That Triathlon Life Podcast

That Triathlon Life
  • 4.9 (560)
  • Fitness
  • Updated Weekly

Pro Triathletes Eric Lagerstrom, and Paula Findlay, team up with their friend and amateur triathlete Nick Goldston to hang out and answer questions about triathlon. https://www.thattriathlonlife.com

  1. 5d ago

    Should you keep pedaling or tuck on a descent, getting comfortable in aero, draft-legal racing for beginners, and more!

    It's a warm, smoky evening in Bend, the kind where you drive to Sisters for training and now you're recording a podcast instead of sleeping. We kept it deliberate and efficient this week, which means we absolutely went off on mattresses, California Chicken Cafe, and ice cream. In between, a great bag of questions. This week we discussed: 1x vs. 2x drivetrains: the actual advantages of each and why most people should just stick with a two byWhen to stop pedaling and tuck on a descentDraft-legal racing for a first-timer: how the pace works at the start of each leg, why staying near the front of a group saves energyBuild our ideal triathlon city using places we've actually been: road running, trail running, road cycling, gravel/MTB, open water swimming, airport, coffee, pastries, donuts, restaurants, and weatherXterra racing and the suffering question: is it a matter of learning to dig deeper or a matter of training?Getting comfortable in aero on a TT bike when you're scared, Paula's day-before-Challenge-Daytona story and why race day has a way of sorting it outHow many pro races have Eric and Paula actually done? Pro Tri News has a number that may or may not be rightCrank length and hip injury: when to experiment with shorter cranks and when to leave well enough aloneWhat actually constitutes good bike technique, and whether the pedal stroke matters as much as Eric thinks it doesLong rides on a gravel rail trail vs. TT bike before an IronmanAQI thresholds for training in wildfire smokeHeart rate spikes in T2 from bike to run, what's happening physiologically and the breathing reset trickDisney princess themed bikesA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive. To submit a question and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

  2. Aug 6

    Triathlon nightmares, going 100% in a race vs. racing smart, the most polished pros on the circuit, and more!

    We're loopy, and apparently incapable of saying basic words out loud, which means it's a great episode. We kick things off with a new This or That segment that goes off the rails almost immediately, then get into ten listener questions that end up going somewhere unexpected. Big week energy after the last two, different energy this week. This week we discussed: This or That: firm surface with cushy shoe vs. cushy surface with firm shoe, foggy goggles vs. foggy conditions, and a third option Nick almost said on a family podcastDo pros ever truly go 100%? The difference between not pushing hard and deliberately leaving something for future races, and why Paula once backed off to help a rival keep pointsWho are the most polished, professional pros on the circuit, and who gets results while doing their own thing? (Morgan Pearson, Ari Klau, and Jackie Hering all come up)What Paula actually did in the five hours between finishing Ironman Lake Placid and heading to dinner, and why she did almost none of the "right" recovery thingsGrandpa Hector's Colnago: how to keep a vintage bike in storage without letting it deteriorateDo pros want splits from strangers on course? When it helps, when it doesn't, and why they'll never acknowledge you even if they love itTraining through heartbreak: Paula's honest answer, Eric's RV-in-the-desert approach, and Nick's experience of it being the hardest time of his lifeThe Canadian Prime Minister shouted out Paula on Ironman Lake Placid, the story behind how that might have happenedTriathlon nightmares: missing the start, cascading gear failures, and why the dream is always the logistics, never the actual sufferingPassing etiquette in races: when to say "on your left," when not to, and AirPods on a single track trail (Eric has feelings)Coaching high school swimming when you're a triathlete, and the unexpected parallels between inspiring athletes and inspiring music studentsWhy Nick fell in love with triathlon: the objectivity of it, the contrast with musicA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive. This week's random supporter winner is Joyce Leary! Joyce, your Thump instant coffee is on the way! To submit a question and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

  3. Jul 30

    How much to ride in aero for triathlon training, the post ironman blues, and more!

    Things are back to normal in Bend and Los Angeles. Paula's quads have finally recovered, training is back on, and we've got a full question bag to get through. We open with a food theme Rapid Fire, check in on what post-race blues actually feel like after something as big as Lake Placid, and get into the philosophy of fear in sport: before races, before hard sessions, and why accepting the thing you're scared of is usually what makes it less scary. Then your questions. This week we discussed: Food rapid fire: favorite ice cream, juice, bagel, donut, and pasta sauce What post-race blues actually feel like after a big result — why the further you get from the day, the more you want to go backFear in sport: how pro athlete fear differs from age group fear, what makes race morning dread feel inescapable, and whether doing hard training sessions produces the same feelingThe best thing you can do to mitigate pre-race fear: start one month out, not the night beforeHow much time should you spend in aero position training for a 70.3? Jedi mind tricks for hard sessions and long racesMountain bike and off-road race passing etiquette: whose job is it to get out of the way?Was the women's finish line box-out at San Diego International Triathlon bad sportsmanship? Youth sports and raising athletic kids: what Paula, Eric, and Nick each took from childhood sportChallenge Roth 2027: all three are Roth curiousWhat influence has each other's racing had on what you want to do? Paula on Eric's ultras, Eric on Paula's IronmanA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive. To submit a question and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

  4. Jul 23

    Paula Findlay wins Ironman Lake Placid on her full triathlon distance debut — full race recap

    Paula Findlay wins Ironman Lake Placid on her very first full distance triathlon attempt. Setting the bike course record, ringing the first-timer's bell, and crossing the tape after one of the most composed performances of the year. Nick and Eric were both on course for the day, and this week all three of us sit down to relive every moment: the cold non-wetsuit swim chasing Chelsea Sodaro, the wind-whipped bike ride where Paula refused to let the gusts derail nine months of preparation, the broken flask on the run, running a 1:24 half marathon split before her quads staged a full revolt, talking herself through lonely miles of River Road, and what it actually felt like to turn into the Olympic oval. This week we discussed: Paula's full Ironman Lake Placid race recap: swim, bike, run, and every mental moment in betweenRacing without a wetsuit in cold windy weather — staying warm, not panicking off the bike, and why the cold nearly derailed the first 45 minutesRiding through 28mph gusts: how Paula stayed in her aerobars when everything in her said sit upThe Marta Sanchez dynamic: running together through the first half, trusting her experience, and slowly stretching the gapQuad cramping from mile 13 of the marathon and choosing to keep running anywayRinging the first-timer's bellThe med tent, the wheelchair, and what "empty" actually feels like after an IronmanHow Eric and Nick tracked splits all day: whiteboard shorthand, the Iron Man app, texts from people on course, and educated guessesWhat Paula discovered about herself: long activities are a mindset, not a personality typeThe timing chip chafe solution that actually worked (and the neck chafe that still didn't)TTL team finished 4th in the team competition — in their first year150 people at the Lake Placid donut run and the volunteer team who drove 45 minutes for donutsIs it better to race a new distance naive, or knowing what's coming? Paula answers just days after finding outLong run advice for Ironman training: why 30K is probably enough, and why Paula wishes she'd run more pavementTTL Kona merch is happening, and so is NiceSamantha Skold qualifies for Kona off the back of a career-best run at Lake PlacidA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive — this pod has no ads, and your support is what makes it possible. To submit a question and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

  5. Jul 16

    Pre-race in Lake Placid: Paula's first Ironman, the real jump from 70.3 to full distance, TT bike buying guide

    We're recording in person in Lake Placid, two days before Paula toes the line at her first-ever Ironman. She's feeling good, she's excited, and she's ready. We get into all of it before diving into your questions. It's a full bag this week, from the science of optimal racing temperatures to the very real question of how big the jump from 70.3 to full distance actually is, timed perfectly with Paula about to find out for herself. This week we discussed: Paula's first Ironman Lake Placid preview: how she's feeling, what's got her excited, and what it's actually like to prepare for your first fullHow big is the jump from 70.3 to full Ironman — physically, mentally, and nutritionally — and how much does long-term base carry through?Optimal racing temperatures for endurance performance: does the 40°F–55°F research match real-world experience?Switching from power meter pedals to a crank-based system, what road pedal systems we've tried and why we ride what we rideRenting a tri bike vs. flying with a bike box: which scenarios tip the scales either way, especially internationallyWahoo Kickr Bike Pro deep dive: aerobar options, dialing in fit, and how well the bike fitness transfers to race day What is Elise Lagerstrom's running Eddington number? Richard from the UK asked the question we all wanted answeredHow to buy a TT bike when no local shop carries them, a guide for making a big investment without being able to test ride firstDraft-legal racing tactics for a first-timer heading to Age Group Worlds: the two or three things you actually need to knowThe Wahoo-Coros partnership: has anyone made the switch, and what do we think of Coros watches?Tubeless tire setup for racing: is it worth upgrading your wheelset, and what do you actually do if you flat during an Ironman?Current coaching setups across the TTL crew, is Paula still working with Carmen Small on the bike?Hill repeat steepness: what grade are you actually looking for and does it matter?A big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive! To submit a question for the podcast and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

  6. Jul 9

    Elise Lagerstrom wins the Gobi March outright, Sam Laidlow's swim tactics at Roth, and motivation in triathlon, and more!

    Elise Lagerstrom — Eric's sister and two-time desert ultra champion — joins us to recount winning the Gobi March outright, becoming the first woman in the race's 20-year history to beat all men across a 250-kilometer, seven-day self-supported ultra through central Mongolia. We cover everything: the emergency electrolyte crisis at mile 12, how she managed a 52-minute buffer over second place through the legendary 80-kilometer Stage 4 long march, what carrying a 25-pound pack for 155 miles has to do with running ability, and why this kind of racing is so much more tactical than it looks. Then Paula emerges from a rough morning to join us for the second half. This week we discussed: Elise Lagerstrom's Gobi March race recap: the first woman to win the 250K Mongolian desert ultra outright in 20 years of the eventSelf-supported racing explained: what you carry, what the race provides, and how the tent situation worksStage 4 long march — 80 kilometers in a single day and why Elise knew it was her momentThe near-crisis at mile 12 and how she corrected her electrolyte strategy mid-raceWhy running ability matters less than you think in a 30-hour race Racing vs. surviving: how tactical the Gobi March actually gets, day by dayThe Roth swim controversy: how the men's field used a coordinated swim paceline to finally beat ChristianPaula's take on Alanis Siffert's stunning Roth win — and her 2:45 marathonShould this new collegiate national champion race his first pro 70.3 on a road bike?Altitude racing tips for Leadville: heat training as the poor man's altitude prep, and the two-weeks-or-right-before ruleWhen should you replace your running shoes — and the case for buying three pairs at onceHow motivation in triathlon evolves: from proving yourself to something harder to namePaula's first Iron Man in two weeks: wetsuit neck chafe solutions, and why Paula hates the words "Ironman training"Donut run at Lake Placid: Friday, 3 PM — come find usA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive! To submit a question for the podcast and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

  7. Jul 2

    Is your triathlon bike fitter gaslighting you, imposter syndrome, and more!

    This week we have a shorter episode getting straight to questions. Nick podiums third overall at San Diego International Triathlon, feeling breathless the whole time. We get into it. Then we launch the official TTL Eddington Number Challenge (with a gift card prize), debut the Lake Placid limited edition merch, and answer your questions. This week we discussed: Nick's San Diego International Triathlon recap: third overall, why being too fresh can still leave you breathless, and why it felt harder than the numbers showedThe official TTL Eddington Number Challenge: submit your cycling Eddington number in miles on Instagram for a chance to win a TTL gift card equal to your numberLake Placid limited edition poster, t-shirt, and hats: how to get yours before race dayCombating imposter syndrome in triathlon, what to do when you earned the slot but don't feel like you belongTT bike saddle discomfort: when your bike fitter blames your bibs (and whether they might have a point)The best pocket camera for riding: Ricoh GR vs. phone vs. GoProHas T100 paid its athletes? Paula addresses the Lucy Charles-Barclay question directlyWhat would you do if you knew your next race was your last? A moving question from Jason, who's hanging up the tri kit after Ironman Oregon 70.3A big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive! To submit a question for the podcast and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

  8. Jun 25

    Ari Klau calls in live after his first 70.3 win, the Eddington number explained, keeping bottles cold at races, and more!

    Paula is racing the Canadian National Time Trial Championships, so it's a bro pod, especially when Ari Klau calls in live from O'Hare Airport after his first-ever 70.3 win at Mont-Tremblant to finally explain the shoe phone celebration that baffled the entire internet. We also break down a deceptively addictive cycling metric, answer your bike tech questions, and get into open water swimming in rough conditions. This week we discussed: Paula races Canadian National Time Trial Championships, night-before logistics, bad roads, 23 mph winds, and going off 4th Martin Van Riel is 6-for-6 in 70.3s, the case for showing up only when you're readyThe Eddington number explained: the cycling and running metric you didn't know you needed (and how to figure out yours)When to switch from road bike to TT bike in your race build, Ari and Eric weigh inSharing one wheel set between a TT bike and road bike: does it actually work?How to keep your bottles cold in transitionSwimming in choppy open water: Eric's technique adviceThe most minimalist race belt options, including the shoelace method and the Nerd BeltIs the North American Championship more prestigious than a regular 70.3 for age groupers?Do pros still fall off their bikes? Ari's trainer near-misses and the AirPod problemA big thank you to our podcast supporters who keep the podcast alive! To submit a question for the podcast and to become a podcast supporter, head over to ThatTriathlonLife.com/podcast

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Hosts & Guests

4.9
out of 5
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About

Pro Triathletes Eric Lagerstrom, and Paula Findlay, team up with their friend and amateur triathlete Nick Goldston to hang out and answer questions about triathlon. https://www.thattriathlonlife.com

Information

  • Creator
    That Triathlon Life
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    230
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 That Triathlon Life Podcast
  • Show Website
    That Triathlon Life Podcast

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