The Endurance Drive Podcast

This week’s episode is another grab bag full of insights! Topics include: the benefits of Zone 0 movement, good data and bad data in training and in pregnancy, why mountain adventures are so great, how to approach workouts and training in periods of high LSS (life stress score), governing effort on big days, bike handling tips, training in bad air quality, how muscle memory helps you retain your season’s gains even when you take time off, and an interesting discussion on doping in amateur endurance sports. Check it out!To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.

In this week’s episode, Elena and Katie catch up on all things training, mindset, and life as Elena wraps up the final month of prep for UTMB and Katie navigates the second trimester of pregnancy as an endurance athlete. Topics include: why “saying maybe” and listening to your body is sometimes a better training approach than saying yes; unsolicited comments on pregnant athletes’ bodies and training and how to handle them; how to take the pressure off going into big events, including going “Strava dark,” planning adventures, and reconnecting with your why; Elena’s big days at the Speedgoat 50K and “Soft Rock” and how they helped her build confidence for UTMB later this year; hydration strategies in ultra endurance events; and more! We love it when casual life catch-ups turn into insights-packed episodes for the podcast, and we hope you enjoy it too. Check it out!To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.

Discover the concept of minimum effective dose in endurance training and how it can optimize your performance. The team discusses managing expectations to avoid disappointment while navigating races and personal challenges. Learn about the impact of mindset, fueling, and pacing on race day success. Hear valuable insights from Ironman Lake Placid experiences, including community-building through supportive training. Plus, delve into the nuances of heat and metabolic bonking and the crucial role of hydration. Get ready to elevate your endurance game!

Ironman Lake Placid is done and dusted! In this episode we’re putting a bow on the IMLP journey for many of our athletes by covering the key insights we picked up on race day and immediately before and after. Topics include: avoiding panic training during race week, the importance of hiring a coach, why Ironman is so hard, how cool weather can be a major performance booster, dealing with torrential rain on race day, the importance of patience, infusing joy into your race experience, thoughts on the most helpful workouts and training experiences leading up to race day, carb loading do’s and don’ts, useful mantras, and a whole lot more. This episode is relevant for all long distance races, not just Placid. Check it out! To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.

This episode features a big life update and even more insights for the podcast! We dive into Katie’s A race for the foreseeable future: pregnancy! Topics include: why relatively limited research on endurance training during pregnancy makes individual anecdotes so powerful; how Katie thought about “planning” pregnancy in the context of training and racing (and why pregnancy is ultimately harder to plan than your race calendar); first trimester symptoms—including nausea, fatigue, and food aversions—and how they impacted her training; how she collaborated with coaches, doctors, and other members of her support team to train safely; the decision to “race” a 5K at 8 weeks pregnant and how it went; how Katie’s mindset and mental strategies have shifted so far in the context of pregnancy; goals and intentions for the remainder of pregnancy and postpartum; and some favorite academic papers on exercise during pregnancy. Conversations around fertility, pregnancy and postpartum journeys can be hard, so please know that wherever you are in this journey, you are enough. And even if you aren’t pregnant or planning to become pregnant, this episode has some general insights that may be relevant to you. Check it out!To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.

In this week's insights-focused episode, we're powering through a bunch of relevant training and coaching tidbits on topics including: why "time on feet" is a useful mindset shift for workouts on tough or hot days, a case study on building open water swimming confidence, why triathlons (and most other races) aren't apples-to-apples comparisons, how you can build your "endurance bucket" and improve capacity over time, how to improve your speed in an open water swimming context, how to effectively climb hills on the bike, how to approach training in the week(s) between big races, and why your training plan is a map and not the territory. Check it out!View extended show notes for this episode at http://theendurancedrive.com/podcast.To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.

As race day nears at Lake Placid, listeners get practical tips to transition from training to execution mode. From gear checks to fueling strategies, discover key dos and don’ts to arrive fresh and race smart. Hear about Jim's grueling '200 on 100' ride, where humor and honesty shine through tough lessons on nutrition and endurance. The importance of mental resilience, pacing, and managing expectations is highlighted alongside fun anecdotes about gear and community spirit in endurance sports.

In this week’s episode, we’re diving into our top three endurance principles—how we train, how we fuel, and how we keep our minds in it. We start with some quick insights from recent training: why race simulations can sometimes feel even harder than race day, and how preparing mentally (not just physically) can make all the difference. We also touch on a mix of things ranging from building confidence when it’s not coming naturally to ChatGPT for training support to thoughts on iron supplementation. In our main section, we break down the core principles that have guided us and our athletes over the long term: how to structure training with intention (including the importance of strength and speed work), how to fuel with purpose (with practical tips on carbs, hydration, and REDs awareness), and how to build mental resilience and joy in the process.This episode is an attempt to summarize all of the key tidbits and actionable advice that supports the overall endurance athlete journey–basically a crash course in coaching. We hope you enjoy!View extended show notes for this episode here.To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.

As the countdown to Ironman Lake Placid begins, discover essential strategies to enhance your fitness just before race day. Learn about effective fueling and hydration tactics, pacing strategies, and the funny side of bathroom breaks during events. The discussion dives into the importance of consistency in training, celebrating small victories, and finding joy in the journey. Plus, gain insights on navigating hills and optimizing swimming techniques. Get ready to tackle your challenges with a lighthearted spirit!

In this episode, Alex Larson, a Registered Dietitian specializing in endurance sports nutrition, shares her expertise on fueling and hydration for athletes. She highlights common fueling mistakes, proper hydration techniques, and the importance of meal timing. Alex discusses body composition and the significance of health over rapid weight loss, particularly for female athletes. She also offers practical tips on managing gastrointestinal issues and effectively carb-loading for events, ensuring listeners can enhance their performance and overall well-being.