They say sport is a metaphor for life, so today we apply those lessons of IRONMAN athletes to build a pathway for predictable performance in work and in life. Realize, you don’t need to be an athlete – or even an IRONMAN – to draw the lessons and strategies to apply to your own life. If you want to show up, excel, and thrive, then this is for you. The best IRONMAN athletes develop an IRON MINDSET, but so does anyone chasing high sustainable performance individually or across teams. Today, we bui...
Mar 02, 2022•43 min•Season 5Ep. 208
Matt welcomes Cardiologist, Brian Keeffe MD, to discuss heart health. During the episode, they discuss the surprising prevalence of heart issues and potential concerns among the athletic population. Many athletes assume they are “heart-healthy” because they train, but this may not always be the case. Don’t leave your heart health to hope and assumptions. This conversation will shed light on considerations, tests, and contributing factors of heart disease. Topics include: Why athletes should even...
Feb 23, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 5Ep. 207
Matt welcomes author, speaker, coach, and podcaster, Brad Stulberg for Part 2 of their discussion around Stulberg's latest book, The Practice of Groundedness Topics include: Meeting yourself where you are and taking realistic action in that current space. (14:20) "It’s hard to accept where you’re at, but if you don’t, you never grow because you’ll be starting on a fragile foundation that will break." (16:15) “We all want to grow and be better. It’s compounded by the fact that the place where man...
Feb 16, 2022•38 min•Season 5Ep. 206
Matt welcomes author, speaker, coach, and podcaster, Brad Stulberg for a compelling discussion on the nuances of performance and potential pitfalls of "heroic individualism." Stulberg's latest book, The Practice of Groundedness looks deeply at this character trait through many lenses. (30:00) Heroic Individualism is the ongoing game of one-upsmanship against self and others where the goalpost is always 10 yards down the field, and you think you’ll eventually arrive and be content, but when you g...
Feb 09, 2022•57 min•Season 5Ep. 205
Athletes will get hit with illness. It is a part of the fabric of the journey of performance. (16:50) "In fact, the truth is, a smart coach will plan for sickness and injuries, no different than a contingency plan when you're making a budget." But how do you emerge from being under the weather in an effective way that will provide minimal downtime? Coach Matt Dixon provides that framework and counsel on managing sickness and emerging back to full-steam ahead. There are no gimmicks, no magic poti...
Feb 02, 2022•45 min•Season 5Ep. 204
As you trudge through the winter months, you may be navigating short days, dark mornings, and extreme cold weather as you build your 2022 Season of Performance. Don't let the winter doldrums kill your training mojo. Matt creates a blueprint to optimize any cold-weather training you may do outdoors, as well as tips to maximize the equipment you have inside that can assist you and become valuable training tools. You'll learn: How to dress appropriately for outdoor training Which winter sports allo...
Jan 26, 2022•45 min•Season 5Ep. 203
You head off to a beautiful destination with bike, wetsuit, and running shoes packed and ready to go where you will spend multiple days in a lush destination without the distraction of work, family, and other life priorities. You are officially immersed in solid training with days and nights filled with multisport activity, food, and camaraderie. Are you at a classic training camp, or are you having a training experience? Should you return from a camp feeling accomplished, but completely exhaust...
Jan 19, 2022•42 min•Season 5Ep. 202
If you are a ‘repeat offender’ with running niggles and injuries... If you are frustrated with a plateau of results... Or, if perhaps you are simply intimidated by running and believe it just isn’t a sport for you, then today’s show can change everything - for the good. Matt outlines a clear path to demystify and rewrite your approach to run training that will reduce injury risk, amplify the fun, and forge a path to the results you want. In order to rewrite the narrative around run training, Mat...
Jan 12, 2022•53 min•Season 5Ep. 201
Fitness. Is. Broken. Way to start off the new year on a high note, right? It's true, though, and most of us are acutely aware. We are frustrated, challenged, and confused with how best to pursue fitness, performance, and a platform of health. You can ignore the fitness nuts and health gurus - you know the ones – that post the promoted wonderful life that they capture while failing to actually live it? Yeah, those folks. Today's episode will set you up with a solid pathway to success and rewrite ...
Jan 05, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 200
As we round out the year, Matt takes time to reflect on the biggest performance lessons we've learned in 2021 that you'll be able to carry into your 2022 season planning. It's also a chance to share how Purple Patch will continue to apply these lessons to expand and enhance our programming and global community. Matt's Biggest Performance Lessons include: Athletes benefit greatly from mixing it up Accountability and Community are vital Human connection and real coaching interaction amplify your p...
Dec 22, 2021•40 min•Season 4Ep. 199
Successful athletes and performance enthusiasts tend to be intrinsically motivated and the hard work, such as tough training sessions, big miles, or breakthrough days provides instant gratification and validation. It is a massive reward to complete a tough training camp. It feels good to produce your best running splits. You get energized from accomplishing something you may believe improbable. It is why we often say ‘Hard work is the easy thing.' Of course, it's not easy, but it is the thing th...
Dec 15, 2021•47 min•Season 4Ep. 198
IRONMAN. Perhaps you have done one already but would love to do better. Maybe you are inspired to give it a crack, but not really sure if you are up to the task, or perhaps you are thinking, "I could never do that with my hectic life schedule." Today's episode will: Break down the myths and perceptions that often send time-starved hopefuls down the wrong path of their IRONMAN journey Outline a method to ensure that a successful journey to IRONMAN doesn’t equal obsession, fatigue, and destruction...
Dec 08, 2021•51 min•Season 4Ep. 197
This week features a conversation with Dr. Gil Blander. Dr. Blander is an expert in nutrition, biomarker analytics, athletic performance, biochemistry, and aging research. Gil is also the Founder and CSO of InsideTracker, a personalized health and performance analytics company created by a team of scientists, physicians, nutritionists, and exercise physiologists from MIT, Harvard, and Tufts University. Today Matt and Dr. Blander discuss aging, supplements that actually help performance, homeopat...
Dec 01, 2021•55 min•Season 4Ep. 196
Matt Dixon presents his annual gift-guide episode, a diverse list of ideas for holiday gifts all anchored in performance. Every one of these ideas is delivered after personal experience with Matt and the Purple Patch team, and we think they'll provide some inspiration for you and that favorite fitness enthusiast on your list. This holiday season, the best gifts are personal—and there’s nothing more personal than the gift of good health, so let's get into it! Inside Tracker - The Ultimate Plan Wh...
Nov 24, 2021•35 min•Season 4Ep. 195
Matt welcomes Dr. Chris Winter back to answer your questions about the importance and performance-enhancing effects of good SLEEP. If you think quality sleep has no bearing on your performance in life or sport, think again. "Doing Well" and simply "Being Able to Do" are two different things. Both Matt and Dr. Winter want you to do well and that is why they dig into your questions today, including: His opinion on sleep trackers and wearables Advice for those who are paralyzed by the trackers and ...
Nov 17, 2021•43 min•Season 4Ep. 194
Matt welcomes Dr. Chris Winter back to the podcast to revisit our most potent performance enhancer, the secret to fitness improvement, heightened focus and clarity, better resilience and immune system, and a promise to the enhancement of your overall health. Today, Matt and Dr. Winter present your ultimate guide to sleep and help unpack the mystery of sleep. Key takeaways: His role as a Neurologist and Sleep Scientist - to improve your confidence and reliability of sleep Tools in his toolbox to ...
Nov 10, 2021•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 193
Matt takes a week off to pay tribute to his late Mother, Mary Owen. It is her influence that inspired him and his family's love of the outdoors, swimming, and, ultimately, coaching. What do you want to do with your life? Who or what is most important to you? Who are the folks that you want to keep in touch with? Don't let them go. Learn More About Purple Patch Fitness, Training, and Education
Nov 03, 2021•18 min•Season 4Ep. 192
Matt welcomes Coach Mike Olzinksi back to the podcast to discuss heavy strength training for both fitness enthusiasts and endurance athletes. This deep dive into heavy lifting will answer commonly asked questions and dispel myths around lifting, especially as it pertains to endurance athletes. They answer: Why should you incorporate heavy lifts into your strength sessions and what are the benefits of lifting heavy? Who should lift heavy? Is anyone off-limits here? What exactly does it mean to "l...
Oct 27, 2021•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 191
In Part 3 of the Purple Patch series on performance nutrition, Matt Dixon, along with leading performance nutritionist, Scott Tindal, lift the veil on nutrition and fueling with nutrition case studies around real-life Purple Patch athletes. The goal for all? To frame a smarter common-sense approach to nutrition and fueling in order to build a long-term platform of health and resilience. This final case study is centered around the elite amateur triathlete, Andy Williams. Like many triathletes, A...
Oct 20, 2021•48 min•Season 4Ep. 190
As you shift away from the demands of racing in 2021, it is the prime time to focus on improving your weaknesses. Why Now? This is time because overall training stress is much lower and you’re not under a burden to chase fitness for races. Coach Matt Dixon (with a little help from his silent sidekick, Barry) discusses converting your weaknesses to strengths and turning your liabilities into performance improvements in 2022 and beyond. In this episode, he centers his advice around three commonly ...
Oct 13, 2021•56 min•Season 4Ep. 189
In Part 2 of the Purple Patch series on performance nutrition, Matt Dixon, along with leading performance nutritionist, Scott Tindal, lift the veil on nutrition and fueling with nutrition case studies around real-life Purple Patch athletes. The goal? To frame a smarter common-sense approach to nutrition in order to build a long-term platform of health and resilience. This case study is centered around Purple Patch athlete, Pat Romano. Pat is the CEO of Chargepoint and a dedicated husband and fat...
Oct 06, 2021•52 min•Season 4Ep. 188
What do you look for in a training program or group? What qualities will amplify your performance? Of course, you want a smart and progressive training plan throughout the season, but at Purple Patch, we believe there is so much more than just a "beef stew" of workouts. Matt and the team at Purple Patch want you to thrive in sport and life, develop great supporting habits around your training, and build a platform of accountability, feedback, and community. So, what is Purple Patch doing to deli...
Sep 29, 2021•48 min•Season 4Ep. 187
Coming off of a successful IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships where 85 Purple Patch athletes qualified, Coach Matt Dixon looks back at this event and shares insights and athlete stories of goal setting, habit creation, community, resilience, and success. He then outlines four components that are critical for you to achieve your success, especially if you, too, look to qualify at some point. 0:00-05:45 Welcome and Episode Introduction 5:45- 09:00 Squaddie Update - September 29th FREE LIVE Webinar w...
Sep 22, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 186
Matt revisits the popular subject of performance nutrition. Together, with leading performance nutritionist, Scott Tindal, they kick-start a miniseries of nutrition case studies around real-life Purple Patch athletes. The goal? To frame a smarter common-sense approach to nutrition in order to build a long-term platform of health and resilience. This first case study is centered around Purple Patch athlete, Ann Neir. Ann is a high-level executive and high-performing triathlete. She's also navigat...
Sep 15, 2021•47 min•Season 4Ep. 185
Matt does some time-travel in this discussion with six-time IRONMAN World Champion, Mark Allen. Together, they review the recent Collin's Cup race in Slovakia - the good, the bad, and the future of this excitin new format of racing. Mark was on the ground at the race as team captain for Team USA and provides his behind-the-scenes review of logistics, team selections, race day strategies, surprising outcomes, and the unexpected team camaraderie from the athletes. Matt and Mark also look ahead to ...
Sep 08, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Season 4Ep. 184
You're either progressing or regressing and, at Purple Patch, we want growth and evolution. We want you to continue to improve. Today, Matt outlines the framework of building in a successful break after your season has been completed without going backward. These actionable steps will allow you to embrace downtime and back off your hard training, but keep moving forward in your performance journey. What is the goal and quest of a postseason break? What are you hoping to achieve? You want some me...
Sep 01, 2021•41 min•Season 4Ep. 183
A defining component of Purple Patch Fitness is our highly distinct methodology and approach that frames a way of thinking and performance in both sport and life. Most think about Purple Patch as building a strong platform of health, and assisting time-starved athletes to thrive within limited training hours, and a strong focus on supporting habits, such as nutrition, strength, and sleep. The good news? So many have bought into this approach via our coaching and education resources, but there ar...
Aug 25, 2021•41 min•Season 4Ep. 182
He's back and better than ever at Badwater 135. Two years ago, Purple Patch athlete, Timothy Deer, completed his first Badwater 135 Ultra in just over 36 hours. This year, at age 56 and in some of the hottest historical race conditions, Deer finished again...faster, stronger, and healthier than ever. In fact, he was 11th overall, the first athlete 50+, and four hours faster than in 2019. The Badwater 135 is billed as the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet beca...
Aug 18, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 181
If you’ve raced this year, we hope allowed yourself the joy of “dusting the rust off” and approaching your events with a mindset of celebration. If you’re still building up to your first race, you’ll love this “best of” that encapsulates some of the earlier stand-alone episodes from earlier this year. In fact, we highly recommend you go back and listen in full to episodes 160-165. It was our ‘triathlon takeover series’ where we did a deep dive into each discipline as we all head back to the star...
Aug 11, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 4Ep. 180
Matt is on holiday this week, so we're releasing a recent interview he did on “The Greg Bennett Show,” hosted by former Olympian and professional triathlete, Greg Bennett. It was a perfect match as Matt and Greg share many of the same philosophies around high-performance sport and life. In this episode, Matt: Shares his journey from collegiate swimmer to pro triathlete. Discusses the key lessons he learned during that time to become the great coach he is. Describes how he takes a holistic view o...
Aug 04, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Season 4Ep. 179
