
The Norwegian Method Podcast
A podcast presented by Santara Technology, featuring Olav Aleksander Bu and hosted by Dr David Lipman discussing the Norwegian method in depth as it pertains to age group triathletes seeking to qualify or already qualified for the world championships.
Latest episodes

Apr 17, 2025 • 54min
Olav - Power Profile Case Studies: Kona & Tokyo
Olav joins David to discuss some power profile case studies, comparing Tokyo and Kona. They discuss the impact of fatigued vs fresh power duration profiles and implications for race day. They also discuss some unique differences in athletes. (00:00) Introduction (01:08) Complexity and the Impact of the 3 Disciplines on Eachother(02:03) Transference of Training Between Disciplines(05:45) Fatigue as a Factor in Power Profiles(09:18) Kristian’s Power Profiles (13:00) Manipulating Prescriptions for Different Goal Outcomes(16:07) Mechanical Loading as a Variable (19:56) Olympic vs Ironman Racing Constraints (26:43) How were these Curves Derived? (28:58) Gustav’s Power Profiles (32:15) How Long Does it Take to Change a Power Profile? (36:40) Fatigued vs Fresh Profiles(47:14) Differences in Training Prescription(52:06) Review Thanks to the sponsors of this podcast series:VO2Master To book your 1 on 1 call head to https://vo2master.com/norwegian-method/Website: https://vo2master.com/ Instagram: @vo2masterYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VO2Master MaurtenTo benefit from the one-time code and get 20% off your next purchase on Maurten.com, simply enter the code “TNMS1” at checkout. The code is applicable once per customer, on all products except the Maurten Bicarb System, valid until 31/12/2025.Maurten WebsiteInstagram: @maurten_officialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MaurtenOfficialHosted, edited and produced by Dr David LipmanEditing, video and introduction by Roj Ferman

Apr 9, 2025 • 48min
Gustav Oceanside Review
Gustav and David discuss the weekend’s race at Oceanside, how Gustav feels about it and what it means for things going forward. (00:00) Introduction(01:07) How Does Gustav Feel About His Performance?(02:02) Gustav’s Support(03:12) How Has Training Been Going?(05:08) Travel Challenges(06:09) Bike Position(07:48) The Swim(11:30) T1 Distance and Execution(13:24) The Bike(16:28) What Did Gustav Think When Kristian Flatted?(17:00) Tactics on the Bike(21:00) How Was Gustav Feeling Coming Off the Bike?(22:36) T2 Issues(24:10) Underfueling(25:22) Speed Zone Challenges(27:27) The Run(32:25) Was Gustav Worried About Who Was Coming from Behind?(33:34) Group Dynamics on the Run(34:45) Tactics on the Run(36:44) Thoughts on the Run(38:05) Cap Choices(38:25) Thoughts on Texas after Oceanside(41:45) How Have Plans for Training Changed Post Oceanside(42:47) Achilles Update(43:30) Running Volume (44:00) Strava Silence and Life Without a Phone Thanks to the sponsors of this podcast series:MaurtenTo benefit from the one-time code and get 20% off your next purchase on Maurten.com, simply enter the code “TNMS2” at checkout. The code is applicable once per customer, on all products except the Maurten Bicarb System, valid until 31/12/2025.Maurten WebsiteInstagram: @maurten_officialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MaurtenOfficialPlasmaideVisit the plasmaide website and use the code “NM15” for a 15% discount on your order. Website: https://plasmaide.co.uk Instagram: @plasmaide Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@plasmaide Hosted, edited and produced by Dr David LipmanEditing, video and introduction by Roj Ferman

Mar 20, 2025 • 53min
Kristian & Gustav - Sierra Nevada Altitude Camp
Gustav and Kristian join David from a snowy Sierra Nevada to discuss their altitude training camp. They discuss progressing in training, updates on bike positions, indoor training and how they are shaping for Oceanside. (00:00) Introduction(01:00) How Was Bergen?(03:22) Deliveries and New Gear(04:27) Gustav’s Bike Bag Update(04:57) Sierra Nevada Weather Conditions(05:39) Snowy Bike Threshold Session(10:02) Snowy Runs(11:20) Indoor Training and the Mental Challenge(12:24) Who Else is at Sierra Nevada (14:10) Are the Centre Ploughing the Track?(14:57) How Many People Are Currently Up at Sierra Nevada? (17:16) Gustav’s Key Bike Session(19:00) Gustav’s Key Run Session(20:23) Gustav’s Run Session Volume(20:51) Gustav’s Key Swim Session(21:34) Gustav’s Swim Form(22:04) Kristian’s Key Bike Session(23:14) Kristian’s Key Run Sessions(26:14) Kristian’s Swim Form(26:40) Kristian’s Key Swim Sessions(28:00) What Happens when Someone is Late to a Session?(30:57) How are the Guys Feeling About Their Form? (31:22) Sickness and Avoiding Sickness (33:14) Kristian’s Nightmares(35:32) Kristian’s Plasmaide Use Periodisation(36:16) Gustav’s Bike Position (40:06) Kristian’s Bike Position (45:09) Gustav’s Testing? (48:03) Kristian’s Facial Hair Changes(49:10) Plans Moving Forward (49:43) Training Emphasis Going Forward(50:11) Why the Boys Avoiding Altitude Between Now and IM TexasThanks to the sponsors of this podcast series:MaurtenTo benefit from the one-time code and get 20% off your next purchase on Maurten.com, simply enter the code “TNMS2” at checkout. The code is applicable once per customer, on all products except the Maurten Bicarb System, valid until 31/12/2025.Maurten WebsiteInstagram: @maurten_officialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MaurtenOfficialPlasmaideVisit the plasmaide website and use the code “NM15” for a 15% discount on your order. Website: https://plasmaide.co.uk Instagram: @plasmaide Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@plasmaide Hosted, edited and produced by Dr David LipmanEditing, video and introduction by Roj Ferman

15 snips
Mar 13, 2025 • 48min
Olav - Flat Power Profile
Olav and David discuss flat power profiles, including how to quantify if a profile is flat, what to do if it is and when it is important to flatten or steepen the profile. They also discuss contextual factors in profiles that impact their understanding, how to know when growing a curve is possible and much more. (00:00) Introduction (01:06) What are the Contextual Factors that Impact Decision Making Around Power Profiles?(04:55) Endurance Athlete Profiles vs Other Athletes(08:00) Growing a Power Profile(08:51) How Does Olav Characterise a Flat Profile? (15:00) When is a Flat Profile Ideal?(18:59) How Could Someone Use a Metabolic Analyser to Understand a Power Profile?(29:49) Should Athletes Try to Increase the Steepness of Their Curve Between Events? (34:14) How Long Does it Take to Change a Power Profile? (36:24) How Does Someone Know if Growing Their Curve is Possible? (45:15) When is it Not Worthwhile to Change an Athlete’s Curve?Thanks to the sponsors of this podcast series:VO2Master To book your 1 on 1 call head to https://vo2master.com/norwegian-method/Website: https://vo2master.com/ Instagram: @vo2masterYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VO2Master MaurtenTo benefit from the one-time code and get 20% off your next purchase on Maurten.com, simply enter the code “TNMS1” at checkout. The code is applicable once per customer, on all products except the Maurten Bicarb System, valid until 31/12/2025.Maurten WebsiteInstagram: @maurten_officialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MaurtenOfficialHosted, edited and produced by Dr David LipmanEditing, video and introduction by Roj Ferman

9 snips
Feb 27, 2025 • 1h 7min
Olav - Annual Training Plan
Olav talks to David about how to build an annual training plan. This includes how to build redundancy into the plan, ideal timing for qualification races, tracking progress when not racing and how to know if you are in shape too early. They also briefly touch on different shaped power profiles as a primer for upcoming episodes. (00:00) Introduction (01:17) Does Olav plan for a Calendar Year or is it a Rolling 12 Month Process? (03:21) Does Olav Build Redundancy into the Annual Plan? (06:35) Is the Redundancy Built in specific to the Athlete or Not? (12:45) Does Olav Use Both Capacity and Specificity Phases Prior to Each Race?(15:56) How Should You Track Progress When Not Racing? (28:07) How Does Olav Think About Race Frequency? (39:20) Where is the Optimal Timing for a Qualification Race? (43:13) How Are Strengths and Weaknesses Addressed in an Annual Plan?(48:10) What are Ideal Proportions for Power Profiles for Different Distances?(61:44) How Do You Know If You Are In Shape Too Early? Thanks to the sponsors of this podcast series:VO2Master To book your 1 on 1 call head to https://vo2master.com/norwegian-method/Website: https://vo2master.com/ Instagram: @vo2masterYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VO2Master MaurtenTo benefit from the one-time code and get 20% off your next purchase on Maurten.com, simply enter the code “TNMS1” at checkout. The code is applicable once per customer, on all products except the Maurten Bicarb System, valid until 31/12/2025.Maurten WebsiteInstagram: @maurten_officialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MaurtenOfficialHosted, edited and produced by Dr David LipmanEditing, video and introduction by Roj Ferman

Feb 20, 2025 • 54min
Gustav & Kristian - Nice Training Camp
The guys join David to talk through their training camp in Nice. They also discuss course insights, key training sessions and early season shape. They also talk about plans moving forward and some changes to their training they’ve made this year. (00:00) Introduction(01:50) How Has Training Camp in Nice Been? (03:15) Training Volumes(04:27) The Return of Casper (05:55) Gustav’s Run Volume(08:37) Has Being In Nice Changed Their Thoughts on Course? (11:20) Thoughts on Likely Race Dynamics for Nice(14:50) Advice to Age Groupers for the Course(17:15) What’s Been Good About Being in Nice? (21:15) What Have Training Week’s Looked Like for the Boys? (22:55) Basis Training(27:12) Have the Boys Done Any Open Water Swimming? (28:14) Bike Issues (31:50) How Much Time Have the Boys Been Doing in Carbon Shoes?(36:30) Key Bike Sessions(43:13) Key Swim Sessions (45:58) Key Run Sessions(49:30) Plans Moving Forward (50:12) Preparation for Altitude (51:07) Sierra Nevada Thanks to the sponsors of this podcast series:MaurtenTo benefit from the one-time code and get 20% off your next purchase on Maurten.com, simply enter the code “TNMS2” at checkout. The code is applicable once per customer, on all products except the Maurten Bicarb System, valid until 31/12/2025.Maurten WebsiteInstagram: @maurten_officialYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MaurtenOfficialPlasmaideVisit the plasmaide website and use the code “NM15” for a 15% discount on your order. Website: https://plasmaide.co.uk Instagram: @plasmaide Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@plasmaide Hosted, edited and produced by Dr David LipmanEditing, video and introduction by Roj Ferman

5 snips
Dec 12, 2024 • 59min
What Are the Limits of Sustainable Energy Expenditure?
Olav joins David to discuss a recently published paper where Kristian was the subject. The paper, "Training volume and total energy expenditure of an Olympic and Ironman world champion: approaching the upper limits of human capabilities" looked to examine the upper limits of what energy expenditure humans can sustain long term with some findings that challenge the traditionally accepted upper limits.
(00:00) Introduction
(01:02) Why Did Olav Decide to Publish the Paper?
(05:40) Why Were Other Athletes Not Included?
(08:46) Were Observations Similar in Other Athletes?
(09:51) Duration of Observation as the Key Novel Finding in This Study
(15:27) What is Maximal Sustainable Energy Expenditure?
(20:00) Why is MSEE Important?
(23:17) Challenges with Energy Balance Measurement
(24:35) Different Measures of Energy Expenditure
(26:35) Altitude as a Modifier of Energy Expenditure Measures
(30:01) How Does Doubly Labelled Water Work?
(35:33) Metabolic Stimulus vs Output Stimulus
(38:52) Mismatch Between Intake and Output Measures in the Article
(44:05) Intake vs Absorption
(51:00) Why Were KB’s Measured Thresholds so Low?
Link to the Paper the Podcast Focuses on
https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/japplphysiol.00706.2024?
Join the Santara Tech Clubhouse for exclusive events, content and partner deals. Go to https://www.santaratech.com/membership to register.
Graphic Design by Georgia Humphreys
Video and Editing by Roj Ferman
Introduction by Santara Studios
Hosted, Produced and Edited by David Lipman

11 snips
Dec 5, 2024 • 51min
Olav - Uno-X Mobility
Olav sits down with David to discuss his signing with Uno-X Mobility. They discuss the why, how and what excites Olav about it as well as discussing what the role will entail and how things will look day to day for Olav.
(00:00) Introduction
(00:47) When is Olav’s Start Date?
(01:17) What Does the First 90 Days Look Like for Olav?
(03:12) What Are the Initial Changes to be Made?
(07:00) Mentoring Coaches
(09:57) How Do You Gain Trust?
(17:31) How Did the Role Come About?
(20:39) What Does the Role Entail?
(23:36) What Does Success Look Like?
(29:00) What Excites Olav Most About the Role?
(30:20) Why Did Olav Take the Role?
(34:14) Why Did Olav Take the Role Now?
(45:20) Will Olav be Spending as Much Time with Kristian & Gustav?
(46:20) What Will Olav Take From Triathlon to Cycling?
Join the Santara Tech Clubhouse for exclusive events, content and partner deals. Go to https://www.santaratech.com/membership to register.
Graphic Design by Georgia Humphreys
Video and Editing by Roj Ferman
Introduction by Santara Studios
Hosted, Produced and Edited by David Lipman

Nov 21, 2024 • 43min
Kristian & Gustav - Post Kona Review
Gustav Iden, a three-time world champion and Kona record holder, and Christian Lundfeld, an Olympic champion with three world titles, share their insights on their recent experiences at Kona. They discuss the island's unique atmosphere and emotional challenges faced during the race. The duo reflects on why they didn't achieve their best, what they would change in hindsight, and their recovery plans for 2025. They also touch on training locations, the impact of race dynamics, and upcoming collaborations in heat training for enhancing performance.

Oct 18, 2024 • 55min
Olav - Kona Preview
Olav returns to the podcast and discusses Kona preparations, what he’s learned in the last year and how he will apply that. He also discusses how he reviewed their campaign to Paris and how they are thinking about Los Angeles already.
(00:00) Introduction
(00:43) Olav’s Reflections on Paris and Frankfurt
(07:00) How Surprising was Frankfurt for Olav?
(11:07) What Will Change in Preparation for Kona?
(17:41) What Does Olav Think it Will Take to Win Kona?
(18:15) What Has Olav Learned from Kristian that he is Going to Apply to Gustav?
(26:10) What Does the Process Look Like in Training from Uzbekistan to Kona?
(29:14) What Does Success Look Like in Kona?
(30:03) Why Olav Chose Flagstaff for an Altitude Camp
(31:51) How is Kristian Placed Compared to his Previous Kona Attempt?
(35:05) How is Olav Reflecting on Where Kristian and Gustav are Mentally and Physically?
(41:06) What did Olav do in the Aftermath of the Olympics?
(48:17) Transitioning Between Distances
Thank you to the sponsors of this series:
CORE
Visit www.thenorwegianheattrainingmethod.com and use the code “NORWEGIAN20” to get 20% off your CORE body temperature monitor and access the guide. Available until December 2nd 2024
Website - https://corebodytemp.com
Instagram - @corebodytemp
YouTube - @corebodytemp8659
Plasmaide
Website - https://plasmaide.co.uk/
Instagram - @plasmaide
YouTube - @plasmaide
Join the Santara Tech Clubhouse for exclusive events, content and partner deals. Go to https://www.santaratech.com/membership to register.
Graphic Design by Georgia Humphreys
Video and Editing by Roj Ferman
Introduction by Santara Studios
Hosted, Produced and Edited by David Lipman
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