Purple Patch Podcast

Matt welcomes Dr. Chris Winter back to the podcast to revisit our most potent performance enhancer, the secret to fitness improvement, heightened focus and clarity, better resilience and immune system, and a promise to the enhancement of your overall health. Today, Matt and Dr. Winter present your ultimate guide to sleep and help unpack the mystery of sleep. Key takeaways: His role as a Neurologist and Sleep Scientist - to improve your confidence and reliability of sleep Tools in his toolbox to help patients - behavior change, medications, C-Pap, etc. The Physiology of Sleep - What's happening to our body and brain when we sleep? The detrimental effects on our body and brain when we rob ourselves of adequate sleep Positive yields when you improve your sleep Why you shouldn't judge success by the number of hours you sleep What are some of the common sleep mistakes? Dr. Winter's recommendations and an action plan on sleep hygiene 0:00-04:00 Welcome and Episode Introduction 03:40-10:20 Squaddie

Matt takes a week off to pay tribute to his late Mother, Mary Owen. It is her influence that inspired him and his family's love of the outdoors, swimming, and, ultimately, coaching. What do you want to do with your life? Who or what is most important to you? Who are the folks that you want to keep in touch with? Don't let them go.   Learn More About Purple Patch Fitness, Training, and Education

Matt welcomes Coach Mike Olzinksi back to the podcast to discuss heavy strength training for both fitness enthusiasts and endurance athletes. This deep dive into heavy lifting will answer commonly asked questions and dispel myths around lifting, especially as it pertains to endurance athletes. They answer: Why should you incorporate heavy lifts into your strength sessions and what are the benefits of lifting heavy? Who should lift heavy? Is anyone off-limits here? What exactly does it mean to "lift heavy?" Where and how does it fit into your schedule? What type of heavy strength training should you do? What are a few of the fundamental heavy lifts endurance athletes and fitness enthusiasts should incorporate? In addition to the many benefits of incorporating some heavy lifting into your weekly schedule (think postural strength, ability to produce more power, reduction of overuse injuries, and better body composition), Matt and Mike also take on the many myths around heavy lifting. Will you bulk

In Part 3 of the Purple Patch series on performance nutrition, Matt Dixon, along with leading performance nutritionist, Scott Tindal, lift the veil on nutrition and fueling with nutrition case studies around real-life Purple Patch athletes. The goal for all? To frame a smarter common-sense approach to nutrition and fueling in order to build a long-term platform of health and resilience. This final case study is centered around the elite amateur triathlete, Andy Williams. Like many triathletes, Andy is seeking top-level performance in all areas of his life, with his primary goal being an IRONMAN World Championship qualification. His first few attempts had been disastrous, but all-too-common for many multisport athletes. He's gone from GI distress from overconsumption to bonking because of underconsumption. Like many, prior to working with Purple Patch and FuelIn, Andy didn't have a grasp on his eating and fueling habits. He didn't know his sweat rate, body composition, amount of fuel he should be taking in, an

As you shift away from the demands of racing in 2021, it is the prime time to focus on improving your weaknesses. Why Now? This is time because overall training stress is much lower and you’re not under a burden to chase fitness for races. Coach Matt Dixon (with a little help from his silent sidekick, Barry) discusses converting your weaknesses to strengths and turning your liabilities into performance improvements in 2022 and beyond. In this episode, he centers his advice around three commonly identified weaknesses: Being Constantly Prone to Injury and Niggles Adult-Onset Swimming Weakness and Fears Running Weakness Remember, addressing any of your weaknesses takes courage as well as a long-term lens on your performance. 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 Building your Platform of Health: A Discussion with InsideTracker - October 21st at 3:00pm PST IRON

In Part 2 of the Purple Patch series on performance nutrition, Matt Dixon, along with leading performance nutritionist, Scott Tindal, lift the veil on nutrition and fueling with nutrition case studies around real-life Purple Patch athletes. The goal? To frame a smarter common-sense approach to nutrition in order to build a long-term platform of health and resilience. This case study is centered around Purple Patch athlete, Pat Romano. Pat is the CEO of Chargepoint and a dedicated husband and father. He has been a consistent high-performing Purple Patch athlete for over 10 years. The mission with Pat is simple: How can we help him still excel in sports performance as he starts heading towards his late 50s? And, how can he continue to thrive in energy and health to enable him to be the best leader and father he can be? Matt and Pat developed strategies around: Endurance Programming around getting stronger and faster Doubling Down on Strength and Conditioning work Emphasis and Recommitment on Nutrition and

What do you look for in a training program or group? What qualities will amplify your performance? Of course, you want a smart and progressive training plan throughout the season, but at Purple Patch, we believe there is so much more than just a "beef stew" of workouts. Matt and the team at Purple Patch want you to thrive in sport and life, develop great supporting habits around your training, and build a platform of accountability, feedback, and community. So, what is Purple Patch doing to deliver on this mission? How are we planning to evolve? And, most importantly, how will you benefit from these additions? Matt reveals what Purple Patch Fitness has planned over the coming year - how we're going to build on the massive success of 2021 and help athletes and fitness enthusiasts thrive, shine, and find great performance in sport and life. We are evolving in three main areas: Help more people through Bike and Run Squad programming Better Measure Progress and Gains through Habit Creation with Inside Tracker

Coming off of a successful IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships where 85 Purple Patch athletes qualified, Coach Matt Dixon looks back at this event and shares insights and athlete stories of goal setting, habit creation, community, resilience, and success. He then outlines four components that are critical for you to achieve your success, especially if you, too, look to qualify at some point. 0:00-05:45 Welcome and Episode Introduction 5:45- 09:00 Squaddie Update - September 29th FREE LIVE Webinar with Matt Dixon - season planning questions, nail your off-season 09:05-12:39 Who the Bleeding ‘Eck Are You - Phillip Faulkner 14:45 Meat and Potatoes - So, You Want to Qualify for 70.3 Worlds? 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 September 29th LIVE Q&A with Matt Dixon - Post-Season: The Secret To Your Best Year Ever Phillip Faulkner's Team in Training Donation Facebook P

Matt revisits the popular subject of performance nutrition. Together, with leading performance nutritionist, Scott Tindal, they kick-start a miniseries of nutrition case studies around real-life Purple Patch athletes. The goal? To frame a smarter common-sense approach to nutrition in order to build a long-term platform of health and resilience. This first case study is centered around Purple Patch athlete, Ann Neir. Ann is a high-level executive and high-performing triathlete. She's also navigating the waters of perimenopause, which is having an effect on energy, training, and daily life activities. In working on her nutrition with Scott Tindal, they hope to uncover and address deficiencies that may be prohibiting her from reaching potential in sport, work, and life. She, of course, wants to thrive in all areas and today Matt and Scott walk you through her discovery process, diagnosis, and strategies for success. 0:00-04:24 Welcome and Episode Introduction 04:24-06:20 Who the Bleeding ‘Eck Are You - James Har

Matt does some time-travel in this discussion with six-time IRONMAN World Champion, Mark Allen. Together, they review the recent Collin's Cup race in Slovakia - the good, the bad, and the future of this excitin new format of racing. Mark was on the ground at the race as team captain for Team USA and provides his behind-the-scenes review of logistics, team selections, race day strategies, surprising outcomes, and the unexpected team camaraderie from the athletes. Matt and Mark also look ahead to the upcoming IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship race in St. George, Utah on September 18th and answer your questions regarding: Mindset - How to approach this race compared to a "normal" non-championship event Pacing - How to run effectively, even if this is your weakest discipline Terrain management - Should you leave it all out there from the start? Shoe choice - What should you look for in a shoe Insights on how the race will unfold Athletes who stand to make a lasting imprint on this race Finally, "the

You're either progressing or regressing and, at Purple Patch, we want growth and evolution. We want you to continue to improve. Today, Matt outlines the framework of building in a successful break after your season has been completed without going backward. These actionable steps will allow you to embrace downtime and back off your hard training, but keep moving forward in your performance journey. What is the goal and quest of a postseason break? What are you hoping to achieve? You want some mental floss - break from heavy logistical and cognitive load Physical rejuvenation and systemic healing Capacity to enjoy other activities and go and do other stuff Lay a platform for the season ahead and prepare your body to absorb the hard work that is coming. Now that you know the purpose of this break, Matt outlines exactly how to go about building in this time from approximately October-January. You'll learn: How long should the break last? What should your training load look like? How can I get ove

A defining component of Purple Patch Fitness is our highly distinct methodology and approach that frames a way of thinking and performance in both sport and life. Most think about Purple Patch as building a strong platform of health, and assisting time-starved athletes to thrive within limited training hours, and a strong focus on supporting habits, such as nutrition, strength, and sleep. The good news? So many have bought into this approach via our coaching and education resources, but there are still many who struggle to apply the acquired knowledge across several area including: Post-Workout Fueling - many recognize that proper fueling is part of the performance puzzle, but it’s one of the things people fall down on consistently. Going Easy on the Easy Days - Inherently, we know this is a key to progression, but that logic is often overridden by fear and motivation for great success Strength Training - Again, while many appreciate the value of strength training to overall performance, it is often the first

He's back and better than ever at Badwater 135. Two years ago, Purple Patch athlete, Timothy Deer, completed his first Badwater 135 Ultra in just over 36 hours. This year, at age 56 and in some of the hottest historical race conditions, Deer finished again...faster, stronger, and healthier than ever. In fact, he was 11th overall, the first athlete 50+, and four hours faster than in 2019. The Badwater 135 is billed as the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet because it takes athletes from Badwater Basin, Death Valley, which marks the lowest elevation in North America at 280’ below sea level, all the way to the Whitney Portal at 8,300’, the highest point in the contiguous United States. Tim chats with his coach, Matt Dixon, about his goals for this year, his purpose, and his non-traditional race preparation for this arduous event. This episode is a masterclass on how to approach training with purpose in a time-starved life. Tim: Outlines a typical training week and, trust us,

If you’ve raced this year, we hope allowed yourself the joy of “dusting the rust off” and approaching your events with a mindset of celebration. If you’re still building up to your first race, you’ll love this “best of” that encapsulates some of the earlier stand-alone episodes from earlier this year. In fact, we highly recommend you go back and listen in full to episodes 160-165. It was our ‘triathlon takeover series’ where we did a deep dive into each discipline as we all head back to the start line of the sport. Episode 160: Dust the Rust Off Episode 161: Solutions and Strategies for Triathlon Swim Success Episode 162: Your Guide to Race Day Fueling and Hydration with Andy Blow of Precision Hydration Episode 163: Dial in Your Bike Performance - Fit, Posture, Equipment and Strategies with IOG Bike Fit Episode 164: A Triathlete’s Guide to Run Success Episode 165: Nailing Your Race-Day Performance Today, the "Meat and Potatoes" are actually more like dessert with some highlights taken from each of those

Matt is on holiday this week, so we're releasing a recent interview he did on “The Greg Bennett Show,” hosted by former Olympian and professional triathlete, Greg Bennett. It was a perfect match as Matt and Greg share many of the same philosophies around high-performance sport and life. In this episode, Matt: Shares his journey from collegiate swimmer to pro triathlete. Discusses the key lessons he learned during that time to become the great coach he is. Describes how he takes a holistic view of an individual when working with them, understanding their work and family life, what stressors do they have, and other non-negotiable obligations. Summarizes the four pillars of performance - Endurance, Functional Strength, Nutrition &Fueling, and Recovery. Dissects how to use data from wearables and why some people will be more comfortable with more data than others. Frames why fueling immediately after working out with protein and carbohydrates is so important. Show Notes from The Greg Bennett Sho

We are thick into the 2021 race season and the most common questions we receive are always centered around hydration and fueling during training and racing. We’re proud to welcome back Precision Hydration founder, Andy Blow, to answer your questions. Precision Hydration is, first and foremost, a hydration company, but they have recently expanded into new fueling products that include gels and a carb drink mix. Bars and chews are coming soon. Andy explains why the timing was right to expand their product line and how they were designed to keep your fueling strategy simple and effective. Of course, Matt puts Andy on the hot seat to answer your questions: It is going to take me 13-14 hours for my IRONMAN. Do you really expect me to consume 4000+ calories worth of sugar in my race? I will become diabetic before T2. There must be some more pragmatic advice for the 11+ hour club? What is the glucose-fructose-other sugars ratio of the PH gels? I’ve heard women metabolize differently depending on the time in th

If you are running a marathon, prepping for a hot triathlon, getting primed for IRONMAN or IRONMAN 70.3 summer racing, then this episode is for you. Matt digs into performance readiness for HOT environments; more specifically, how to get heat adapted BEFORE your event. After outlining some rules around heat adaptation, Matt defines two of the best protocols for heat adaptation before your event: Implementing a Safe and Effective Sauna Protocol Training in the Heat Topics covered: What's happening on the inside of our bodies when we get hot? It's all about our blood and Matt explains the three key roles of blood in successful performance. What Happens to our Bodies and Mind When it Gets Hot? Why does it become so much more difficult to perform? What are the Rules Around Heat Adaptation? - When should I begin, how long should the adaption process take, and when should I aim to stop prior to the race? Performance in the heat is simply an additional challenge to overcome -- and the good news is that you CAN

There is no easy way to deliver high performance in life, work, or sport. It requires a tremendous amount of hard work, but performance only arises when your hard work is supported by downtime, rejuvenation, and really positive habits to health and vibrancy. Matt outlines the mental and physiological benefits of stepping away to facilitate mental and physical rejuvenation—the ultimate accelerant to excellence. Why’s it so important to provide the mind and body space? How to Implement a successful break and recovery period The key aspects to getting it right so that you don’t regress Guide to Rejuvenation includes advice around: How long should it last? When should you schedule a break? What should I do during the break? How to retain all of health and recovery promoting habits Developing the courage and resisting the panic button Finding gratitude in your rejuvenation Moving forward is accelerated by stepping away, so embrace the space of a well-executed break. Episode Timestamps 00:00-01:08 - Welcome and I

You began the year with the best intentions, big ambition, and commitment to your BHAGS - your Big Hairy Audacious Goals. Unfortunately, things haven’t gone quite as planned. You may be struggling or dealing with more adversity than you had anticipated. You may have fallen off the training wagon, or had a bad race result or two. It happens to the best of us because that’s what the performance journey is. It isn’t a rocket ship of progression, but how you respond to the adversity and those inevitable setbacks. Rather than throwing in the towel (or throwing your bike off the nearest cliff), let’s focus on a mid-year reset. You may have struggled, or you might still be in the midst of a struggle, but we can course correct. The year is only half over and there is plenty of time to pause, reflect, and find those opportunities for growth in the back half of 2021. 19:00 Step 1: Reframe the challenge - pause and reflect. Come up a level and restructure 19:55 Step 2: Identify what worked well in your prior attempt? Di

Matt is on holiday this week, so we're releasing a recent interview he did on "The Changeable" podcast hosted by Social Psychologist, Dr. Amy Johnson.  Dr. Johnson was Matt's guest last week when they discussed our brain's tendency to "get in the way" and take things that happen to us personally - sabotaging success and happiness. In this interview, Matt and Amy discuss failure, resilience, and the importance of being change-able.  They also talk about the equation performance = potential – interference, and how he takes the seriousness out of things to help his clients have their best possible performance.  Show Notes from Changeable Podcast About Dr. Amy Johnson Amy Johnson, PhD is a psychologist, coach, author, and speaker who shares a groundbreaking new approach that helps people find true, lasting freedom from unwanted habits via insight rather than willpower. She is author of Being Human (2013), and The Little Book of Big Change: The No-Willpower Approach to Breaking Any Habit (2016). In 2017 she open