The Lonely Triathlete - triathlon training and motivation for the masses

Send us a textI splurged on a red light/near-infrared (NIR) device. So far, I'm loving it. I swear, it has reduced the pain of my patellar tendinopathy. Or it could just be placebo effect :)What is red light therapy? How can I, as a triathlete, use it to enhance my energy and recovery? I'll get into it.

Send us a textI've started adding ritual to my non-athletic life and I'm really enjoying it. So, why not add ritual to some of my triathlon practices?

Send us a textI've got 70.3 fitness, what should I do with it? Play it safe? Do the same-old-same-old? Or should I take some risks, should I learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. It's time to do some extra racing, throw caution to the wind, get out there and risk failure. How exciting!

Send us a textI didn't think I'd learn much during this race. But, oh boy, did I ever.

Send us a textIs it just me or do many of us suffer from pre-race DOUBT? I've put in the training for 8 months yet I don't think I'll perform to my highest standard. How can that be?Do you ever feel that way? Please share at thelonelytriathlete@gmail.com

Send us a textWe are all used to training our bodies for peak performance but what training our minds? Welcome Stoic Journaling!If you decide to journal, drop me a line and let me know how it's going at thelonelytriathlete@gmail.com

Send us a textAs my race draws closer, I'm starting to obsess over details!(and yes, I'm aware FTP = Function THRESHOLD Power, brain fart detected!)

Send us a textI hate to sound like a broken record but I may have hurt myself again. Will I ever learn?

Send us a textI'm injured, again! Vaccine sickness, nerve compression. When will it stop? Time to bring out my mantra around accepting what I can't control.

Send us a textMy mom is worried about my knee health? Should she be?

Send us a textWe were all newbies at one point! Every newcomer to the sport is nervous or anxious about some element of triathlon and  in this episode I think back to my first time in the sport, how each element gave me some  issues and how I eventually overcame.

Send us a textMany of us want to be as fast as possible in our races. Imagine if someone handed you a voucher that removed minutes from your race time for free (or a small fee)? Many of us would take that deal. Well, turns out that you CAN buy "free" speed.

Send us a textHow do we know if we are ready? What thought plague our minds? Are waterproof shoes actually waterproof? In this episode I share with you all my hopes and fears!

Send us a textHow do you know where that sweet spot is between training hard enough and training too hard? Is training too hard (to your detriment) even a thing? In this episode I wax poetic about the perils of overtraining.

Send us a textAll things considered, what is the best race distance? It's the one you that works best for you.

Send us a textWhat makes a "legit" triathlete? Doing an Ironman? What if I don't want to do an Ironman, what if I don't have the time to train, what if all I can do is Sprint distances, does that make me a lesser triathlete?NO. If you race any distance, it all involves swimming, cycling and running as best as you can and THAT is the definition of a triathlete. Hold your head proud. You [name] are a TRIATHLETE!

Send us a textWhat are some of the most common triathlon training mistakes and how can we avoid them? Buckle up as I go through a list and be sure to grab your lube and use it generously (thus, avoiding mistake #8).

Send us a textAs a triathlete, you are special. You are participating in a sport that is not common, that many people shake their heads at as something that is extreme or unattainable. But you do it! You train consistently and reap all of the rewards of this fantastic sport. So take a moment to reflect on the fact that you are doing something special! Way to go, athlete.

Send us a textI realized that I have had many different motivations to train over the years. What keeps you sitting on the bike in sweaty discomfort? What drives you outside in the rain for that long run? What gets you to the pool when all you want to do is stay snuggled up in bed under warm sheets? I would propose that whatever it is today might be different tomorrow.

Send us a textI did it, I officially signed up for Ironman 70.3 Victoria in May. In my research I learned that the jury seems to be out on the proper amount of carbohydrates to ingest per hour - is it 90 grans or as much as you can physically tolerate? I also observed a lot of angst amount newbie triathlete about the optimal training plan. Oh, and I spent some time writhing on my bathroom floor.

Send us a textMany of us, myself included, rush through training to just get it done. We mindlessly prepare our bags, drinks, equipment, perhaps drive to a location, do the workout and then get back home. And repeat. And repeat. What if we were more aware of all of these small steps in preparation and very aware of the actual training session itself - how it felt, what it looked like? What if we were more present during our life, wouldn't that make life itself more interesting?

Send us a textEver wonder why it seems the longer and harder you train the slower you lose weight, if at all? In my experience, exercise or caloric expenditure has far less influence on weight loss than this other thing.

Send us a textHave you checked to make sure your supplement company 3rd party tests its protein powders for heavy metals?Email me to find out what brand of protein powder I settled on. https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/09/health/protein-powder-heavy-metals-wellness/index.html

Send us a textIt's that time of year again, resolution time! I have an easy, quick (15 minute) process that will walk you through analyzing your 2024 triathlon experience and set intentions for a fantastic 2025.Answer these questions by writing them down (or using a note app):With respect to TRIATHLON,1.) What were your highlights of 2024?2.) What were some of your biggest challenges?3.) What did you learn about yourself?4.) What are you going to STOP doing in 2025?5.) What are you going to START doing in 2025?6.) What are you going to CONTINUE doing in 2025?7.) What small thing can you do today to take that first step towards 4, 5 or 6 TODAY /THIS WEEK?Here's to a great 2025!Peace!

Send us a textI used to train by heart rate zone, loved it. Then I moved to training by pace, loved it even more. Then I discovered training by RPE and it's been a game changer. Free yourself from your smartwatch and learn to run by feel.Incidentally, all my podium finishes have been after racing by feel. I know, seems unlikely but it's true.If you enjoyed this podcast in 2024 please consider subscribing and telling a friend, Leaving a review also wouldn't hurt if you have the time. Let's make 2025 a little less lonely, together!

Send us a textAnother week another illness/injury. I'm starting to wonder if I'm cursed or if this is just a day in the life of a triathlete? But I'm not letting it get me down, training through!

Send us a textThat title comes from a conversation I had with my friend, Jarris Neufeld. Jarris just completed Ironman Indian Wells 70.3 as his first ever 70.3 (and only second triathlon ever!).How does one bang off a 70.3 with minimal training? Why would someone do that? What motivates such a person? Well, listen to my conversation and find out.

Send us a textI was recently injured. Again! This stupid back.  After some research I put together a healing protocol that I used over the course of one day and experienced 85% recovery one day later. That's not nothing! Listen to find out what I did (and what you can do) to recover from injury.

Send us a textFirst off, more butt crack stories, who knew I had so many? And then I run through a list of things you should consider while maximizing the effectiveness of your endurance training. This list is quite basic but even so I re-learned a few things about what to do and what not to do to ensure I am training effectively.

Send us a textI'm in a fight with my training program. It seems to think that my kettlebell program is too hard and I need to dial things back, take it easy. But I feel fine. Hrumph!

Send us a textYou work hard, you sweat a lot, training can be uncomfortable. You owe it to yourself to make it as enjoyable as possible!

Send us a textI am not a "natural planner". I don't enjoy planning or making lists, that feels too restrictive to me. I want the freedom to change at a moment's notice, make decisions at the last second, be free! And yet, once I embarked on following a structured endurance plan, everything got better and I'd never go back to winging it again.

Send us a textOh, don't we all love the off season/early season when we gain all that extra bodyfat? Not! Every year I resolve not to gain any weight in the post-race season and every year I fail. Sigh. I've learned to embrace it and I'm even wondering if it isn't actually beneficial? Beneficial you say? Yeah, I'm probably just justifying my extra fluffiness.Btw, if you have experience with those swim trainers (e.g. VASA) can you drop me a line at thelonelytriathlete@gmail.com and let me know what you think? I'm contemplating getting one but they are expensive and I don't want to waste money unless they actually wrk.

Send us a textI think I'm sick. What if it's Covid? Should I train anyway, since I don't feel that sick? What's it's the flu or even just a mild cold? What should I do? Wait, I'm on vacation. I think I have my answer.

Send us a textHow do you effectively train without a bike? You run more! I'm into 1 week of a 3 week vacation and have stepped up my running, hoping to keep injury at bay. And who doesn't enjoy running in Napa Valley? Summer temperatures and sunscreen and horses and... scorpions and snakes. Ya, there's that.

Send us a textVacations are meant to be relaxing. Can you train on a vacation? Sure but what if you can't be consistent? What if you miss many days in a row? What if your plans to stay fit start to fall apart? Chill out, I say.

Send us a textAnother season of training is underway! And this time I've decided to take on Ironman 70.3 Victoria (Canada). 1 week into training and some things are working as expected while other parts of my plan just haven't fallen into place yet. But that's OK because it is early i the season and this is the best time to make mistakes, try something new and figure things out.

Send us a textI've enjoyed the past 28 days of not working out too much! But now I have to begin a new 8 month training block for Ironman 70.3 Victoria and I don't feel ready.

Send us a textAm I alone in feeling more sore during my extended breaks from training than I feel while in the middle of intense training? So weird. But even weirder is when ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BOTS take your podcast script and make one of their own podcasts...about your podcast? We are living in the future, folks.Drop me a line and tell me what you think. thelonelytriathlete@gmail.com

Send us a textWish me luck, I'm about to bite off a race distance that I've only ever done once before. And that, uh, didn't go very well.

Send us a textThat's it, I've completed my last race of the season, and do I have some stories to tell!Do you have any race stories to tell me? Please share at thelonelytriathlete@gmail.com

Send us a textI was overwhelmed by the feeling of gratitude after my last training session. I mean, I was SMACKED with an incredible feeling of joy and happiness, almost like I had taken a drug. But I did take a drug, the training drug. I'm convinced that training does more than just make you physically healthy, I think it lends itself to emotional health, too.

Send us a textI am in the homestretch of this season. I'm done with training. I'm done with the schedule. I'm just done.

Send us a Text Message.Are you the kind of athlete that likes to see the bottom of the lake/ocean they are swimming  in? Not me! Are you the kind of person that likes to SEE the moment they are actually living in, as they live it? And do you? 

Send us a Text Message.Strength is critical not just for sports performance but also longevity and health span! We all want to be strong so what are we doing about it?Have thoughts about this episode? I'd love to hear from you. Send me a note at thelonelytriathlete@gmail.com

Send us a Text Message.You physically train but do you mentally train? Follow the example of Olympians by giving as much thought to your mental training and you will soon reap even greater performance results!  

Send us a Text Message.Stop wasting time interacting with strangers on X or Instagram or Reddit or any other social media platform. Invest that time in yourself, in the creation of your own story. Mild interest or limited investment in others' lives is fine but admit it, you've been wasting a lot of time and deep down inside you don't want to continue. It takes intention and focus and effort...but you CAN do it!

Send us a Text Message.The power of social connection should not be ignored. Make the effort to connect with friends, whether it's a coffee, a walk or an in-depth conversation. Your mental and physical health will benefit!

I hope you enjoy my brief race report from this year's Lake Whatcom Triathlon near Bellingham, WA, USA.  I was attempting a personal best at this course in my 3rd consecutive race there. My experiment? Increase my weekly training hours from 5-6 to 7-8.

Water! Bah! Drink 8 glasses a day, don't get dehydrated, look at the colour of your pee, drink with every meal, don't drink too much or you could die. Water, you really let me down this week.

We made the move! I am no longer in Vancouver, BC I am now in Victoria, BC  on Vancouver Island. New running and cycling routes to be discovered. New swimming holes to find. New...everything!