#923 – Prepared For The Swim
Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast
Today, our goal is to help you prepare for a solid swim by learning to like, and eventually love the water. We talk about many things you can be doing right now to make your swim as strong as possible. We look at how to approach training: swim hard, swim long, swim often. We get into ways to calm anxiety along with how to handle race morning. We talk a lot about the importance of warming up the proper way and how to handle a wetsuit before your race. Despite how people say the swim is the smallest part of the race, we want to share our thoughts on why being ready, confident, and calm while...
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#922 – Rethinking The Metrics - Power, HR, and Pace
Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast
We start today with a proclamation that Mike is throwing out his power meter and Robbie has a surprising reaction. We ask, what’s your preferred way of suffering? We get into climbing hills and getting too caught up in the numbers. We talk about the importance of breathing and its relationship to your heart rate training. We talk about keeping things simpler to avoid mistakes. We address enjoyment vs. punishment. We ask what the real finish line is. The beauty of the bike. The power behind not getting hurt or burned out while keeping a streak of rebellion. The frequency of movement adds...
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#921 – 2026 Ironman Texas Preview
Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast
Today, we preview Ironman Texas, but this is great info for any Ironman you might be racing. We include strategy for the age groupers and take a look at the stacked pro field and give predictions. We look at the wind and potentially "mild" weather and talk wetsuit or not, how to approach the swim along with the last stretch in the canal. We get into bike strategy for your first and second loop. Then take a look at how to handle the electric, three-loop run course. Lots of good insight for pacing, super shoes, and terrain. Also, if you're thinking of doing one of these GREAT MIDWEST races,...
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#920 – Optimize Your Engine and Decision Making
Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast
Are you paying compounding interest on fatigue and recovery? We look at several different ways to address today’s workout depending on where you are mentally and physically. Just because something is in your Training Peaks doesn’t mean it’s perfectly crafted for you on that day. We always want to encourage athletes to make the right decision based on how they feel, what is going on in their lives, and what the body is telling them. And believe us, there can be mixed signals. Today, we address the signals saying it’s time to get after it and the ones that may be begging you to flog...
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#919 – Chasing Speed The Right Way
Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast
We all want to be faster and today we look at the right ways to go about speed in triathlon. We talk about pushing the limits along with how putting in easy miles mix. We talk about building habits that matter and why you always have the time to do the extra things that will make a difference. New the “latest and greatest” training methods, the simple power of repetition, and why most triathletes don’t fully buy in to training. We also get into the biggest traps facing age groupers that want to be faster. Also, if you're thinking of doing one of these GREAT MIDWEST races,...
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#918 – C26 Coaches vs. AI - Listener Q&A
Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast
Today we take athlete questions and compare our answers with A.I. We get into how long to train for an Ironman after taking a chunk of time off. We look at what makes a race attractive. We look at trimming your time in an open mile run. Stationary pool band swimming. Double runs on the same day. Double rides. Along with biggest mistakes athletes make in the first Ironman. Topics: How much NIL would it take for us to transfer to a different podcast? Done several Ironman races, but taken a few years off? What now? What makes a good race How to trim a minute off your mile time Trail race...
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#917 – When Your Race Goes Sideways
Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast
Most of us have moments within a race where things aren't going as planned. The question is, how do you handle it? Will you throw in the towel or try to figure it out? What does that even look like. We make hundreds of decisions within a race and today we’re looking at how to make the best ones you can in the moment. We look at why not wearing a watch in the swim can give you a better mindset. We talk A, B, C goals and how to adjust on the fly. We talk about the courage to finish on a moderate note vs. a high or low. Finding wins no matter how you feel. Racing with gratitude all day. And...
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#916 – Are You Reaching Your Potential?
Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast
So many people want to put limits on our potential, but are we really going to just settle for someone else’s opinion? Today, we talk about the unexplored potential inside of you and belief systems that will help you tap into it. Anything Is Possible might be overused as a phrase, but it’s definitely not over attempted. Let’s take a look inside at ways you’re wasting your energy and potential. Let’s look at how to be engaged in the process and not let a random race goal take up too much space in your brain. Do the work when resistance is highest. Do yourself the favor of turning all...
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#915 – How To Get Excited About The "Boring" Stuff
Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast
We’re not here to sell you the top hacks for getting on the podium. Today, we advocate for the long game. Often times the quicker you gain, the quicker it can go away. Building and keeping and making life/triathlon feel easier and more enjoyable. How do we find joy in the “boring” stuff we feel like wastes our time? Slow gains are hard to notice, but they last longer. We know it’s not exciting, but that is one of our biggest challenges. Putting the excitement into the overall process. Being okay with 80% meh. You can’t always outwork your way to the top. Topics: Is your...
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#914 – Free Speed With Better Posture And Form
Crushing Iron Triathlon Podcast
Expensive wetsuits, Disc wheels and carbon shoes only matter if they matter. Today, we look at true free speed within better posture and form. When you boil it down, a faster race comes down to holding solid form and all three events affect the other. We’ll look at simple ways to improve your form and get free speed over time by simply holding it better. We talk about drills to incorporate in your runs, how to be more comfortable and stronger in aero, and we look at having solid hydrodynamics in the water. Commit to the long game and truly get better at what you do, all while saving energy....
info_outlineGoing HARD is easy to understand, but taking rest for recovery of your mind and body can sometimes create guilt. Why do we think like that?
Today, we dive into the psychology of taking a day, or two, off when our body needs it. We also talk about getting trapped in upper Zone 2 and how that can often turn into Zone 3 which is wearing you down far more than you think. We look at junk miles and asked if they really are junk, or if they’re something more than we think. We talk flexibility, pliability, and how range of motion can create more economy in your stroke, peddling, and stride. Explore the definition of “quality” and look at things from a different perspective. Be objective and understand the big picture.
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Looking for a great way to empower your training, explore your limits, and exist in the moment? Check out C26 Adventure Camps for 2026! http://watersharpensiron.com
Want to build strength and conquer the water? Look into our swim camps at C26Hub.com
Looking for triathlon coaching? Comb through our roster at https://c26triathlon.com/about/coaches/
Topics:
- Thanksgiving ranked as a holiday
- Making up time in training . . .
- The Psychology of Days Off
- Gordo Byrn Perspective
- Rest is extremely important
- Over trained or under recovered?
- Why is it so hard to take a rest day?
- Is Zone 1 junk miles?
- Does Zone 2 turn into Zone 3 for you?
- Flexibility, pliability, limberness
- Walk/runs
- The continuum from yogi to bodybuilder
- Using HR - Controlling HR and time
- Don’t ruin the rest of your week on one set
- Do “junk miles” help your pliability?
- Rest, recovery, quality
- Different buckets of QUALITY
- Howe economical is your body?
- Deteriorating quality as we go
- Monitor yourself objectively
- Courage to take a day off
- Being flexible in the training plan
- Going hard is easy to understand, loving yourself and respecting your body is tougher.
Mike Tarrolly - mike@c26triathlon.com
Robbie Bruce - robbie@c26triathlon.com
Check us out at www.c26triathlon.com
Looking to find your flow? Check out C26 Adventures! www.watersharpensiron.com