Tag: podcast

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How Yoga and Triathlon Work Together

By Mike Tarrolly, co-host of the Crushing Iron Podcast

Mike from the Crushing Iron Podcast riffs on “How Yoga and Triathlon Work Together”

Yoga is a hot topic for me, but I think of it as an informal addition to my daily routines. Ie… I don’t typically carve out an hour and a half for classes. It’s something I drop into throughout the day. 5 minutes here or there.

I’m currently back in a pretty good streak and I also talk about how I think it has an impact on my plantar fasciitis.

This was the question from Facebook Group that generated this video: What are your views on yoga + triathlon- how they intersect and if one compliment or take away from the other?Do you take time to continue yoga when Ironman training? What’s your favorite pose? What have you learned from yoga that applies to triathlon?

Here are some of the things I get into:

– General thoughts on how Triathlon and Yoga intersect in general and throughout training.
– He started triathlon in his late 40’s and he believes yoga eases the grind of triathlon and the repetitive motions.
– Strength poses and a stronger run stride base – Warrior 1, 2, 3 – Balance, limberness, and general strength.
– Plantar Fasciitus and how he’s dealing with it. – Favoring our dominant side.
– Spinning into stillness… like a top … – It’s YOUR practice, not a competition – How he believes it can be a bit of a substitute for running – Go slow…. ease into it…
– Poses…. Waking up the body… strong core and legs….

For more information on our Coaching, Camps, and Communities, visit C26Triathlon.com

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Love The Sport

For more on our community and coaching, please visit C26Triathlon.com

Many of us get into triathlon to figure out who we really are and that process is more effective and enjoyable if we love the sport. And loving the sport is a process. Today, we reflect on Kobe Bryant’s life and his passion for, not only the game, but everything he did, and tie it into our daily approach with triathlon. Kobe’s death is a painful reminder that life is fragile and triathlon is much more than just the numbers – it’s about community, connection and helping others. Today is about finding your sweet spots in training and appreciating the little things to make net gains.

Takeaways from Podcast #342 – Love The Sport

  • The power of a little break – It’s impossible to keep the intensity for 365 days a year. It’s important to be around people who will remind you that it’s okay to take a break and step back from the grind. In fact, it’s essential.
  • Goaded by peer pressure – On the other hand, we find benefits of giving in to occasional “good peer pressure” if your friends have your best interests in mind. And as Mike points out, it’s not a bad thing to find a little kick start once in a while.
  • Kobe Bryant’s impact on us – Kobe Bryant was Coach Robbie’s favorite player, and while Mike is a Jordan fan, both respect and love the passion Kobe brought to basketball and his life. His death is one of those events that make no sense but certainly give us a wake up call.
  • Painful reminders of how fragile life is – We tend to go through life in a haze, focused on numbers and results without the big picture in mind. When someone seemingly immortal as Kobe Bryant dies out of the blue, it always gives us pause and it is in this pause that we should remind ourselves to appreciate the little stuff.
  • Overcomplicating what matters – There’s a lot of data out there but there’s no substitute for hitting the road or water and going. Pre-optimization is a flourishing disease. Lace em up and go.
  • Combining love for the sport with wanting to be the best we can be – How often do you have that “kid feeling” when you are staring in the fact of a workout? That is the one you want. So, whatever it takes, find the part of swim, bike, and run you love the most and start there when things seem rough.
  • Burnout rate – As we’ve said many times on the podcast, “Expectations are future resentments.” There is extreme power in moderating your approach and training. Listen to your body and it will tell you when it’s time to break or swing toward one discipline or the other.
  • Type-A Celebration – Nobody can be “on” all the time and there is always use for good balance. Triathlon has a reputation for being full of Type-A athletes, but that doesn’t have to define the sport.
  • Becoming your best, not “the” best – Imagine the intensity you would have to train for the Olympics. Years and years of work for one bright moment. In a way, we are a little that way. Days and days of training for one big race. The majority training for Olympics don’t win the gold and the same is true for triathletes. Just work to be your best and let the rest take care of itself.
  • Is Triathlon a “net gain” for you? – Are you moving in the right direction? This is and should be a slow process. Not every day will be a breakthrough, but often those “bad days” are necessary to create the next advance. Embrace it all as a learning and growing experience.
  • Slowing down the least – Triathlon isn’t about who goes the fastest, it’s about who slows down the least. This amounts to strength and durability. Think of that next time you are invited to do a track workout.
  • Chasing PRs – This is a trap most of us fall into, but eventually you realize that continual PRs is unrealistic. Not that you can’t get faster with age (we for sure see this all the time) it’s just that you have to temper your expectations and find hybrid successes that may not always amount to a PR.
  • Figuring out who you are as a person – This is why a lot of us come into triathlon – to figure out who we are. Ground yourself in that path and listen to your mind and body. Bring them together in a peaceful union to let the true you come alive.
  • Breaking up the rocks – Uncovering your the truth is often painful and this is what a lot of us experience as we evolve in triathlon. We learn to sit with the pain and realize just because it’s the opposite of joy doesn’t mean it’s bad. It is what it is and often it’s a gateway to uncovering parts of ourselves that we know are being starved.
  • Love what you love.

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Thank you for listening to the Crushing Iron Podcast. We have been recording podcasts for over 3 years on Monday and Thursday. We’ve explored many issues both in and outside of triathlon. We appreciate your support and look forward to meeting you out on the course one of these days.

For more on our community and coaching, please visit C26Triathlon.com

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New Triathlon Camp Video – Nashville, Tennessee 2018

Crushing Iron puts on several Triathlon camps a year and these are highlights from April, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. We had nearly 20 athletes in town and they all came with a great attitude ready to work. Hear their feedback on camp and see highlights from Natchez Trace, Percy Priest Lake at Anderson Beach, and the abandoned airfield we lovingly call “The Lab.”

If you’d like more information on camps or coaching please click and don’t forget to check out the Crushing Iron Podcast released every Monday and Thursday. Motivation, Information, and Good ole fashioned rambling.

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Turning To Triathlon When Life Turns On You

A while back on the podcast we started asking for stories from listeners. What got you into triathlon? Why do you love it? How does it make a difference in your life?

We knew people were listening, but really didn’t know how (or if) we were connecting. Then we got an email from Ross Kaffenberger and it pretty much defined why we keep doing the podcast.

He said he loved listening and left a review on iTunes, then unceremoniously dropped a link to his blog, “Out and Back.” The next day I read his latest post and was blown away. Robbie said the same thing, and we made plans to get him on the podcast.

His words were heart wrenching and optimistic at once. I’ll let Ross tell the story, but it crystalizes why I think so many of us get into triathlon. It’s either to get us going, or keep us going. In Ross’s case, it has been both, and I’m really happy we’ve connected.

He’ll be doing my favorite race, Ironman Wisconsin, and he unveiled the incredible reason why in this podcast. If there’s any doubt triathlon can have a profound effect on our lives, please listen to this podcast and follow Ross on Twitter: @rossta

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Triathlon 101: In The Beginning

It was the morning of my first triathlon and I was understandably nervous. So many fears:  My first open-water swim, the unknown of running off the bike, and walking around in public wearing head-to-toe spandex.

It was actually lycra, but the self-awareness was frightening.  I stood on fast-warming concrete and waited with about 600 others to enter the water. Truth be told, I still didn’t really know how to swim and I was about to jump into the fast moving Cumberland River in downtown Nashville.

We filed down the pier and soon my number was called.  With an exhilarating (and fearful) scream, I plunged into the murky water for a 300 yard swim.  Six minutes later I fought the current with all my might just to get to the ladder with a VERY high step.  I couldn’t get my foot on there and did more of a pull-up-to-body-flop onto dry land.

Everything about that day was a trip.  The feeling of running to my bike was wild.  Gasping for air as I tried not to lose my balance.  Trying to remember what to take off, leave on . . . and put on.  I didn’t know anything about transition and started running out without my helmet, of course.

We hear all this stuff about nutrition, aero bars, race wheels, and on and on, but so much of it is overkill in the beginning.  If I had to do it over again, I would probably do everything in my power to think of my first time as a practice race.

Again, this was a sprint, so the run was 3.1 miles, but it was . . . um . . . weird. I wasn’t yet used to the feeling of running off the bike.  This feeling stayed with me for a few races, but now I almost look forward to running after loosening up the legs.

I finished the race that day and it was genuinely one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.  I thought I’d just scaled a mountain but it was just the beginning.  I was hooked.

I’ve gone on to do many Olympics, several 1/2 Ironman, 4 fulls, and yes, more Sprints.  I love them all.

I think the key is to keep moving forward is to have patience with our development.  It doesn’t happen overnight, but it eventually happens.  You will fall in love with the sport and hopefully with how it makes you feel.

In today’s podcast we talk about the most important things to consider before doing your first triathlon and how you can stay in the game for a long time.  We also share ways to make starting triathlon a LOT less expensive.

Here’s an outline of our podcast:

  • Things to consider before signing up for your first race
    – location
    – brand
    – race management
    – time of year
  • What made you want to do a “triathlon” in the first place – Finding your “why”
  • Gear: Items you HAVE to have, would be nice to have , and items that are just  because you WANT to have them
  • How to set up a plan for success
  • How to know if you are ready to go to the next distance 

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New Podcast – How to Love Swimming

Here’s the first Crushing Iron audio podcast, duly titled the Squadcast (More on The Squad coming soon).  This is basically the student talking with the coach about how to, not only get better with excellent drills and workouts, but love your time in the pool.  There’s a bunch of good information in here that can take a long time to figure out, but is now translated in ways that everyone can understand.

Let us know what you think and what else you’d like us to discuss.  Next Podcast is on Open Water Swim training, including, how to simulate in a pool, beating anxiety, and importance of a solid warm up.

Click the orange arrow to get going.