Episode 261: Why Race Distance Training Plans Don’t Work for Time-starved Athletes

Coaches and athletes love to discuss the importance of specificity in regard to training. While specificity is important to an extent, race-specific training is not always one-size-fits-all.

Unfortunately, many athletes follow a specific plan that ends up not being the optimal plan for their needs and situation.

For time-starved athletes, with competing demands in life and work, integrating a set amount of training hours designed around specific race distance means cramming training into a life already bursting at the seams.

In today’s episode of the Purple Patch Podcast, IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon explains how to build a training program that can achieve sustained high performance across a range of distances while fitting into a life with high competing demands.

Matt leverages Purple Patch’s popular tri-squad program to highlight a training structure that fits all levels of athletes under one umbrella.

How can athletes have different race distance goals - from sprint distance and short course to IRONMAN - and all successfully exist under the same program?

Matt answers the question by breaking down the common mistakes athletes make by fitting their lives into a training program rather than creating a program that fits into their lives.

Tri squad is designed specifically for time-starved athletes and it successfully caters to all levels of athletes, and all distances. It is easily personalized to fit different schedules, by integrating video coaching, on-demand sessions, educational support, and guidance from the Purple Patch coaching team and its trusted experts across the performance spectrum.

Through the lens of the tri-squad program, Matt covers a method for landing on specificity while embracing the individual needs and goals of each athlete. It is a training methodology that has enabled countless first-time finishers to enjoy the journey without injury or feeling like the sport is an additional part-time job.

“It's the catalyst for more than 1,000 qualifiers to world championship events. And it's why I believe we are one of the highest performing teams at the USA Olympic Distance Nationals, at the same time, having an average number of hours for a Purple Patch Ironman athlete, only somewhere between 8 and 14. And that is where I believe we stand alone.” - Matt Dixon

This episode is required listening for any time-starved athlete chasing high performance.

We encourage you to reach out to us for more information on how we can support you on your performance journey.

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Episode Timestamps

00:00 - 5:14 - Welcome and Episode Introduction

05:21 - 7:22 - Matt's News-ings

07:37 - 10:03 - Word of the Week

10:10 - 29:11 - The Meat and Potatoes - Episode 261: Why Race Distance Training Plans Don't Work for Time-starved Athletes

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