Iñaki de la Parra is an Ultraman champion, elite endurance athlete, and entrepreneur.
In this conversation, he shares his philosophy on training, recovery, and life design—emphasizing low-intensity training, daily movement, and a long-term approach to athletic development.
He talks about transitioning from a high-intensity, burnout-prone training style to one centered around Zone 0 and Zone 1 training, guided by coach Alan Couzens. Iñaki also explains how he balances a demanding life—running businesses, raising a family, and coaching others—while still making space for serious athletic goals.
Episode breakdown:
00:00 – Introduction: Who is Inaki De La Parra?
01:03 – Welcome: VO2 max, endurance journey, and movement philosophy
02:28 – Life context: Family, entrepreneurship & balancing priorities
04:29 – Daily structure: Owning the morning, minimizing travel
06:33 – Systems & execution: Why people fail to start
07:38 – Motivation: Helping others, defining success on your own terms
09:29 – Discovering Ultraman: From Ironman movie to endurance racing
13:50 – Coaching with Alan Couzens: From burnout to science-backed training
14:22 – Mistakes before Alan: Too much Zone 2 & intensity
17:53 – Overtraining signs: Hormonal, psychological, and energy issues
20:28 – Trusting the process: Going all-in on low-intensity training
23:30 – Chasing outcomes: When winning doesn’t fulfill you
25:16 – Training insights: Frequency, volume, and fueling
27:16 – Key metrics: Sleep, energy, self-check-ins, and adaptation
30:30 – Calories vs TSS: Energy expenditure as a core concept
33:30 – Tactical athlete: Mobility, strength, aerobic base, and skills
39:28 – Common weaknesses: Lack of strength, mobility, and aerobic efficiency
40:37 – Strength training principles: Circuits, simplicity, and heart rate
43:53 – Load-bearing training: Military-style prep and results
45:15 – Edge of curiosity: Training for life, not just performance
47:49 – Final thoughts: Live your principles and win daily
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