In this week's episode, we asked some of our most inspiring community members to tell us how they make training work alongside busy family and professional lives. We were blown away by the rich insights that came back, including tips on early morning workouts, run commutes, calendar blocks, stroller jogs, home gym setups, and how to effectively tag-team with your partner when both of you want to get some movement in. Our parent-athletes also opened up about how their mindsets have evolved since becoming parents—reframing training as self-care, identity, and connection—and how that shift helps them show up more fully for the people they love, without letting go of big athletic goals. Whether you're a parent-athlete yourself, thinking about starting a family, or just looking for better balance in a busy life, this episode is for you. Check it out!
In this episode we finally got to discuss our reactions to one of the craziest races we have ever seen in Ironman history: the all-women’s 2025 Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. We discuss what it means to win and lose with grace, Taylor Knibb’s incredible post-race interview, the role of heat and humidity in making or breaking an athlete’s day, and what bike brands seem to be most popular at the elite level. We also chat through the role of muscular endurance in super long-distance events like half and full Ironmans, marathons, and ultra runs, and preview some of the innovations we will be bringing to our athletes’ training in the 2026 season to account for this. Next, we deep dive on takeaways from Ironman California, which Katie and Jim agree is one of the best races you can do as a first-time IM athlete. Finally, we expand on a listener question from last week about burnout and drill into three different types of athletes: “event athletes,” “identity-based athletes,” and “for the love of the sport athletes,” considering what lessons we can learn from each athlete type as we try to burnout-proof our season. This episode was so fun to record and we’re excited to share it with you, so check it out!
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
This week's episode features a deep dive on three big topics: (1) how to plan out a sustainable season in order to avoid burnout, (2) pros, cons, and use cases of AI as an athlete, and (3) playing the long game in pregnancy and postpartum—particularly with respect to new research on bone density in pregnant and postpartum runners. We also riff on hydration and running shoe recommendations and share updates from our training and coaching lives. Check it out!
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
In this week's episode, we’re joined by a very special guest: clinical psychologist and triathlete extraordinaire Dr. Alejandra Zamora, Psy.D. Ale draws on her experience working with Division I athletes, as well as her own background as an endurance athlete, to answer our questions about common mental health conditions that affect athletes, including anxiety, depression, OCD, and PTSD. We also discuss how personality traits like conscientiousness can act as a double-edged sword in sport, the connections between trauma and endurance training, practical strategies for managing a range of mental health challenges, and how to leverage movement, social connection, and creativity to support mental well-being. Finally, we cover a range of quick-hitter insights on fueling and body composition, using LLMs for season planning and reflection, and setting up your environment to support your goals. Check it out!
Note: This episode is a general discussion of topics related to mental health and does not represent a therapist/client relationship. We encourage listeners to connect with a mental health provider to discuss individual concerns.
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
This week's podcast—the first in our next century of episodes—features insights and listener questions on a ton of fun topics including: how to transition back into Zone 2 running after time off, channeling the idea of "smooth" rather than specific paces or other data points in workouts, what to do if you get injured or sick right before a race, why modulating volume and intensity over the course of the year is helpful from a mental health perspective, how you should think about using data to match your goals at different points in your season, the fitness benefits of tire dragging and other forms of resistance training, the science behind building strength while on the bike, an update on TrainingPeaks Virtual, and a discussion of mindfulness in workouts. We also introduce a ~twist~ to our classic gear pick of the week segment that will help us come up with more fun things to share with you in future episodes. Check it out!
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
Celebration episode inbound! In this episode, Katie, Jim, and Elena reflect on the lessons we’ve learned from 100 (!) episodes of the podcast. We riff on themes including connection, community, endurance principles, gratitude, vulnerability, progress, and creativity, and we share what excites us most about the next 100 episodes. Our biggest takeaway? None of this would be possible without all of our listeners, so thank you to everyone who has come back week after week to signal to us that we have created something worth listening to. We are incredibly grateful, and cheers to the next 100!
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
We love a deep reflections episode! Katie and Elena hit a bunch of topics including recovery after really big races, what it actually means to listen to your body (and why listening to your body can be hard in pregnancy), mental challenges with the off season and how to manage them, athlete identity, risk tolerance for moving your body at different stages of life, why doing anything for the first time is so tough, and a whole lot more. We also answer a great listener question on racing on your period and mindset shifts that can help you with any type of adversity in races. Check it out!
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
This week’s episode hits a bunch of fun topics including: insights from the professional men’s race at the Ironman World Championships in Nice, France; what’s hot and what’s not in the Norwegian training protocols; our recommendations on TT bike brands; how to identify and prevent burnout as long seasons draw to a close; some additional tips for the off-season; and how to manage race-day anxiety. We also dive into habit stacking as a way to make sure you actually do the recovery and mobility things you should be doing and hit some of our most creative gear picks of the week yet. Check it out!
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
She did it! This episode recaps many of the physical and mental insights Elena picked up while racing for over 29 hours at the world's most competitive and well-known 100-mile ultramarathon. We cover: what the energy in Chamonix is like during race week; how Elena prepped mentally and physically in the days and hours leading up to the race start; what the experience is like for crew and spectators; how she mentally and physically navigated feeling worse than expected in the first 20 miles of the race; how she dealt with insane weather conditions including rain, mud, cold, and snow through the night; the story behind the broken pole; what the last 30 miles felt like once she realized she was going to finish; how Elena is feeling now; and what's next on her running and racing scene. We also hit an interesting insight related to Boston Marathon registration and pregnancy race deferral policies at big races. This was such a fun episode to record, and we're so psyched for Elena on her huge accomplishment (did we mention 18th in the world?!)—check it out!
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
This week's episode features plenty of insights from recent adventures and races. We cover: takeaways from Katie's recent "Pregnant Prezi" and FKT attempt on the Cannon and Kinsmans Loop, our favorite hikes and runs in New England, tips on mapping and route planning if you want to plan your own adventures (especially in a new location), insights from tough open water swims in races, mentally resetting when a race or training session doesn't go your way, whether weighted vests are a good training stimulus and/or investment, and advice for the upcoming fall off season. Check it out!
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
This week's episode features a deep dive on the training principles and philosophy between two very different endurance projects: Elena's multi-year prep to race in the elite field at Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) and the first half of Katie's journey through pregnancy as an endurance athlete. We cover insights that with a surprising amount of overlap between the two experiences, including the importance of flexibility, fueling, and mindset, as well as lots of tips for listeners who are interested in elements of either journey. Whatever endurance adventure is on your radar next, this episode has something for you. Check it out!
UTMB Tracking Link: https://live.utmb.world/utmb/2025/utmb
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
This week’s episode is another grab bag full of insights! Topics include: the benefits of Zone 0 movement, good data and bad data in training and in pregnancy, why mountain adventures are so great, how to approach workouts and training in periods of high LSS (life stress score), governing effort on big days, bike handling tips, training in bad air quality, how muscle memory helps you retain your season’s gains even when you take time off, and an interesting discussion on doping in amateur endurance sports. Check it out!
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
In this week’s episode, Elena and Katie catch up on all things training, mindset, and life as Elena wraps up the final month of prep for UTMB and Katie navigates the second trimester of pregnancy as an endurance athlete. Topics include: why “saying maybe” and listening to your body is sometimes a better training approach than saying yes; unsolicited comments on pregnant athletes’ bodies and training and how to handle them; how to take the pressure off going into big events, including going “Strava dark,” planning adventures, and reconnecting with your why; Elena’s big days at the Speedgoat 50K and “Soft Rock” and how they helped her build confidence for UTMB later this year; hydration strategies in ultra endurance events; and more! We love it when casual life catch-ups turn into insights-packed episodes for the podcast, and we hope you enjoy it too. Check it out!
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
In this week’s insights-focused episode, we’re deep diving on a bunch of topics including: thoughts on minimum effective dose of training for marathon, triathlons of all distances, and ultras; how holding on too tightly to expectations can lead to disappointment; how fueling, mindset, pacing, and heat all interact to make or break race day; three types of movement (exercise, training, and adventuring) and how they serve different purposes in our lives; additional Ironman Lake Placid takeaways from Jim’s athletes; the intersection between “heat bonking” and metabolic bonking; and more pregnancy updates from Katie. Check it out!
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
Ironman Lake Placid is done and dusted! In this episode we’re putting a bow on the IMLP journey for many of our athletes by covering the key insights we picked up on race day and immediately before and after. Topics include: avoiding panic training during race week, the importance of hiring a coach, why Ironman is so hard, how cool weather can be a major performance booster, dealing with torrential rain on race day, the importance of patience, infusing joy into your race experience, thoughts on the most helpful workouts and training experiences leading up to race day, carb loading do’s and don’ts, useful mantras, and a whole lot more. This episode is relevant for all long distance races, not just Placid. Check it out!
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
This episode features a big life update and even more insights for the podcast! We dive into Katie’s A race for the foreseeable future: pregnancy! Topics include: why relatively limited research on endurance training during pregnancy makes individual anecdotes so powerful; how Katie thought about “planning” pregnancy in the context of training and racing (and why pregnancy is ultimately harder to plan than your race calendar); first trimester symptoms—including nausea, fatigue, and food aversions—and how they impacted her training; how she collaborated with coaches, doctors, and other members of her support team to train safely; the decision to “race” a 5K at 8 weeks pregnant and how it went; how Katie’s mindset and mental strategies have shifted so far in the context of pregnancy; goals and intentions for the remainder of pregnancy and postpartum; and some favorite academic papers on exercise during pregnancy. Conversations around fertility, pregnancy and postpartum journeys can be hard, so please know that wherever you are in this journey, you are enough. And even if you aren’t pregnant or planning to become pregnant, this episode has some general insights that may be relevant to you. Check it out!
To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
In this week's insights-focused episode, we're powering through a bunch of relevant training and coaching tidbits on topics including: why "time on feet" is a useful mindset shift for workouts on tough or hot days, a case study on building open water swimming confidence, why triathlons (and most other races) aren't apples-to-apples comparisons, how you can build your "endurance bucket" and improve capacity over time, how to improve your speed in an open water swimming context, how to effectively climb hills on the bike, how to approach training in the week(s) between big races, and why your training plan is a map and not the territory. Check it out!
View extended show notes for this episode at http://theendurancedrive.com/podcast.
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
As race day in Lake Placid approaches, it’s time to shift gears from training mode to execution mode. In this episode, we offer practical, race-tested guidance for your final week and race day strategy at Ironman Lake Placid. From gear checks and fueling to pacing the marathon, we break down the dos and don’ts to help you arrive fresh and race smart. (Rule #1: you’re not gaining fitness this week—shed fatigue instead!)
Jim also recaps his recent endurance milestone: completing the iconic “200 on 100” ride across Vermont. What did he learn over 200+ miles and 12 hours in the saddle? Everything from nutrition (Coke > everything) to mindset shifts that apply well beyond the bike. Expect lessons in pacing, managing the low points, and why you should never carry an unsecured phone in your bento box.
We also share a quick training insight from the road and why Garmin Pay might just be the MVP of your long run.
Visit https://www.theendurancedrive.com/podcast to see extended show notes for this episode.
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
In this week’s episode, we’re diving into our top three endurance principles—how we train, how we fuel, and how we keep our minds in it. We start with some quick insights from recent training: why race simulations can sometimes feel even harder than race day, and how preparing mentally (not just physically) can make all the difference. We also touch on a mix of things ranging from building confidence when it’s not coming naturally to ChatGPT for training support to thoughts on iron supplementation.
In our main section, we break down the core principles that have guided us and our athletes over the long term: how to structure training with intention (including the importance of strength and speed work), how to fuel with purpose (with practical tips on carbs, hydration, and REDs awareness), and how to build mental resilience and joy in the process.
This episode is an attempt to summarize all of the key tidbits and actionable advice that supports the overall endurance athlete journey–basically a crash course in coaching. We hope you enjoy!
View extended show notes for this episode here.
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.
We can’t believe that we’re less than four weeks away from Ironman Lake Placid, one of our favorite races to coach! We start off this episode with a list of things you can do to eek out just a little bit more fitness in the final few weeks before the gun goes off at your A race. We also cover a bunch of fun insights related to: fueling and hydration strategy on the run, how to think about race week workouts, bathroom stops during races, bike racing in triathlon, athlete tips on keeping joy and lightheartedness in training and racing, thoughts on Strava, quality over quantity of movement, active recovery runs, and more. Check it out!
View extended show notes for this episode here.
To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use this form or email: Katie@TheEnduranceDrive.com.