TrainingPeaks CoachCast

Gale Bernhardt, a veteran endurance coach with over 35 years of experience, shares her journey from a mechanical engineer to guiding Olympians. She discusses the importance of continual learning and setting long-term goals, as well as the unique challenges in coaching across different cultures. Gale emphasizes the irreplaceable human touch in coaching despite the rise of AI, and she offers invaluable advice for aspiring coaches on balancing technology with personal connections to athletes.

Kylee Van Horn, CEO of Fly Nutrition and an ultrarunner, dives into the world of sports nutrition tailored for endurance athletes. She explains the concept of RED-S and its impact on performance, stressing the necessity of personalized fueling strategies. Kylee shares invaluable tips for managing nutrition, overcoming common fueling challenges, and the importance of micronutrient density. Listeners gain insights into the collaborative approach needed to address both nutrition and mental health in athletic training.

Marco Altini, a scientist and app developer behind HRV4Training, dives into the world of heart rate variability (HRV) and its pivotal role in athletic performance. He clears up misconceptions about HRV, emphasizing that it's a deeply personal metric rather than a one-size-fits-all measurement. Altini highlights the importance of tracking individual trends over time and integrating subjective feedback with objective data for effective training insights. He also discusses the best practices for measuring HRV, ensuring athletes use it as a valuable tool for optimizing their recovery and training efforts.

Ryan Bolton, a former Olympian and Director of High Performance for USA Triathlon, teams up with Erin Carson, a renowned strength coach. They share valuable insights on how Team U.S.A. is gearing up for the 2024 Olympic Triathlon. Topics include tailored training strategies, mental resilience, and balancing physical fitness with emotional drive. The duo also discusses the increasing competitiveness in the sport and the importance of collaboration between coaches to enhance athlete performance while navigating logistical challenges ahead of Paris.

Iñigo San Millán, an internationally renowned applied physiologist and performance coach for UAE Team Emirates, dives into the intricate world of nutrition for Tour de France cyclists. He reveals how race data from TrainingPeaks shapes personalized fueling strategies and discusses the importance of tailored meal plans for different stages of the race. From pre-race breakfasts to recovery with tart cherry juice, Iñigo emphasizes stable weight maintenance and the role of quality ingredients, providing invaluable insights for both pros and amateurs in endurance sports.

In this insightful discussion, Amine Issa, founder of Mobalytics and an expert in human performance optimization, dives into the intriguing parallels between gaming and traditional sports. He shares his transformative journey from gaming in Lebanon to cutting-edge research at the Mayo Clinic. Amine emphasizes the importance of mental tactics and data-driven strategies in both fields. He highlights the evolution of esports coaching and the critical roles of nutrition and mental health. The conversation blends sports science with gaming tactics, revealing valuable insights for coaches and gamers alike.

In this discussion, John Wakefield, managing director of Science to Sport and performance coach for Bora-hansgrohe, shares his extensive coaching experience. He emphasizes the importance of recovery as a key to athletic progression, detailing a sub-max test that combines data and subjective feedback. John explains recovery's nuanced aspects, including nutrition, stretching, and mindfulness. He also offers insights into team strategies for maintaining recovery during high-stakes competitions, showcasing a comprehensive approach to optimizing athlete performance.

Sports scientist and coach Björn Geesmann discusses applying elite training science to all athletes, from wind tunnel testing and bike selection to sports psychology. Exploring the impact of data from pros on age group athletes and the balance between analysis and impactful training. Emphasizes the importance of simplicity, consistency, and seeking support in athlete training.

Dr. Will O'Connor, a running scientist and former triathlete from New Zealand, dives into the world of running power metrics. He discusses the evolution of power technology and its implications for training, emphasizing the need for accuracy among various devices. Will highlights the differences between running and cycling power metrics, explaining how terrain affects energy expenditure. He also explores the importance of heart rate monitoring for trail running and the growing acceptance of power metrics in endurance sports.

Kristin Armstrong, three-time Olympic gold medalist and cycling coach, dives into the interplay between technology and coaching. She discusses the pressure young athletes face from social media and how it affects their performance. Kristin emphasizes the importance of a balanced approach to data while maintaining mental health. She shares insights on integrating new wearables into training and how to set healthy boundaries with social platforms. With her vast experience, she offers strategies for coaches to adapt in a data-driven athletic landscape.