Episode 30: The Complete Guide to Your First 70.3 Triathlon with Author Brittany Vermeer
Endurance journalist and author Brittany Vermeer joins me to discuss her book, The Complete Guide to Your First 70.3 Triathlon. Brittany has been in endurance media for 17 years, writing for Ironman, Triathlete, and Outside Magazin. Brittany shares the most common mistakes athletes make when tackling their first middle distance race, from nutrition mishaps to pacing errors, and we go beyond training plans to explore the mental game necessary for 70.3 triathlon success, the difference between racing as a test versus a challenge, and why racing by feel is a crucial skill to use alongside objective data. Whether you're preparing for your first 70.3 or looking to improve your approach to long course racing, this episode offers practical wisdom for training smarter and racing stronger.
Episode 29: REPOST | The Norwegian Method with Author Brad Culp
Over the past six weeks, Norwegian athletes have take four of the six podium spots at the Ironman World Championships in Nice, France, and Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. We sat down earlier this year to talk with Brad Culp, author of The Norwegian Method: The Culture, Science, and Humans Behind the Groundbreaking Approach to Elite Endurance Performance.
Brad points out both in his book and in this interview that many Norwegians actually bristle when they hear their manner of training described as “The Norwegian Method,” because the way they train is fairly old-school: all of the principles they adhere to were set decades ago by athletes and coaches from a variety of cultures and ethnicities.
“The Norwegian Method” is, in fact, simply a “high-volume, low-intensity program with threshold sessions controlled by lactate measurement.” It flies in the face of “no-pain, no-gain” training, and requires commitment, consistency, and control over a long period of time. Listening to this episode (and reading Brad’s book!) will help you stop training too hard, reset your timeline for success, and start moving effectively in the direction of your goals.
Episode 27: F-ing Fast Past Forty: Pro Josh Monda Keeps Getting Faster
Josh Monda raced as an age grouper for 17 years before turning professional at 40—displaying a patience you don’t often find in endurance sports. Josh’s story includes a five-year hiatus from the sport, personal struggles with addiction, and a long-term approach that eventually unlocked elite-level performance. Now racing for the On Your Left Professional Triathlon Team, Josh shares the training, mental, and tactical insights that enabled his late-career breakthrough.
Josh's story shows that athletic development doesn't follow a universal timeline. His patient approach, willingness to step away when necessary, and focus on consistent, sustainable training over the long haul offers a blueprint for long-term success in endurance sports—regardless of when you start or restart your journey.
Episode 22: Ironman Unveils New World Championship Qualification System
The triathlon world erupted when Ironman announced their new age-graded qualification system for Kona. But after analyzing the actual numbers from recent races, the changes aren't nearly as earth-shattering as the internet forums suggest. Chris breaks down the math, examines real race data, and explains what aspiring qualifiers actually need to know.
If you want to read this podcast in article form, head on over to Chris’ breakdown here.
Want to talk to Chris about your training? You can book a free 45-minute analysis here.
Book a swim analysis with Chris: https://campfireendurance408.lpages.co/video-swim-analysis/
Ironman’s announcement: https://www.ironman.com/news/age-group-qualification-system
Episode 19: Professional Triathlete Ben Hoffman, or “Trying to Control More Doesn't Lead to More Control”
Chris sits down with professional triathlete Ben Hoffman, who has won eight Ironmans, seven 70.3 races, and landed on the podium an unreal 28 times, one of which was the 2014 Ironman World Championships in Kona, where he finished 2nd.
The biggest takeaway from this episode, I believe, is a concept that Ben returns to several times: you simply let your body express what it has been trained to do on race day, with a slight aim for "a higher level" because you are rested.
Episode 7: How to Train to Give Yourself a Chance to Qualify
Now that Ironman World Championship season is over for the year, after the women raced in Nice last month and the men just raced in Kona, we thought it would be helpful for those of you excited about those races to hear what it takes to qualify for them.
Too many athletes believe that qualifying for races such as Kona, Nice, and Roth (all long distance triathlon) requires speed. It doesn’t. Qualifying for these races (which is another way of saying “executing this difficult distance effectively”) requires a physiology that doesn’t slow down.
In this episode, which is the audio from a webinar our owner, Chris, gave a few times in October, we walk you through a common misconception about long course triathlon racing and how to change your training so you can give yourself the best possible chance of qualifying.
If you would like this content as a video, you can watch the presentation over on our YouTube channel.
And, finally, if you would like the presentation from this webinar, you can grab it here.