Advertise on podcast: The Endurance Drive Podcast

In this week’s episode, we start with insights on winter run training, including when to prioritize treadmill versus outdoor running, how to plan safe routes in snow and ice, what to wear, how to fuel, and other key considerations for durability in the cold, ice, snow, and wind. We then spend most of the episode with Katie’s reflections on the parallels—and important differences—between labor & delivery and endurance racing, including managing uncertainty, focusing on process goals, building a flexible plan, and identifying what you actually need from your support team. Katie also shares early postpartum reflections on physical healing, sleep deprivation, motivation shifts, and how she’s thinking about movement, systems, and self-compassion in this new phase of life. Throughout, we explore how endurance training mindsets translate to major life transitions, honoring different seasons, and redefining what “enough” looks like. Check it out! To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast  To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].

In this week’s episode, Elena interviews Katie about her reflections on the arc of pregnancy as an endurance athlete at 39 weeks. Katie shares how movement has evolved in the final month, how the role of uncertainty has shifted both mentally and physically, and what she’s learned about identity, intuition, unsolicited advice, body image, and the moral language often attached to pregnancy and motherhood. She also walks through current postpartum intentions, how goals may change once baby arrives, and lessons that extend far beyond pregnancy to any major life or training transition. We also hit Elena’s thoughts on restarting training after a period of low motivation, including the role of flexibility, winter realities, and creating systems that make showing up easier. A key take-home of this episode is that there are a lot of unexpected parallels between pregnancy and endurance training/racing, so we encourage both pregnant and non-pregnant athletes to check it out! To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast  To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].

In this week’s episode, we answer common early-season FAQs, share our candid thoughts on Strava’s new AI-generated workout plans, cover what it means to become “robust and ready” for the year ahead, and offer a few strategies for navigating the winter months. We specifically hit recovery-day activity, modifying hard group workouts in base season, swim focus in January and February, FTP tests vs. virtual races, how to account for downhill skiing, how to log strength training in TrainingPeaks, and more. We also dig into the mindset and preparation behind being robust and ready on race day, along with practical ways to manage lower energy and motivation through training, nutrition, and routine adjustments. Check it out! To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast  To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].

In this week’s episode, we outline our key 2026 training focus areas and what we’re prioritizing as we quietly build the foundation for the year ahead. We kick things off with some extended reflections on process goals: why they outperform outcome goals, how they boost self-efficacy, and how focusing on controllable actions can unlock long-term progress. From there, we share our his 2026 coaching and training priorities, including developing local muscular endurance, emphasizing sub-threshold aerobic work, using the bike trainer more intentionally, integrating respiratory training,  sharpening fueling and hydration strategies to support both performance and recovery, proactively building out your performance bubble, and season planning across a multi-year time horizon. If you’re heading into 2026 with big ambitions, limited time, and a desire to train smart, give this episode a listen! To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast  To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].

In this week’s episode, we share an honest, nuanced conversation about REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) and holistic athlete health. Katie opens with some reflections on navigating the decision to take a step back from running late in pregnancy, using purpose, trends, and body awareness to guide her training. From there, Elena shares her full health story for the first time: the perfect storm that led to REDs, the crash, a long and messy recovery, and what ultimately helped her heal. We talk through warning signs, blood work, compounding life stress, weight gain nuance, mental health, and why performance and health are not the same thing. This episode is an anecdote—not a diagnosis—but it’s meant to offer language, context, and hope to athletes who may recognize pieces of themselves in the story. If you’re navigating burnout, underfueling, hormonal disruption, or questioning whether your body is asking for something different, this is a deeply important listen. Check it out! Link to episode outreach form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfurpk5exg6eYh-0KBxGMoZZvEKb_UA440EGlX9ypfn7mK0mw/viewform To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast  To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].

In our final episode of the year, we reflect on the biggest lessons from training and coaching in 2025. Katie shares how this year reinforced the importance of trusting feel over data, listening to the body (especially during periods of change or vulnerability), and intentionally building a strong performance bubble to support both physical and mental health. Jim expands on why performance is ultimately a systems game, highlighting the power of basic weeks, consistency, identity grounded in process, smart fueling, muscular endurance, and using data as a tool rather than a driver. Elena rounds out the conversation with insights on becoming a more flexible athlete: checking in with your mental, physical, and emotional state, embracing rest as a performance tool, and intentionally shaping your environment to support joy, sustainability, and long-term growth. If you’re looking to carry meaningful lessons from 2025 into your training, coaching, or life in 2026, this episode is for you! Check it out.  To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast  To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].

In this week’s episode, we zoom out to talk long-term goal mapping, sparked by Katie revisiting an athlete questionnaire she filled out in 2017—and how goals like completing an Ironman or qualifying for the Boston Marathon quietly became reality through years of unsexy consistency. From there, we dig into our experiences with multisport training versus single-sport focus, sharing practical ways to use multisport to support durability, aerobic development, and time management while keeping the main goal the main thing during a focused training block or season. We also touch on lessons from the Norwegian Training Method, why consistency beats heroic workouts, how to interpret training data and fitness metrics with better context, and how to think critically about course demands using AI tools (including a deep dive into the Ironman Maine 70.3 bike course). If you’re thinking about long-term progression, balancing multisport with focused training, or building fitness that lasts for years, this episode is for you. Check it out! To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast  To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].

In this week’s episode, Katie and Jim start with some updated reflections on goal mapping and a common athlete question: what to do when no big goals are calling your name. Katie shares guidance on aligning training with purpose, taking unstructured time when needed, and exploring new modalities or distances instead of forcing an event. We then dive into the main topic: how to build a repeatable, low-friction Basic Week using principles from James Clear’s Atomic Habits to make training obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. We cover practical strategies for habit formation, systems that support consistency for time-crunched athletes, and why sustainable routines matter more than intensity. We also discuss winter training tools like uphill treadmill, how time off during the holidays can unexpectedly boost fitness, and why fitness metrics on Strava, TrainingPeaks, and Garmin should be interpreted cautiously. If you’re thinking about goal mapping, building habits, or creating a more reliable training structure heading into 2026, this episode offers a clear roadmap. Check it out! To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast  To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].

In this week’s episode, Elena shares insights from the very beginning of her return to structured training after a true three-month off-season, including what’s helping her rebuild consistency, how she’s thinking about early Boston Marathon goals, and why maintaining joy in her routine matters so much. We then shift to Katie’s turkey trot 5K at eight months pregnant: why she decided to race, how she approached a hilly, unfamiliar course at a “smooth tempo” pace, and what she learned about managing her competitive side, listening to feel over data, and reframing expectations while running in pregnancy. We close with a listener question on mental health, postpartum recovery, and movement during any planned time off, along with Katie’s framework for setting realistic expectations, maintaining identity, and focusing on a healthy long-term return to sport. Check it out! To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast  To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].

Happy Thanksgiving! With the end of the year fast approaching and a new season on the horizon, this week’s episode features a deep dive on goal mapping! We recap what goal mapping is, explain why it’s a great starting point for your next season, go through all of the questions we like to ask our athletes as they map out their goals, and share some thoughts on why the inherent vulnerability in goal mapping can be scary. We then share some thoughts on our own goal maps for 2026, including Jim’s plan to cycle the Haute Route in France in August and Katie’s ideas on returning to sport postpartum. Whether your goals for next year are big, small, or still to be decided, this episode is for you! Check it out.  To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast  To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].

We did a deep dive on a bunch of interesting topics in this episode! Katie and Elena trade insights and questions on: how to make outdoor training bearable now that it's very dark and cold out; Elena's takeaways from committing to a true three-month off season for the first time ever; life lessons from Elena's coaching experience at the Girls on the Run 5K; imposter syndrome at big races and in life; and Katie's extended thoughts thoughts on running in pregnancy now that she is nearly eight months along and still hitting consistent mileage. We also cover some fun challenges of the week related to meditation and gratitude and share our practical (and fashionable?!) gear picks. Check it out! To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast  To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].

This week's episode hits a bunch of fun topics including: insights from our athletes and the pros at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Marbella, Spain; thoughts on how to get back in multisport training if you have been focusing on a single sport for a while; off-season reminders, including how to balance lack of structure with a smart progression of volume and intensity; indoor trainer tips for cycling; Jim’s new mobility and strength routine; and “chocolate chip cookie” training. We also preview the Triathlon Academy, an entry-level coaching option for members of the Endurance Drive community, and hit some fun fashion-inspired gear picks of the week. Check it out! To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast  To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].

In this week's episode, we asked some of our most inspiring community members to tell us how they make training work alongside busy family and professional lives. We were blown away by the rich insights that came back, including tips on early morning workouts, run commutes, calendar blocks, stroller jogs, home gym setups, and how to effectively tag-team with your partner when both of you want to get some movement in. Our parent-athletes also opened up about how their mindsets have evolved since becoming parents—reframing training as self-care, identity, and connection—and how that shift helps them show up more fully for the people they love, without letting go of big athletic goals. Whether you're a parent-athlete yourself, thinking about starting a family, or just looking for better balance in a busy life, this episode is for you. Check it out!

In this episode we finally got to discuss our reactions to one of the craziest races we have ever seen in Ironman history: the all-women’s 2025 Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. We discuss what it means to win and lose with grace, Taylor Knibb’s incredible post-race interview, the role of heat and humidity in making or breaking an athlete’s day, and what bike brands seem to be most popular at the elite level. We also chat through the role of muscular endurance in super long-distance events like half and full Ironmans, marathons, and ultra runs, and preview some of the innovations we will be bringing to our athletes’ training in the 2026 season to account for this. Next, we deep dive on takeaways from Ironman California, which Katie and Jim agree is one of the best races you can do as a first-time IM athlete. Finally, we expand on a listener question from last week about burnout and drill into three different types of athletes: “event athletes,” “identity-based athletes,” and “for the love of the sport athletes,” considering what lessons we can learn from each athlete type as we try to burnout-proof our season. This episode was so fun to record and we’re excited to share it with you, so check it out! To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast  To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].

This week's episode features a deep dive on three big topics: (1) how to plan out a sustainable season in order to avoid burnout, (2) pros, cons, and use cases of AI as an athlete, and (3) playing the long game in pregnancy and postpartum—particularly with respect to new research on bone density in pregnant and postpartum runners. We also riff on hydration and running shoe recommendations and share updates from our training and coaching lives. Check it out! To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast  To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].