Purple Patch Podcast

Welcome to another "Ask Matt Anything" edition of the Purple Patch Podcast. In part 1 of our 2 part series of Q & A episodes on all topics related to racing, Matt answers your voicemails and emails on race preparation and practices. In this installment, Matt answers your questions related to: Integrating sufficient recovery into training The constraints of metrics and how to move beyond them in your athletic performance Implementing race day hydration The logistics of fueling and hydrating on the move Spotting chronic fatigue and the proper steps to righting the ship Episode Timestamps 0:02-03:43 Welcome and Episode Introduction 3:43-Question 1 from Frederik: I heard you say that the three up one down training structure is not something you believe in. Is that something that applies to pro athletes? And does the answer change if you're talking about female athletes? I have had athletes that have very successfully been able to accumulate three weeks of consistent training, and not start to overreach or

In part 2 of our observations and lessons of 2022 so far, Matt takes a step beyond life performance and focuses on endurance sports and triathlon performance. After two years without specific goal-driven events to anchor training to, many athletes are either searching to build on the positive adaptions made during the shutdown or are looking to get their training back on track. Matt shares key insights on the habits born during the lull of the past two years and offers an approach to adapting the "pandemic training plan" to the new normal we face as the demands of life build momentum. Matt explores five main observations and lessons of 2022 to help you plot your second half of the year of performance as key races loom. Failures to Perform in Context: Adapting the training approach to the demands of life. (11:26) “we're really starting to see way too many athletes for my liking, that are looking to maintain the same let's call it pandemic training program, under the context of an environment in where the to

As we approach the midway point of 2022, it is important to pause and reflect on the challenges we faced and lessons we learned throughout the year surrounding our overall performance in life, and the habits we can establish moving forward to set ourselves up for success. In part one of our two-part series on Lessons from 2022 so far, we look closely at how we were able to adapt our lives to the slower pace and smaller scale of life in the bubble, to determine the challenges we face as life after lockdown begins to grow and pick up speed. Matt discusses the habits you should avoid and the practices you should consider to help you manage and thrive through the changes and challenges of the coming year. Matt highlights five main observations and lessons: Change is hard: How we adapt to evolving circumstances. (13:23) “We started to have a real start of a return back to normal. the thing is, normal was never going to be a simple return of the way that things were before. There's been an evolution in how we wo

For the time-starved athlete, the traditional approach to training for an Ironman or half Ironman can sometimes feel like a part-time job. Some athletes struggle to meet the demands of programs built on a foundation of accumulated weekly training hours. They often come up short when attempting to balance the demands of life and sport. Many athletes come away feeling as though the training is consuming their life, yet their race results are not reflecting their efforts or they are left trapped in a cycle of injuries. Today Matt highlights the flaws in the traditional approach that so many athletes and coaches take when preparing for an IRONMAN and half IRONMAN, and offers a more pragmatic approach to setting sustainable training hours and realistic goals within the context of each athlete’s life. In today's show you will learn 3 things: Flaws in the system - Why the common or traditional approach doesn’t work for a time-starved triathlete. (22:40) “For a time-starved athlete, I don't believe that weekly tra

Matt welcomes Ironman World Champion swimmer and CEO and founder of Sailfish, a triathlon performance apparel company, Jan Sibbersen, for Part 2 of their discussion in which they focus on success in open water swimming. With more than 35 years of competitive swimming experience, Sibbersen shares his insights and best training practices for athletes both with a swimming background and without. In today's show, you'll learn three main things: The key differences between pool swimming, and open water swimming. (32:49) “I think we've all seen it - how good pool swimmers sometimes completely fail in open water. And it's because [...] it's an unfamiliar environment [...] So the best way to address that is to familiarize yourself with all these situations and train it." Technical and training considerations to prepare for an open water swim. (34:21) “You know, it only helps usually when you have somebody standing on the deck on the pool deck. You can do all the drills in the world, you can do all the techniqu

Matt welcomes the founder of wetsuit company Sailfish, and Hawaii Ironman World Championship swim course record-holder, Jan Sibbersen, to the show. Part 1 of this 2 part series covers Sibbersen’s road to conquering the Kona swim record in a comeback performance at the age of 43 and how his swimming background influenced his success in the water and inspired him to build a business from the ground up. With Sailfish, a company he started 15 years ago, now expanding into the U.S. market, Sibbersen takes us through the lessons he gleaned from a career in competitive sport and business, and how those lessons have influenced his leadership and his company’s growth. Topics they discuss include: Sibbersen’s foundation of swimming and his eventual transition to triathlons. The driving force and frame of mind behind the quest for a comeback and a shot at the Kona swim record. The parallels between entrepreneurs and triathletes and how to apply the lessons of one career to the other. (49:47) “if you're well pre

If you are reading this, it’s likely because you share a common thread with many athletes, which is the desire to improve your athletic and personal potential. Dedicating yourself to learning and applying best practices and methods for achieving enduring health and high performance seems straightforward enough. Unfortunately, the challenge many people face is being able to filter through the blizzard of information and advice from performance experts and coaches. With health gurus, high-performance nutritionists, endurance coaches, life coaches, and an ever-growing list of specialists in related fields, all with seemingly sound theories and approaches, how do you know who to listen to? How do you differentiate a gimmick from good advice? It can be confusing and frustrating to cut through all the contradictions and rival theories, but with a solid guiding principle in your approach to education, you can use the wealth of knowledge to your benefit and determine which advice should be taken to heart and which sh

So you’ve gone all-in and put your training in the hands of your coach. It’s their role to build the framework of performance and provide clarity, accountability, and guidance through your evolution as an athlete. But how does a coach evolve beyond education and experience to become a more effective pillar of support? How do they improve themselves and grow in order to help you, the athlete, thrive? Matt answers that question with the help of Purple Patch Coach Mike Olzinksi and leading performance nutritionist, Scott Tindal, as they examine the role of mentorships in coaching. Over the last year, Mike leveraged Scott’s nutrition expertise to help facilitate high performance in several of his athletes. They discuss the importance of that collaboration to the overall success of two Purple Patch athletes, Kinga Kimbrel and Elliot Block. With the help of Mike and Scott, Kinga, relatively new to the sport of triathlon, finds perspective in training through a focus on her nutritional deficits, while Elliot defies

Welcome to another "Ask Matt Anything" edition of the Purple Patch Podcast. In this episode, Matt answers your voicemails and emails on all topics related to run performance. In this installment, Matt answers questions related to: Running with a high heart rate Coming back from injury Dealing with the incessant niggles Fostering a lifelong love of running potential in children Arriving on race day injury-free and ready to run healthy   Episode Timestamps 0:00-02:10 Welcome and Episode Introduction 02:10-The Meat and Potatoes 02:10 -Question 1 from Brett: I tend to succumb to injuries with the required running mileage in a leadup to IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3. I have heard you talk about the multisport approach for run performance and I’m a bit skeptical. I’d love insights on how I might think about these coming months into race day to help me arrive healthily, but also race-ready. 13:12 - Question 2 from Carol: Any tips on helping my child get the most out of her running potential? 22:11 - Question

Does it sometimes feel like the training you’ve been prescribed doesn’t fit comfortably into your life? Does your training volume have you feeling like a zombie rather than a finely tuned athlete? Did your coach still schedule a bike workout even though you made clear notes that you had a work trip with no access to cycling? Do you struggle to understand the big picture of your training? Does your coach keep pushing for commitment and focus even though you’re already stretched too thin? If so, you are experiencing some of the biggest mistakes coaches make when working with the time-starved athlete. The challenge of every time-starved athlete is finding a balance between the demands of life’s competing non-negotiable priorities, and the pursuit of self-improvement, or peak performance, in sport or fitness. Whether you're a triathlete, runner, cyclist, parent, or CEO, each role comes with its own unique challenges, making it difficult to stay on course with a training program designed to maximize performance ou

The endurance training circles are buzzing again about this (not-so-new) trend - Let's call it Zone 2 training, or to put it another way, training that is high in volume in low in intensity. There is inherently nothing wrong with this style of training unless it doesn't work in your time-starved life. Today, Matt discusses training optimization and getting the most out of your training time as a time-starved athlete. You shouldn't chase the same training hours as someone who has similar fitness and experience level as you, but who has no time limits. It wouldn’t be smart. If you have time constraints in your life, you have an optimization challenge and Matt provides insight. How can you optimize your limited training hours to yield the best performance returns? You'll learn: How to frame effective training with positive adaptations (17:10) "As you go on the journey to improve in any endeavor, there needs to be a challenging demand or stress applied, because it is only under challenge and adversity that the

Athletes often hear coaches talk about the importance of remaining focused and fully present in all of their workouts, but should this apply to every single training session? Should every training session really demand your full attention? The mission of this episode is to provide a framework around your training mindset that will both optimize the results from your training and also prevent the performance journey from becoming a second job. The KEY for any athlete, but especially the time-starved athlete, is knowing WHEN to show up; that is to say, reconciling your commitments with the need to ensure that the training process is joyous and facilitates a de-stressing effect. While distractions in key sessions can lead to poor execution and limited results, and random will always generate random results, there is a sensible path in which you can glean all you need by being present in training, while at the same time ensuring that the bigger part of the long performance journey includes plenty of fun and enjo

Matt welcomes back Kyla Channell and Stevie Lyn Smith, for Part 2 of a discussion around nutrition for female athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Part 1 is HERE. Both Stevie and Kyla bring with them a wealth of expertise, passion, and decades of experience in this particular area of fueling for the female. Stevie Lyn Smith, MS, RDN, CSSD, CDN, is one of the lead dieticians with our partner, InsideTracker. She's an experienced Registered Dietitian, board-certified in Sports Nutrition, with a history of working with both individuals and groups in clinical settings. She is wonderfully skilled in sports nutrition, weight management, and, through her work at InsideTracker, brings a great backbone of understanding biomarkers as a tool to help people focus and hone in their nutrition needs. Kyla Channell, MS Nutrition & Human Performance, is also the owner and founder of Nutritional Revolution, where she specializes in elite athlete fueling for each unique sport and sex differences between athletes. She is a long

On our final Race Ready Replay, Matt provides his insight on successful race day execution. It is a "Dixon Deep Dive" into all of the elements to ensure you are able to meet your trained potential with race day performance. It is normal and common for you to feel a little anxiety, even fear, when you return to racing. You are rusty, it has been a while, and the event feels bigger because of the gap from the last race. Acknowledge and even embrace the feeling. Why? Because what you are feeling is NORMAL. It is your body priming, and your brain cannot answer the question as to whether you are ready to have a breakout performance. There is no need to suppress the feelings, or pretend they are not real, but you can decide how you interact and respond with these feelings. Remember this mantra: This won't define me. There's nothing to lose. Nail the basics. Celebrate the return. Once this mindset is established, you can then shift into race execution mode. Matt walks through each discipline and provides his insight

Right now across athletes, leaders, employees, parents - many folks are overwhelmed and struggling. Between a return to the office, school, financial uncertainty, global unrest, training, and more, you may find yourself in a state of anxiety, descent, or even apathy. You are STRESSED. Today, we explore this word, STRESS, and unpack the pros and cons. We want to ensure you have an empowering attitude and mindset with the word so that you can build a toolbox that will help you not just cope with times of strain and high stress, but to leverage the situation for your own development and growth. Matt discusses: The definition and origin of the word, "stress," including whether or not it is a BAD and harmful thing, as common perceptions dictate. A few case studies which will display how a practical approach to stressful times can build your capacity to grow and develop Stress through the lens of coaching and athletic development I place a training demand onto an athlete (discomfort and challenge) from whi

The Purple Patch Race Ready Replays stride towards the finish line this week where Matt takes you through all you need to know to help facilitate hitting your potential on the run - including shoe choice, nutrition, terrain, and even walking your way to your fastest run performance. It is a triathlete’s guide to run success. You come out of T2 and all you need to do is run to the finish.  What could go wrong? Well, apparently, a lot.  The run is the most common discipline for your race to unravel.  Across the three pieces of the triathlon puzzle, the run sees the greatest discrepancy between performance expectations and reality.    Athletes struggle here and they don’t need to. Today’s show is all about optimizing your run performance. But before you reach for your flats and add more miles to your schedule, take heed. In order to reach your potential you must first understand two important things: Why is the run such a challenge in triathlon racing? It’s presumably the simplest of the three disciplines, but

Welcome to another "Ask Matt Anything" edition of the Purple Patch Podcast. Matt answers your voicemails and emails on all topics related to training and performance. In this installment, Matt answers your questions related to: Prepping for a wetsuit legal swim when you don’t have access to open water In the spirit of the Purple Patch ethos, “evolve or die,” how have Matt’s books evolved? Handling stress and overwhelm Dialing in bike cadence when racing How to factor bike commuting into your training plan Not only does Matt answer the questions, but in true Purple Patch education-style, he explains the why behind his advice so that you understand and can best apply it to your own personal toolkit of performance.    Episode Timestamps 0:00-09:45 Welcome and Episode Introduction 09:45-The Meat and Potatoes 09:50 -Question 1 from Mark: How to get ready for a wetsuit legal swim when you’re unable to get into the open water prior to the race In the weeks leading up, you should be doing (and let's make

The Purple Patch Race Ready Replay Series rolls on this week with an hour of power on all things related to bike performance and race-day execution. Optimum bike fit, posture, equipment, and pacing strategies are all covered in this episode that features two of the best in the industry, Ivan O'Gorman and Chris Soden of IOG Bike Fit and Consulting. As you’ll hear, IOG’s approach to consulting is informed by research, while their recommendations are driven by years of experience. Put simply - they will help you as an athlete not only ride faster, but also run faster off the bike. Topics and questions covered include: Is aero everything for every athlete? What do you look for in a virtual or in-person bike fit? How much time should athletes allow before races to make significant bike fit changes? Why is power different on the road vs. an indoor trainer? Why is power different on a road bike vs. time-trial bike? When is it best to come out of aero? Is there a speed or hill grade? What is normal vs

Matt welcomes two powerhouses of nutrition, Kyla Channell and Stevie Lyn Smith, for a deep-dive discussion around nutrition for female athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Both Stevie and Kyla bring with them a wealth of expertise and passion in this particular area of fueling for the female. Stevie Lyn Smith, MS, RDN, CSSD, CDN, is one of the lead dieticians with our partner, InsideTracker. She's an experienced Registered Dietitian, board-certified in Sports Nutrition, with a history of working with both individuals and groups in clinical settings. She is wonderfully skilled in sports nutrition, and weight management, and, through her work at InsideTracker, brings a great backbone of understanding biomarkers as a tool to help people focus and hone in their nutrition needs. Kyla Channell, MS Nutrition & Human Performance, is also the owner and founder of Nutritional Revolution, where she specializes in elite athlete fueling for each unique sport and sex differences between athletes. She is a longtime nutriti

The swim leg of any triathlon is one that elicits stress and fear. You’re entering into murky water with the blinding sun in your eyes. There are choppy waves that are seemingly predestined to make their way into your lungs. All the while, you’re getting very physical with hundreds of your closest friends. Swim anxiety is real, especially in open water swimming. Today, Coach Matt Dixon and Coach John Stevens diffuse some of the stress around triathlon swimming and frame strategies to help you approach the swim more effectively. In this deep dive on triathlon swimming, they will: Help Establish a Positive Mindset Around Swimming Benefits of Swim Band Training Identify Common Sources of Anxiety and Fear Outline Solutions and Strategies Around Many of Those Sources of Fear and Anxiety Around Swimming The goal of this episode is to help you build confidence and become empowered when approaching the triathlon swim. Regardless of whether you are a multisport veteran or a complete newbie, we hope to help y