Endurance Minded

Minisode: Navigating a Pandemic as an Athlete

It goes without saying that we're all in challenging times. Folks around the world are working hard to keep people safe and be socially responsible as we navigate the impact of COVID-19.

This episode focuses on what you can do as an athlete to continue to maintain focus, motivation, and drive as races are being canceled, gyms are closing, and group activities are postponed. 

Our identity as athletes runs much deeper than any singular race, or even one season. Listen to get some insight into how you can adapt. 

For more information on how athletes can respond to COVID-19, and other resources for at-home exercises visit www.thomasendurancecoaching.com. 

Finding Sustainability

Lydia Tanner is a lifelong endurance athlete. She raced bikes growing up, and went on to race XC MTB at an international level as well as rack up two collegiate national titles. The path forward looked clear until she stopped racing due to overtraining, burnout, and an unhealthy relationship with the sport. 

Lydia sheds light on what's helped her find sustainability in endurance sports, and how a holistic approach to training and racing is the only way for her to stay committed and motivated season after season. 

For more information on these topics and more visit www.thomasendurancecoaching.com.  

Minisode: How to Handle Missed Workouts

Now's the time of year when things are starting to ramp up for many athletes. Workouts are getting harder and longer, and with that can come added pressure. This self-imposed pressure can mean that when workouts are inevitably missed due to sickness, work, family, or other responsibilities athletes find themselves getting derailed. Taylor covers his top three tips for coping when things don't go as planned. 

1.) Nothing is made in one workout! Training is about consistency over time, not a few sessions. 

2.) Re-focus your mental and physical energy towards what's to come. Don't get bogged down on the missed workout(s). 

3.) If you're forced to take an extended break it may be time to re-tool. Set yourself up for success by adjusting expectations and goals, and re-entering training the right way. 

Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

Carrie Jackson Cheadle is a nationally acclaimed mental skills coach, consultant, author, podcast co-host, and so much more. We discuss how to find your identity as an athlete once you've experienced setbacks such as injury. She sheds some light on tools athletes can use to control their response to injury, and how that can set the tone for how you process setbacks. There are so many great takeaways for anyone who has ever experienced the highs and lows that accompany the pursuit of big goals. 

- To receive 30% off of Carrie's book Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries visit https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/rebound-9781472961433/

- Reach out to Carrie directly at www.carriecheadle.com and mention Endurance Minded to receive 15% off of your first mental training package. 

- For more resources on her work with injured athletes visit www.injuredathletesclub.com. Also, check out her podcast The Injured Athletes Club. 

- Visit www.thomasendurancecoaching.com for more information on our all-inclusive training camp in April, as well as lots of great resources from all of our expert coaches. 

Minisode: Setting Goals the Right Way

In our second minisode Coach Taylor addresses one of the questions/concerns that many athletes deal with, "How to properly define your goals". While this sounds like a straightforward topic, it's one that many athletes have trouble carrying out. Taylor identifies three primary areas that are important to define in order to reach your goals. 

For more information check out www.thomasendurancecoaching.com. 

Your Shrinking Comfort Zone

Taylor and Warren Pole, co-founder of 33Fuel, ultramarathon runner, and Ironman triathlete discuss his transformation from smoking and drinking to competing in some of the most revered and challenging events in the world. Warren explains how he used his failures to push him even further in his journey as an athlete, and how pushing your comfort zone outward applies to both sport and life. We discuss how to use curiosity to drive progress. The act of pursuing the edge of your ability can unlock potential that you never knew you had. 

Visit 33fuel.com and enter code MINDED33 for 10% off of your order on all of their nutrition products. 

Visit www.thomasendurancecoaching.com for all things endurance sports. 

 

Minisode: Staying Motivated During the Winter

The first "minisode" on Endurance Minded. Taylor covers one of the most frequently asked questions from athletes. "How do I stay motivated during the winter?". Taylor breaks this complex question down into three answers. 

1.) Find your "why" outside of racing.

2.) Don't force it! 

3.) Know for certain that the work in the winter is what moves the needle in the spring. 

Check out www.thomasendurancecoaching.com for lots more information on this topic from the expert coaches at TEC. 

Exercise is Medicine

Taylor sits down with Nikki Kimball to talk ultra running, mental health, and how those two things work together. Nikki is a prolific name in the world of ultra-distance running. She's a multi-time winner of the Western States 100, Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, Marathon Des Sables, and the list goes on and on. Possibly more important than her athletic achievements are her advocacy in the mental health space. She's been very outspoken about her personal struggles with depression, and how she uses her running as a way to cope with that. 

For more on how the mental and physical aspects of endurance sports work together visit www.thomasendurancecoaching.com. 

Maturity Over Fitness

Taylor talks with Andy Blow, Founder of Precision Hydration (https://www.precisionhydration.com/) about a wide range of topics including the importance of maturity as an athlete, adjusting expectations, the drawbacks of group/squad training, and overtraining and burnout. Andy draws on his experience as a former elite triathlete, exercise scientist, coach, and business owner to outline some of his own experiences, as well as lessons he's learned along the way. Visit the PH website and enter special offer code "ENDURANCEMINDED" for 15% off of your first order through the end of 2019. Also, check out http://www.thomasendurancecoaching.com/ for more information on all of the topics we discuss on the show. 

Tackle Your Primitive Mind

This is it! The deep dive into the science of what makes us tick that you've all been waiting for. Matt Symonds, a physician and ultra-distance cyclist, walks us through the "Primitive Emotional Brain" and what that means for the decisions we make related to endurance sports. By unpacking the brain chemistry associated with negative experiences Matt helps shed light on how we can develop the tools necessary to turn negativity into positive outcomes. To access the resources we reference during our conversation visit the TEC blog. https://www.thomasendurancecoaching.com/the-primitive-emotional-brain/