That Triathlon Life Podcast

This week Nick races the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon for the first time. We do a full race recap, answer Instagram questions from listeners who followed along, and discuss whether the steep price tag is actually worth it. Eventually we also got to our classic listener submitted questions.
This week we discussed:
Nick's Escape from Alcatraz race recap: the jump off the ferry, 57° Bay swim, iconic bike course, and sand ladder
Instagram Q&A: thermal cap vs. booties, TT bike vs. road bike, and what crime would have landed you in Alcatraz
Is the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon worth the price tag?
Chasing validation vs. personal excellence. How do you know the difference?
Body image, weight gain, and the toxic myth that more training = leaner body
Flying with an indoor trainer, what the pros actually do
Balancing passion across multiple disciplines without losing focus
Carbon seatpost slipping despite proper torque, what's going on?
Getting blown off your bike by wind, has it actually happened?
Off day during intervals: ease off the intensity, shorten the session, or go home?
Running surfaces ranked: tarmac, concrete, pavers, treadmill, does it actually matter?
A 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 kicked things off with Eric's experience crewing for Heather Jackson at Unbound XL, 350 miles of gravel, mud, and racing through the night. Josh Amberger also made a stunning gravel debut with a fourth-place finish, and we had some thoughts on that. Then we went through listener questions. We also talked the Escape from Alcatraz donut run, compression shorts, and the best perks of being a pro athlete (or pro athlete adjacent). This week we discussed:
Eric supporting Heather Jackson at Unbound XL and Josh Amberger's surprise fourth-place finish
What it's like when podcast listeners know more about you than you know about them
Panicking in an open water swim and how to recover your composure mid-race
Off-road triathlon etiquette, do you have to stop and let faster riders pass?
Racing a tri bike you've never ridden before: smart gamble or bad idea?
Mile repeats vs. kilometer repeats, does interval length actually matter?
Sodium and cramping: preloading, in-race electrolytes
Wearing compression shorts under your bibs
Will 32-inch wheels ever make it into triathlon?
Favorite perks of being a professional (or pro-adjacent) triathlete
A 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 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 helmets
Balancing triathlon obsession with actually being present in life
32 inch wheels
Revisiting old races vs constantly chasing new challenges
Returning to fitness after forced time completely off training
Which part of a full ironman scares the most
Heat training vs convenience
Best tires for Xterra North American Championships in Pelham
Finishing a 70.3 swim while doggy paddling
Cycling group ride warmup and when it's ok to attack
Heart rate monitor locations for women
What to do when someone tries to talk to you mid swim set
A 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 Paula’s experience racing through the highs and lows of IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga, but not before hearing Nick’s trail running adventures in Maui, Hawaii, and getting an update from last week’s mysterious Mr. Smith. When we finally got to listener questions, we discussed:
Washing your sweaty cycling helmet
Riding with someone who’s always pushing the pace
Making parts of training intentionally harder to build mental toughness
A 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’re gearing up for Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga as Paula Findlay prepares to race this weekend. She also brought us a challenging Swim Sets With Paula before we dove into listener questions.
This week we covered:
Sherpa-ing Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga for a pro triathlete
Training alone vs. training with friends
Adjusting swim sets from short course to long course
Forbidden love between triathlon club members
How strictly athletes should follow coach-made plans
Sunscreen during races
ERG mode vs. free ride mode on the trainer
Keeping young triathletes excited about the sport
Is there a perfect gravel tire?
When 70.3 training starts to feel like too much
A 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