Human Endurance

What happens when the sport you've dedicated your life to suddenly gets taken away from you?
At 17, Nina Derron was a Swiss Junior Champion in triathlon, duathlon, and the 10km. And then chronic back pain stopped everything...
What followed was nearly 3 years away from competition, a PhD in Clinical Science from ETH Zurich, and one of the most remarkable comeback stories in triathlon.
In this episode, Nina walks us through the injury that derailed her junior career, how she rebuilt her relationship with the sport, and the deliberate decision, at 32, to finally go all-in as a full-time professional triathlete.
We also dive into Brett Sutton's RPE-based training philosophy, why Nina barely looks at her data, what it's like training alongside the Chinese national team, and the importance of bone density screening for young endurance athletes.
A story about patience, resilience, and trusting the process: for athletes and coaches at every level.
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Connect with Nina: @nina_derron
Connect with Bruna: @justbrunathings
Connect with Fabi: @endurance_fabi
Sign-up for augo's launch event: https://luma.com/8l4kbup7

What does it take to start triathlon at 28, coach yourself to a pro license within a year, and then break a cycling world record?

Meet Jonathan Guisolan, whose unconventional path is rewriting the rules of what's possible in endurance sports. Jonathan didn't grow up as a competitive athlete. He started cycling at 22 while studying Exercise Physiology, turned pro in cycling, then transitioned to triathlon at 28.
In 2025 (just his second year as a professional triathlete) he won his first pro race at Challenge Sir Bani Yas and then broke the 6-hour velodrome cycling world record, covering 276.795 km at an average speed of 46.1 km/h.
Whether you're a late starter questioning your potential, a self-coached athlete seeking validation, or simply someone fascinated by the intersection of science, resilience, and performance, Jonathan's journey will inspire you.
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Follow Jonathan: @jonathanguisolan
Follow Fabi: @endurance_fabi
Follow Bruna: @justbrunathings

Swiss pro triathlete Leana Bissig joins the Human Endurance Podcast straight from her season high finishing top 20 in T100. Inspired by Nicola Spirig's Olympic gold, Leana worked her way up from junior swimming to racing on triathlon's biggest stages, all while completing a master's in health sciences at ETH Zurich.
In this episode, she opens up about balancing studies with 20-hour training weeks, the leap from short course to middle distance racing, what it's like competing in the T100 series, and the mental breakthroughs that took her to the next level. Additionally we share insights into her approach to nutrition, why she's never had a major injury, and her one piece of advice for every endurance athlete.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction00:46 Leana's Journey into Triathlon02:15 Transition to Professional Athlete03:54 Balancing Studies and Training08:35 Training Strategies and Adaptations13:17 Insights on Long-Distance Training20:56 Race Experiences and Successes22:44 Meet the Coach: Balancing Sports and Studies24:23 Choosing Races: From Middle Distance to WTCS26:38 The T100 Experience: Competing at the Highest Level27:46 Team Dynamics: Support and Sponsorship30:19 Nutrition Insights: Fueling for Performance34:45 Strength Training: Staying Injury-Free35:49 Planning the Upcoming Season: Training and Rest39:11 Favorite Training Sessions: Bike, Run, and Swim41:03 Final Thoughts and Where to Find More

What does it really take to coach elite triathletes to world-class performances? Reto Braendli, Swiss triathlon coach and former performance lab specialist, joins us to share the individualized approach behind some of pro triathlon's most remarkable recent results.

Reto coaches Sara Svensk (8th Kona 2024 with sub-3hr marathon), Anne Reischmann (back-to-back Ironman wins at Cozumel & South Africa), and Imogen Simmonds (9th overall T100 2024). In this Expert Series episode, he reveals how Sara ran one of the fastest marathons at Kona with only 4 hours of running per week (50% on a treadmill) due to injury.

We dive deep into body composition analysis, Reto's balanced fueling philosophy that rejects both extreme high-carb and low-carb trends, and the truth about how pro athletes' nutrition needs differ from weekend warriors. Plus, insights on indoor versus outdoor cycling, optimal cadence, Anne's decision to race Kona while pregnant, and why loving what you do matters more than any training protocol.

Whether you're a coach or athlete, this conversation offers practical wisdom for smarter, more sustainable training.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:27 Reto's Background and Career
01:33 Coaching Philosophy and Approach
02:16 Case Studies: Coaching Elite Athletes
05:25 Training Strategies and Adaptations
11:39 Balancing Training and Life for Age Groupers
17:36 Body Composition in Endurance Sports
25:20 Nutrition and Fueling Strategies
35:06 Approximate Energy Demand in Athletes
36:23 Fueling Strategies for Endurance Athletes
37:46 Integrating Cycling into Triathlon Training
39:54 Indoor vs. Outdoor Cycling: Pros and Cons
43:37 Cadence and Bike Position: Optimizing Performance
49:02 Coaching Anne Reischmann Racing Kona Pregnant: A Unique Challenge
55:45 Handling Doping Allegations: A Coach's Perspective
01:02:04 Final Advice for Athletes and Coaches

What does it take to become a World Champion while balancing medical school? Meet Samuel Studer, the 2025 IRIONMAN 70.3 Age Group World Champion who's rewriting the rules on what's possible when you refuse to choose between your dreams.

In this inspiring Guest Series episode, Samuel takes us through his incredible journey from competitive swimming to finding his true calling in middle-distance triathlon. Fresh off his stunning victory at the 2025 IRONMAN World Championships in Marbella, he shares the raw reality of race day: from a nutrition mishap on the bike to stumbling through the final 2 kilometers, unsure if he'd even won until 30+ minutes after crossing the finish line.

Samuel reveals his unconventional training approach inspired by Brett Sutton methodology, including his game-changing double bike session strategy that helped him achieve breakthrough fitness gains. He opens up about the difficult conversations with his parents when switching sports, managing 20-24 hour training weeks alongside medical school rotations, and the courage it takes to speak up for what you truly need.

Whether you're a coach seeking fresh training perspectives or an athlete trying to balance big ambitions with life's demands, Samuel's story proves that with the right priorities and relentless commitment, you don't have to choose.
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Connect with Samuel: @samuel_studer
Hosts: Bruna (@justbrunathings) & Fabi (@endurance_fabi)