Rachael Cunningham won the free race entry to IRONMAN New Zealand. We find out more about her. We explore the crucial role of mental fitness in endurance sport and its significance for both performance and recovery. We discuss how athletes handle pre-race anxiety and stress differently and the mental resilience required in elite adventure racing where cognitive stamina and decision-making under duress are as crucial as physical ability. We share insights from an episode of That Triathlon podcast with certified psychologist Stuart Holliday, who specializes in working with endurance athletes. Stuart discusses the o of self-talk and the need for athletes to conduct a robust self-assessment, examining their psychological approach before, during and after races.  We introduce Matt Fitzgerald's book "How Bad Do You Want It?" as a resource for understanding and improving mental toughness in the face of adversity. We examine key concepts such as the central governor theory by Tim Noakes, discussing the role of the brain and mind in athletic performance. We also explore the notion that athletes don’t encounter their true physical limits due to a maximum tolerance for perception of effort. While some individuals possess an innate ability to push past their perceived limits, for most, this is a skill that can be developed. We touch on cases where athletes perform significantly better on race day compared to their training sessions, suggesting a psychological component that unlocks higher intensity and effort levels. Lastly, we consider the role of psychology in recovery, discussing practices like yoga nidra and meditation, which can aid in activating the parasympathetic nervous system for improved rest and digestion. (0:00:00) – Aero testing with Jack Moody (0:06:20) – Psychology and how it relates to endurance sports (0:12:58) – Rachael Cunningham (0:19:46) – Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:20:06) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15  (0:20:18) – Hexis competition promotion (0:20:36) – Intro to Stuart Holliday excerpts (0:24:26) – Stuart Holliday excerpts (0:37:48) – Intro to Matt Fitzgerald excerpts (0:41:09) – Matt Fitzgerald excerpts LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at  https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ IRONMAN New Zealand at https://www.ironman.com/im-new-zealand Hexis at https://www.hexis.live/ That Triathlon Show - Psychology and triathlon performance with Stuart Holliday at https://scientifictriathlon.com/tts364/ Matt Fitzgerald book ‘How Bad Do You Want It?’ at https://www.amazon.com.au/How-Bad-You-Want-Psychology/dp/1937715418 Clip to Bevan’s full interview with Matt Fitzgerald at https://share.snipd.com/snip/c5a0c935-be38-43e0-a5fb-50e721b2adb3 Huberman Lab at https://www.hubermanlab.com/ Dr Andrew Huberman’s Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) Protocol at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKGrmY8OSHM

For our Boxing Day episode, we’re delighted to be able to bring you a chat with Laura (Sid) Siddall and Sonia Bracegirdle-Moerloose. Sid and Sonia discuss their experiences participating in the extreme triathlons Patagonman and Fodaxman. An inspirational discussion during which they both share their motivations for taking on these challenging races and the preparation involved. We hear about their experiences of both races, for Sonia as a participant at Fodaxman and as support crew for Sid doing the Patagonman. The unique challenges and atmosphere of both races, the unpredictable weather conditions and the stunning landscapes. LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at  https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ FODAXMAN Extreme Triathlon at https://www.fodaxman.com.br/ PATAGONMAN Patagonia Xtreme Triathlon at https://www.patagonman.com/ Follow Laura Siddall on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lmsid/ Follow Sonia Bracegirdle Moerloose on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sonia.kiwi/  

Dr Nicky Keay is an Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Medicine at University College London and previously Research Fellow in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Durham University. She conducts clinical research in sports/dance endocrinology, resulting in a range of research publications and awards. Dr Keay is a member of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine and the British Menopause Society. She is also the author of ‘Hormones, Health and Human Potential: A guide to understanding your hormones to optimise your health and performance”. In this podcast we discuss the importance of hormones in achieving our full potential in terms of both health and exercise performance. We explore the connection between hormones, training, nutrition and recovery in relation to athletic performance. We learn how hormones play a crucial role in driving positive adaptations and how our behaviors and lifestyle can affect their effectiveness. We emphasize the importance of finding the optimal balance for each individual athlete and provide tips on how to harness hormones to support training and achieve peak performance. We also explore the concept of allostasis and how it relates to the body's ability to adapt to exercise. We address the misconception that more training is always better and highlight how stress and psychological factors can affect our hormones. Balancing all aspects of our lifestyle, including nutrition and mental well-being, is crucial for optimizing our hormone levels. We discuss the pressure athletes face to perform perfectly and how it can affect their hormones. We touch on the effects of stress and anxiety on hormones and offer practical solutions for managing them. We also mention common signs of hormonal imbalances, such as unexplained weight gain and the potential negative effects on the body. Lastly, we discuss the changes in hormones as we age, particularly the significant decrease in female hormones after menopause. We emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including proper training, nutrition and recovery, as well as incorporating strength training to combat potential muscle loss. Additionally, we highlight the importance of vitamin D supplementation. LINKS: Dr Nicky Keay at https://nickykeayfitness.com/ Hormones, Health and Human Potential book at https://nickykeayfitness.com/new-book/

Helen Guillaume is back on the show to talk about the new WILD.AI Coach Dashboard. An initiative designed to help coaches understand, support and maximize the potential of their female athletes. We share excerpts from Jonny Brownlee’s interview with Super League. Jonny reflects on his glittering career and admits he’s coming to terms with the fact that ‘it won’t last forever’. We hear about what the future holds for him. We have a free race entry to the IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong to give away in our Coffee Club! Competition details in the newsletter. Dr Nicky Keay is an Honorary Clinical Lecturer in Medicine at University College London and previously Research Fellow in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Durham University. She conducts clinical research in sports/dance endocrinology, resulting in a range of research publications and awards. Dr Keay is a member of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine and the British Menopause Society. She is also the author of “Hormones, Health and Human Potential: A guide to understanding your hormones to optimise your health and performance”. We share excerpts from our upcoming interview with Dr Keay, out tomorrow. Doug Gordon won the free race entry to the IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo. He tells us how his day went. (0:03:23) – Rotorua Suffer (0:04:26) – Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:04:33) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15  (0:04:49) – We announce the winners of the competition for 2 x free race entries to the Whakatipu Legend. (0:05:22) – We have a free race entry competition for our Coffee Club members to the IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong event. (0:06:20) – IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo – the bike course and the world champs course (0:09:46) – The PTO courses – why is there still no information (0:13:19) – Doug Gordon (0:19:21) – Skye Moench and her recent interview with the Triathlon Hour (0:22:49) – Introduction to Dr Nicky Keay (0:24:03) – Dr Nicky Keay excerpts (0:37:09) – Helen Guillaume of WILD.AI (0:48.43) – Taylor Spivey and Olympic selection  (0:52.24) – Introduction to Jonny Brownlee (0:55.08) – Jonny Brownlee excerpts LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at  https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ The Whakatipu Legend at https://www.thewhakatipulegend.co.nz/ IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo at https://www.ironman.com/im703-taupo IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong at https://www.ironman.com/im703-geelong WILD.AI Coaches Dashboard at https://www.wild.ai/coach-dashboard Dr Nicky Keay at https://nickykeayfitness.com/ Hormones, Health and Human Potential book at https://nickykeayfitness.com/new-book/ Follow Skye Moench on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/skyemoench/?hl=en Triathlon Hour interview with Skye Moench at https://howtheytrain.podbean.com/e/skye-podcast/ Jonny Brownlee interview with Super League ‘Face to Face’ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrq0Pf8SEhU Follow Jonny Brownlee on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jonnybrownleetri/

Georgia Taylor-Brown, professional triathlete, discusses her experiences with injury and personal issues. The hosts also cover topics such as course management, bike pacing on undulating courses, and the challenges of qualifying for the British team for Paris. They share insights on managing effort and strategy on a hilly bike course using the 50/40/30/20/10 concept.

Kiwi triathlete Simon Cochrane has won the iconic Ultraman World Championships in Kona smashing the previous race record by an incredible 44 minutes. Travelling over 515km in three days of racing, the event starts with a 10km ocean swim followed by a 145km cycle. Day two a challenging 276km cycle and Day three 85 kms of running (a double marathon). We chat to Simon about his previous victories leading in to the World Championship – the Ultraman Australia race and Ultraman Canada, where he dominated the competition and secured his spot at the World Championships. He talks about his mindset going into the race and his strong performance on each day, including a challenging swim and a solid lead on the bike. As an experienced athlete and coach, Simon shares his approach to training and how he has consciously worked on developing mental strength. We discuss the significance of choosing more challenging options in training and how this translates to confidence on race day. Simon reveals his strategies for mental preparation and provides valuable insights into the mental side of endurance training. We talk through Simon’s race in Hawaii, the lead up to the race and how he adjusted his taper. We also hear about the challenging conditions which led to a crash on the bike. Simon shares his plans for the New Zealand summer, which includes a solid attempt at IRONMAN New Zealand in March, plus we’ll see Simon on the start line at the IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo this weekend! LINKS: Simon Cochrane at https://www.athleticpeak.co.nz/ Ultraman World at https://ultramanworlds.com/  

We have 2 free race entries to give away to the Whakatipu Legend – you choose the distance you’d like to enter. The Competition:  Email in to info@fitter.co.nz the answer to the following question… “The Whakatipu Legend has an event called The Combo Challenge. What is the total distance that swimmers will swim at this event?'  The answer can be found on their website at www.thewhakatipulegend.co.nz  The competition will be drawn in 2 weeks – on Sunday 17th December - and the winner announced on the podcast the following week.” Bevan and Tim review the racing from IRONMAN 70.3 Indian Wells La Quinta and IRONMAN Western Australia plus we hear from IMWA winners Daniel Baekkegaard and Fenella Langridge at the finish line. Alex Bees won the free race entry to the Calley Homes Mount Half. We find out more about him. Athlete turned coach, Matt Bottrill of ‘Matt Bottrill Performance Coaching’ has not only had an incredible career as a cyclist but has also coached athletes to world records. In this segment Matt shares valuable insights into training and aerodynamics. We discuss the significance of optimizing speed, power, and aerodynamics in both training and racing, and the need for athletes to focus not just on training, but also on adapting their bodies for better aerodynamics. Matt emphasizes the importance of body position and aerodynamics, using mirrors and video analysis for progress. We also discuss bike fitting for triathletes, and the role of individualized drills and adaptations. Plus, we touch on optimal cadence and the importance of varying training zones in triathlon training. Simon Cochrane is a World Champion after winning the recent Ultraman World Championships in Kona smashing the race record in the process. We share excerpts from our interview with Simon, out tomorrow. (0:02:21) – Competition for 2 x free race entries to the Whakatipu Legend. (0:08:28) – Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:08:40) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15  (0:09:17) – IRONMAN 70.3 Indian Wells race review and it was a Norwegian domination (0:14:28) – IRONMAN Western Australia race review (0:17:41) – Finish line interviews with Daniel Baekkegaard and Fenella Langridge (0:25:07) – IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo this weekend (0:25:42) – Chelsea Sodaro racing at the Mount Festival of Sport (0:27:00) – The Calley Homes Mount Half (0:27:35) – Alex Bees talks about the Mount Half race (0:33:51) – Pedaling efficiency. Producing force and developing your range of cadences. (0:40:38) – Intro to Matt Bottrill – Force and the pedal stroke. (0:42:37) – Matt Bottrill of ‘Matt Bottrill Performance Coaching’ (1:03:00) – Introduction to Simon Cochrane Ultraman World Champion (0:49:30) – Excerpts from our interview with Simon Cochrane – out tomorrow. LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at  https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ The Whakatipu Legend at https://www.thewhakatipulegend.co.nz/ Daniel Baekkegaard at https://www.danielbaekkegaard.com/ Fenella Langridge at https://www.trifenella.co.uk/ IRONMAN Western Australia at https://www.ironman.com/im-western-australia Matt Bottrill at https://www.mattbottrillperformancecoaching.com/ IRONMAN 70.3 Indian Wells at https://www.ironman.com/im703-indian-wells Calley Homes Mount Half at https://mountfestival.kiwi/events/tauranga-half/ Simon Cochrane at https://www.athleticpeak.co.nz/ Ultraman World at https://ultramanworlds.com/

Coach Tim Brazier and Dr Kate Baldwin of Endurance Movement discuss the common injuries faced by triathletes, including achilles and calf injuries, hip issues and bone stress injuries. They emphasize the importance of understanding the multifactorial nature of injuries and how to prevent or manage them. The role of bone health, particularly before the age of 25, is also highlighted, along with how previous sports or training can affect an athlete's risk of injury. We discuss how to catch and treat bone stress injuries before they worsen. Practical tips are provided for identifying and addressing these injuries plus we highlight the importance of getting an MRI or CT scan for accurate diagnosis. We highlight the importance of nutrition and proper training in avoiding injury, as well as the role of biomechanics and muscle strength. We recommend a well-rounded rehab program, including cross-training and a gradual return to running, to prevent future injuries. We also touch on the concept of loading days and the importance of rest days in between. We discuss the importance of giving the body time to adapt and recover after intense training, and how taking short breaks throughout the year can benefit both physical and mental health. We also emphasize the role of nutrition and sleep in recovery, and how these simple practices can have a significant impact on performance. Listeners are invited to send in their questions for the next episode, where we will address them and discuss another injury topic. Dr Kate Baldwin at Endurance Movement https://endurancemovement.com/ Dr Kate Baldwin at Valere Endurance https://valereendurance.com/

We have a free race entry giveaway to IRONMAN New Zealand. Bevan and Tim review the racing from Challenge Canberra plus we hear from winners Daniel Baekkegard and Els Visser at the finish line. Anna Dungey won the free race entry to the Challenge Wanaka Half. We find out more about her. Henri Schoeman discusses his recent battles with injury and we get an insight into his plans for the future. We discuss bone stress injuries and ways in which to prevent and manage them and share excerpts from our full interview with Dr Kate Baldwin, out tomorrow. We also look at the role that nutrition can play and share excerpts from the ‘We Do Science’ podcast in which Professor’s Kirsty and Craig Sale discuss their research study paper ‘Nutrition and Athlete Bone Health’. Lastly, we highlight recommended nutrient guidelines for bone health and repair. Calcium – 1000-1200 mg/day - Vitamin D – 600-800 int units/day - Vitamin K – 90-120 micrograms/day - Magnesium – 310-420 mg/day - Phosporous – 700 mg/day (0:00:00) - Tim has completed a 24-hour adventure race. (0:05:18) – Free race entry competition for Coffee Club members – IRONMAN New Zealand! (0:06:49) – Infinit Nutrition 10% discount for all listeners with the code FITTER10 (0:06:57) - ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount for all our listeners with the code ULTRO15  (0:07:13) – Challenge Canberra race review. (0:09:46) – Finish line interview with Daniel Baekkegard. (0:12:04) – Finish line interview with Els Visser (0:13:46) – Challenge Wanaka (0:16:08) – Anna Dungey (0:24:00) – Introduction to Henri Schoeman (0:25:57) – Henri Schoeman (0:40:00) – Preventing and managing bone stress injuries (0:41:32) – Excerpts from the interview with Kate Baldwin – out tomorrow (0:47:07) – Nutrition’s part in bone health. (0:48:29) – Introduction to Kirsty Jayne Elliott-Sale and Craig Sale. (0:49:30) – Excerpts from ‘Nutrition and Athlete Bone Health’ We Do Science podcast with Kirsty and Craig Sale (1:03:49) – Key Nutrient Guidelines for bone health. LINKS: Infinit Nutrition 10% discount using the code FITTER10 at  https://www.infinitnutrition.com.au/ Note: For the code to work you need to have created an account and be logged in. ULTRO Earbuds 15% discount using the code ULTRO15 at https://www.ultroaudio.com/ Challenge Canberra at https://challenge-canberra.com/ Daniel Baekkegaard at https://www.danielbaekkegaard.com/ Els Visser at https://elsvisser.com/ Follow Henri Schoeman on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/henrischoeman/ Link to full interview with Henri Schoeman at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gk0kiJc0IE Link to Nutrition and Athlete Bone Health study at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-019-01161-2 Follow Craig Sale Professor of Human Physiology and Nutrition at Manchester Met Institute of Sport at https://twitter.com/Sale_ExNut Follow Kirsty Jayne Elliott-Sale Professor of Female Endocrinology and Exercise Physiology at Manchester Met Institute of Sport at  https://twitter.com/elliottsale We Do Science podcast at https://www.wedoscience.com/132-nutrition-and-athlete-bone-health-with-prof-craig-sale-and-dr-kirsty-elliot-sale/ Dr Kate Baldwin at Endurance Movement https://endurancemovement.com/   Dr Kate Baldwin at Valere Endurance https://valereendurance.com/

Tim Podlogar BSc, MSc, PhD is an applied researcher primarily working at the University of Birmingham where he conducts research in the field of sports nutrition and carbohydrate metabolism. He is also one of the nutritionists for Bora-Hansgrohe World Tour cycling team, Head of Development at Nduranz sports nutrition brand, Head of Science at the Human Performance Centre in Slovenia and a visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Primorska, Slovenia. In this podcast we discuss his journey from a low carb back to a high carbohydrate diet, his experience in nutrition for a World Tour Cycling Team, and his research into carbohydrate metabolism. Dr Podlogar shares his research into the importance of carbohydrates in both recovery and performance plus we touch on classical carbo loading for athletes and the need for multiple day glycogen loading protocols. We explore the implications of energy deficit and the need for carbohydrates to sustain the workloads of athletes. We discuss the differences between 'healthy' and 'less healthy' solutions for carbohydrate intake, and the pros and cons of different sources of carbohydrates. Plus, we discuss the potential dangers of relative energy deficiency and compromised bone density when it comes to train low strategies. We review the role of technology and nutrition in the world of cycling and discuss the potential benefits of continuous glucose monitoring.  We also consider the psychological aspects of nutrition, as well as the importance of periodizing carbohydrate intake in order to optimize performance. Finally, we consider the importance of research into carbohydrate metabolism in extreme environments, such as heat and hypoxia, and the importance of testing nutrition strategies for IRONMAN or other hot races in the heat. Tim Podlogar at https://tpodlogar.com/ Research articles at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tim-Podlogar