Race Ready

Nordic Team Solutions
  • 0,0 (0)
  • Фитнес
  • Еженедельно

Race Ready is the go-to podcast for Nordic skiing and biathlon coaches, athletes, and endurance sport enthusiasts. Hosted by Olympian Andy Newell and U.S. Biathlon coach Brian Halligan, each episode dives into technique, training, race strategy, and athlete development. Hear from top coaches, pros, and sport scientists as we explore what it takes to perform at your best—on and off the snow. Contact us with questions or topic requests: contact@nordicteamsolutions.com

  1. -1 дн.

    S2 E14. The Truth About Race Weight and Performance

    This week on the Race Ready Podcast, we're answering some of the biggest questions sent in by listeners and tackling topics that every endurance athlete and coach eventually has to face. From training safely during periods of poor air quality to developing young athletes, we dive into the practical coaching decisions that can have a lasting impact on performance. We also explore why movement quality, athleticism, and having fun may be more important than obsessing over training zones during an athlete's early years. The conversation then shifts to one of the most sensitive and misunderstood topics in endurance sport: race weight and body composition. We discuss the relationship between fueling, performance, RED-S, and long-term athlete health, while breaking down why chasing a number on the scale is rarely the right goal. Instead, we explore how athletes can think strategically about nutrition, recovery, strength training, and sustainable performance without compromising their health or training adaptations. Finally, we answer a listener question about classic ski pole length and revisit one of cross-country skiing's biggest equipment rule changes, discussing how pole length affects technique, efficiency, and racing strategy. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or dedicated Nordic fan, this episode is packed with practical advice, coaching philosophy, and thoughtful discussion designed to help you train smarter and perform at your best. Link to USOPC smoke guidelines: https://canva.link/mdb7ehy8agxhvuw

  2. 19 июл.

    S2 E13. Luci Anderson, Cross-Country or Biathlon? Here's What It's Really Like to Do Both

    What happens when one of America's top cross-country skiers decides to start biathlon... and just two years later is racing on the World Cup and representing Team USA at the Olympic Games? In this episode, we sit down with Luci Anderson to explore one of the most unique journeys in endurance sport. Luci shares how she transitioned from NCAA skiing at the University of New Hampshire to Project X, earned a spot on the U.S. Biathlon Team, and somehow managed to balance both cross-country and biathlon at the highest international level. But this conversation goes far beyond racing results. Luci opens up about nearly burning out after college, how she rediscovered her love for training, why she refuses to obsess over training hours, and the surprising philosophy that has helped her perform on the world's biggest stages. We also dive into the differences between cross-country skiing and biathlon, what it's really like racing on both World Cup circuits, why biathlon has such a unique athlete culture, and how she approaches pressure, expectations, and competing under the spotlight of the Olympic Games. Whether you're a cross-country skier, biathlete, coach, or endurance athlete looking for a healthier and more sustainable approach to high performance, this episode is packed with practical insights and refreshing perspective. From training smarter and avoiding burnout to embracing nerves and finding joy in the process, Luci's story is a reminder that success doesn't always come from doing more, it often comes from trusting the work, staying consistent, and never losing sight of why you started.

    S2 E13. Luci Anderson, Cross-Country or Biathlon? Here's What It's Really Like to Do Both

  3. 12 июл.

    S2 E12. The Brain's Secret Role in Endurance Performance with Dr. Scott Frey

    What if everything you've been taught about endurance performance is missing the most important piece of the puzzle? In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Scott Frey: cognitive neuroscientist, lifelong endurance athlete, and founder of Cerebral Performance to explore the hidden role the brain plays in athletic performance. Drawing on over 30 years of research studying how the brain controls movement, fatigue, decision-making, and human performance, Dr. Frey challenges the traditional "neck-down" approach to sports science and argues that the true limiter of performance may not be your muscles or cardiovascular system at all, it may be your brain. We dive deep into the science of central fatigue, perceived exertion, motivation, and the brain's remarkable ability to predict and regulate performance. Dr. Frey explains why mentally demanding work can ruin a workout, how elite athletes may be training the wrong systems, and why concepts like brain endurance training and neuroplasticity could represent the next frontier in endurance sport. We also explore the fascinating research showing that athletes often have more capacity than they realize, why positive and negative self-talk can both be effective, and how simple tools like breathing exercises can directly influence performance through the nervous system. Whether you're a cross-country skier, biathlete, runner, cyclist, coach, or simply fascinated by the science of human performance, this conversation will fundamentally change the way you think about fatigue, suffering, and elite performance. If you've ever wondered why some athletes can access another gear when it matters most (or why your body sometimes quits before it should) this episode offers a compelling look into the neuroscience behind what separates good athletes from great ones. Learn More: https://cerebralperformance.com/

    S2 E12. The Brain's Secret Role in Endurance Performance with Dr. Scott Frey

  4. 5 июл.

    S2 E11. July Training: Time Trials, Strength, and Skill Development

    July is one of the most important months of the year for endurance athletes, but it's also one of the easiest times to make mistakes. In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan dive deep into the training concepts that matter most right now, from summer racing and roller ski time trials to strength training, technique development, and how elite athletes use the off-season to build long-term success. The conversation explores why summer races aren't actually about results, why many athletes misunderstand the purpose of strength training, and how coaches can use July as an opportunity to develop race execution, pacing, technique, and mental skills. Andy shares why he intentionally ignores time trial results, Brian explains how his approach to strength training has evolved away from "gym bro" lifting and toward stability and movement quality, and both hosts discuss what separates athletes who continue to improve from those who plateau. The episode also tackles listener questions about swimming and paddling as training modalities, the eternal debate over whether athletes should pause their watches during training sessions, and why young athletes may benefit more from mastering movement than chasing fitness. Whether you're a junior athlete, masters racer, coach, or aspiring elite competitor, this episode is packed with practical advice, coaching philosophy, and high-performance insights that you can apply immediately to your own training.

  5. 28 июн.

    S2 E10. Fabian Stocek: The Marginal Gains That Win Races

    In this episode of Race Ready, Andy Newell sits down with one of the most fascinating minds in endurance sports: Fabian Stocek. A former NCAA standout at Dartmouth, Ski Classics champion, trail runner, neuroscientist, and newly appointed performance scientist for the Czech Biathlon Team, Fabian has built a career at the intersection of elite performance and cutting-edge science. From conducting brain research and building virtual reality environments for neuroscience experiments to racing some of the toughest endurance events in the world, Fabian shares the unconventional path that has shaped his unique perspective on training and competition. The conversation dives deep into the science behind endurance performance, including heat training, drafting, biomechanics, GPS and motion tracking technology, and the concept of marginal gains. Fabian explains how modern sensors are changing the way athletes and coaches understand movement, pacing, and technique, and why the smallest details can make the difference between making a podium and missing it. Along the way, he shares practical insights on Ski Classics racing, double-poling development, and the lessons he's learned from years of balancing world-class athletics with a demanding academic career. Whether you're a cross-country skier, biathlete, coach, or endurance athlete looking to gain an edge, this episode is packed with actionable ideas and thought-provoking discussion. From the "gas engine versus diesel engine" analogy for different types of endurance athletes to the importance of purposeful training and race-day decision-making, Fabian offers a masterclass on how science and sport can work together to unlock higher levels of performance. This is one of those conversations that will make you think differently about how you train, race, and pursue excellence. SkiData Substack https://skidata.substack.com/

    S2 E10. Fabian Stocek: The Marginal Gains That Win Races

  6. 21 июн.

    S2 E9. Recovery Weeks are Not Vacation Weeks

    This week on Race Ready, Andy and Brian dive deep into one of the most overlooked aspects of endurance training: recovery. Why do so many athletes struggle to absorb training? How much should you actually reduce volume during a recovery week? And why can treating a recovery week like a vacation sometimes leave you feeling even more tired? Drawing from their coaching experience with athletes ranging from juniors to World Cup competitors, they break down what recovery weeks should look like, how to structure them effectively, and why adaptation is the ultimate goal of training. The conversation also explores the growing world of lactate testing and threshold training. Andy shares lessons from a recent training session, including how respiratory rate can be a surprisingly powerful tool for monitoring intensity, why many athletes train their threshold sessions too hard, and whether amateur athletes really need a lactate monitor to improve. Along the way, they discuss continuous lactate monitoring technology, common mistakes athletes make during interval workouts, and how to recognize when your body is sending warning signs. Finally, the duo revisit a topic from a previous episode after receiving feedback from listeners: blood volume, mitochondrial density, and why fitness can seem to "snap back" so quickly after your first hard workouts of the season. It's a fascinating discussion on the physiology behind endurance performance, adaptation, and long-term development. Whether you're a skier, biathlete, coach, or endurance athlete preparing for your next big goal, this episode is packed with practical training wisdom you can apply immediately. Continuous lactic acid monitoring: https://www.idro.world/?shem=rimspwouoe,rimspwouohe,

  7. 14 июн.

    S2 E8. Jason Cork: 16 years of coaching Jessie Diggins

    Jason Cork has spent the last two decades quietly shaping some of the most successful athletes in American cross-country skiing. As the longtime coach of Jessie Diggins and a key figure behind multiple Olympic medals, World Championship podiums, and Crystal Globes, Cork has built a reputation as one of the sport's sharpest minds. In this rare long-form conversation, he joins Andy Newell and Brian Halligan to discuss his journey from coaching juniors in Colorado to leading athletes on the World Cup stage, the lessons he's learned along the way, and why simplicity often beats complexity when it comes to endurance training. The conversation dives deep into the training philosophies that guided Diggins from a talented high school graduate to one of the most decorated skiers in history. Cork explains why consistency matters more than hero workouts, how he approached building training volume over the long term, the role of threshold training in elite performance, and why he believes many athletes make the mistake of training too hard too often. He also shares stories from Diggins' early years, her remarkable resilience, and the qualities that made her stand apart from the crowd long before she became an Olympic champion. Andy and Brian also pick Cork's brain on some of the hottest topics in endurance sports today, including the Norwegian double-threshold model, speed development, training intensity distribution, and what a truly effective training week should look like for endurance athletes. Whether you're a skier, coach, or serious endurance athlete, this episode is packed with practical insights, thoughtful debate, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build championship-level performance over the course of a career.

    S2 E8. Jason Cork: 16 years of coaching Jessie Diggins

  8. 7 июн.

    S2 E7. What Percent of Training Should be Ski Specific?

    This week on the Race Ready Podcast, Brian and Andy tackle one of the most common questions in endurance training: how should beginner athletes structure their intensity distribution when they only have three or four days per week to train? Drawing on both coaching experience and emerging research from Norway, they break down why low-volume athletes may actually benefit from a higher percentage of intensity than elite athletes, how to balance threshold work with easy distance, and why many masters skiers make the mistake of turning every workout into a moderate-intensity grind. If you've ever wondered how to get the most out of limited training time, this episode provides a practical roadmap. The conversation then shifts into some of the hottest topics in endurance sport right now, including double-threshold training, ski-specific training percentages, and the growing influence of Norwegian training methods. Brian and Andy explain why elite-level training concepts often get misapplied by developing athletes, discuss when double-threshold sessions might actually make sense, and share their thoughts on how much roller skiing, ski walking, running, and cycling should make up your annual training volume. Along the way, they offer valuable insights for junior athletes, masters racers, and coaches trying to build smarter, more sustainable training plans. The episode wraps up with an engaging Q&A covering fitness testing, max-strength training, and the value of incorporating other sports into your training program. From 3,000-meter running tests and VO₂ max assessments to soccer games, roller ski hockey, and strength progression, Brian and Andy explore how athletes can develop speed, power, athleticism, and long-term durability. Whether you're a beginner skier, an ambitious junior, or a seasoned masters racer looking for an edge, this episode is packed with actionable training advice and thought-provoking discussion to help you train with greater purpose this summer.

См. все (60)

Об этом подкасте

Race Ready is the go-to podcast for Nordic skiing and biathlon coaches, athletes, and endurance sport enthusiasts. Hosted by Olympian Andy Newell and U.S. Biathlon coach Brian Halligan, each episode dives into technique, training, race strategy, and athlete development. Hear from top coaches, pros, and sport scientists as we explore what it takes to perform at your best—on and off the snow. Contact us with questions or topic requests: contact@nordicteamsolutions.com

Информация

  • Автор
    Nordic Team Solutions
  • Годы выхода
    2025 - 2026
  • Выпуски
    60
  • Ограничения
    С ненормативной лексикой
  • Авторские права
    © Nordic Team Solutions
  • Сайт подкаста
    Race Ready

Вам может также понравиться