Ep 14 | The Comparison Trap

How much strength training does a runner actually need?In Episode 21, Tyler and Pat break down how strength work should change depending on your season, your goals, and your running volume. They talk through the biggest mistakes runners make in the weight room, how to maintain strength during higher-mileage blocks, and why the answer is usually simpler than people think. Tyler also gives an overview of why he likes the Conjugate Method, including max effort, dynamic effort, accommodating resistance, and how that approach fit into his years of trying to balance strength and endurance. From there, the conversation shifts into a bigger question: How strong is strong enough? They get into:Why runners often do either too little strength work or way too muchBuilding strength in lower-volume seasons vs maintaining it during race trainingWhy most runners do not need complicated programmingPush, pull, squat, hinge and progressing the basicsConjugate training, max effort and dynamic effortBalancing strength and running without trying to maximize both at the same timeWhen chasing another 5 pounds on a lift stops being worth the recovery costStrength vs hypertrophyThe role aesthetics still plays in trainingTyler’s shift from wanting to be bigger and stronger to prioritizing running performanceWhy 20–30 minutes of lifting can still be productiveStrength training for longevityArnold Pump & Run and why Tyler likes having a true weight-room goal Strong enough changes depending on the season you’re in. You do not need to train like a powerlifter to benefit from strength work, and you do not need to abandon the weight room when running becomes the priority. The goal is to understand what strength needs to do for you right now.If you have questions about adding strength training to your running, building a simple program, or balancing lifting with a race block, send us a DM.Real Conversations. Real People. Real Progress.☕ Buy the Dads a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/dadleticspodcast🏃 Arnold Pump & Run training resources coming soon👍 Like, subscribe, and leave us a review

This episode is a little different.Dr. Pat takes over as interviewer and walks Tyler through the full story of how he got here athletically, from growing up in a sports-driven family, to college baseball, CrossFit, strength training, rowing, running, and eventually Dadletics. But the deeper story isn’t really about sports .It’s about identity. Tyler grew up chasing the next level. He went from a small-town athlete to Division I baseball at Cincinnati, became a team captain, and eventually got a call from the Texas Rangers on the final day of the MLB Draft. But even while succeeding on the outside, he struggled with performance anxiety, imposter syndrome, and the feeling that none of it was quite what he actually wanted. After baseball came bodybuilding, CrossFit, Games-style training, powerlifting, Concept2 racing, and eventually getting up around 240 pounds. Each new phase brought progress, competition, and another opportunity to prove something.Then running changed the relationship.What started as Zone 2 work became something much deeper as Tyler’s mom battled pancreatic cancer. After she passed away, running became an outlet for grief, reflection, faith, and eventually a path toward a different kind of purpose. In this episode, we get into:- Growing up as the youngest of three athletic brothers- Falling in love with training at a young age- Injuries in high school and trying to find an identity- Going from Division III baseball to a full ride at Cincinnati- Imposter syndrome at the Division I level- Performance anxiety and using alcohol as a crutch before pitching- Getting called by the Rangers and realizing professional baseball wasn’t actually what he wanted- The transition into bodybuilding and strength training- Going all-in on CrossFit and competitive training- COVID, rowing, powerlifting, and the 240-pound phase- Burnout and the shift toward longevity and Zone 2- Starting to run seriously in 2023- Losing his mom and how running became something more- Faith, Dadletics, community, and finally feeling more at peace- Why fitness no longer has to be the thing that defines everythingThe biggest question throughout the episode is simple:What was I actually chasing? And maybe the biggest shift is realizing that fitness can still matter deeply without needing it to prove who you are. By the end, Tyler reflects on Dadletics, family, faith, and the freedom that comes from no longer feeling like every part of life has to be optimized or earned. If you enjoy the podcast, like, subscribe, share it with someone, and leave us a review.You can also support the show through the Buy the Dads a Coffee link below.buymeacoffee.com/dadleticsrunclub

Race day did not go exactly how either of us planned.Dr. Pat opens this episode by sharing what it was like to miss the Columbus Half Marathon after one of the strongest training blocks of his life — his first DNS, the frustration that came with it, the training mistakes he learned from, and why continuing to show up for the group ended up mattering more than he expected. Then Tyler breaks down his first marathon.He went through halfway in 1:29:14, stayed within striking distance of sub-3 through roughly mile 20, then learned firsthand what the final 10K of a marathon can do. The aerobic fitness was there, but the legs gradually lost their pop before everything tightened up around mile 24.5. After a short walk, he got moving again and finished in 3:03:35. We get into:Pat’s first DNS and the mental side of missing a goal raceThe fine line between high performance and doing too muchTyler’s pacing and race strategyWhat happened between miles 20–26Why muscular and neuromuscular durability became the limiterWhy another marathon block could look very differentQualifying for Boston — but still wanting to see what the real ceiling isThe sacrifice required to properly train for a marathonWhy the Dadletics post-race social became the real win of the dayThe Run Club members who showed up and racedWhat’s next: Dr. Pat’s 1-mile blockWhy periodizing speed, strength, and endurance mattersHow dropping mileage does not mean losing fitnessThe biggest takeaway from the day had less to do with the clock.The clock gave us a result. The day gave us perspective.What started with four dads showing up last winter is becoming something much bigger — a community built around doing hard things, supporting each other, and continuing to show up. If you’re enjoying the podcast, like, subscribe, share it with someone, and leave us a review.You can also support the show through the Buy the Dads a Coffee belowbuymeacoffee.com/dadleticspodcast

In true Dad form, this episode came with a few surprises — the mics weren’t hot, the dog decided to make an appearance for a few minutes, and race week itself has already thrown us a few curveballs.But honestly, that probably makes this one even more fitting.This week, Tyler and Dr. Pat break down what race week actually looks like heading into the Columbus Marathon and Half Marathon — the taper, the nerves, the fueling, the pacing, the logistics, and the mental side of finally getting to the line after months of training.We get into:- Pat dealing with an injury two weeks out and the mental side of possibly missing race day- Phantom taper pains vs. a real injury- Tyler’s Goal A, B, and C for his first marathon- Why 6:47 pace is the current target- How the 16-week marathon build progressed- Gut training and building from 60g to roughly 95g of carbs per hour- Tyler’s race-day fueling and caffeine plan- Why you can’t “bank time” early in a marathon- How to pace the first 20 miles and still have something left for the final 10K- Carb loading without turning it into a giant pasta feast- Race-morning nutrition and throwaway clothes- Why a short shakeout run can help during race week- The role family plays on race day- Why Tyler doesn’t want to immediately move the goalposts after the race- Pat’s official prediction for Tyler’s finish timeThe work is done.Now the goal is to arrive healthy, fueled, calm, and ready to execute.And after 16 weeks of showing up, the bigger win is getting to celebrate it with the people who put in the work alongside you.If you’re racing this weekend, drop your goal in the comments.Like, subscribe, share the episode, and leave us a review.And if you want to support what we’re building, you can Buy the Dads a Coffee through the link in the bio or below:buymeacoffee.com/dadleticspodcast

Mike Gold has been part of Dadletics from the very beginning.In this episode, Mike joins Tyler and Dr. Pat to talk about his evolution from college football player to high-level CrossFit athlete, CrossFit Games team competitor, Ironman finisher, marathoner, and now a dad approaching 40 who still wants to train hard, just a little smarter.We talk about:- How Mike helped get Dadletics Run Club off the ground- A wild backcountry hiking rescue involving an 80-year-old hiker and a Black Hawk helicopter- Preparing for a new baby later in life- How his training mindset has changed with age- Going from football to CrossFit- Competing at the CrossFit Games and finishing 8th in the world with his team- His strengths, weaknesses, and what elite CrossFit training actually looked like- Teaching himself to swim for a full Ironman- Racing a brutal Ironman in extreme heat- Marathon lessons, including under-fueling and one memorable mid-race beer- Why having something on the calendar still matters- How variety, longevity, and accountability shape his fitness now- What Dadletics means to him todayThe bigger theme in Mike’s story is simple: fitness changes, goals change, but continuing to show up still matters.If you enjoy the episode, like, subscribe, share, and leave us a review.And if you want to support what we’re building, you can Buy the Dads a Coffee through the link in our bio/or link below: buymeacoffee.com/DadleticsPodcast

Gambling, sports, phones, social media, training — none of these things are automatically bad. But they can quietly start taking more of our attention than we realize.In this episode, we talk about where our attention goes, the guardrails we’ve had to put in place, and how easy it is to let something entertaining or useful start pulling us away from the people and priorities that matter most. We get into:-Pat’s relationship with sports betting and why he now only bets on games he’s already watching- Tyler’s deeper gambling history, ProMathletics, and why he eventually walked away- when sports fandom is healthy family tradition — and when it starts affecting mood, sleep, and training- the 30-second test: what do you reach for the second you have nothing to do?- phones, Instagram, Strava, and the constant pull to consume something- what our kids are learning by watching where we give our attention- why awareness, boundaries, and accountability matter more than pretending these things don’t exist The question we kept coming back to: What gets your best attention — and who gets whatever is left?If you’ve been enjoying the show, like, subscribe, share it with someone, and leave us a review. You can also find the Buy Me a Coffee link below and our Instagram bio.buymeacoffee.com/DadleticsPodcast

The same traits that help us perform at a high level can also become the things that work against us.In this episode, Tyler and Dr. Pat take an honest look at the weaknesses that show up in training, marriage, parenting, and everyday life — and how strengths like discipline, competitiveness, planning, confidence, and data-driven thinking can become liabilities when they go unchecked. Pasted textWe talk about:When discipline becomes rigidityHow training can follow you home mentally even after the workout is overOver-analyzing data and always thinking aheadLosing patience with kids when distracted or exhaustedEgo and defensiveness when your spouse calls something outWhy self-awareness matters, but isn’t enough by itselfBuilding systems around the weaknesses you already know you haveHow fitness can either support family life or quietly compete with itThe difference between recognizing a problem and actually changing your behavior Pasted text Pasted text Pasted textThe goal isn’t to eliminate every flaw. It’s to be honest enough to recognize where your strengths start working against you — and intentional enough to do something about it.And if you want to support what we’re building, there’s now a Buy the Dads a Coffee link in the show notes and our Instagram bio. No pressure — listening, sharing, and being part of the community helps just as much. buymeacoffee.com/DadleticsPodcast

Comparison can push you forward — or quietly make you feel like you’re never enough.In this episode, Tyler and Dr. Pat talk about the comparison trap in running, social media, work, parenting, and everyday life. They get into the difference between healthy competition and letting someone else’s success change how you feel about your own.The conversation goes deeper into identity, gratitude, faith, ego, parenting, and the pressure to constantly chase the next thing.We talk about:Strava, social media, and comparing workoutsWhy context matters when you compare yourself to someone elseNormalizing accomplishments and immediately moving the goalpostsUsing comparison as motivation without letting it steal your joyCaring too much about what other people thinkTyler’s journey with faith, gratitude, and identityHow comparison can show up in parentingRaising kids without making them feel like they have to live up to someone else’s standardWhy community can help redefine what “normal” looks likeThe biggest takeaway: someone else’s success doesn’t have to become evidence that you’re falling behind.Use comparison as information. Use it as motivation. But don’t let it define your worth. Buy The Dads A Coffee - buymeacoffee.com/DadleticsPodcast

Dave Ingmire has been one of the steady presences behind Dadletics from the early days — including the dark, cold winter mornings when only a handful of guys were showing up.In this episode, we talk about much more than running.Dave shares his journey from high school track and cross country to CrossFit, marathon training, and the role group training has played in keeping him consistent. We also get into his career, time at Rogue Fitness and lululemon, community involvement in Upper Arlington, fatherhood, and what it looks like to keep showing up when life is already full.We talk about:Why he kept coming back to Dadletics through the winterThe role community and accountability play in long-term consistencyHow his training has evolved over the yearsBalancing running, strength training, work, and familyCareer lessons from Rogue and lululemonWhy giving back to the community mattersWhat he hopes his daughters learn from watching how he livesWhy showing up matters more than your splitsThe theme that kept coming up: strong communities aren’t built by one big moment — they’re built by people who keep showing up.

AI is everywhere right now, but how do we actually use it in real life?In Episode 12, Dr. Pat and Tyler break down how AI fits into their lives as dads, athletes, professionals, and creators.They talk about:Using AI to build and adjust training plansWhy AI should be a second set of eyes, not the final decision-makerHow we use it for work, content, and productivityParenting, family organization, and travelWhere AI can make you more efficient — and where it can make you too dependentPrivacy, kids, and the future of technologyHow much we trust AI-generated recommendationsWhether AI can actually make us betterThe biggest takeaway: AI is useful when it helps you save time, think more clearly, and make better decisions, without replacing judgment, relationships, or the human side of life.Are you using AI as a tool… or letting it think for you?