The TriDot Triathlon Podcast

Medical professional and data-minded coach Dan Kaskie joins professional triathlete and longtime coach Elizabeth James for a practical guide to thriving in triathlon without overspending. They explore smart gear priorities, used bikes, rentals, affordable swim kit, running shoes, homemade nutrition, race-entry savings, and which premium purchases are truly unnecessary. Expect plenty of savvy ways to train, race, and improve on a budget.

Racing at the front of the pack in triathlon comes with its own unique challenges and rewards. Coach Will Usher gives us a sneak peek into the insights he shares with his elite athletes. Will discusses the importance of consistency in training and offers advice on optimizing every aspect of performance, from swim, bike, and run to strength, nutrition, and recovery. Whether you're chasing a podium or looking to take your performance to the next level, this episode offers valuable lessons from the elite side of triathlon.

Taryn Richardson, a sports dietitian and founder of Triathlon Nutrition Academy, joins Tony Hampton, a type 2 diabetic triathlon coach and Ironman athlete. They explore diabetes types, carb anxiety, glucose monitoring, hypoglycemia, personalized training, and race-day fueling. They also discuss building the right care team, preparing for competition, and why diabetes does not define an athlete’s performance potential.

Ken Presutti, a Pittsburgh-based triathlon and running coach and TriDot product leader, explores how middle-of-the-pack athletes can level up. They discuss personalized training, realistic goals, breaking plateaus across all three sports, strength and mobility, smart gear upgrades, race-day pacing, and dependable fueling. A practical conversation about balancing ambitious racing with work, family, recovery, and real life.

Michellie Jones, an Ironman champion, Olympic silver medalist, and endurance coach, joins Mark Allen, a multiple-time Ironman champion and renowned coach. They explore race-day pressure, pre-race nerves, visualization, preparation, staying focused on controllables, and finding purpose beyond results. Hear candid stories from championship racing and practical ways to perform when conditions are far from perfect.

April Spilde, a TriDot coach, Girls Talk Tri podcaster, and U.S. Air Force Academy senior enlisted leader, champions athletes who take their time. She discusses race cutoffs, course logistics, longer-distance goals, fueling and hydration for long days, durable strength training, comfortable gear, and building confidence through consistent, personalized preparation.

Dr. B.J. Leeper, a physical therapist and founder of Leeper Athletic Bioperformance, helps endurance athletes stay healthy. He explores why some triathletes are more injury-prone, common overuse injuries, and how to distinguish soreness from warning signs. They discuss movement assessments, mobility, recovery tools, coaching strategies, chronic shin splints, and his virtual consultation service, Leeper Labs.

Elizabeth James, a professional triathlete and endurance-sports coach, shares how beginners can thrive in triathlon. They discuss asking questions, purposeful training, coaching, swim technique, bike confidence, smarter running, race selection, and practicing race-day logistics. Elizabeth also explains which gear and supportive habits matter most, and why racing less can lead to better results.

Julie McPhilomy, a flight attendant and TriDot coach, and April Spilde, an Air Force leader and IRONMAN athlete, reveal how they train around unpredictable schedules. They discuss travel-friendly workouts, military duty, family and social life, sleep, portable nutrition, and planning for key sessions. A practical, motivating look at making triathlon work anywhere, from hotel rooms to deployment.

Chris Navin, a Chicago-based triathlon and cycling coach, shares his journey from cycling into multisport. He explores why swimming is the steepest learning curve, how cadence connects bike and run performance, and the dangers of ramping up running too fast. They also discuss time-trial positioning, pacing the bike to protect the run, and choosing single- versus dual-sided power pedals.