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Our guest in this episode is none other than our longest continuously coached athlete, Liz Hall. Liz came to us as a pharmacy resident wanting to qualify for Boston over a decade ago. Since then, she has been married, changed jobs multiple times, qualified and ran the Boston Marathon, as well as the Ironman 70.3 and full distance world championships. But as we will discuss, her success has been anything but a straight line. We dive into her past NOT growing up as an athlete, the long but steadfast journey to her first BQ, and how that spun into a successful jump into triathlon. Liz talks about how the heck she stays motivated to train and achieve goals despite a demanding job and family life, as well as why she continue to work with a coach versus go at it alone with all of her experience. We could have easily talked for hours given all she has accomplished, and continue to accomplish (still hitting PRs over a decade into training with purpose). So if you're ready to go along on Liz's journey with us, enjoy another episode of Coaches on Couches.

In this episode, Coach D and Coach B-Fun explore the critical role of having a high VO2 max and lots of lean muscle mass for overall health and longevity and how it also translates to better race performances. Our latest podcast breaks down the gold standard tests and how to incorporate those metrics into your cycling, running, and triathlon training. We also give insight into how to use the test results as goals when racing isn't #1. For any cyclist, triathlete, or runner who is in it more for the health benefits than the medal count, this one is for you!

They are sexy. And it just rolls off the tongue. As coaches of runners, cyclists, and triathletes, we love chasing marginal gains to increase the performance of our athletes. But chasing marginal gains before developing foundational habits and routines is like tuning a race car before you know how to drive it. Long term, those habits will get you a lot farther than any 1% gain you can gey by smashing keytones every 8 minutes. So in this episode, the coaches break down the foundational items that make up 90-99% of your improvements, and explain who is best suited to start chasing marginal gains.  If we missed something, let us know in the comments! Takeaways Your body likes having a set sleep cycle. Nutrition is key; you can't out-exercise a bad diet. Daily movement beyond training hours is important. Consistency in training trumps all other factors. Stress management is vital for performance. Focus on foundational habits before marginal gains. Hydration is as important as nutrition. Sleep routines can significantly improve sleep quality. Small changes in nutrition can lead to big performance gains. Managing stress is crucial for optimal performance. Strength and flexibility are essential for longevity in sports. Injury prevention is linked to strength training and mobility. Building habits is more effective than seeking quick hacks. A clean and well-maintained bike enhances performance. Positioning on the bike can significantly impact efficiency. Focus on the fundamentals rather than marginal gains. Consistency in training leads to better results than sporadic efforts.    

The heat is on! And your body is wondering what the heck is going on. As athletes and coaches living in some of the worst heat and humidity in the country, we know a thing or two about dealing with the heat. In this episode Coach D and Coach Bfun break down why heat acclimation is so important for everyone, and the most actionable things you can do right now to make sure you are ready to perform better in the heat and humidity.  So if you're already sweatin', join us for another episode of Coaches on Couches.  Show Notes: Key Takeaways Heat acclimation is crucial for performance in hot conditions. Core temperature regulation is vital during exercise. Humidity significantly affects the body's cooling mechanisms. Acclimation can be achieved indoors as well as outdoors. Physiological benefits of acclimation can be seen in 7-14 days. Increased sweat rate is a key adaptation to heat training. Training in heat can improve performance in cooler conditions. Perceived exertion decreases with acclimation. Passive heat exposure can enhance acclimation benefits. Hydration status is critical when training in heat. Training in heat requires specific strategies for acclimation. Monitoring heart rate is crucial during heat training. Athletes should not avoid training in hot conditions. Hydration is essential for performance in the heat. Preloading with electrolytes can enhance hydration. Clothing choice impacts heat performance significantly. Cooling techniques can improve race day outcomes. Ice socks and cooling sleeves are effective tools. Simulating heat conditions indoors is beneficial. Understanding individual sweat rates is key to hydration. Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back and Podcast Updates 01:37 Understanding Heat Acclimation 07:08 The Importance of Core Temperature Regulation 12:25 Acclimation Process and Benefits 20:14 Physiological Adaptations to Heat Training 23:00 Training in the Heat: Strategies for Acclimation 30:10 Hydration: The Key to Performance in Hot Conditions 38:57 Cooling Techniques: Enhancing Performance on Race Day

Straight off a top 15 finish in the 2024 Unbound XL Gravel race, we chat with our boy David Ax about his preparation, training, equipment, and how the goal of 24 hours in the saddle panned out for him. If you have any interest in ultra cycling, or are considering taking on the 350 mile XL event, you won't want to miss this!

In this episode, Coach D and Coach BFun give you the honest truth about losing weight...ready!? It's hard and it's not fun. But there are ways we can change our habits and low hanging fruit that when cut, can make a massive difference in your daily consumption. So if you're looking to drop a few pounds, lean out, get to race weight, or just stop some bad habits, join us for another episode of Coaches on Couches!

The typical avatar of an endurance athlete lends itself to having high expectations, and that is a dangerous thing. Most of the time, we put these expectations on ourselves, and they are like a weighted vest on race day. Expectations equal stress and stress kills performance. So we're on the couch today talking about how to rid yourself of this burden so that you can let your training and your fitness do the talking. No more complex race plans, no more worrying about the uncontrollables. Take what the day gives you and have fun again!

Proper pre-race prep for premium (triathlon) performance. Say it 5x fast. It's time to nail your next goal race, but a lot hinges on what you do in the 24 hours before the gun goes off. Don't sabotage your next race with poor planning and sheer laziness when you put a ton of work into the build up. It's time to lay it all out so join us for another episode of Coaches on Couches!

If you've been around the block, you know it's happening. The larger possible reward, the larger the chance that people will cheat. It was happening before Collin Chartier was caught and chances are it won't be the last time there is a doping scandal in our awesome sport of triathlon. We are glad he was caught and we are happy the conversation was forced to the forefront, at least for a day or two. But for the time crunched athlete the big questions are likely: 1. Is this an isolated incident? 2. Are there age groupers doping? 3. Could I be using banned substances and not know it? In this round on the couch, we talk about the recent events, what can be done, and the truth about age group doping. So if you're a triathlete or just a fan of the sport, grab your NSF certified sports drink and settle down for another episode of Coaches on Couches.  If you want to check any medication or supplements you might be taking, you can do so at globaldro.com

You decided to take on a beast of an event. The unknowns are greater than the certainties. The truth is, doing your first 100 mile ultra marathon is a lot more complex than just getting out there and jogging (and hiking) for hours on end. There are several other aspects to the event that can make or break your ability to cross the finish line. So if you're crazy enough to take on this monster or slowly losing you mind and considering it, join us for our top 10 tips for beginner ultra marathoners. All of these things we've learned from the successes and failures of our athletes over the last 14 years. And if we missed something, post it in the comments!

There are a million and one reasons why endurance athletes take a break from training and racing. Be it cycling, running, triathlon, or any other feat of endurance, it likely involved a decent amount of time, as well as a chunk of your emotional and financial resources. There is always serious injury that can sideline you as well. And now that you've been out of the game you're left wondering how the heck you'll ever: A. get the love back and B. get back to being as fit as you use to be, preferably fitter. If that's you, you're in luck because this episode is devoted to helping you get your groove back. Shamelessly, the easy-ish button to getting fit again (you still have to do the work) is to hire a coach that is in your corner and ready to guide you back to being fit, keeping life balanced, and then crushing souls. So if that's of interest, you can book a chat with one of our coaches at bpccoaching.com

Mason Schofield didn't grow up with dreams of becoming a pro cyclist. He really didn't even play sports growing up. But when the pandemic hit and life was in flux, he found joy in getting out on a beater road bike. Soon he found himself working at bike shops and getting into his first Cat 4 races. 14 months later, he's lining up with the best in the US at the American Crit Cup races with his first pro contract. His main goal? Take cycling as far as he can and keep having fun. But we dive into this meteoric rise and we'll find out how his training has changed, how he continues to learn, and how working with Coach Jonny Brown has prepared him for the upcoming season. So if you like a good ole fashion story about dedication and hard work, join us for another episode of Coaches on Couches.

To wax or not to wax, that is the question. Of all the trends in cycling right now, chain waxing seems to be the one we get asked about the most. So, we called on our local chain waxing guru (and engineer) Cole McDaniel to school us all on the pros and cons of waxing your chain. Some of the benefits for your average cyclist and triathlete are pretty staggering, especially when you do the math for long distance events. But, and there are a couple of things to consider, and one major scenario where you might want to pass on fresh hot melt wax. So if you are a cycling enthusiast looking for marginal gains, before you ruin your family's crockpot, sit back, relax and join us for another episode of Coaches on Couches.

As cyclists, runners, and triathletes, one of the reasons we train is to stay healthy. But let's face it, this winter has sucked in terms of staying at full capacity. We've had athletes who have been sick 3 and 4 times in 3 months. It's the worst we've seen in 14 years of coaching. So today, we discuss illness and training. First, how to avoid it if you can. Secondly, we discuss the decision making process around whether to train or not, and what to do if you're still OK to train. Unfortunately a timely topic, but it will always be a part of any endurance athlete's journey. So whether you are smashing it full gas or laid up with the funk, the couch is calling.

In this episode, Coach D has a lot to get off his chest when it comes to bike fitting. As someone who has been fitting bikes professionally and studying human physiology and biomechanics for over a decade, he sees a lot of trends in the industry that just don't make sense! Even things "elite level" fitters ignore that have massive impact on the final product and ultimately the rider's comfort and performance. Everyone deserves a properly fit bicycle! A few frustrations include but are not limited to: - Not paying attention to pedaling mechanics while fitting - Static fitting in general - Using high rise stems to fix hand and saddle discomfort - Using shims and wedges instead of fixing the root problem - Marketing of tools over knowledge So if you are cyclist or triathlete who is having pain or discomfort, looking to optimize your performance, or you are an aspiring bike fitter, you won't want to miss this therapy sesh, uhhh, podcast. If you'd like to book a proper dynamic bike fitting with Coach D in the Memphis area, you can do so at www.bpccoaching.com