Advertise on podcast: The 99% (A triathlon podcast)

Episode #158 Kona Athletes Reid and Conrad In this Episode Jesse and Marilyn preview the paths of the two Top Step athletes headed to the big island. They both have their own jorney to get here, and both have different execution approaches for the race. Tune in to hear their race thoughts and we will debrief with them after the race!    Enjoyed the show? Subscribe and leave a review — it really helps!   Jesse’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mr.jessev/   Learn More About Top Step Training https://topsteptraining.com/   Marilyn’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marilyn_chychota/   Learn More About Marilyn Chychota Coaching https://mcc.coach/   Tucson Triathlon Camp https://tucsoncamp.com/

Episode # 157 Ultra trail run learnings  In this episode Marilyn leads Jesse in a debrief of his recent ultra — a brutal 55K in the Alps with 10,000 feet of climbing. He and Marilyn break down what went wrong in his 4-week comeback and Marilyn provides some great feedback and things Jesse can implement moving forward.  We also chat about the UTMB's lottery "stones" system, and that feeling of being hungry to race again.    Enjoyed the show? Subscribe and leave a review — it really helps!   Jesse’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mr.jessev/   Learn More About Top Step Training https://topsteptraining.com/   Marilyn’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marilyn_chychota/   Learn More About Marilyn Chychota Coaching https://mcc.coach/   Tucson Triathlon Camp https://tucsoncamp.com/

Episode #156 Ryan Bolton on Communication Ryan has been on the sideline of almost every single WTCS triathlon in the last decade. He has coached athletes in the last three Olympics, and been to one himself. I had the great fortune to sit down with Ryan and chat about how to effectively communicate with athletes at the absolute highest level in sport. This was an amazing deep dive into how the best coaches in the world communicate with athletes at the top of sport.    Enjoyed the show? Subscribe and leave a review — it really helps!   Ryan Bolton https://boltonendurance.com/   Jesse’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mr.jessev/   Learn More About Top Step Training https://topsteptraining.com/   Marilyn’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marilyn_chychota/   Learn More About Marilyn Chychota Coaching https://mcc.coach/   Tucson Triathlon Camp https://tucsoncamp.com/

Episode #155 Meet Top Step Training new coach - Zack!   In this Episode Jesse chats with his new assistant coach, listen on to hear about Zack! Zack Benedict has been immersed in long-distance triathlon since 2019, building a competitive racing resume that includes more than a dozen IRONMAN 70.3 races, five full IRONMAN events, and qualifying for both the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship and the IRONMAN World Championship. As a coach, Zack is passionate about helping athletes achieve breakthrough performances while enjoying the process along the way. He combines data-driven training principles with the latest research to create individualized programs that fit each athlete’s goals, experience level, and lifestyle. By fostering strong coach-athlete relationships and emphasizing balance, consistency, and long-term development, Zack helps athletes reach their highest potential both on race day and beyond. contact Zack through topsteptraining.com to set up an intro call!    Enjoyed the show? Subscribe and leave a review — it really helps!   Jesse’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mr.jessev/   Learn More About Top Step Training https://topsteptraining.com/   Marilyn’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marilyn_chychota/   Learn More About Marilyn Chychota Coaching https://mcc.coach/   Tucson Triathlon Camp https://tucsoncamp.com/

Episode # 154 Are your numbers holding you back? Intensity control. A very important aspect of training. But, sometimes you need to reach beyond. When to push? When to stay in the lines? Listen to Marilyn and Jesse as they discuss is fun topic!   Also - sign up for Tucson Camp!   Enjoyed the show? Subscribe and leave a review — it really helps!   Jesse’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mr.jessev/   Learn More About Top Step Training https://topsteptraining.com/   Marilyn’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marilyn_chychota/   Learn More About Marilyn Chychota Coaching https://mcc.coach/   Tucson Triathlon Camp https://tucsoncamp.com/

Coach Training Chats-  Applying the big picture to training camps! with Cam and Jesse In this episode, Cam and Jesse dig into the philosophy behind long-term athletic development — how they balance getting an athlete ready for a race three weeks away with building toward the athlete they'll be five years from now. They talk through why rushing a young or developing athlete's progression costs them down the line, why consistency (not intensity) is the single biggest predictor of results, and why sleep might be the most underrated performance-enhancing tool available to any triathlete. The conversation turns to what actually makes a training camp work: structuring key sessions around real recovery, keeping easy days genuinely easy, and avoiding the trap of turning every session into a hard one. Cam and Jesse also get into the balance side of the sport — how adding more training means something else in life has to give, and why that trade-off deserves as much planning as the workouts themselves. Whether you're building your own training camp, coaching others, or just trying to get more consistent in your own training, this one's full of practical, experience-backed takeaways.   Enjoyed the show? Subscribe and leave a review — it really helps!   Cam’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coach_camlam/   Jesse’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mr.jessev/   Learn More About Top Step Training https://topsteptraining.com/     Tucson Triathlon Camp https://tucsoncamp.com/

Episode # 153 Coach-athlete expectations, unpacked. Jesse sits down with Marilyn — former pro triathlete and Ironman Malaysia champion — to talk about what coaches actually expect from athletes, and how that changes across a career. Marilyn shares the picnic-table conversation where her own coach asked if she'd commit to the work for 10 years with no guaranteed win, a real letter one coach sends pros outlining the only 3 acceptable responses to direction, and the unglamorous 50-minute jog that preceded her first Ironman win by 18 minutes. A candid look at commitment, communication, and what it takes to get better. Enjoyed the show? Subscribe and leave a review — it really helps!   Jesse’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mr.jessev/   Learn More About Top Step Training https://topsteptraining.com/   Marilyn’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marilyn_chychota/   Learn More About Marilyn Chychota Coaching https://mcc.coach/   Tucson Triathlon Camp https://tucsoncamp.com/

Episode #152 The privilege of the grind Key Takeaways: Know whether you're a racer or a trainer — it changes how you approach motivation Routine isn't just about training; it anchors your focus, energy, and mental health When the grind feels heavy, ask yourself: do I need rest, a tweak, or just a perspective shift? Small changes — a different pool, a new trail, one fun thing per week — can have an outsized impact The grind is a privilege. Reframe it, and everything changes. Enjoyed the show? Subscribe and leave a review — it really helps!   Jesse’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mr.jessev/   Learn More About Top Step Training https://topsteptraining.com/   Marilyn’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marilyn_chychota/   Learn More About Marilyn Chychota Coaching https://mcc.coach/   Tucson Triathlon Camp https://tucsoncamp.com/

Episode # 151 Handling quad pain with Craig Smith Jesse is joined by mentor Dr. Craig Smith this week to chat about how to handle an increase in cycling volume. If you step on the gas with your riding, how can you cope? This often results in some sore quads, what should you do? Craig gives us his thoughts from a physical therapist perspective. A great listen for anyone that might have a jump in volume!    Craig Smith -  https://smithperformancecenter.com/ Jesse Vondracek - https://topsteptraining.com/

Coach Training Chats  Race Mindset - cultivating,  pre race during the race and post race Cam and Jesse break today's podcast into four oversized pieces: cultivating your mindset during the build up, what you do pre race, how you think during a competition and how to effectively tackle the post race experience.    Cam’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coach_camlam/   Jesse’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mr.jessev/   Learn More About Top Step Training https://topsteptraining.com/     Tucson Triathlon Camp https://tucsoncamp.com/

Episode #150 What I learned running 73 miles - Mozart 100 race debrief and take aways   Marilyn and Jesse review his Mozart 100 ultra marathon race. They deep dive into his change from professional sport to recreational sport and how that changes expectations and goals of racing. They also chatted about the take aways from his preparation and what he will do as he prepares for his next ultra!    Enjoyed the show? Subscribe and leave a review — it really helps!   Jesse’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mr.jessev/   Learn More About Top Step Training https://topsteptraining.com/   Marilyn’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marilyn_chychota/   Learn More About Marilyn Chychota Coaching https://mcc.coach/   Tucson Triathlon Camp https://tucsoncamp.com/

Episode #149 Open Water Swimming Race Preparation Marilyn and Jesse discussed important tips for open water swimming, particularly focusing on wetsuit preparation and technique. They discuss race start anxiety management strategies, open water swim technique and strategies, cold water and how to handle it, and ocean or rough water swims, enjoy!   Enjoyed the show? Subscribe and leave a review — it really helps! Jesse’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mr.jessev/ Learn More About Top Step Training https://topsteptraining.com/ Marilyn’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marilyn_chychota/ Learn More About Marilyn Chychota Coaching https://mcc.coach/ Tucson Triathlon Camp https://tucsoncamp.com/

Coach Training Chats Episode #1 Cam and Jesse Intensity control -  In this Episode Cam and Jesse deep dive into the effects of intensity, and going over the line. What happens when you go too hard? What happens over time? Does this lead to injury? Do you get fitter by going harder? Enjoy this chat!   Cam’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coach_camlam/   Jesse’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mr.jessev/   Learn More About Top Step Training https://topsteptraining.com/     Tucson Triathlon Camp https://tucsoncamp.com/

Episode #148 Bike Skills  What can you do now to improve your bike skills and gain free speed and confidence on the bike leg? We roll through some simple tools you can apply to your riding right now.

Episode # 147 The Carbs Question Sport Science has been through a lot of iterations with fueling. No eating, no carb, low carb, high fat, low fat, no fat, high carb, really high carb, really really high carb and so on. We chat about how we got here, and what we recommend right now...   We are joined by a Sarah Sullivan a dietitian for Racers Edge with an audio clip and get to hear her expert opinion.