Libsyn Directory

Master Early-Season Race Preparation with Coach Patrick: Strategies for Peak Performance

Release Date: 03/13/2025

Blast From the Past: The Power of Being Part of a Team

Endurance Nation Podcast

A blast from the past, trimmed for today. In this episode from our archive, Coach Patrick breaks down the three reasons training with a team makes you a better athlete, and makes you better for the people around you: Momentum. People have walked the path before you, people are walking it with you, and someone a step behind could use your help. The experience factor. You borrow what your teammates have already figured out about sleep, gear, races and race-day execution, so you toe the line like it's your fourth time. Fun. Teammates turn even the hardest parts of training into something you look...

The 2027 OutSeason: How to Pick Your Plan

Endurance Nation Podcast

Hey, it's Coach Patrick. This is our 20th OutSeason, and this episode walks you through how it works and which plan fits you. Most winters don't make you faster. This one is built on a simple idea: get fast first, then go far. We use the time and recovery that winter gives you to build a bigger engine, then carry it into race season. Picking your plan comes down to three questions. Where did your last season leak time? Can you absorb three or more hard sessions a week right now? And how many hours have you really been training? From there I walk through a real week of Bike Focus, Run Focus and...

The Secret Endurance Winter Protocol: Fast Before Far

Endurance Nation Podcast

The Secret Endurance Winter Protocol: Fast Before Far Winter is the best time for endurance athletes to get stronger and faster. Most of us spend years doing it the other way around before we figure that out. [] In this episode I break down Fast Before Far, the idea behind the Endurance Nation OutSeason. When time is short and your race is still nine months away, we build sustainable power first. Then, as the days get longer, we extend that power toward race distance. The conventional winter plan asks for 10, 12, 14 hours of zone 2 at the exact time of year when daylight, motivation, and your...

Winter Decides Your Season

Endurance Nation Podcast

The most important part of your 2027 season doesn't happen on race day. It happens this winter, and most athletes waste it. In this episode, Coach Patrick McCrann explains why Endurance Nation built the OutSeason 20 years ago, and why it still works for athletes with jobs, families and real lives. You'll hear the three ways athletes blow the winter, why Mondays and Fridays are rest days, why sprints belong in January instead of June, and the two tests to run before November. The 20th OutSeason starts Monday, November 2: 14 weeks, with Bike Focus, Run Focus and Masters plans, for triathletes...

Oregon Trail Gravel Recap: Five Races in Five Days [Part 3]

Endurance Nation Podcast

Why this race? And why ride it as a team? In the third and final part of our Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder recap, we get into the "why" behind five days of gravel. I've coached for years, and I've always hated the gap between a training camp and a race. Same people, totally different weekend. This event closes that gap. It felt like five races in five days, the best return on investment in endurance sport, and adult bike camp all at once, with pros and first-timers rubbing wheels on the same course. We talk compressed learning (and the dog-on-the-carpet analogy that explains why most athletes...

Oregon Trail Gravel: Four Decisions over Five Days [Part 2]

Endurance Nation Podcast

A coach's eye, a teammate's honesty, and we still got it wrong. In Part 2 of our Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder recap, we break down the four in-race decisions that shaped all five days. Tire pressure that we treated as set-it-and-forget-it (and paid for over 30 miles of volcanic washboard). Seeding, and why the back of the pack cost us free time and empty aid-station tables. Nutrition, including my caffeine-as-a-tool experiment and the tent-side gel math that literally resurrected Matt's race. And uncertainty: the stage-five "victory lap" that was anything but, and what you do when your whole...

Oregon Trail Gravel Recap: Systems & Logistics [Part 1]

Endurance Nation Podcast

Amateurs talk tactics. Professionals talk logistics. My co-host Matt brought that line home from the Marine Corps, and after five days of racing gravel at the Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder, it's the truest thing we can tell you about stage racing. In Part 1, we get into the boring stuff that actually wins the week: the post-ride system that saves you from standing in a one-hose line with 500 other riders, packing your whole life into a Home Depot tote (RIP pillows), the nightly debrief that should've been its own episode, and "fravel," the fake gravel that no GPX file will ever warn you about....

February Miles, Muscles & Mega Planning | Endurance Nation Update

Endurance Nation Podcast

Winter is doing winter things in New England, with snow, trainer miles, and a whole lot of basement fitness. In this February Endurance Nation update, Coach Patrick checks in on what’s happening across the team, what he’s building toward personally, and what’s coming next for athletes looking for big adventures in 2025. Inside this episode: How the Endurance Nation team is evolving, including Ironman, gravel, and a growing wave of Hyrox and hybrid athletes Why Season Roadmaps matter more than weekly hours or TSS, and how they keep your training pointed at the right target Coach...

How to Safely Restart Your Training After Illness

Endurance Nation Podcast

In this episode, we dive into how athletes can safely restart training after a period of illness or fatigue. Whether you’ve missed a few days or weeks, we discuss the importance of a structured re-entry protocol to avoid further setbacks. If you’re an OutSeason athlete, age-grouper, or just someone looking to protect your health while rebuilding your fitness, this episode is for you. Plus, we talk about when to test your fitness and how to track your progress during recovery.

Mastering Indoor Cycling: Transform Winter Rides into Efficient Workouts

Endurance Nation Podcast

Unlock the secrets to transforming your long, dreary indoor rides into dynamic, efficient workouts that keep your cycling game sharp this winter. You'll gain insights into crafting a foolproof strategy that ensures every pedal stroke counts, whether you're on Zwift, TrainerRoad, or any other platform. From selecting the perfect ride duration to mastering hydration and nutrition, we guide you through the essentials needed for a rewarding indoor cycling session. With practical advice on setting up your environment the day before, you'll learn how to prepare for the mental and physical demands of...

More Episodes

What if you could master the art of early-season race preparation and avoid the pitfalls of accumulated fatigue? Join me, Coach Patrick from Endurance Nation, as I unveil the secrets to optimizing your training for those crucial early races. With over 20 years of experience coaching more than 10,000 athletes, I’m here to challenge the conventional approach to training. Discover how aligning your weekly training volume to be double the duration of your target race can revolutionize your performance. Plus, learn the importance of integrating race-specific efforts into your training plan to ensure you're both physically and mentally primed for success.

Whether you're gearing up for a half Ironman, a full Ironman, or bracing yourself for a grueling 200-mile endurance event like the Unbound Gravel, this episode is packed with strategies to help you peak at just the right time. Stay healthy and committed as I share invaluable tips to achieve peak performance. I'm eager to connect with you, so feel free to engage with me on Instagram and Facebook, where I provide personalized support and address your specific questions. Let’s conquer those early-season races together, ensuring you reach your peak potential!

TOPICS