Dirk Friel - Co-Founder of TrainingPeaks

Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Dirk Friel – Co-Founder of TrainingPeaks. We discussed the evolution of endurance coaching, the importance of individualized training, and the role of coaches in helping athletes achieve their goals. We also explored when amateur athletes should seek professional guidance, the significance of consistency and recovery, and how age impacts training strategies. Dirk emphasizes the need for maintaining intensity, especially for masters athletes, and the balance between strength and endurance training. The discussion also highlights the art and science of coaching, advocating for a growth mindset among athletes. The dialogue also touches on personal insights, favorite sports experiences, and the significance of mentorship in an athlete's journey. We hope you enjoy.

Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Matt Taylor – Co-Founder and CEO of Tracksmith. After a successful career running track and cross country at Yale, Matt traveled the world producing running documentaries on a shoestring budget. He then founded Tracksmith in 2013, delivering top-notch running gear with a classic aesthetic. Our conversation covered everything from competing as we age, work-life balance, and the impact of tariffs on the running industry as a whole. We hope you enjoy!

On today's podcast, we're joined by Mark Sisson, founder of Primal Kitchen and the minimalist footwear brand, Peluva. Mark co-founded Peluva with his son Kyle in 2021, seeking to improve upon the limited minimalist footwear options available. By analyzing the successes and failures of past brands, they aimed to develop what they describe as "the most functional, comfortable, and stylish barefoot-inspired shoe ever made." After speaking with Mark for an hour, it's clear he has put considerable thought into the shoe's design, as well as into training and wellness in general. Tune in, because there's a lot to learn in this insightful episode – we hope you enjoy it.

Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Ryan Hurley — SMM’s Official Sleep Partner and founder of Lagoon Sleep. Ryan discusses his journey from being a D1 swimmer to starting Lagoon, a company focused on optimizing sleep for athletes through innovative pillow design. He shares insights on the importance of sleep, the science behind pillow materials, and common mistakes people make that affect their sleep quality. He also touches on the significance of temperature regulation, sleep hygiene for athletes, the benefits of white/brown noise, and shares insights on wearable sleep technology. In addition to great products, Ryan also offers sleep analysis and coaching through Lagoon. We hope you enjoy today’s episode.

Today on the Podcast, we’re joined by Brett Lato — Manager of Training and Education at Polar. David and Brett discuss the significance of heart rate training and the role of Polar technology in enhancing athletic performance. They delve into the importance of data-driven training, understanding heart rate zones, and the advancements in wearable technology, including the EKG feature in Polar devices. The discussion also covers the measurement of max heart rate, heart rate variability, and the Polar fitness test, emphasizing the need for personalized metrics to optimize training outcomes. Brett also draws on his experience as a coach and organizer of athletics to share with us some “ah-ha” moments that transformed the way he approaches training.

Today on the podcast, we’re joined by David Knapp, Ph.D. He is the author of a new book titled Marathon Leadership, which draws on his experience as a runner, trainer, and professional development coach. David discusses a number of topics to help us achieve our goals in both our running and careers, so sit back and enjoy!

Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Greg McMillan - the founder of McMillan Running and the official training plan partner for Six Minute Mile. David and Greg delve into various aspects of running training, focusing on improving running form, the significance of strides, and the importance of neuromuscular training. They discuss the science behind cardiovascular training, the role of walking, and essential strength training exercises for runners. Additionally, they highlight the importance of hip mobility and provide insights for masters runners on how to adapt their training as they age. In this conversation, Greg and David delve into various aspects of running, focusing on self-care practices post-run, navigating injuries, and the importance of finding specialized care for runners. They discuss heart rate zone training, the development and utility of the Macmillan run calculator, and the nuances of tapering versus peaking for races. Additionally, they highlight common mistakes in marathon training and the significance of mental strategies for race day success.

Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Dr. Allen Lim, a sports scientist, cycling coach, and founder of Skratch Labs. We covered a wide range of topics related to nutrition and hydration for endurance athletes, starting with the importance of treating food as culture rather than just technology. From there, Allen went on to discuss timing issues for eating before workouts, the difference between water and electrolyte drinks, and the importance of respecting thirst. Allen emphasizes the importance of listening to your body's thirst cues and not overthinking hydration. He says that "performance is sometimes science, but it's also sometimes grandma," which we think sums up his intuitive, yet informed approach to hydration and athletic performance.

We were joined on the Six Minute Mile podcast by Jason Jabaut, former professional runner turned Chief Operating Officer of Fleet Feet. Our conversation starts with his introduction to running in middle school, his stellar high school career in Plattsburg, NY, and then his success as a student-athlete on the prestigious Villanova University track team. After his collegiate career, Jason moved to California to pursue his dreams as a professional runner and shortly after that met his wife, Trish. Jason combined his love for running with his sharp business acumen and joined the Fleet Feet team in Carrboro, NC. Among other things we discuss running booms in the US, the interesting Fleet Feet franchise model, and the importance of being fitted for the right shoes! We hope you enjoy and we'll see you out there.

For the first time in 18 months, some of the top race directors in America gathered this week to share best practices and to explain what fall races will look like for runners. Will there be expos? Will you have to wear a mask on the course? Will you be asked to show a vaccine card? What about wave starts and post race parties -- will they happen? We got the answers to these questions and many more from the 6 race directors we cornered at a conference produced by the organizers of the Chicago Marathon. Before we dive into that conversation, we wanted to share a few words from Mike Nishi, Chief Operating Officer of the Chicago Marathon, as he explains the goal of this conference and why so many race directors chose to fly to Chicago to trade ideas about producing the safest possible events this fall and beyond. Christine Bowen: Vice President of Programming, Partnerships and Operations for Running USA https://www.runningusa.org/  Andrea Dowdy - CEO of the Denver Colfax Marathon https://www.runcolfax.org/ Jon Hughes - Track Shack Co-owner and Race Director of the Walt Disney World Marathon https://www.trackshack.com/ Michelle Juehring - Race Director for the Quad Cities Times Bix 7 https://bix7.com/ Michelle La Sala - Founder and President of Blistering Pace Race Management https://blisteringpace.com/ Steve Lastoe - Founder and CEO NYCRUNS https://nycruns.com/ Michael Nishi - Chief Operating Officer of Chicago Event Management, General Manager of Bank of America Chicago Marathon https://www.chicagomarathon.com/