Purple Patch Podcast

The swim leg of any triathlon is one that elicits stress and fear. You’re entering into murky water with the blinding sun in your eyes. There are choppy waves that are seemingly predestined to make their way into your lungs. All the while, you’re getting very physical with hundreds of your closest friends. Swim anxiety is real, especially in open water swimming. Today, Coach Matt Dixon and Coach John Stevens diffuse some of the stress around triathlon swimming and frame strategies to help you approach the swim more effectively. In this deep dive on triathlon swimming, they will: Help Establish a Positive Mindset Around Swimming Benefits of Swim Band Training Identify Common Sources of Anxiety and Fear Outline Solutions and Strategies Around Many of Those Sources of Fear and Anxiety Around Swimming The goal of this episode is to help you build confidence and become empowered when approaching the triathlon swim. Regardless of whether you are a multisport veteran or a complete newbie, we hope to help y

As an endurance athlete, it's not uncommon to experience niggles in training and racing - tightness, numbness, discomfort, lack of mobility, and - yes - pain. But, is all pain bad? Does it always mean something is wrong? Pain is an important positive sign to highlight issues that are going on with your body, and there isn't anyone that knows more about pain than Dr. Tim Deer, President and CEO of The Spine & Nerve Centers in Charleston, West Virginia and Chairman and Founder of The American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN). In addition to being a world-renowned physician and researcher, Dr. Tim Deer is also an accomplished endurance athlete with multiple IRONMANS and Ultras under his belt, including Badwater 135, IRONMAN World Championships, the Leadville 100, the Boston Marathon, and more.  Matt and Tim go head-to-toe on the subject of body pain, how to spot key red flags, and what to do to prevent and manage your symptoms. This interview goes well beyond simple injury prevention education. You'll

This week, we built the show for those getting ready to launch into their race season. Races are coming thick and fast and, for the first time in a couple of years, we are charging ahead at full steam. We know you have questions. How should I pace? What should my mindset be for this first event of the season? What lessons will I draw? How can I assess the success of my race? What if I don't reach my time goal? What should I pack? Matt has answers and that's why this episode not only provides your framework for a successful ramp into racing but also a long-term perspective on a successful season of racing. In today’s show, Matt provides: A mindset and lens to help diffuse fear and alleviate the pass-fail shackles that many athletes face in early season racing A strategic approach to the race to set you up for success A list of essentials to tick off so that you minimize risk and optimize the chances of trained potential meeting race day performance We know your race goals are important and you should 

The last two years have been turbulent and full of forced change. What was normal, suddenly wasn’t and, whether we liked it or not, almost all of us had to evolve and change. We also know that by listening to these podcasts and following Purple Patch, you want to thrive and amplify your performance in your health, work, and life - all while getting faster. It sounds too good to be true, but is it? At Purple Patch, we think not. We are your tent-peg in the perpetual storm of change; a grounding of structured training that has helped many stabilize and maintain a path of health, perspective, and progression. How? Through Tri Squad. Today, Matt revisits the history of Tri Squad, The Why Behind the Programming, and, of course, the results. The Outcomes - both across athletic results, as well as energy, confidence, balance, and presence What is Tri Squad trying to solve and achieve for the time-starved athlete? What does Tri Squad offer, and what role does the Purple Patch team play? By answering these que

Welcome to a special "Ask Matt Anything" addition of the Purple Patch Podcast. Matt answers your voicemails and emails on all topics related to training and performance. In this first installment, Matt answers your questions related to: Best Practices on Heat Acclimation for Hot Races What to Expect When You Transition from Road Bike to TT Bike The Minimum Amount of Running to Be a Successful Triathlete Running on Variable Terrain When to Build in a Complete Rest Day Not only does Matt answer the questions, but in true Purple Patch education-style, he explains the why behind his advice so that you understand and can best apply it to your toolkit of performance.    Episode Timestamps 0:00-02:05 Welcome and Episode Introduction 02:15-The Meat and Potatoes 02:20 -Question 1 from Kevin: Is there a minimum amount of running you can do to be a successful triathlete? 11:45 - Question 2 from Corinne: Should I be forcing myself to take a rest day, especially if I'm fatigued? 18:30 - Question 3 from Andres:

They say sport is a metaphor for life, so today we apply those lessons of IRONMAN athletes to build a pathway for predictable performance in work and in life. Realize, you don’t need to be an athlete – or even an IRONMAN – to draw the lessons and strategies to apply to your own life. If you want to show up, excel, and thrive, then this is for you. The best IRONMAN athletes develop an IRON MINDSET, but so does anyone chasing high sustainable performance individually or across teams. Today, we build your toolbox of success and lean into an IRON Mindset. You'll discover: The Definition of an IRON Mindset? "A way of being and doing that enhances their performance predictability and sets them up to be highly adaptable in all areas of life, remain focused, and resistant to fragility." The Inescapable Truths about High Performance There is no easy option. The fragile will wilt and the uncommitted will fall away. But, before you panic, if you remain in the game, carve out consistency, and refuse to falter when

Matt welcomes Cardiologist, Brian Keeffe MD, to discuss heart health. During the episode, they discuss the surprising prevalence of heart issues and potential concerns among the athletic population. Many athletes assume they are “heart-healthy” because they train, but this may not always be the case. Don’t leave your heart health to hope and assumptions. This conversation will shed light on considerations, tests, and contributing factors of heart disease. Topics include: Why athletes should even care about heart health? (24:48) “People who do lifelong exercise can still develop the clogging of the arteries - atherosclerosis.” What factors should we consider before launching into high levels of training? What are some things a Cardiologist can uncover in tests and scans? Arrhythmia - What is it? Warning signs? (31:17) "Electrical systems become disorganized and you lose synchronicity.” What are the risks surrounding high cholesterol and lipid medications? When would you recommend a calcium scan

Matt welcomes author, speaker, coach, and podcaster, Brad Stulberg for Part 2 of their discussion around Stulberg's latest book, The Practice of Groundedness Topics include: Meeting yourself where you are and taking realistic action in that current space. (14:20) "It’s hard to accept where you’re at, but if you don’t, you never grow because you’ll be starting on a fragile foundation that will break." (16:15) “We all want to grow and be better. It’s compounded by the fact that the place where many people go to compare themselves is a bunch of airbrushed bullshit.” How to ingrain patience and love of the process to your children. (17:45) “Do what you can to keep it fun and try to mold a growth and process mindset.” How to be a "good enough" parent. (27:00) “The ‘good enough’ parent creates a holding space for the kid to develop and if the kid steps out of that space, nudges them back into it.” How to apply the 'good enough' principle to your own goals. (27:30) “Adopting a ‘good enough’ approach

Matt welcomes author, speaker, coach, and podcaster, Brad Stulberg for a compelling discussion on the nuances of performance and potential pitfalls of "heroic individualism." Stulberg's latest book, The Practice of Groundedness looks deeply at this character trait through many lenses. (30:00) Heroic Individualism is the ongoing game of one-upsmanship against self and others where the goalpost is always 10 yards down the field, and you think you’ll eventually arrive and be content, but when you get there you realize you’re not.” Questions they discuss include: How can you hold on a little more lightly without sacrificing performance? (31:00) "If you truly feel confident and grounded where you are, that opens you up to perform more from a place of freedom and from a place of love." What are some of the pitfalls that have the potential to hold high-performers back? What is the relationship between grit and the courage to switch things up? (34:20) “Grit is a really good tool for some circumstances, a

Athletes will get hit with illness. It is a part of the fabric of the journey of performance. (16:50) "In fact, the truth is, a smart coach will plan for sickness and injuries, no different than a contingency plan when you're making a budget." But how do you emerge from being under the weather in an effective way that will provide minimal downtime? Coach Matt Dixon provides that framework and counsel on managing sickness and emerging back to full-steam ahead. There are no gimmicks, no magic potions, and no quick fixes; just a practical guide to managing and emerging through sickness as a performance enthusiast. First of all, it's important to do your best to prevent major illness from happening by nailing the basics - prioritizing cleanliness, emphasizing good sleep, plenty of hydration, solid nutrition, and managing life stressors. (20:10) "The accumulation of too much stress is going to leave your body with lower defenses." (25:54) "When sickness arises, you ability to positively adapt to a training sche

As you trudge through the winter months, you may be navigating short days, dark mornings, and extreme cold weather as you build your 2022 Season of Performance. Don't let the winter doldrums kill your training mojo. Matt creates a blueprint to optimize any cold-weather training you may do outdoors, as well as tips to maximize the equipment you have inside that can assist you and become valuable training tools. You'll learn: How to dress appropriately for outdoor training Which winter sports allow for adequate cross-training and adaptation to your favorite warm-weather activities The importance of continued fueling and hydration even in the cold weather The best types of nutrition to use when training outside The purpose of training outdoors - What should you seek in your outdoor training and what workouts are best during this time of year? If you're taking most of your training indoors during the winter months, you'll learn: The value of making strength training a top priority Benefits of cycl

You head off to a beautiful destination with bike, wetsuit, and running shoes packed and ready to go where you will spend multiple days in a lush destination without the distraction of work, family, and other life priorities. You are officially immersed in solid training with days and nights filled with multisport activity, food, and camaraderie. Are you at a classic training camp, or are you having a training experience? Should you return from a camp feeling accomplished, but completely exhausted and overcooked? In fact, What should you look for coming out of this week and how can you judge whether it was a "success" or not? Today, Matt outlines your pathway to a successful training camp experience - one that leaves you feeling invigorated and sets you up for a successful season. He discusses: The difference between a training camp and a training experience or getaway with some buddies The value of a camp and why you should consider attending one to support your training Five components of a successful

If you are a ‘repeat offender’ with running niggles and injuries... If you are frustrated with a plateau of results... Or, if perhaps you are simply intimidated by running and believe it just isn’t a sport for you, then today’s show can change everything - for the good. Matt outlines a clear path to demystify and rewrite your approach to run training that will reduce injury risk, amplify the fun, and forge a path to the results you want. In order to rewrite the narrative around run training, Matt first describes the challenges of the single-sport approach to running, including: High-risk of injury Limited levers to pull if you are sidelined It is tough to nail the BEST value training sessions As a result, many runners slug through their miles with poor form, ever-increasing cost, a miserable attitude, higher trauma, and greater injury risk. No wonder folks become disenchanted and lose confidence in the process. Part two of the episode outline the solution - A Reimagined Multisport Approach to Running:

Fitness. Is. Broken. Way to start off the new year on a high note, right? It's true, though, and most of us are acutely aware. We are frustrated, challenged, and confused with how best to pursue fitness, performance, and a platform of health. You can ignore the fitness nuts and health gurus - you know the ones – that post the promoted wonderful life that they capture while failing to actually live it? Yeah, those folks. Today's episode will set you up with a solid pathway to success and rewrite the script on how to improve with no quick fixes, voodoo supplements, or fad diets. Matt discusses: What is wrong with the health and fitness market? Why the evangelism and short-term strategies of the fitness industries are actually making us more unhealthy What you need and want, perhaps without realizing, in your journey to health, energy, and improvement The KEY components of what every successful performance/fitness and health program needs for success. When you understand and employ the key components o

As we round out the year, Matt takes time to reflect on the biggest performance lessons we've learned in 2021 that you'll be able to carry into your 2022 season planning. It's also a chance to share how Purple Patch will continue to apply these lessons to expand and enhance our programming and global community. Matt's Biggest Performance Lessons include: Athletes benefit greatly from mixing it up Accountability and Community are vital Human connection and real coaching interaction amplify your performance Embrace the journey Know your North Star - your "why" Do the right thing 2021 can certainly be labeled a year of emergence as we started on a quest to return to normal as best as we possibly could. While we're certainly not out of the woods, we hope you'll be able to use these lessons and apply them to your own performance journey in work, sport, and life. 0:00-02:30 Welcome, Episode Introduction, and a word from our sponsor, Inside Tracker - use code PURPLEPATCHPRO25 for 25% in the InsideTrack

Successful athletes and performance enthusiasts tend to be intrinsically motivated and the hard work, such as tough training sessions, big miles, or breakthrough days provides instant gratification and validation. It is a massive reward to complete a tough training camp. It feels good to produce your best running splits. You get energized from accomplishing something you may believe improbable. It is why we often say ‘Hard work is the easy thing.' Of course, it's not easy, but it is the thing that creates an appreciation of progress, improvement, and confidence-building. So where does recovery fit in, especially if we don't get that feeling of "instant gratification?" Most of us understand the role and importance of recovery, but few are really good at embracing it. In fact, most driven athletes don’t even like it because it doesn't always breed confidence - at least in the short term. Today, Matt outlines the importance of recovery and why, believe it or not, REST IS ACTION. What is the role of recovery in

IRONMAN. Perhaps you have done one already but would love to do better. Maybe you are inspired to give it a crack, but not really sure if you are up to the task, or perhaps you are thinking, "I could never do that with my hectic life schedule." Today's episode will: Break down the myths and perceptions that often send time-starved hopefuls down the wrong path of their IRONMAN journey Outline a method to ensure that a successful journey to IRONMAN doesn’t equal obsession, fatigue, and destruction of the other important parts of life. Help build a framework of training to prepare you to be successful, but also improve your health, performance across other parts of life, and enable you to actually ENJOY the journey. It is a fact. IRONMAN is a personal challenge that requires great commitment, logistical considerations, and training. Your journey will include plenty of obstacles, adversity, and setbacks, BUT it doesn't have to come at the expense of every other aspect of your life. In fact, IRONMAN traini

This week features a conversation with Dr. Gil Blander. Dr. Blander is an expert in nutrition, biomarker analytics, athletic performance, biochemistry, and aging research.  Gil is also the Founder and CSO of InsideTracker, a personalized health and performance analytics company created by a team of scientists, physicians, nutritionists, and exercise physiologists from MIT, Harvard, and Tufts University. Today Matt and Dr. Blander discuss aging, supplements that actually help performance, homeopathy, extending your lifespan, and how to stave off cognitive decline.  They deliver insights and information to help you understand your body, apply focus, and move towards an optimized life by focusing on what matters. And, just like a deck of cards, you may be dealt a certain hand, but you can always play them well.    Episode Resources This episode is sponsored by our new collaboration with INSIDE TRACKER. Inside Tracker and Purple Patch - Receive 25% off their services with code: PURPLEPATCHPRO25 Learn more about

Matt Dixon presents his annual gift-guide episode, a diverse list of ideas for holiday gifts all anchored in performance. Every one of these ideas is delivered after personal experience with Matt and the Purple Patch team, and we think they'll provide some inspiration for you and that favorite fitness enthusiast on your list. This holiday season, the best gifts are personal—and there’s nothing more personal than the gift of good health, so let's get into it! Inside Tracker - The Ultimate Plan Whether your loved one runs, bikes, hikes, plays sports, or simply wants to improve their wellness, InsideTracker is the most personalized way to make sure their body stays in it for the long haul.  This Black Friday, save $200 on InsideTracker’s Ultimate Plan—the most comprehensive way to get personalized insight into their body’s wellbeing. Purple Patch podcast listeners also get a free InnerAge Assessment. InsideTracker’s personalized nutrition and performance system provides the most detailed analysis of their biomar

Matt welcomes Dr. Chris Winter back to answer your questions about the importance and performance-enhancing effects of good SLEEP. If you think quality sleep has no bearing on your performance in life or sport, think again. "Doing Well" and simply "Being Able to Do" are two different things. Both Matt and Dr. Winter want you to do well and that is why they dig into your questions today, including: His opinion on sleep trackers and wearables Advice for those who are paralyzed by the trackers and data Are there wearables that are more or less accurate than others? How do I discern the best product on the market? When should I alter or cancel a workout after a night of poor sleep? How do I know when I need to get a new mattress? How do I return to sleep after middle-of-the-night disruption? What is the best timing of meals and hydration before I go to sleep? I hate getting up to pee! What tactics can women in perimenopause use to help sleep? How do I manage high work/life stress and anxiety at