TrainingPeaks CoachCast is an endurance training resource for athletes and coaches. If you're a triathlete, cyclist, runner, ultra-endurance athlete, or one of ...
Season 7 Ep 1 — Inside Nell Rojas' Approach to Marathon Training and Athlete Development
Professional runner and running coach Nell Rojas shares her insights into racing and coaching athletes for marathons, including the Boston Marathon, using a balance of art and science.
She attended Northern Arizona University, where she studied exercise science and competed in cross country and track. Nell ran her first marathon in 2018 and became the top American finisher in the Boston Marathon in 2021 and 2022. Additionally, she finished 10th at the 2022 New York City Marathon.
Nell has achieved remarkable success as an American marathon runner, securing top American finishes at the 2021 and 2022 Boston Marathons, a top 10 finish at the 2022 New York City Marathon, and competing in the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials. She has also claimed a 10-mile US Championship title and won Grandma's Marathon.
Beyond her athletic accomplishments, Nell advocates for inclusivity within the running community, focusing on empowering people of color and women. With 20 years of coaching experience, she is dedicated to helping athletes of all abilities achieve their own running goals.
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Season 6 Ep 14 — Optimizing Ultra Race Recovery with Scott Johnston of Evoke Endurance
Scott Johnston, co-author of "Training for the New Alpinism" and "Training for the Uphill Athlete," shares insights on recovery strategies for ultramarathon runners in this new podcast episode.
Johnston emphasizes the critical balance between rest and performance, outlining how factors like central nervous system fatigue, motivation, and age influence post-race recovery. The conversation highlights actionable strategies, including subjective feedback tracking, active recovery, and the importance of long-term planning for peak performance while avoiding overtraining.
Visit TrainingPeaks.com to see how it can help your training.
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Season 6 Ep 13 — TrainingPeaks Virtual: Redefining Indoor Cycling and Training with George Gilbert and Lee Gerakos
Listen in as indieVelo creator George Gilbert and TrainingPeaks president Lee Gerakos break down the reasoning behind the acquisition of the virtual riding platform, now named TrainingPeaks Virtual, the opportunities for coaches and athletes and how the ethos of credible virtual racing is a part of the DNA of the merger.Â
They share with Dirk the importance of community feedback in shaping the platform's development and commitment to creating inclusive and credible virtual racing environments. Plus, learn about the seamless integration of TrainingPeaks athlete accounts and TrainingPeaks Virtual and its impact on cycling training and community building. The options for creating group rides, races and training simulations are extensive for coaches and athletes.
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Season 6 Ep 12 — Gale Bernhardt — From Math Teacher to Olympic Coach
Gale Bernhardt's insights on effective coaching, balancing technology with human touch, setting long-term goals and tips for aspiring coaches.
With over 35 years of coaching experience, Gale Bernhardt has guided Olympians and World Championship athletes and played pivotal roles as the USA Triathlon Olympic and Pan American Games Triathlon coach. She shares her incredible journey from a mechanical engineering background to becoming one of the most respected figures in endurance sports as a pioneering endurance coach.
We explore her coaching philosophy, emphasizing the importance of continual learning across exercise science, pedagogy, and other key areas of understanding. Gale also provides invaluable advice for aspiring coaches. She highlights the significance of setting long-term goals, addressing knowledge gaps, and balancing science and the art of coaching.Â
Gale and Dirk compare and contrast coaching occupations in the United States and European countries. Plus, she touches on the evolving role of AI in coaching and why the human touch remains irreplaceable.
To learn how TrainingPeaks can help your endurance coaching, visit TrainingPeaks.com.
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Season 6 Ep 11 — Addressing RED-S and Optimizing Nutrition with Sports Dietitian Kylee Van Horn
Understand the essentials of athlete fueling, including RED-S and the importance of tailored nutrition plans, with sports dietician Kylee Van Horn.
Kylee Van Horn, CEO of Fly Nutrition, specializes in helping athletes optimize their performance and manage eating disorders, including RED-S (relative energy deficiency in sport). She's also an ultrarunner and running coach based in Colorado, looking to simplify nutrition for athletes and steer them away from fad diets. You can also hear her on the podcast "Your Diet Sucks" with Zoë Rom.
In this episode, Dirk and Kylee break down personalized nutrition plans, the role of micronutrient density, and the importance of understanding fuel requirements for different training sessions. Kylee shares helpful tips on fueling strategies for endurance and ultra-endurance athletes, addressing common fueling challenges, and the benefits of a team coaching approach to addressing nutrition and training goals. Plus, you'll hear her thoughts on addressing a few situations as an athlete, like overcoming nausea and the difficulty in recognizing eating disorders.
To help structure your endurance sports journey, visit TrainingPeaks.com.
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TrainingPeaks CoachCast is an endurance training resource for athletes and coaches. If you're a triathlete, cyclist, runner, ultra-endurance athlete, or one of the many other sport types, subscribe to learn how to train for success. Host Dirk Friel talks with expert guests focused on the elements of endurance training and racing that lead to better performance, prolonged athlete lifestyle and more enjoyment of your sport.
To learn more about how TrainingPeaks can help you achieve your training goals, visit us at trainingpeaks.com.
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