Purple Patch Podcast Matt Dixon

Are you showing up to your event in the best mental space possible?
You may have checked all the boxes in your training program and set yourself up to arrive at your event ready to allow trained potential to translate to race-day performance, but setting up the right mindset is one part of the performance readiness equation that is often ignored or misunderstood by athletes and coaches.
In this episode of the Purple Patch Podcast, IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon shares his secret to supercharging your mental game so that you arrive physiologically fresh and mentally prepared on race day.
Most coaches and athletes jump to pre-event preparation with a heavy emphasis on training and physical readiness, which can sometimes reinforce performance anxiety.
Instead, Matt offers a path to developing belief and confidence in your approach by focusing on areas within an athlete’s control on a day-to-day basis and reinforcement strategies for framing and processing your post-training and race-day performance.
Matt lays out a strategy to help you identify what you should be applying your daily focus to, how to process your thoughts on your progress and performance in real-time, and in a healthy and productive way, and actionable strategies to build your performance.
This episode provides solutions for empowerment and building appropriate behaviors to help put you in control of what you focus on in order to improve resilience, consistency, and, most importantly, confidence.
"You don't have complete control over what your body gives you on any given day. But you are in control of where you place your focus, and how you think about things. What did you do well today? Start with that. What were the lessons that the day gave you? And what are you going to do with those lessons? This is a path to improvement."
Episode Timestamps
00:00 - 04:19 - Welcome and Episode Introduction
04:27 - 41:02 - The Meat and Potatoes - Episode 270: Building the Mental Game in Sport - The Practice of Daily Reinforcement
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Join the Purple Patch Team - Director of Growth and Business Operations
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This episode is sponsored by our collaboration with INSIDE TRACKER. Inside Tracker and Purple Patch- Receive 20% off their services with code: PURPLEPATCHPRO20
Ask Matt Anything - Leave a voicemail question for Matt
Learn more about Purple Patch Squad High-Performance Training Program
Join Bike Squad - Don’t just exercise and work out; learn to train with our structured online cycling program
Join Run Squad - Increase your running performance through our progressive, multi-sport approach to running
Learn more about Purple Patch Fully Customized 1:1 Coaching
Learn more about Purple Patch Strength Programming
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Stay Up-to-Date with Purple Patch News and Events
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In this week’s episode of the Purple Patch Podcast, Ironman Master Coach Matt Dixon takes a closer look at youth sports and the development of young athletes.
With his experience as a parent, as well as a coach to world-class professional endurance athletes, executives, and amateurs alike for over 15 years, and using his own background in competitive swimming and triathlons, Matt examines the importance of sports for social and physical development in kids and examines the role parents and coaches play in helping to create meaningful experiences.
"This is sport. The journey of becoming. That is much more powerful and more important than the outcomes." - Matt Dixon
Matt maps out the discussion in a way that applies not only to parents, coaches, and young athletes but also to adult athletes looking to draw insights for their own development journey.
This episode covers the role of sports for kids ages 8 to 18 and suggests a healthy route for developing an athletic foundation. It also provides insight into how we can assist our young athletes in moving beyond outcomes or results, to help them develop athletically, while also establishing essential values and character traits that will last well beyond their playing days.
"The sporting journey can be a crucible from which we can apply so many of the experiences into almost anything that we do in the rest of our lives. And that becomes really powerful." - Matt Dixon
There are trends and challenges in youth sports that interfere with the positive lessons and experiences that organized sports have to offer. From parents who put too much pressure on their kids, to coaches who prioritize winning over development, these issues can create an environment where young athletes don’t reach their full potential or lose their love of the game altogether. Matt examines some of the most common problems in youth sports today and offers suggestions on how they can be addressed.
For parents and coaches looking to create an environment where young athletes can excel both on the field and off of it, Matt proposes certain habits they should foster to develop a performance culture and encourage a positive athletic journey.
"Remember that you are tasked with building an athlete. And in order to do that, you need to ensure that they have passion, they fall in love, they have a strong structure, a really varied skill set, that then when things are important to get focused, they are best equipped and they are fresh mentally. And so you are building an athlete well ahead of developing a runner, developing a swimmer, turning a baseball player into a pitcher." - Matt Dixon
Episode Timestamps
00:00 - 07:39 - Welcome and Episode Introduction
07:46 - 11:36 - Matt's Newsings
11:44 - 01:17:53 - The Meat and Potatoes - Episode 269: Developing Youth in Sport: Observations and Opportunities for Improvement
Purple Patch and Episode Resources
Purple Patch Video Podcast and More
Learn more about 1:1 Coaching
PODCAST - Episode 47: Child's Play - FUNdamental Lessons from Youth Development in Sport
PODCAST - Episode 95: Youth Development in Sport - Performance Anxiety, Specialization, and the Journey
Free Webinar - Hard and Hilly
Join the Purple Patch Team - Director of Growth and Business Operations
The Purple Patch Center is Open - Learn More and Schedule a Visit
Purple Patch Coaching Consultation
Learn more about our Tri Squad Program
Send us a message
This episode is sponsored by our collaboration with INSIDE TRACKER. Inside Tracker and Purple Patch- Receive 20% off their services with code: PURPLEPATCHPRO20
Ask Matt Anything - Leave a voicemail question for Matt
Learn more about Purple Patch Squad High-Performance Training Program
Join Bike Squad - Don’t just exercise and work out; learn to train with our structured online cycling program
Join Run Squad - Increase your running performance through our progressive, multi-sport approach to running
Learn more about Purple Patc

Imagine you are in the midst of a tough race in the middle of hot and humid conditions and suddenly your body begins sending you signals of surrender.
Anyone who has exerted any type of energy in the sweltering heat can attest to the difficulties posed by the conditions. Nothing sucks the speed out of the legs more than high heat and humidity.
So, how do you go about setting yourself up for success when the sun is beating down on you and the humidity becomes claustrophobic?
In this week’s episode of the Purple Patch Podcast IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon breaks down how to mitigate the impact of heat by establishing strategies to arrive prepared and ready to perform in adverse conditions.
Matt takes a closer look at the challenges of racing in the heat and dissects the physiological effect it has on the body and how it impacts your overall performance. He provides tips and resources to help you arrive fit, fresh, and ready to adapt to the conditions on race day.
In this episode:
How the Body Responds to Heat (TheCardiovascular System, Neural Impact, and metabolism) Thermoregulation and Maintaining Core Temperature (The science behind our body’s cooling system) Four Key Strategies in Preparing for the Heat Purple Patch Tools and Preparation Resources What Matt outlines is not designed to make things easy, or to remove the impact of high heat and humidity, but rather to help build strategies to reduce the negative impact and help you deliver your best performance within the context of the conditions.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 - 02:47 - Welcome and Episode Introduction
02:54 - 05:48 - Matt's Newsings
05:55 - 53:22 - The Meat and Potatoes - Episode 268: Tackling High Heat & Humidity - Preparing the Body for Adversity
Purple Patch and Episode Resources
Purple Patch Video Podcast and More
Free Webinar - Hard and Hilly
Purple Patch Blog - Race Effectively in Hot and Humid Conditions
Purple Patch Blog - Improve Triathlon Performance In The Heat With The Sauna Protocol & Heat Acclimation Training
SWEAT TESTING at the Purple Patch Performance Center with Precision Fuel & Hydration
Join the Purple Patch Team - Director of Growth and Business Operations
The Purple Patch Center is Open - Learn More and Schedule a Visit
Purple Patch Coaching Consultation
Learn more about our Tri Squad Program
Send us a message
This episode is sponsored by our collaboration with INSIDE TRACKER. Inside Tracker and Purple Patch- Receive 20% off their services with code: PURPLEPATCHPRO20
Ask Matt Anything - Leave a voicemail question for Matt
Learn more about Purple Patch Squad High-Performance Training Program
Join Bike Squad - Don’t just exercise and work out; learn to train with our structured online cycling program
Join Run Squad - Increase your running performance through our progressive, multi-sport approach to running
Learn more about Purple Patch Fully Customized 1:1 Coaching
Learn more about Purple Patch Strength Programming
Purple Patch Swim Analysis
Stay Up-to-Date with Purple Patch News and Events
Purple Patch Upcoming Webinars and Events

In this week’s episode of the Purple Patch Podcast, we focus on athletes like you. Ironman Master coach Matt Dixon puts a spotlight on four case studies anchored in performance.
Matt breaks down the lessons we can learn from those who have excelled in their performance journey as well as those who were less fortunate and serve as cautionary tales about the pitfalls on the way to improved performance.
All of the case studies are real athletes that either Purple Patch or Matt has trained.
We look at the training process through the lens of a former rugby player reigniting his fire for fitness by finishing marathons and committing to his performance journey.
This is a great story of integration of sport into your life, not just to develop a pride and satisfaction from the outcome, but about becoming a better version of yourself. And having the rewards be the journey itself throughout the daily routine. - Matt Dixon
We also delve into the athletic mindset by following the mini-victories of an athlete emerging from massive injury to achieve great personal success.
Through the stories of an athlete with aspirations of going pro, suffering from a lack of patience for the process, and a committed triathlete falling into performance decline, Matt illustrates some of the common elements that can derail a performance journey and ultimately steal joy away from the sport. 
There's no shortcut. There's no easy way. It takes patience, it takes commitment and it takes developing your strengths and your race craft so that when you step up -- it is still always going to be a huge seismic step up to be pro -- but you can be ready emotionally, physically, and from a race craft standpoint. And that takes real guidance, structure, and long-term planning. - Matt Dixon
All four stories, from the negative to the inspiring, provide perspective on the coaching process and how to focus on building performance, rather than focusing on outcomes so that you can become the person and athlete you want to be.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 - 04:15 - Welcome and Episode Introduction
04:23 - 52:23 - The Meat and Potatoes - Episode 267: Case Studies - Performance Successes and Cautionary Tales
Purple Patch Video Podcast and More
Free Webinar - Hard and Hilly
Free Webinar - Maximize Your 70.3 or IRONMAN Performance as a Time-Starved Athlete
The Purple Patch Center is Open - Learn More and Schedule a Visit
If you have any questions or want to learn more about leveraging Purple Patch in your performance journey, reach out to us by clicking the links below.
Purple Patch Coaching Consultation
Learn more about our Tri Squad Program
Join Tri-Squad
Send us a message
Purple Patch and Episode Resources
Purple Patch Video Podcast and More
Free Webinar - Maximize Your 70.3 or IRONMAN Performance as a Time-Starved Athlete
The Purple Patch Center is Open - Learn More and Schedule a Visit
Purple Patch Coaching Consultation
This episode is sponsored by our collaboration with INSIDE TRACKER. Inside Tracker and Purple Patch- Receive 20% off their services with code: PURPLEPATCHPRO20
Ask Matt Anything - Leave a voicemail question for Matt
Learn more about Purple Patch Squad High-Performance Training Program
Join Bike Squad - Don’t just exercise and work out; learn to train with our structured online cycling program
Join Run Squad - Increase your running performance through our progressive, multi-sport approach to running
Learn more about Purple Patch Fully Customized 1:1 Coaching
Learn more about Purple Patch Strength Programming
Purple Patch Swim Analysis
Stay Up-to-Date with Purple Patch News and Events
Purple Patch Upcoming Webinars and Events

Whether it's the boost of our morning espresso or the common drowsiness that sets in after lunch, we all experience bumps and slumps in our daily energy levels. Our vitality over the course of the day can sometimes be a rollercoaster. For some of us, that erratic ride has become a daily routine and an obstacle that limits our potential for performance.
However, there are ways to rewire that routine to unlock predictable and stable energy sources that keep you active and present throughout the day.
In this episode of the Purple Patch Podcast, IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon focuses his coach’s lens on energy management to help build the best platform for kicking off your training or tackling any of life’s endeavors.
We walk through a daily routine with actionable tips you can implement every day to promote improved energy levels and increased cognitive function.
From the positive impact of sunlight in the morning to the detrimental effects of blue light before bed, Matt uses proven habits and coaching experience to help you boost your daily performance, whether you are on a bike seat or in the boardroom.
Of course, everything in this episode is a supplement to a good training program, positive eating habits, and proper sleep hygiene, but a foundation of solid energy management can help you tap into improved stamina, heighten your focus, and can increase your capacity for taking on all of the challenges along your performance journey.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 - 03:28 - Welcome and Episode Introduction
03:35 - 06:21 - Matt's News-ings
06:36 - 08:37 - Word of the Week
08:44 - 32:59 - The Meat and Potatoes - Episode 266: Simple Habits to Help Boost Your Daily Performance
Purple Patch Video Podcast and More
Free Webinar - Maximize Your 70.3 or IRONMAN Performance as a Time-Starved Athlete
Free Webinar - Hard and Hilly
More on Precision Fuel & Hydration
The Purple Patch Center is Open - Learn More and Schedule a Visit
If you have any questions or want to learn more about leveraging Purple Patch in your performance journey, reach out to us by clicking the links below.
Purple Patch Coaching Consultation
Learn more about our Tri Squad Program
Join Tri-Squad
Send us a message
Purple Patch and Episode Resources
Purple Patch Video Podcast and More
Free Webinar - Maximize Your 70.3 or IRONMAN Performance as a Time-Starved Athlete
The Purple Patch Center is Open - Learn More and Schedule a Visit
Purple Patch Coaching Consultation
This episode is sponsored by our collaboration with INSIDE TRACKER. Inside Tracker and Purple Patch- Receive 20% off their services with code: PURPLEPATCHPRO20
Ask Matt Anything - Leave a voicemail question for Matt
Learn more about Purple Patch Squad High-Performance Training Program
Join Bike Squad - Don’t just exercise and work out; learn to train with our structured online cycling program
Join Run Squad - Increase your running performance through our progressive, multi-sport approach to running
Learn more about Purple Patch Fully Customized 1:1 Coaching
Learn more about Purple Patch Strength Programming
Purple Patch Swim Analysis
Stay Up-to-Date with Purple Patch News and Events
Purple Patch Upcoming Webinars and Events

The path to improvement is one that includes hard work and commitment, but too often we travel that path alone. We seek our personal goals in a very personal way. It can often be a solitary endeavor. Not only does it not have to be, but it also shouldn’t be.
"You cannot expect to optimize your performance or results if you always take the journey alone."
In this episode of the Purple Patch Podcast, IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon highlights the benefits and impact of chasing your individual improvements by engaging in team and group training.
The thread that unites athletes of all levels and abilities is a desire to improve. Tapping into that shared motivation fosters a supportive, fun, and competitive environment that provides accountability and inspires a diverse performance culture.
Using stories of Purple Patch Squads enduring 5 am coldwater plunges and scaling virtual mountains together through video-coached bike classes, Matt illustrates how individual gains emerge from the practices and habits that develop from these shared group experiences.
While these stories are of empowerment, improvement, and the amplified performance gains that come from team or group training in sport, the lessons from Matt’s discussion are easily applicable in all areas of life.
Regardless of your skill level, stage of development, goals, or training needs, individuals within a team, united under a common approach and mindset, naturally upskill and thrive, as does the team.
"The team as a whole develops greater resiliency, higher effectiveness, and a greater ability to adapt and absorb uncontrollable forces that occur from external factors. In other words, there is a culture of performance. And it is when this takes footing, that there emerges a virtuous circle of productivity for individuals, teams, and organizations."
The goal of this episode is to inspire you to become a part of something and participate in building a supportive collective where everyone commits, engages, and grows together along their performance journey.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 - 03:28 - Welcome and Episode Introduction
03:35 - 06:21 - Matt's News-ings
06:36 - 08:37 - Word of the Week
08:44 - 32:59 - The Meat and Potatoes - Episode 265: The Power of Team in Boosting Individual Performance
Purple Patch Video Podcast and More
Free Webinar - Maximize Your 70.3 or IRONMAN Performance as a Time-Starved Athlete
The Purple Patch Center is Open - Learn More and Schedule a Visit
If you have any questions or want to learn more about leveraging Purple Patch in your performance journey, reach out to us by clicking the links below.
Purple Patch Coaching Consultation
Learn more about our Tri Squad Program
Join Tri-Squad
Send us a message
Purple Patch and Episode Resources
Purple Patch Video Podcast and More
Free Webinar - Maximize Your 70.3 or IRONMAN Performance as a Time-Starved Athlete
The Purple Patch Center is Open - Learn More and Schedule a Visit
Purple Patch Coaching Consultation
This episode is sponsored by our collaboration with INSIDE TRACKER. Inside Tracker and Purple Patch- Receive 20% off their services with code: PURPLEPATCHPRO20
Ask Matt Anything - Leave a voicemail question for Matt
Learn more about Purple Patch Squad High-Performance Training Program
Join Bike Squad - Don’t just exercise and work out; learn to train with our structured online cycling program
Join Run Squad - Increase your running performance through our progressive, multi-sport approach to running
Learn more about Purple Patch Fully Customized 1:1 Coaching
Learn more about Purple Patch Strength Programming
Purple Patch Swim Analysis
Stay Up-to-Date with Purple Patch News and Events
Purple Patch Upcoming Webinars and Events