Mental health among athletes, an interview with TTL Devo Team athlete Zack Cooper, and more!

This week Paula is in Qatar, so Eric and Nick held down the fort until TTL Development Team athlete Lydia Russell joined for some fun. We started by talking about Alex Yee's incredible marathon in Valencia, outlined an exciting TTL training camp for early next year, and then got into questions. This week we covered:• Our running shoe rotation• What to do when your snorkel starts taking on water• Gravel tire options for snowy conditions• Racing 70.3s while training for a full Ironman• How to get past a swimming plateau• The correct number of cats for a 2:1 cat to bike ratioA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive! To submit a question for the podcast and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcastTTL Base Camp 2026

This week we packed in a full-length episode plus an interview with TTL Development Team athlete Zack Cooper at the end. We discussed:How personal safety has shaped race choices for Eric and PaulaHow often you actually need to replace a helmetWhat to do when your smart trainer starts reading way offThe minimum training load for a 70.3How Paula finds inspiration for her race kit designsSRAM blipsWhat feels worse: a DNF from your body or a mechanical?Mental health as athletesA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive! To submit a question for the podcast and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

This week we are thankful for carbon bikes, carbon shoes, and that the pool is closed. We start out with a TTL Spelling Bee, a chat with TTL Development Team athlete John Reed about his year, his olympic hopes, and 70.3 dreams and then finally get into listener-submitted questions. This week we discussed:Lap swim speed etiquetteThe Lever Movement treadmill systemPaula's favorite Castelli bibs"Road bike muscles" vs "TT bike muscles"If and when to drop out of a raceA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive! To submit a question for the podcast and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

This week Eric and Paula are training in Victoria, BC, so we get some travel stories before jumping into rapid fire and a batch of listener-submitted questions. This week, we discussed:Have pros lost trust in the PTO/T100How often to do a spin-down on the Wahoo KickrHow often to re-wax a chain when it’s used exclusively on the trainerChristmas gift ideas for a young mountain bikerHow to fuel for a 50-mile road run as an Ironman athleteHow long a beginner needs to train for a 70.3Whether power pedals and their extra data are worth itSelf-coaching during the off-seasonIf swimming more compromises bike and run fitnessBalancing local racing with Ironman-branded eventsA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive! To submit a question for the podcast and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

This week we talk about Paula's experience racing in Spain for 70.3 World Champs, and what it’s like to step off the course as one of the favorites. We also got to a few listener-submitted questions. This week we discussed:Dealing with disappointing race results and rediscovering motivationTips for racing Escape From Alcatraz when traveling from EuropeEric’s plans to race triathlon in the futureWhat camera to use while riding the bikeSpiritual moments while training and racingA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive! To submit a question for the podcast and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

This week, somehow, all three of the crew are together in Spain. Nick hopped on a last-minute flight and made it just in time for a Wednesday night podcast recording. Paula was deep in Ironman 70.3 World Championship race prep, so it was just Eric and Nick on the mics this week, covering:SRAM AXS front derailleur issuesStoring a TT bike for the winterRacing when racing has lost its lusterTraining outdoors after an accidentGaining confidence riding in aeroStaying entertained on long indoor ridesRiding an e-bike for fitness, is it possible?Ice bandanasBecoming carb-dependent during workoutsA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive! To submit a question for the podcast and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

This week is our last episode together for a few weeks as Paula ramps up for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Marbella, Spain. We talked about Eric’s surprise UTMB qualification, recovering from sickness, and then dove into listener-submitted questions. This week we discussed:Choosing the right cassette for your smart trainerHow much sealant to use in a tubeless tireManaging a warm-weather swimrun raceHow Eric and Paula's Wahoo KICKR Run is holding upCoping with a cold garage pain caveDressing for a cold marathonPicking out an engagement ring for triathletesBalancing biking and running when focusing on run racesStrength training: how much, and how oftenA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive! To submit a question for the podcast and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcastWahoo Kickr Run Link

This week we talk triathlon, swimrun, racing, training, and more! We kick things off with an exciting announcement about a new TTL drop coming mid-next week, then dive straight into listener-submitted questions. This week, we discussed:Speedos vs. jammersGoals for the rest of 2025What time of day (and how often) Paula swimsBest winter and snow activities to maintain run fitnessHow to wash a running hatMentally and emotionally approaching a race with bad memoriesHow to record swimrun on a GPS watchHow swim speed work should feelPost-race food traditions for the prosA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive! To submit a question for the podcast and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

This week we hear all about Eric’s epic adventure racing the Kodiak 50k Ultramarathon, and all the ways it didn’t go to plan. After that, we got into listener-submitted questions and discussed:Did this year’s Kona make Paula want to race Ironman more or less?The right bike setup for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in MarbellaUsing a Peloton or old trainer to build winter fitnessDrivetrain maintenance during a gravel stage raceWhat to look for when picking a new TT bikeHow far out to start heat training for a hot raceBest front hydration solutionsA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive! To submit a question for the podcast and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

This week we barely had enough time to squeeze in a podcast recording with so much going on. We kicked things off with updates on Eric’s Fireflies Patagonia film, Team TTL sign-ups, Paula’s Junkyard Dogs podcast recording, Nick riding bikes with Jan Frodeno, and even a surprise guest appearance from pro triathlete Jackie Herring — all before diving into Bike Tech with Eric and listener-submitted questions.This week on the TTL triathlon podcast, we discussed:Flared handlebarsPlanning for trail conditions and safety in new placesFlynn’s favorite post-activity snackBike escorts for leaders in triathlon racesSwim paddles and how to use them in workoutsHow to handle bad road conditions during a raceA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive! To submit a question for the podcast and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast