Episode 56: Laura Siddall Won’t Die Wondering
Laura Siddall started triathlon in 2009, won four age group world titles, turned professional in 2013, and became a multiple Ironman champion with two top-ten finishes at the Ironman World Championship in 2022. In this episode of The Infirmary, Laura describes the biggest hole of her career: being hit by a car at Ironman Brazil in 2023, the brain bleed that followed, and the physical, mental, and financial slide that came after a wild-card return to Kona. She talks through her decision to retire, the grief of the first year without racing, and the work of building an identity beyond the sport. Laura also shares her coaching pet peeves (swim watches, auto lap, ERG mode, and the belief that more training is better), explains how forced rest taught her what sleep does for mood and energy, and tells the story behind her motto, “Don't Die Wondering.” The conversation closes with Sid Squad, her mentorship program for young female triathletes, and the support system she wanted to build for professional athletes at the PTO.
Episode 35: Overtrained or Just Under-recovered? The Difference That Could Save Next Season
Overtraining syndrome is rare, serious, and can end your endurance career if you're not careful. In this episode, we break down the differences between functional overreaching (proper training), non-functional overreaching (under-recovery), and true overtraining syndrome (OTS, and again, it's really rare!). You'll learn the warning signs that separate temporary fatigue from something far more concerning, plus we walk through actual case studies of athletes who took years to recover from OTS. We cover the psychological patterns that lead to overtraining, a return-to-training protocol that can get you back on the right track safely, and why consistency beats intensity every single time. If you're training hard right now or coaching athletes through big training blocks, this episode is the reality check you need before it's too late, for you or for your athletes! #triathlon #overtraining #endurancetraining