All Things Endurance

Laura Healey, Senior Manager of Research & Sport Science at Puma, dives into the fascinating world of super shoes. With a strong background in biomechanics, she defines what makes a shoe 'super' by discussing components like advanced foams and carbon plates. Laura explains the shift from minimal to cushioned footwear and addresses concerns about stability during tight turns. She also shares insights on optimizing performance through lab testing and addresses the importance of matching shoes to individual running styles. Not to miss!

In this episode of ‘All Things Endurance Podcast,’ host Rick Prince chats with Nicole Dobransky. Nicole is the founder of Runner Rising, a business focused on helping individuals start and scale their endurance sports coaching practices. Below are the areas that Rick and Nicole chat about during this episode:  1.       Could you please tell our listeners a little bit more about you and why you started Runner Rising?2.       What are some the biggest mistakes that you see new (and seasoned) endurance sports coaches make when it comes to marketing their coaching businesses?3.       ‘Content is King’ is often a phrase used in regard to online marketing. Does this hold true for endurance sports coaches and if so, what are some key considerations to be aware of when creating content across various mediums?4.       What role do you see AI playing in helping endurance sports coaches acquire athletes to work with?5.       If a coach is brand new, what are the first steps that they should take to build their business?6.       If you had to pick the top 3 most impactful things that a coach can do to get athletes, what would they be?7.       A lot of coaches struggle with wearing all of the hats in their coaching business. What advice would you give to a coach that is struggling to grow their business because they are too busy managing all of the aspects of running it?8.       Could you tell us a little bit about how Runner Rising helps coaches find new athletes to coach?9.       Any tips for a coach that is looking to take their coaching side-gig to a full-time endeavor with respect to increasing their athlete roster?To learn more about Nicole and Runner Rising, please visit: https://runnerrising.com/ 

In this episode of ‘All Things Endurance Podcast,’ host, Rick Prince chats with licensed clinical psychologist and founder of The Coaches Collective, Dr. Lara Pence. In her daily practice, Dr. Pence primarily works with elite athletes and executives to level up their performance. The Coaches Collective is a community of coaches that Dr. Pence works with to help to them transform their athletes into the best version of themselves. Below are the areas that Rick and Dr. Pence chat about during this episode: 1.       Could you please tell the listeners more about yourself and the Coach Collective?2.       What are some of the most common things that you have found that hold coaches back from reaching their potential?3.       Do you think that coaches often don’t recognize what truly is holding them back and associate their lack of growth to other things?4.       What are some of the most important traits for coaches to have?5.       How important is the role of community in the success of a coach?6.       In an age of so much information (right and wrong) being fed to us – especially on social media, how important is trust in the coaching relationship and what are some ways for coaches to build trust amongst their athletes and athletes possibly looking to hire coaches?7.       Imposter Syndrome is quite prevalent in new and seasoned coaches. Are there any strategies that coaches can implement to help overcome it?8.       On your website, you denote that you meet coaches where they are at. How important is this concept in both coaching and life?9.       What are some common traits of high performing coaches?To learn more about Dr. Pence and The Coaches Collective, please visit: https://drlarapence.com/coaches 

Dr. Sam Scott, an exercise physiologist and diabetes researcher, shares his expertise on managing diabetes in athletes. He discusses the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, highlighting their unique challenges during exercise. Sam debunks common misconceptions and emphasizes the importance of individualized exercise plans for diabetic athletes. He also explores how coaches can support these athletes and what non-diabetic athletes can learn about nutrition and metabolic homeostasis. Lastly, he discusses the role of AI in interpreting complex diabetes data.

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 third and final podcast in a three-part podcast series with Zoë and Kylee. Previous episodes in this series include Episode 33: Why Athletes Fall for Pseudoscience and Fad Diets and Episode 38: The Truth About Racing Weight Below are the areas that Rick, Zoëand Kylee chat about during this episode: 1.       When it comes to endurance sports, often there is an emphasis on body weight from a performance standpoint. However, what is not discussed as often in endurance sports is body weight/image from an aesthetic point of view. Could you discuss how these two areas – performance and aesthetics interrelate?2.       While speculative, do you think that a fair amount of people get into endurance athletics for the primary purpose of losing weight and to improve their body image?3.       Could you explain what traditional body positivity is, and how it often misses the mark?4.       For our listeners that don’t know what body dysmorphia is, could you define it and how it shows up in endurance sports?5.       As we discussed in the previous podcast, there is often an obsession in endurance sports to reduce body weight, which often results in disordered eating. As such, do you think that some individuals get into endurance sports because as a whole, these sports normalize being underweight – often to a drastic amount?6.      If a coach suspects that one of their athletes may have body dysmorphia and/or disordered eating, what should their action plan be?7.      In your opinion, what are some steps that those in the endurance sports industry could take to reduce the overemphasis on low body weight and by association, disordered eating and body dissatisfaction? 

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!