That Triathlon Life Podcast - Full Ironman fears, 32 inch wheels, triathlon heat training, and more!

Episode Date: May 28, 2026

This week we almost didn’t manage to record a podcast between travel, family visits, birthday celebrations, and Eric leaving at 5 a.m. to film Heather Jackson at Unbound XL, but skipping wasn’t an option. So instead, we went full rapid-fire mode and packed in as many listener-submitted questions as possible. We also talked fast helmets, Escape From Alcatraz, questionable podcast comments, and the latest TTL merch drop. This week we discussed:Aero vs ventilation for Xterra helmetsBalancing triathlon obsession with actually being present in life32 inch wheelsRevisiting old races vs constantly chasing new challengesReturning to fitness after forced time completely off trainingWhich part of a full ironman scares the mostHeat training vs convenienceBest tires for Xterra North American Championships in PelhamFinishing a 70.3 swim while doggy paddlingCycling group ride warmup and when it's ok to attackHeart rate monitor locations for womenWhat to do when someone tries to talk to you mid swim setA 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

Hey everyone, welcome to that triathlon life podcast. I'm Eric Loggershstrom. Where's my bike? I'm Paula Finley. We're extremely professional here as I don't know. My mic is like on the ceiling. I'm Nick Goldston. Yeah, welcome to our triathlon podcast. We talk about trathlon running, biking, swimming, all the things. Paul and I are both professional athletes. Nick is an amateur, triathlete, mega frother. Yeah, and this is what we do. This is going to be an interesting.

interesting podcast. We're going to go kind of fast. I am taken off tomorrow morning at 5 a.m., which is, wow, less than 12 hours from now to help our good friend Heather Jackson, Sean Watkins, film Heather doing Unbound XL. So we're going to be lickety split quick with this because I've got to do some more packing. Yeah, we're fitting this in between my mom visiting. My birthday was yesterday. Eric's leaving tomorrow at 5 a.m. Nick's parents are in town. Nick just got back. This is like, we were, we were so close to skipping this week. So we're going to, we figure a rapid fire podcast, like a 40-minute quickie, was better than nothing.

Yeah, we don't skip. So many questions too. So it is rapid fire and a lot. Well, we'll get right into it. Real quick, though, a TTL thing that's going on right now. The way that you can support the podcast is obviously through becoming a podcast supporter by listening to it, by sharing it with all your wonderful friends.

But also, we have a freaking awesome merch drop going right now. It's a collaboration with Costelli. We have two different colors. of kits available. We made them also available as tech teas, and we also have some kick-ass bibs, bib shorts, a pocket version and a non-pocket version to go with them.

Nick's actually wearing the shirt right now. This is part of the multi-sport energy supply, which is this really awesome graphic that we did with our good friend, Danny Gardner, here in town, Danny Jarls on Instagram, if you know the name. And I think it just really speaks to what we started. It's like a literal phrase of what we used.

started TTL to be. Multi-sport, energy supply. We wanted you to get stoked. We hope the podcast does that, the YouTube everything that we do, and this kit, I think, fits into that. So check that out. Pre-orders will close Saturday at midnight.

Eric, am I right? Is the bike jersey that I wore, that is this exact thing? Is it a newer version? Because it feels to me like it fits better and it feels a little more premium than what I've had previously. It is an espresso.

Oh, it's a little bit. an espresso. It's an espresso. They're doing espresso in the custom line now. Yeah, that's why. That's why. Yeah, it's, it's killer. It's really nice. Really nice. It's what I wear most days by choice. Yep. Yep, on top and bottom. Let's rapid fire this. We have so many questions. I'm so stoked. We're just going to go fast. We're not going to fluff it up. We're starting right away with Keene's question. Looking for a new helmet that I can wear from exterior racist. Actually, I'm going to interrupt myself real quick here already. every week that we don't get to questions, we think, okay, we'll save those for next week.

I don't think we've ever actually done it once. This is from last week that we didn't get to because Eric, you specifically requested it. Okay. Okay, once again, here's from Keen. Looking for a new helmet that I can wear for exterior races. Should I lean into the arrow gains with something like an evade three, which is a specialized helmet, by the way,

it's a specialized arrow helmet. Or prioritize ventilation with something like the Prevail Three. Also a specialized helmet, but more of a climbing lightweight airy. They just dropped the Evade 4. Yes. Like within a week. Yes.

I'm not an Xera expert, but I'd go for flow over arrow personally. Same. Yeah. Especially since many Xera races that I've done do end up being kind of warm. And just the amount of time that you're spending going fast enough for that Arrow helmet to make a significant difference. It's not a lot. Yeah.

Easy. Okay. Next question here. This is, they want an alias. I'm going to say Crandis. Anyone who knows what Crandis is from, send me a message. I would be very impressed. Okay.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on balancing the type A side of triathlon with actually being present in life. A lot of endurance athletes are wired to optimize every hour of the day, maximize training, recovery, work, nutrition, etc., which can feel like nearing a breaking point. How do you personally balance that drive for productivity and performance with slowing down and allowing yourself real downtime without feeling guilty about it? do you find that you reach a limit and either get sick or find yourself stuck on the couch for a day or week to recover? Crandus. The secret is to do it for your job instead of your hobby. It's not even like that bad of a question.

Like why do you need to be anonymous? It's because it's Barack Obama really, but he's trying to keep a low profile. That explains it. Okay. Yeah, Eric's jokingly said making your job and not your hobby, which is obviously not the right answer. then just like maximum time for other things outside of that and balance. Also just,

you know, marry your training partner like I did. And then you can just do everything all at the same time, super healthy. I'm a little, what's the question exactly? Like how to maintain balance while like feeling like you're doing the most that you can to be a performance athlete, but also not completely losing your life. I've definitely gotten way better at this over the years. Maybe it's just because I've been racing for so long, but I definitely really enjoy the time where you can check out a little bit. And I think I've gotten better because of it

and healthier because of it in some ways. I don't know, like we went to the lodge for my birthday and I was able to kind of just leave triathlon behind knowing I did a good job in my workouts before we left and that it was going to be there when I got back and just kind of really segregating it. I know that's easier said than done, I would say like breaking it down into like racing less and when you have like the two weeks after a race, really freaking chill.

Like you're not going to get that unfit if you like take the week off and like really rant back in slowly and don't feel this. I got to get back in because I'm going to lose. Yeah, you can kind of periodize it by races. That's a good idea. So just say you have a race coming up. That's when you're a little more focused on the training aspect and then after you're flipping your priorities. Yeah. I think it's just a fact of the matter.

It's really hard to have a job and a life and to train for triathlon. So maybe chunk it up more. There's an interesting anecdote that I heard, it's an experiment that was done on rats that I heard about this weekend. I can't confirm that it's completely accurate. But it was said to a large group of people. So it was that they were these two rats and they both had one of those, what are they called? The wheels. The spinning wheel.

The spinning wheel thing. They were connected to each other. one of the rats was allowed to use it however much it wanted and the other rat was tied to the first rat so if the first rat wanted to run the second rat had to run one way clutch this sounds like you and me at swim run Nick oh god

I have pre-trauma so what happened was the first rat would run a bunch of course they love that kind of stimulus and the second rat would have to keep up every time. And at the end, I don't know how they figure this out, but the rat that was deciding to run had what we would consider like, you know, a lower stress and healthier, like, hormone levels because of the exercise. But the second rat, because it was not in control of it,

and it had to do it, it stressed itself out more. Even though they were running the exact same distance, the physiological benefits were not as good for the rat that was forced to it. Yeah, that sounds like torture for the tethered rat. So I kind of wonder if sometimes in triathlon with the training, we become the tethered rat by forcing ourselves to, it's tough because this is also like what we like about it is that it pushes us to do things. And like when we do intervals,

it's like, damn, I would have never done that on my own. But because I had these prescribed intervals, I did them. But there's something about that that maybe is relevant to us as triathletes as well. It's 100% relevant. I completely feel this. In my current situation, I don't have to go to the pool, but I go to the pool and I like it. Versus, like, I can definitely remember exactly what it felt like

when I had to go to the pool five times a week, and I had to do this hard set, and I felt like I had to get the best times I'd had all season. But now I just go, and I try as hard as I can, it feels awesome. And I'm swimming great. Yeah, the thing is, we all think we have to, but we don't have to.

Nobody cares if we don't. Get easier. I know the difference between you making yourself, to it and yeah that's the question literally being tied there yeah wow deep all right that'd be a good question for the app too

people could chime in it makes 100% sense to me sounds logical okay next question here is from James Cam Jones is headed to unbound gravel with a new bike that has 32 inch wheels whoa is this something triathlon we'll head to and what's the advantages love the pod thanks James I've had a couple people

talked to me about 32 inch wheels recently so this must be kind of in vogue well Scott is the Scott riders are riding a 32 inch wheel bike and it looks like a children's bike with giant wheels. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. My friend Curtis, who's pretty up on like bike advancements, he's been saying for months,

don't buy any new bikes because like next year everything's going to be 32. Oh God. I don't want to go through this again. I don't. I like, we just got into 29ers. Like, come on now. Let's just chill. I was a bit confused though.

I think that I should clarify that we're not talking about the width of the tire. We're talking about the diameter of the wheel. So the physical wheel is getting bigger. Because when you say 32s, my brain went to 32 inch tires and I was like, okay, big deal. But it's for people that aren't as up with all these trends, that could be a bit confusing. Yeah.

Yeah. Anyway, the point of it is it rolls faster. It rolls over more things. So bumps just becomes smaller because like the shape, the curvature of the wheel is slightly less extreme, et cetera. It's just. So what's the downside? You have to switch over all new things.

And at least when they went from 26 to 29 inch mountain bike wheels, you do lose a little bit of nimbleness just because the wheel base is longer, but we all determined that it was well worth the tradeoff to be able to roll over things more easily. Well, on a race like onbound where it's, I don't know what that well, but it seems like the roads are quite straight. It's not technical, yeah. Less technical in a tourney kind of way. I think it's technical because of the mud or whatever.

Yeah. So my friend Curtis has been talking about this in terms of mountain biking. to me from the very beginning, I thought, well, this seems like a no-brainer for gravel cycling, assuming you're not a very small person. Or road. Man, everything just happens so slow on the road because of UCI teams and how much gear they have to swap over. But, yeah, I don't see why not on the road either. Why not 38s? Let's go. Let's get the penny farthings out. Let's just stop. That's what I'm saying. Like, at a certain point, there must be a disadvantage beyond just the gear swap. You've got to think it's like

slower aerodynamically to an extent because there's like more spinning spoke. Right. Yeah, it's just like bigger in the wind. But this kind of reminds me of why we tell people that a TT bike is faster for basically every triathlon even though they are heavier. It's like, yeah, maybe they're slower on a corner and slower descending in a way. But for most of the time, you're going in a straight line. Yeah, totally.

Okay, this is not very rapid fire of us. Next question. Chris, Penf. Thank you so much for the pod and the amazing community you have created. It was a real pleasure to watch Paula and meet Eric at T100 Alcatraz last year. By the way, I'm racing Alcatraz this year in a week and a half. Not the T-100. Although they should have me do a pro race just to show what the average man can do. Nick rolled on to the start list.

Too many would drop up. Yeah, Magnus. Me bump in elbows with him at the beginning. I just grab onto his ankle at the swim. Yeah, but I'm very stoked to be doing Alcatraz this year. So I'll be there. Let me know if you're going to be there as well. Are you going to do any kind of like meetup?

Shoot. I hadn't really considered it, but yeah, why not? Maybe coffee at least. Maybe coffee at a little run. Yeah, that'd be fun. I've been there so many times with Eric, and it's been so fun to watch Eric race, and I was there when Eric won again, which was really cool. Yeah, there's things about that race that I don't like,

but I always love going to that race. I'm really sad that it's a men's only T-100 this year. Yeah. You're going to have a blast, man. No matter how hard or whatever you want to go, like, it's vibes. It's cool. I bet you, Nick, You could probably get like a big group of people to jump off the boat and like be a team together with you.

You do a little team. Anyone who's a big scared of the sharks and wants the good vibes and we can skull and jump in a fast. I'll be trying to go fast, but we won't go fast. Yeah, I don't know why the currents and the shark, I don't know, that stuff is just, I'm more scared of the effort than I am of what's in the water. Yeah, that's how I feel too when I start these things for sure. The current makes me feel reassured. You're like, oh, we're getting carried to them. It takes you towards the land.

I don't know if people realize that. Oh, Eric. Oh, Eric would know. Yeah, is it a little sideways? It carries you a little perpendicular to this show. I see. I see. Okay, that's less reassuring.

I mean, I'll get there. I'll get there. Just don't overshoot it. Damn, by the way, just a quick, sorry, crazy tangent. When I was just in Maui, we were at one point at the edge of the island on a beach, and you can see this crater called Molokini Crater, and it's so far away. My friend was like, oh man, do you think you could swim there? And I was like, no way.

That's way too far away. We looked it up later. It's just the distance of an Iron Man swim. Oh my God. Damn, that is so far away. Too far. Do we really do that? Oh, my gosh.

You do. We don't. Yes, you do. You guys do that five times a week at the pool. Yeah, that you're the only true Iron Man. For now. For now. There's a question about that later.

Don't worry. Okay, back to the question here from Chris. Sorry for the many deviations. My wife and I have been. competing in triathlon for the last four years, and they've completed a mix of sprint and Olympics that have brought our total to nine. We really enjoy the training and getting tips from the three of you weekly. We live in the Seattle area and have mainly stuck to local tries, hashtag race local. In a couple weeks, we will be competing in the first sprint we ever did

together and are excited to see our improvements in the last four years. Now, here's the question. How important do you think it is to revisit races from the past to see development, or do you feel it's more important to constantly try new challenges? Good luck to all three of you this year. Chris. The triathlon is so conditioned dependent and not just course dependent that even if you return to the same race a year later or two years later, it's unlikely that the conditions are going to be so much similar that you can actually compare your improvement necessarily. So, I don't know.

The swim boys might be in a slightly different area or it might be super windy or... Best case scenario, it's a challenging bike course and you felt like you didn't pace it quite right and you can go nail it the second time around. Oh yeah, I love doing the same race again. But I don't think that a reason to do it is to compare to your last time. For me, it's a nostalgia thing more than it is a... Yeah, and just knowing the course, like performance-wise, that's better. This is why I really liked going back, not going back, but going to Exeterra Portland,

because this was at the site of the second ever trathlon that I did, and where I did age group national championships for the first time, and like my favorite course, potentially in North America of doing a trathlon, on so many warm fuzzies. So heck yeah, for the nostalgia. But at the same time, if you're always taking to the same one, then you're not getting the experience of trying other races. It's such a cool way to be able to see,

not just across the U.S., but other countries and around the world, to go on a little race trip. Maximum three times. Maximum three times. Yeah, unless you're like defending champion or something like that. Okay, next question here. Hey, tripod, after feeling off for a couple weeks, I finally went in and got diagnosed with mono.

I was informed, first of all, brag about it. I guess you're making out with people. Must be nice. I was informed by the doc. I think we're going to get canceled by the people who have mom. You're right. God, we get canceled for something new every week. You know what?

Let me take this opportunity to say this. I challenge you to make a podcast with your friends that is entertaining and be freaking perfect all the time and not say something wrong. Okay. God. Exactly. I got the boob mafia after me. Yeah.

Turns out Nick does not like boobs. Jesus. Guys, I didn't even know it. Yeah, didn't even know it. I also got people mad about my recap and I'm like, okay, it was a little, it was a little honest. We get people who are mad every single week. And I challenge you to say something with your friends recorded for an hour that you wouldn't get in trouble for if your boss heard for 52 weeks a year. You know? Also, I just decided I'm not going to read the comments anymore.

Like, who cares? I love the positive ones but as soon as I see a negative one I'm like, fine, I quit the podcast. Fuck this. It doesn't feel good. I feel so terrible. Yeah.

And I'm, I mean, people that send in an email mad, I have to see it because I'm reading through the questions, you know? That's like high commitment hatred towards us. Yeah. Jeez. Doesn't happen often. It doesn't happen that often. I don't know.

I feel like we get one every week at least. Okay, sorry. Anyway, back to this. What happened here? Oh, yeah. Mono. Must be nice. I mean, $1,000 downloads per week or whatever it is. Must be nice to have mono.

Yeah, you're right. You're right. Okay. Back to the question. I was informed by the doc that due to the increased risk of my spleen rupturing, oh, God, I need to avoid all strenuous cardio for three to four weeks. I'm coming off the biggest training block I've ever completed and was easily in the best shape of my life finally broke the five-hour barrier at Oceanside this year. Ooh, that's nice.

I'm wondering what I can realistically expect in terms of fitness, loss, and rebound as a result of this forced and prolonged period away from training. And this is why I think this question is great. Obviously, Eric had to navigate a similar set of circumstances with his hip. Anything you can share is hugely appreciated. And since it hasn't been mentioned enough recently, congrats to Nick on completing Iron Man, Wisconsin. Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. Obviously, I picked the questions this week. So usually when those are in there, I just fully delete the sentence. Fully like, nope, sorry. There's a war going on back here. You guys don't even realize. Okay, so Eric, you got a KOM this week on the bike. What? Yeah. What, how?

Not a soft one. And by the way, I also got it. You did get it. I saw that. You got the, it's by the way, I looked it up. It's the CR course record. That's what it is. Yeah, if you're overall. Yeah. Yeah, I sat on his wheel. So, Eric, how is that physically, humanly possible that you cannot ride your bike for how long? Well, dude, yeah, a while. A long while. I know you're a pro athlete,

you're amazing, but to not ride for as long as you did and then show up and do how many watts for how long? No, I don't know. He's like, did got his bike shape back pretty quick. If I was peddling,

I was doing like 340 plus. Yeah, that's... That's what I'm talking about. Okay, I think that it's... Of course you're going to lose a bit of fitness in three to four weeks. and the reason you're stopping training sucks because you're not going to feel good or anything, you know?

So I think more of your concern coming out of the other side of it is what effects mono has that are going to maybe slow your progress back to where you feel like yourself again. But I think if anything, a lot of us could use a three to four week break and we'd be better off on the other side, to be honest. Yeah, a lot of pros. It sucks that you're sick during this, But my ferretin score, for example, is the highest it's ever been in my life by a factor of like 50%.

Another thing Eric told me, which is so fascinating, is like, I wake up every morning and my ankle kind of hurts on my hip is sore and I like have my chronic shitty ankle problems. And it hurts to walk. And I'm like, there's no way I'm running this today or this week. I'm too sore. But then at the afternoon I do a temper run and it's fine. But Eric says he's waking up in the morning walking out of bed feeling no. aches and pain. What is this magic? It feels amazing. I feel like 10 years younger. Yeah, so I think this forced reset for him was good. And a similar phenomenon, I think,

happened during COVID, where everyone got a little breather, came back in the whole sports faster now. And then you're one day, Tona, you know, like, it was kind of effective. Yeah, so I don't think it'll drastically affect your fitness. Obviously, our fitness is connected to the way our brain and our mind feels, so it'll be not fun, but generally, I think, healthy. Catch up on some things. I mean, I have gotten so much stuff done that I've just been, it's been burning a hole in the back of my brain for the last two years or whatever and just like knock them out, knock them out, knock them out. Yeah, but does mono, like, are you bedridden? Like, you don't really want to do any of that. I think you don't feel good, but the spleen thing is,

I think the main thing holding this person. Oh, I see. Okay. I guess can't do too much, you know, you definitely feel sick though. Yeah, right. I can't believe it. It's crazy that you could rupture your spleen through like aerobic activity. I think you should get a second opinion. I had no idea. Yeah, and not from us. Exactly. But like, if you, he thinks if you ride your bike hard, your spleen's going to rupture.

Maybe. But I think it's worth getting two doctors. This is like when you go to doctors, they're like, hey, you run too much. Like, you don't know what you're talking about. It's like, yeah, that sounds unhealthy. What you work out for 15 hours a week? What are you crazy? You know why I'm enjoying things so much right now is because I just go out and ride my bike

three hours. And if Paula has some workout, like I jump in with her. But like just going and riding, not hard. So maybe you just don't have to go hard. It feels so good. And like so reset and it's just like, like, enjoy straight up enjoyable. Yeah, if you could do three to four weeks of easy activity. Oh, you would definitely be better off.

You'll be fine. Love that. Okay. We're spent too much time on this question. Sorry, next one. This is from, uh, I'm sorry. See you all in Vancouver is probably not their name. But I forgot to put the name in there.

Uh, hey TTL fam. Firstly, big thanks for keeping me company on all my long runs and creating such a great community and vibes surrounding triathlon. You're so very welcome. It's our honor and pleasure. Question is mostly for Paula. I'm so excited to know you're doing your first full this year. I've been waiting for this moment.

I'm also doing my first full distance in Ottawa. Iron Man Canada. Yep. And I'm wondering what your biggest fears or mental barriers you are facing with heading into this monster and what you're doing to face them, work through them, and get to the start feeling your best,

mentally. I don't think of it as a monster. I think that it's going to be super hard and I am fully aware and ready for the challenges that are going to come with the day. But I'm not thinking it in my head as being that different from what I normally do. And of course, the 70.3 is much different than a full. But I think if you frame it in your head as something you're calling it a monster, that's just negative. So I'm thinking of it as like something new and like my training. is kind of different and that's kind of interesting. And I guess my biggest thing that I think will be a challenge is the nutrition aspect for me. That's the thing that I think is the most different from half and something I already kind of

struggle with in the shorter distance stuff. So practicing that, knowing where to store stuff, knowing which forms to get your carbohydrates in. That's probably my biggest question mark. And I'm not really scared. This is kind of how I felt like doing the High Cascade 100. and doing like 50Ks is like I know how to exercise

for a while but like the things that are different that I really need to execute are these aid stations and the fueling and the cooling but you know how to exercise yeah and I also not to diminish the accomplishment at all but most women that I race against on the 70.3T100 do Ironman too so why can't I do it?

Actually I wonder if it's not a bit of the opposite where it's like you're telling me I get to bring down the intensity a little bit and go longer, I might enjoy that. I think I am open to that realization. Yeah, that's what I mean. Doing like an all-out 5K run, that actually sounds terrifying. That hurts.

That hurts a lot. Yesterday my workout is like three by 20 minutes, four by eight minutes, and the 20 minutes were at more like Iron Man effort and the eight minutes were pretty much threshold or harder. And the 20 minutes were completely fine. Right. And of course, an Iron Man's much long. But then it seems like I should have the eight minutes.

I'm like, this is the worst feeling. I hope that's true for you. I was there. Not for all four. And I used to much prefer the shorter like puking kind of 300 plus watt efforts. But now I don't know what's different about it. But maybe it's because I had the fatigue from the 20 minutes in my leg. So it felt awful.

I don't know. I think I agree with you as well as a non-professional that the longer stuff is. Yeah. It's just, I don't know. I prefer it. Yeah. Well, good luck in Ottawa, but don't think of it as scary. Think of it as like, maybe this will be easier in a lot of ways.

Maybe they're just, they're like, you know, in Nick voice, like, this is a monster. It's going to be a monster dead, you? People hate that voice. I get messages about that way still. Yeah, I guess that they're not necessarily thinking of it as negative. You never know. Yeah, you're right. Also, there's a bonus question here.

And this is going to be a little spelling bee for Eric. Nick, you mentioned it's so much easier to spell on it. Italian. Spell the word chatterbox for us all. And if you can't, like, do you even speak Italian? Okay, so Eric, I'm going to, obviously I can spell this word. Tatterbox in Italian? In Italian? I'm going to tell you this word.

And then you're going to try to spell an Italian. It's easy to spell in Italian. There are just a couple of rules, and I'm going to teach you one of them here, but this is good for everyone to know. One of the rules in Italian is there's no

C.H in Italian is actually the opposite of English, it's kha. Kianti, yes. Kianti, exactly. You don't pronounce that Chianti. But similarly, the word Chau, C-I-A-O, you don't put an H in front. So if you have an I or an E after a C in Italian, the C sound becomes ch. But any other letter in front of it becomes K. So the word here is

Giacirone, that's chatterbox in Italian. Kiacera is to talk is to like chat And so chatterbox Kiacerone That is the word So how would you spell Kia Kierone? And remember

It's all just vowels You know, the vowels sound like they sound It's not like English Where the word red can be spelled In two different ways Or there can be spelled in three different ways What are we doing? Yeah, I don't know

C-H-I-C-H-E-R-O-N-I It was very, very close The only difference is a double C in there because there's Eric like Eric would be a better speller in Italian that he's would be in English and she's a great huge preface I might have gone double C I'm going to be totally honest yeah yeah it's C-H-I-A-C-C-H-E-R-O-N-E because we do funny stuff like this in the podcast sometimes Paula

I'm so lost is this a question tangent or it's a spelling bee it was a spelling question tangent this person asked to spell in Italian if you're new here sometimes we do the spelling B and I spell words fast. Yeah. Yeah. It's pretty impressive.

And people like to ride in and try to come up with ridiculous shit like hockey players' last names to stump me. Yeah, play the jingle. Yeah, here's the jingle. No, just kidding. We got to cut it off because we're on a rapid fire. Next question. Brent.

Hi, TTL team. I'm racing 70.3, Ruidoso in July. And I'm trying to figure out how to balance heat acclamation with training convenience. I'm a busy dad with two very active kids between work. and all of their activities, my training during the week is limited to 4.30 a.m. to 7 a.m. Burtle. And I'm mostly a treadmill and trainer athlete these days. I was able

to get outside to ride and run later in the day last weekend and it quickly became clear that the heat was not my friend. Is it worth sacrificing the quality of my workouts to do them later in the day and in the heat where I will struggle? Or am I better off chugging away in the basement and hoping for the best? Thanks. Brent.

I choose happiness every time and fitness always wins doing a bunch of heat training relative to just being more fit more fit's important but I'm gonna kick this one to Paula because she's done a ton of heat training getting ready for Iron Man's and stuff this year

and I just don't feel like I understand it as well I don't understand it super well but I do think that naturally over the summer you're gonna do more heat training outside or at least like the majority of the people that are listening to this

but I think in the spring or in the winter or like whenever it's natural, doing heat-specific prep, like four sessions a week that are an hour long, that are riding in a bunch of clothes or in the core suit or something. But then doing all of your other quality sessions in normal temperature is a good approach. Like in preparation for a warm race, I'm kind of doing that just as like a fitness builder in general because heat training has really good fitness benefits beyond just being ready for hot races. That's about what I was going to guess.

Like if any workout you have that's like just ride versus intervals, do that one hot. I agree. Like do the hard intervals in a comfortable temperature, get that fitness boost. And then if you just have an easy ride or an easy run, you could actually like do it in the afternoon when it's hot or put clothes on inside. Did you do a little bit of both? Like do your hard intervals and then ride for like 45 minutes hot afterwards or is that like too much, do you think? No, I think that's what most people do when the heat train is. They do it right after a session and there are core temperatures up.

And then they put clothing on and ride. Easy. There you go. That's a nice hack. Don't forget to mountain bike, though. Get on your mountain bike. Do some skills. Yeah, it actually matters for that sport.

That will matter. Yeah. Okay, next question here is from Travis. This is Bike Tech with Eric. No, we are not playing the theme. Once again, we're too fast. I'm just back from Exterra, North American Champs, and Pelham. Is it Pelham right?

Is that how you say that? Pelham, Pelham. And I heard a voice whispering to me in the bike ride. I swear it was Eric telling me the Victoria Peyote 29-inch 2.4 tires weren't the right ones as they seemed to wash out in the corners, especially with the pea gravel. But over the noise of my peddling, I couldn't hear what he told me to get instead. I love it. This is great writing.

So I'm following up here for his advice, going back to the race next year to make a bid for a slot at Ruidoso. and I'm feeling good about my chances. So if he has a suggestion on tire choice there, two, I'm all ears. Thank you for all you do for the endurance and multi-sport communities. All right, Eric, do you have an answer? We were actually in Pelham that weekend. They actually came out with the peyote since I've stopped using Vittorias, but what I really enjoyed in Victoria was the Mezgal.

But it is definitely a dry-conditioned tire. And the thing about Alabama is it can either be a little bit dry or it can be like freaking dumping rain and you need to bring two sets of tires. Yeah, I mean, I would just look, you can honestly, what I'm doing right now is I'm looking on the specialized site and just looking for something that has like a pretty low profile center tread

and then some good side knobs. So I have been riding the fast track lately, but I think that doesn't have the most, what you call it? Like flat protection. The air track would probably be pretty sweet. and then the ground controls are definitely more into the like if you want some good cornering but you sacrifice rolling resistance a little bit just a little bit yeah that they still have

like a race a version of that like a race tire of the ground control but and you can do stuff like go ground control rear fast track front that kind of thing yeah or reverse it you know get more knobby's on the front so the front stays in there but you have faster rolling resistance on the rear next question here is from jack hey favorite group of podcasters hello sorry that Paul had a bad trip to Chattanooga. I wouldn't say it was a bad trip to Chattanooga. Would you say that? No, it was fine.

I think we had a good trip and we had a good time in Chattanooga and, you know, race, a little race frustration. Yeah, yeah. Living in this area, I've ridden the course many times and I agree that it's unnerving. I came to Chichamau? Chichamaga? Is that how you said this probably? We ride through that town in the race. Chikamaga?

I was confusing. Chikamaga. Fully guessing on the pronunciation on that one. What's funny is like if you're a foreigner and you hear Chattanooga and Chikamaga, I don't know if you realize they're two different places. It's like Newark, New York, New York. They sound the same to someone who's not from there. Okay. To get a glimpse of Paula at the 40 mile mark. Yes, so it must have been there.

Question, I'm a decent runner and cyclist, but my swimming is horrible. I love this question. Could a person finish a 70.3 by dog paddling? Or should I just go to do aathlon? Good luck, Eric. I'm full of recovery. wish Nick's success this year, Jack. Would you make the cutoff?

I'll tell you. You would make the cutoff. If you're a good doggy paddler. This is going to... I don't know how this applies, if this applies like Iron Man and cutoffs, but the funny, I always remember this about going to the Beijing International Triathlon.

If you watch the age group race the day before, 100% of the people are doing breaststroke. With like the exception of... Yeah, like all the locals are doing head-up breaststroke and they're getting there and they're getting it done, with the exception of the four people who are... trying to win and stuff. Yeah.

Yeah, if you go to the pools in China, most people... That's like the international, their stroke, yeah. It's definitely doable. I think the thing is, it's doable if you're a good swimmer. If you're so, if you feel with such low confidence

about your swimming that you're resorting to doggy paddle, you know, then maybe, maybe not. You're probably a bad dog paddler. The most efficient. The whole could make the cut off at doggy paddling, for sure.

The side stroke is your most efficient thing. The doggy paddle is... That's right. It's pushing a lot unnecessary water. The side stroke is that's a good, that's a good tip. Yeah. That's not a good tip. I think it's a great tip.

Can you imagine? I think he should go to the pool and practice a little bit. Could you imagine going to the pool and just practicing doggy paddle for your triathlon? You might as well just practice front crawl a little bit. With an Iron Man swim cap on and like form goggles to practicing the doggy paddle. I love it. I'm saying side stroke or double arm backstroke? No.

Double arm backstroke is like, I'm about to die. You're not going to see where you're going either. you could choose Chattanooga as a race and then you're for sure making it assuming the current actually is moving which it wasn't this year. Alcatraz you might not make the land. You're just going to be out to sea.

You can find Iron Man's and 70.3s that have a current assisted swim. I think that's what you should be looking for because then no problem making the cutoff with doggy paddle. Doggy paddle. Doggy paddle. Doggy style.

It'll be fine. Okay. Next question here is from Christopher as a 20-year-old cyclist and 10-year-triathlet. Oh, I'm not 20-year-old, sorry, 20-year-old cyclist. I'm like, how are you 20-year-old cyclist and a 10-year-old triathlete? I find it frustrating on typical group rides that people just take off without a warm-up session. What's an optimal example of a cycling warm-up that triathletes should follow?

And do your coaches prescribe one for you? Christopher, let's change this question up a bit, although we can also answer this. How soon and to a group ride where the agreement is that you're going to have a good-spirited group ride, how soon is too soon or where's the line of okay now it's kind of okay to like put in an effort this is just a group ride just a group ride this is not just a group ride a hard group right I know like 15 20 minutes

yeah so if you're like in the first five minutes that's like what are you doing? That's like also location based a little bit but yeah five minutes is way too soon yeah yeah 15 20 minutes before you start turning the screws on your friends You should make some friends for 15 minutes, talk to somebody. Chat it up.

Yeah, and I love group rides rolling out where you're at like 100 watts and it doesn't matter. You can't do anything about it. I kind of like that feeling. Yeah, yeah. But in terms of a structured warm-up that you would do, I would say that's never going to happen in a group ride, right? No. No, I think you just slow roll it for a bit and then you just slowly feel better and better. At least that's what we do.

I mean, if you want to get warmed up to like ride to the group ride and do a little warm-up on the way there. a couple 30 second openers. Yeah, but then you're taking it too seriously. I think the point, if you feel crappy in the first efforts, that's okay. Your body will feel better as you go. Treat the whole thing. Unless you get dropped. That's true.

Man, that is true. Do whatever you need to do to not get dropped. If you're going to get dropped, do a little warm up before you get everything, I guess. Okay, next one isn't even a question, but there's just some funny words in here that I wanted to say to a large audience of people. Howdy, I'm a vet assistant. If Harper is scooting, she needs her anal glands expressed. P.S. get her on some Nordic natural fish oil but start slow. Thanks Lauren. Okay, next one here. I don't think

that's, I read that Nick. She's only done it that one time ever. We had a couple about this, by the way. I don't know if you saw. Yeah, a lot of people are like, oh my God, Harper has this problem. I think she's fine. I haven't witnessed any scooting since. She's fine. She's fine. She's fine, but I love it. But it's good to know. She starts doing a more, I'll take her in for sure, even though we promised we wouldn't spend too much money on her. Yeah, well. We're going to start to go fund me for Harvard. And here we are.

Okay, this next one here, this is from John, and it's a this or that. And we're cutting this one off as well. Okay, so thick or thin cut bacon. If I had to pick thick. Probably thick, yeah. Sausage links or patties? Paddies. Mm, links.

Oh, patties. Fried eggs or scrambled eggs? Grambled. Scrambled. French toaster pancakes. What about you, though, for the eggs? Definitely fried. I do not love scrambled eggs.

Okay. Pancakes for me, hardcore. French toast is pretty decadent. I do not like fresh ones. I don't make it, but. Stale bread. Soaked in eggs. Yeah, not for me.

Not for me. Hash browns or toast? Toast. Oh my God, really? Oh my God. Love hash browns. Cinnamon rolls or donut? Donut.

Cinnamon roll. They're both so good. I don't know. I can't choose. It's like choosing my favorite child. Cinnamon bun just feels like a sin. You're like you're eating a donut that's coiled up with sugar coiled up in it. It is.

It is a bit of, it is a bit sinful. Are we not saying what is better? No, it's too much though. Donuts are the perfect amount of awful for your body, but. Have you guys ever seen that graphic of the amount of donuts that you have to eat to have the same amount of sugar as a can of Coke? A lot of donuts. It's like three and a half donuts or something like that. I don't know if it's true.

I think Big donut is pushing this on us, but I choose to believe it's true. Except for like. There's not a lot of sugar in the dough, I don't think. Now we're all talking about everyone taking 120 grams an hour. Why, you're worried about a donut? Well, we're not eating the donuts on the bike, though. I mean, I am, but most people aren't eating donuts on the bike. It's totally transformed my perspective of sugar.

Sugar is still not good for you, I think, but during exercise, I agree. Just immediately used, yeah. You're right, though, you're right. It's like, oh my God, how much sugar are we putting in our freaking bodies during these iron vans? It's crazy. So bad. Okay, two more, very fast.

Greetings from North Seattle. arm band heart rate monitors. I've noticed more pro-women using them versus the traditional chest strap. I'm guessing more are switching since the chest strap is challenging to find a good spot with the bra, chafing, etc.

Have you tried them, and do you find chafing happens on the arm or along the torso? Do you wear them during the swim or do you put it on when you hop on the bike? Appreciate the insight and thoughts each week. Also love the family run video you all posted with Eric, Paula, Harper, and Flynn.

This is from Heather. I wear the armband. mostly because I felt like having a band on my chest was constricting, not because of chafing issues. I've never had chafing issues with the armband. I wear it under my kit for a race, and it can get wet. You can run on the swim. I never notice it.

And yeah, I just think it's one of those things you put on and totally forget. Like I don't feel it there at all. So there's really no downside except for the tan lines. That's perfect. Great. And last one here. Hi, Eric, Nick and Paula. question for the pod.

You are doing your key swim for the week. 200's threshold on 15 second rest. You're halfway done. Come into the wall, hoffing. And the lady in the lane next to you says, cheerfully, hey, it looks like you're doing a set. Can I join you? What do you do?

Yeah, always. Good luck. Well, you guys, I don't think you're grasping it because you then have to explain to her what the set is, but you're on your 15 seconds of rest, and you have to get off and swim in 10 more seconds. every like yep I'm doing 200s 8 to go

yeah I could say the set real quick and then whatever maybe next time I'm there maybe the next time I'm there can explain more to it if she hasn't picked up that like maybe we are on different pages and maybe she sees what's going on and she thinks she wants some of that action I don't know I love it so yeah you say like yep in the middle of the set doing 200s on 15 second rest and then you go

if I have time to say 15 seconds rest I will but I probably wouldn't okay got it the thing is this is never going to happen. Well, I've had this happen when I'm in the middle of a set and someone asked if they can jump in the lane and they're like trying to chat. And you know, normally I'm trying to chat, but sometimes rarely I'm feeling very motivated and I'm like, I'm like, sorry, I got to go. You know, I'm in the middle of a set. Oh, no, yeah. If somebody asked if they can jump in, I'm like, yeah, go for it. And if they started trying to talk, like I have no problem just in the middle of

the sentence pushing off. I don't think, unfortunately, this is the experience that you're going to have if you continue. I think it's like the aura that you project when you're at the pool. Like, I project this aura of like Don't talk to me mess with me Don't say anything to me Don't get in my lane Don't ask to join my set

So that's just how I'm treated Right But Nick you're the opposite I look like a lemur That I'm just with wide eyes Yeah you're like talk to me Please Save me from this hell

Yeah it's the aura Yeah got it Okay well that's our pod this week You're welcome No I'm not gonna say you're welcome No yeah you are welcome did this. We were very close to not doing this. Stand by for hate email. It's not even that short. It's not even that short. I have 51 minutes

on our record time. I'm sure the thing will be a little short than that because we'll cut some stuff out. Yeah, it's like normal length. Yeah. You're extra welcome. Exactly. Just kidding. That was fun. Yeah, that was fun. We'll see you all next week. Bye everybody. Bye.