All Things Endurance

In this episode of ‘All Things Endurance Podcast,’ host, Rick Prince chats with journalist and writer, ZoëRom and registered dietitian, Kylee Van Horn. Zoë and Kylee are co-hosts of the podcast, ‘Your Diet Sucks.’ This is the second of a three-part podcast series with Zoë and Kylee. The future podcast episode will be: ‘When Performance Meets Appearance: Body Image in Endurance Sports.’ Below are the areas that Rick, Zoë and Kylee chat about during this episode: When it comes to endurance sports, the general theory is that lighter is faster and thus, being thin is paramount to performance. Could you provide some context to this theory?There are so many variables to human performance, why do you think that weight is so focused on?What are some of the most common things that athletes do to lose weight?How does too low of a body weight/body fat influence human physiology and performance?How have GLP-1 meds changed the landscape regarding weight loss in terms of athletic performance?Has an over emphasis on low weight increased the prevalence in disordered eating?What advice would you give to coaches that have athletes that are hyper-focused on weight loss/being thin?What role have professional athletes, as well as influencers had on the perception of racing weight?What does a healthy diet and outlook on body weight look like for endurance athletes? 

Jonathan Levitt, founder of Long Run Labs and host of 'For the Long Run,' shares his journey from a senior sales executive to full-time entrepreneur. He discusses the emotional hurdles of leaving a secure job, emphasizing the impact of community support and mentorship. Levitt provides invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs about the importance of playing the long game and not waiting for the perfect moment to transition. He encourages overcoming fears of failure by betting on oneself and highlights the loneliness often faced in entrepreneurship.

In this episode of ‘All Things Endurance,’ host Rick Prince chats with expert bike fitter, Chris Soden. Chris is the founder/owner of Strategic Fitting, a Colorado-based bike fitting company that uses cutting edge technology to attain the best bike fit results for his customers. With over 30 years’ experience in the bicycle industry as a bike shop owner, mechanic and bike fitter, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge to his craft to ensure that his clients are fit properly. As bike fitting is part art and part science, Chris discusses how he blends these two aspects of fitting, as well as a whole lot more! Below are the areas that Rick and Chris chat about:Please tell our listeners a bit more about yourselfWhat does a good bike fit process look like?How do you mesh the art of fitting and the feedback from technology – and what is some of the technology (ex: Retul, pressure mapping, etc…)?What are some mistakes that you see when people fit themselves?How do new bikes (ex: one-piece stem/bar) affect the fit process?What to look for in a fitter before hiring them?Do you integrate other professionals into the long term fit process such as physical therapists, strength professionals?Is the fit process a ‘one-and-done’ sort of thing, or is it a multi-step process?What are the most common reasons people come to see you for a fit? 

In this episode of ‘All Things Endurance,’ host Rick Prince chats with former pro cyclist and co-founder of TrainingPeaks, Dirk Friel. As the co-founder of the first coach-specific platform for endurance coaches, TrainingPeaks, Dirk brings a well-informed, and seasoned perspective to the topic of AI in the coaching realm, the art of coaching and the future of coaching. Like a lot of other professions, coaches are not exempt from the fear that AI will in some way, shape or form, diminish their role as a coach. This topic and more (noted below) are discussed in this podcast episode. 1.       Please tell our listeners a bit more about your background.2.       With the influence of AI permeating most every industry, including coaching, do you ever see AI completely taking over the coaching industry?3.       How important is the art of coaching and why is the human element so important to the coaching process?4.       A lot of coaches are nervous that AI will replace them. Do you see AI as tool that coaches can use to enhance their business, or do you see it from more of an adversarial point of view?5.       What advice would you give coaches that are concerned about AI replacing them, or at the very least, minimizing their reach and influence?6.       What are some traits of coaches that exemplify what the art of coaching is all about?7.       In the same light as the last question, what are some other key aspects that make a great coach that you consider to be absolutely necessary for success?8.       What are some ways that TrainingPeaks puts the focus on the human element of coaching?9.       Where do you see the coaching industry 5-10 years from now?10.      Lastly, if you had to pick the key reason why an athlete would hire a human coach vs. using a template plan or a 100% AI-based program, what would it be? 

Dr. Brendon Gurd, a Professor of Muscle Physiology at Queen’s University, delves into the controversial realm of Zone 2 training. He reveals how recent research debunks the myth of Zone 2 being the optimal intensity for improving mitochondrial function. Gurd explains that higher intensities may actually offer better physiological adaptations. The conversation also covers the balance needed in training intensity, misconceptions held by amateur athletes, and the unique responses to training based on gender, making it a must-listen for athletes and coaches alike!

In this episode of ‘All Things Endurance Podcast,’ host, Rick Prince chats with journalist and writer, Zoë Rom and registered dietitian, Kylee Van Horn. Zoë and Kylee are co-hosts of the podcast, ‘Your Diet Sucks.’This is the first of a three-part podcast series with Zoë and Kylee. The future podcast episodes will be: ‘The Truth About Racing Weight,’ and ‘When Performance Meets Appearance: Body Image in Endurance Sports.’Below are the areas that Rick, Zoë and Kylee chat about during this episode:Could you tell our listeners a bit about yourselves?A lot of endurance athletes are type-A and intellectual by nature. So why is it that so many endurance athletes fall for biohacks, detoxes and other nutritional misinformation?How can an athlete tell if a diet is a ‘fad’ diet and is there a correct approach to getting accurate information about nutrition?A lot of individuals will agree that quick fixes in most areas are likely crap, but that doesn’t always translate to nutrition. Why do you think this is?Myths die hard… if at all. What are some common nutrition myths that won’t seem to die that continue to get passed on?What are some of the more common fad diets currently?A lot of athletes assume that data is the end all, be all of training information. While data is important, could you explain how data can be misinterpreted with respect to training and nutrition?In the age of influencers and social media where it seems that almost everyone has an opinion on nutrition, who are some people or websites that you recommend athletes check out for fact/science-based nutrition information?How much of a role does athletes seeking out perfection influence their likelihood of falling for misinformation and the latest nutrition trend?

We're glad you joined us for this episode! Use code ATE75 to receive $75 off any UESCA certificationIn this episode of ‘All Things Endurance,’ host, Rick Prince chats with elite cycling coach, Ben Sharp. Ben is the co-owner of Sharp Coaching and has coached all levels of cyclists from amateurs to Olympic gold medalists. Ben himself is a masters track cycling world champion and former US masters national road race champion. In this episode, Rick and Ben discuss the rise of gravel and more specifically, how to train effectively for gravel racing and how it differs from training for other cycling disciplines. Some of the areas discussed are:·       Key differences between road and gravel cycling·       Importance of sustained power·       Role of volume in training program·       How to train for bike handling skills of gravel riding/racing·       Different tactics based on the goal of a gravel race·       How to properly warm up for a gravel raceIf you participate in gravel riding/racing, you won’t want to miss this one!Talking Points for this Episode1.       Could you tell our listeners a bit more about your background?2.       As road racing has been on an unfortunate steady decline over the years in the US, gravel riding and racing has largely taken its place. What are some things that you attribute the rise of gravel to?3.       Do you now see gravel replacing road racing as a means for US riders to get noticed and possibly, land pro contracts in Europe?4.       What are some of the key differences with respect to training for gravel versus road?5.       We hear about power training a lot with respect to cycling, how important is sustained power during gravel racing?6.       What are some key bike-specific considerations with gravel riding/racing?7.       A lot of gravel races cover long distances, would you say that for the average gravel rider/racer, endurance is one of the biggest success factors?8.       Following up on the prior question, for the average gravel rider/racer, do things such as sprint training and high-intensity intervals still have a place in training?9.       How important are bike handling skills for gravel riders/racers and more specifically, what are some of the more important bike handling skills to master?What, if any tactics are different in gravel racing versus road racing?

Brant Stachel, a running and triathlon coach as well as a licensed psychotherapist, sheds light on the critical link between mental health and athletic performance. He discusses the rise of disordered eating in endurance athletes and how personality traits like Type A can exacerbate these issues. Brant emphasizes the importance of coach-athlete communication, identifying signs of eating disorders, and taking a holistic approach to support athletes. He advocates for a balance between performance and well-being, urging coaches to prioritize mental health.

In this engaging discussion, exercise physiologist Dr. Genadijus Sokolovas, known as Dr. G, shares his extensive experience as the high-performance director for USA Pentathlon. He dives into the essentials of program design, highlighting the significance of an athlete's adaptation rate. The conversation touches on the importance of personalized training plans and challenges faced by older athletes. Dr. G also critiques training zone myths, emphasizing aerobic conditioning and balancing intensity for optimal performance in all athletes.

In this episode of the ‘All Things Endurance’ Podcast, host Rick Prince chats with David Callahan, Co-CEO of Ultrasignup. As the leading event registration platform for ultrarunning events, David has a unique perspective on the state and growth of ultrarunning. Some of the topics that Rick and David discuss are:1.       Could you tell our listeners a little more about your background, both professionally and athletically?2.       The popularity of ultrarunning is through the roof, what are some of the key factors that you believe are driving this popularity?3.       Within the sport of ultrarunning and based on Ultrasignup’s data, are there specific distances that are seeing above average growth?4.       Where do you see the sport of ultrarunning over the next 5-10 years?5.       Athletes within sports like gravel racing and climbing often resent the result of their sports becoming more popular and mainstream – do you think this is, or will be the case with ultrarunning?6.       In the same vein as the prior question, popularity often comes with large organizations looking to purchase events. Is there a concern amongst the ultra community that the acquired events will lose their identity? 7.       For someone that is looking to get into ultrarunning, do you have any advice in regard to what type of ultra to choose as their first ultra event?8.       We often hear from our ultra coaches that running ultra’s are addictive. While it’s also true of road running, it seems to be more the case with ultra’s – why do you think this is?Where do you see ultrasignup in the coming years?