in March. And what a comeback! She averaged over 25 mph on the bike and ran a 3:12 marathon. In this episode, we talk about the wild week before race day, how she approached a time trial start with no swim, her execution of nutrition and metrics, and her big takeaways from this first race back and the new bike course. Lots of good insights in here and a warning about sending a video of overalls... Have a listen!

Fresh off the race course in Nice, France, we have an awesome interview with teammate Silver Bohn, who just completed Ironman World Champs! This was Silver's 16th Ironman (!!) and one of the most challenging courses she has ever raced. We talk about her build as she worked through back and knee issues, the vibe in Nice, and the race itself. We also spend some time talking about how someone who lives in flat Florida trains for one of the craziest bike courses on the Ironman circuit! Have a listen!

We have some fantastic listener questions for the month of September! Topics covered in this episode:

• Adding extra races at end of the season that you were not planning on doing?
• Mental attitude when training in the heat
• Will heat training make you more sensitive to the cold?
• How do you have enough energy and time to get everything done?
• How do you take the leap into gravel if you don't have lots of gravel near you?
• Colostrum supplements ?
• Cramping on inner thigh while hill climibng on bike?
• Tips for traveling abroad for a race- from how early to get there, to keeping your bike in one piece, to food choices?
• Angela's big troublehooting tips for overseas travel issues!
• Why is it important to keep your coach during the off-season and why is the off-season important?

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Two-time Ironman Chattanooga winner (2014 & 2019) Angela Naeth talks all things Chatty in this course preview. We talk about why this race is so special to her and then go through everything from the layout of transition to the hilly run course. And yes, we talk about the NEW bike course, which is now only 112 miles and is mainly on a highway. Whether you are about to race Chattanooga or are thinking of racing it, this preview is for you! Have a listen!

Do you ever find yourself bogged down by the "what ifs," or being held back because of a lack of confidence or uncertainty? We all have moments of anxiety and fear, but often those worries hold us back from moving forward and being free- in sport and in life. This episode takes a deep dive into the role of fear and how powerful a hold that emotion can have on us. Topics covered:

• Fear and the role of purpose
• Overcoming fear and self-sabotage
• Letting go of control
• Living without regrets
• Overcoming preoccupation
• Finding peace and freedom
• Finding joy and fulfillment

Have a listen!

Whether you have a coach, are a coach, or are thinking of hiring a coach, a successful coach-athlete relationship relies on many factors. Yet even the obvious parts of coaching, like putting in a week of training, is more nuanced and multi-faceted than just putting in workouts. In this episode, we cover everything from the behind-the-scenes decision making, to the best ways to communicate, to what data we look at, to what we really want for our athletes when they race. Have a listen!