“Elite Athletes Are Tired All The Time” — Dr. John Hellemans On Why Chasing Peak Performance Drains You, And Why Exercising For Health Fills You With Energy (#12)

Dr. John Hellemans is a New Zealand-based sports medicine doctor, elite triathlon coach, and former champion triathlete. A six-time national titleholder and eight-time Masters World Champion, he also coached Olympians and founded the NZ Triathlon Academy. Known for blending medical insight with intuitive coaching, he completed the Kona Ironman at 60 and was awarded the MNZM in 2020 for services to triathlon.

In this episode, Dr. Hellemans recounts the evolution of triathlon training — from the pre-heart-rate-monitor era to today’s data-driven science. He shares how heart rate zones, training by feel, and the psychology of fatigue shape not just athletic performance but lifelong health.

Episode breakdown:

00:00 – Introduction

00:21 – Meeting Gordo Byrn

03:29 – Can Late Starters Reach Their Potential?

04:50 – Sports Science and Coaching Philosophy

06:06 – Early Days of Triathlon and Sports Science

08:50 – Finnish Influence and Heart Rate Zones

11:32 – Understanding Heart Rate Zones

13:43 – Training by Feel (RPE)

15:39 – Medicine and Coaching Crossover

17:48 – The Addictive Nature of Exercise

20:22 – Understanding Fatigue

24:16 – Heart Health and Arrhythmias in Endurance Athletes

26:06 – Discovering Atrial Fibrillation

28:58 – Training and Racing After Heart Procedures

31:51 – Exercise for Health, Not Performance

33:29 – What Medicine Can Learn from Coaching

36:35 – Preventative Medicine and Lifestyle

38:14 – Exercise as Preventative Medicine

40:33 – Testing and Measuring Endurance Fitness

42:45 – Running Assessments and Injury Prevention4

4:21 – Writing and Character – A New Project

46:36 – The Meaning of Character and Suffering

46:58 – Closing Remarks

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