Endurance Unlimited

TrainingPeaks

The training podcast for serious endurance athletes and coaches — powered by TrainingPeaks. Each episode, we dive deep with elite cyclists, runners, triathletes, ultramarathon athletes, and the coaches who train them, pulling out the science, strategy, and real-world insights that actually move the needle on performance. If you're training for your next race — or coaching athletes who are — this is where you come to analyze how you're training. To learn more about how TrainingPeaks can help you achieve your training goals, visit us at trainingpeaks.com.

  1. 1d ago

    The Norwegian Method for Building an Unbreakable Engine | Sophia Laukli & Zak Ketterson

    Stop sabotaging your workouts: discover why capping your intensity is the ultimate key to sustainable endurance gains. World Cup cross-country skier and Golden Trail Series champion Sophia Laukli and U.S. Olympian Zak Ketterson join Host Dirk Friel to reveal the training shifts, lactate discipline, and Norwegian principles that transformed their careers. In this deep dive, Sophia and Zak pull back the curtain on the "intensity trap" that derails elite and amateur athletes alike. Sophia reflects on the brutal cost of racing year-round without breaks, why training with double the intended lactate stalled her progress, and why she moved to the Norwegian mountains to train alone. Then, Zak breaks down his historic win at Norway’s Toppidrettsveka roller ski race, how he manages a high-lactate physiology using double-threshold sessions, and how sub-threshold capacity allowed him to log 20–25 hours week after week. Ready to build your aerobic engine with the same data-driven discipline used by the world's best? Get Started: Start your 14-day Free Trial of TrainingPeaks Find a Plan: Browse Performance-Focused Training Plans 1:37 – Episode Intro: Elite Nordic Skiing & Training Discipline 2:33 – Sophia Laukli: The Demands of Dual-Sport Racing 6:46 – The Cost of No Off-Season: Avoiding Athletic Burnout 11:34 – Lactate Realities: Fixing the "Go Hard" Intensity Mistake 17:22 – Shifting to Solo Training in the Norwegian Mountains 23:27 – Redefining Success: Process-Driven Performance 28:29 – Zak Ketterson: The 10-Year Path to an Olympic Breakthrough 31:49 – Winning Toppidrettsveka & Managing High-Lactate Physiology 36:30 – The "Norwegian Secret": Consistency Over Hero Workouts 38:40 – Double Thresholds: Swapping Heavy Lifting for Aerobic Capacity 41:31 – The 4-Day Microcycle: Dynamic Planning in TrainingPeaks 44:55 – The Cross-Training Hierarchy: Roller Skiing, Cycling & Running Load 52:08 – Escaping the "Olympic Hangover" & Building Long-Term Mastery

    The Norwegian Method for Building an Unbreakable Engine | Sophia Laukli & Zak Ketterson
  2. Oct 7

    The Kona Playbook: How to Race in Extreme Heat & Humidity | Hannah Berry and Ben Reszel

    Go inside the high-performance partnership of Hannah and Ben as they unpack the science and soul of world-class Kona prep. This episode isn’t just a talk—it’s a tactical roadmap from turning setbacks into strategy, optimizing recovery, and making every workout count. Hear how their trust, clear communication, and sharp use of TrainingPeaks help transform raw data into racing brilliance. Learn how top coach-athlete duos use data, feedback, and smart race planning to reach the Kona podium and how elite endurance training insights and real-world tips to level up your performance—whether you’re chasing finish lines or coaching champions. Chapters: • 00:00 – Coach-Athlete Dynamics, Training Locations & Backgrounds • 01:03 – Hannah’s Triathlon Journey: From Team Sports, Injury, and Entering the Pro Ranks • 03:23 – Ben’s Coaching Path: Sports Science, Data-Driven Decisions, and Coaching Philosophy • 05:35 – Seasonal Highs: Ironman New Zealand Podium, Performance Analysis, and Early-Season Strategies • 07:50 – Racing Back-to-Back: Lessons from Ironman Texas, Recovery, and Season Planning • 10:24 – Prioritizing Kona: Skipping 70.3 Worlds, Minimizing Travel, and Aiming for Peak Performance• 13:55 – Statement Win: Sunshine Coast 70.3 Performance, Tactics, and Mental Approach • 17:57 – Kona Debrief: Race Execution, Swim Battles, Annual Improvements, and Acclimation • 22:16 – Athlete-Coach Communication: Tools, Feedback, and Adapting Plans • 27:33 – Planning and Recovery: Scheduling, Tracking Progress, and Trusting Experience • 35:22 – Advice for Age Groupers: Consistency, Listening to the Body, and Embracing Rest • 38:00 – Triathlon for All Ages: Starting Late, Community, Common Mistakes, and Coaching Value • 45:34 – Finding the Right Coach: Building Relationships, Data Overload, and Personal Fit • 46:26 – Quickfire Insights: Biggest Mistakes, Overrated Gear, and Free Speed Secrets • 51:05 – Kona Excitement: Race Day Anticipation, On-Course Support, & Closing Remarks Get started with your training at https://trainingpeaks.com/

    The Kona Playbook: How to Race in Extreme Heat & Humidity | Hannah Berry and Ben Reszel
  3. Aug 19

    What Sets Elite Athletes Apart | Scott Johnston

    Ultra running and mountain athlete coaching redefined: discover Scott Johnston’s trusted training secrets for building champions at UTMB, Hardrock, and Western States. Legendary coach Scott Johnston unpacks the real art of endurance coaching—where customized plans, day-to-day communication, and tough-love honesty shape trail legends. This episode goes beyond the X's and O's, revealing what it really takes to get athletes to the start line confident and ready to perform—whether you’re a first-timer or gunning for the win. Dive deep into elite endurance tactics, mental game mastery, and the data-driven approach powering the world’s podium finishers. Key takeaways include: - Trust and Intimacy: Why effective coaching is built on deep, evolving relationships, not just spreadsheets or AI. - The Process Over the Outcome: How process goals, consistency, and embracing the daily grind move athletes from doubt and DNF to the top of the sport. - Data + Feedback: Leveraging platforms like TrainingPeaks for daily insight, real-time adjustments, and athlete-coach connection—even from miles away. - Specialization and Specificity: How the best runners prep for wildly different races, and why smart periodization beats “just running more.” - Bouncing Back: Turning defeat and DNFs into powerful learning moments that fuel future breakthroughs. Start your 14-day Free Trial of TrainingPeaks: https://www.trainingpeaks.comBrowse Performance-Focused Training Plans: https://www.trainingpeaks.com/training-plans/

4.4
out of 5
60 Ratings

About

The training podcast for serious endurance athletes and coaches — powered by TrainingPeaks. Each episode, we dive deep with elite cyclists, runners, triathletes, ultramarathon athletes, and the coaches who train them, pulling out the science, strategy, and real-world insights that actually move the needle on performance. If you're training for your next race — or coaching athletes who are — this is where you come to analyze how you're training. To learn more about how TrainingPeaks can help you achieve your training goals, visit us at trainingpeaks.com.

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