Purple Patch Podcast

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

As an endurance athlete, it's not uncommon to experience niggles in training and racing - tightness, numbness, discomfort, lack of mobility, and - yes - pain. But, is all pain bad? Does it always mean something is wrong? Pain is an important positive sign to highlight issues that are going on with your body, and there isn't anyone that knows more about pain than Dr. Tim Deer, President and CEO of The Spine & Nerve Centers in Charleston, West Virginia and Chairman and Founder of The American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN). In addition to being a world-renowned physician and researcher, Dr. Tim Deer is also an accomplished endurance athlete with multiple IRONMANS and Ultras under his belt, including Badwater 135, IRONMAN World Championships, the Leadville 100, the Boston Marathon, and more.  Matt and Tim go head-to-toe on the subject of body pain, how to spot key red flags, and what to do to prevent and manage your symptoms. This interview goes well beyond simple injury prevention education. You'll

This week, we built the show for those getting ready to launch into their race season. Races are coming thick and fast and, for the first time in a couple of years, we are charging ahead at full steam. We know you have questions. How should I pace? What should my mindset be for this first event of the season? What lessons will I draw? How can I assess the success of my race? What if I don't reach my time goal? What should I pack? Matt has answers and that's why this episode not only provides your framework for a successful ramp into racing but also a long-term perspective on a successful season of racing. In today’s show, Matt provides: A mindset and lens to help diffuse fear and alleviate the pass-fail shackles that many athletes face in early season racing A strategic approach to the race to set you up for success A list of essentials to tick off so that you minimize risk and optimize the chances of trained potential meeting race day performance We know your race goals are important and you should 

The last two years have been turbulent and full of forced change. What was normal, suddenly wasn’t and, whether we liked it or not, almost all of us had to evolve and change. We also know that by listening to these podcasts and following Purple Patch, you want to thrive and amplify your performance in your health, work, and life - all while getting faster. It sounds too good to be true, but is it? At Purple Patch, we think not. We are your tent-peg in the perpetual storm of change; a grounding of structured training that has helped many stabilize and maintain a path of health, perspective, and progression. How? Through Tri Squad. Today, Matt revisits the history of Tri Squad, The Why Behind the Programming, and, of course, the results. The Outcomes - both across athletic results, as well as energy, confidence, balance, and presence What is Tri Squad trying to solve and achieve for the time-starved athlete? What does Tri Squad offer, and what role does the Purple Patch team play? By answering these que

Welcome to a special "Ask Matt Anything" addition of the Purple Patch Podcast. Matt answers your voicemails and emails on all topics related to training and performance. In this first installment, Matt answers your questions related to: Best Practices on Heat Acclimation for Hot Races What to Expect When You Transition from Road Bike to TT Bike The Minimum Amount of Running to Be a Successful Triathlete Running on Variable Terrain When to Build in a Complete Rest Day 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 toolkit of performance.    Episode Timestamps 0:00-02:05 Welcome and Episode Introduction 02:15-The Meat and Potatoes 02:20 -Question 1 from Kevin: Is there a minimum amount of running you can do to be a successful triathlete? 11:45 - Question 2 from Corinne: Should I be forcing myself to take a rest day, especially if I'm fatigued? 18:30 - Question 3 from Andres:

They say sport is a metaphor for life, so today we apply those lessons of IRONMAN athletes to build a pathway for predictable performance in work and in life. Realize, you don’t need to be an athlete – or even an IRONMAN – to draw the lessons and strategies to apply to your own life. If you want to show up, excel, and thrive, then this is for you. The best IRONMAN athletes develop an IRON MINDSET, but so does anyone chasing high sustainable performance individually or across teams. Today, we build your toolbox of success and lean into an IRON Mindset. You'll discover: The Definition of an IRON Mindset? "A way of being and doing that enhances their performance predictability and sets them up to be highly adaptable in all areas of life, remain focused, and resistant to fragility." The Inescapable Truths about High Performance There is no easy option. The fragile will wilt and the uncommitted will fall away. But, before you panic, if you remain in the game, carve out consistency, and refuse to falter when

Matt welcomes Cardiologist, Brian Keeffe MD, to discuss heart health. During the episode, they discuss the surprising prevalence of heart issues and potential concerns among the athletic population. Many athletes assume they are “heart-healthy” because they train, but this may not always be the case. Don’t leave your heart health to hope and assumptions. This conversation will shed light on considerations, tests, and contributing factors of heart disease. Topics include: Why athletes should even care about heart health? (24:48) “People who do lifelong exercise can still develop the clogging of the arteries - atherosclerosis.” What factors should we consider before launching into high levels of training? What are some things a Cardiologist can uncover in tests and scans? Arrhythmia - What is it? Warning signs? (31:17) "Electrical systems become disorganized and you lose synchronicity.” What are the risks surrounding high cholesterol and lipid medications? When would you recommend a calcium scan