The TriDoc Podcast, triathlon and health in one place

Athletes have been using heart rate monitors as part of their fitness regimen for years. Recently, there has been a move to measure heart rate variability-a measure of something more complicated than heart rate itself but possibly more revealing about an athlete's overall state of training and fatigue. Is HRV all it is cracked up to be? Should all athletes be using it? I look at the evidence to try and help you decide. Stephen Ettinger was a professional mountain biker for over a decade. Now retired he is preparing to enter his second year of medical school. How has the transition been and how do most professional athletes transition to life after racing? The Triathlete Routard goes to the Emerald Isle for a review of the inaugural IM Cork. The debut of this race was epic, should this be one triathletes consider going to in the future?

Despite being good for you, high intensity exercise can pose risks to susceptible individuals. Deaths, while rare, do occur with some degree of frequency during all manner of endurance events and triathlon has the unfortunate distinction of having a higher death rate than other types of events mostly because of the risks associated with the swim. On this episode, the TriDoc answers a listener question related to this unfortunate trend. How much risk is there really and what can the average athlete do about it? Heath Dotson, National Masters Champion on the track and co-founder of the AeroCamp joins me for a discussion of all things aero. The Triathlete Routard goes to Texas to review the Buffalo Springs race now known as Ironman 70.3 Lubbock

It's hot out there and it's getting hotter. How does the body handle increased temperatures and is there anything that you can do to improve performance when training and racing in the heat? Lisa Bentley, with two decades of racing triathlon as a professional at both the 70.3 and Ironman distance had a storied career but it never should have been because Lisa has cystic fibrosis. Hear Lisa's story of living with a chronic disease without being defined by it and her journey to become a beacon of hope for patients and families living with the disease. Finally, the Triathlete Routard goes to Michigan for the Steelhead 70.3 race and second year pro Maddy Pesch comes back to the podcast to tell us all about this iconic and popular midwestern race.

The TriDoc podcast goes to the mattresses in this episode to uncover the truth about sleep and performance. Is the well rested athlete really the better performing athlete or is this just a dream? Dr. Craig Smith and Nate Corsi from the Smith Performance Center in Tucson, AZ discuss strength, movement analysis and injury as well as a novel approach to managing athletes with exercise induced muscle cramps. Finally the Triathlete Routard goes south to the Volunteer State and a guide to the IM and 70.3 races in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Carbohydrates have a sometimes undeserved reputation amongst athletes but the fact of the matter is they remain the single best source of energy for when high exertion efforts over a prolonged period of time are the order of the day. But which types of sugars are best for the triathlete during a race or long and arduous training session? The TriDoc helps you understand the simple truth behind simple and complex sugars. Megan Hottman aka The Cyclist Lawyer gives an interview that is startling but incredibly informative and important. The Triathlete Routard visits the west coast of Canada for a guide to the 70.3 race in Victoria B.C.

In this episode, the TriDoc investigates the reality behind the hype around sunscreen. How does it work? Does it really do what its makers claims it does? What about its effects on us and the environment?USAT certified coach Tim Crowley is a specialist in strength and conditioning. He joins me to talk about how building in strength training in to a regular part of triathlon training can make an athlete faster and potentially more resistant to injury. Finally, the Triathlete Routard ventures north of the border to Quebec, Canada for a guide to the 70.3 and IM races in beautiful Mont Tremblant.

In this episode the TriDoc gets wet looking at the evidence behind intravenous hydration. Companies have sprung up all over the place offering mobile IV hydration services and are starting to market to athletes. Is there anything to this or is this just one more way to separate hard working and training athletes from their money? Daimeon Shanks is a former bicycle mechanic for EF Education First and spent many years on the pro tour. He then owned and operate the Boulder Service Course, a high end bike service shop in Boulder, CO. He closed that up to pursue a career in law school in 2015 and he joins me to talk about all of that. The triathlete Routard visits the Adirondack region to give an overview of the 70.3 and IM races in Lake Placid.

The TriDoc looks at the evidence around supplementing with beta-alanine. Is there any science to support the claims that this can improve performance and if so, in who? Part 2 of my interview with multiple Ironman and Ironman 70.3 world champion Ellen Hart and, the Triathlete Routard goes to Europe with a trip to the spring cycling classics Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. These races are surprisingly accessible, a lot of fun to spectate and won't break the bank.

On this episode of the TriDoc podcast, I answer a question about creatine supplementation. It is legal and it is beneficial in some sports but can it help triathletes, cyclists and runners improve their performance as endurance athletes? Age group world champion across numerous distances and disciplines Ellen Hart joins me to discuss her fascinating life story and how sport has played a major role both in uncovering her personal demons and helping her recover from them in part 1 of our interview. Finally, Lindsey Deneen joins me for the Triathlete Routard for the traveler's guide to the Woodlands and the North American Ironman Championship aka Ironman Texas.

The TriDoc Podcast goes Roman Numerals with Episode X! In this episode, a discussion of Exercise Associated Hyponatremia (EAH) how big a problem is it and what can be done to prevent it? Para-triathlete and para-olympian Liz McTernan talks Ironman, the Para-Olympics and the day to day challenges of living in rural Britain as an elite challenged athlete. Finally, the Triathlete Routard leaves the confines of the U.S. for a first international destination, the 70.3 race in Monterrey, Mexico.