trust the process

Coach Mike holding a clip board
June 2, 2024

5 Exercises for Triathletes with Coach Chris Lee

D3 Coach Mike Ricci Interviews Chris Lee of Kinesis integrated Performance. Chris has a long history of working with Olympic level triathletes, Ironman athletes, Ultra runners, and podium finishers of the Boston Marathon. We discuss how much and how often a triathlete should strength train along with how to train around a race, and the key exercises every triathlete should be doing!

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May 23, 2024

The Zone Two Advantage: Unveiling the Triathlete's Secret Weapon

Coach Mike Ricci interview 6 time National Champion Coach Jim Hallberg about the importance of Zone 2 and how Jim relies on it to see progress with his athletes. In this episode the coaches talk about testing for threshold, the balance of Zone 2 vs Threshold and how to measure progress throughout the season.

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May 16, 2024

Kevin Hester: Racing at Altitude for the First Time

Mike Ricci interviews Kevin Hester, a triathlete from Canada. Kevin shares his experience racing at altitude in a 70.3 triathlon in Boulder, Colorado. He discusses his training background, his goals for future races, and his favorite race distance. Kevin talks about the challenges of racing at altitude and the impact it had on his swim, bike, and run. He also shares his emotional moments during the race and the support he received from his family. Kevin offers advice for athletes racing at altitude and emphasizes the importance of taking it seriously. He concludes by discussing his recovery after the race and his plans for future races.

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May 10, 2024

Michael Folan of Infinit Nutrition

In this conversation, Mike Ricci interviews Michael Follin, owner of Infinite Nutrition, about the evolution of nutrition in endurance sports. They discuss the importance of personalized nutrition, the benefits of custom mixes, and the role of sweat rate and sodium levels in performance. Michael shares insights from his experience as an Ironman finisher and explains how Infinite Nutrition allows athletes to create their own customized formulas. They also touch on the use of caffeine in endurance events and the drawbacks of using artificial sweeteners. Michael introduces Infinite Nutrition's new coaching service, which includes sweat rate and sodium testing to help athletes optimize their nutrition.

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May 2, 2024

National Champions: University of Colorado Women's Triathlon Team

In this episode of Trust the Process we talk with members of the CU Women's Triathlon Team who won Collegiate Club Nationals, recently. We examine the build up the race, the excitement of Collegiate Nationals and how a new coach fit in with an established team this season. Historically, this is a team that competes at a Championship level every year and own 18 National Team Championships at USA Triathlon Collegiate Club Nationals. Listen to find out how the team came together to win the title.

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April 25, 2024

Jennifer Schubert-Akin: 30 Straight Boston Marathons

Coach Mike Ricci interviews Jennifer about her incredible streak of 30 straight Boston Marathons, her Ultra Marathon career and how an injury got her started in triathlon. From having a severe life changing injury as a child to starting to run in her early 30s, this is a tremendous story. Jennifer goes into detail about her challenges in keeping the streak going including an injury during her 23rd marathon that almost ended it. This is not your typical interview - Jennifer has overcome some significant setbacks but her perseverance sets her apart. Prior to the marathon this year she had a scan done that showed nodules on her lungs and post marathon she learned that had a condition known as sarcoidosis. I know you'll love listening to this interview - it really is inspiring. Share it with your friends, give it a like and above all else, please rate the podcast. Thank you!

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April 19, 2024

Ali O'Donnell's Story of Becoming a Professional Xterra Triathlete

In this conversation, professional triathlete Ali O'Donnell discusses her journey from being a road triathlete to transitioning to XTERRA and becoming a professional triathlete. She talks about her first professional race in Athens, Greece, and the qualification process for the XTERRA World Championships.

Ali also shares her experience of transitioning from soccer to running in high school and her decision to join the triathlon team at CU Boulder. She discusses the challenges she faced in the early stages of her triathlon career, including body image issues and the pressure to perform.

Ali also reflects on her time at CU Boulder, including winning the national championship in 2017. Ali shares her experience of transitioning from collegiate triathlon to professional Xterra racing. She talks about her journey, including her first Xterra race, qualifying for Xterra Worlds, and the challenges she faced along the way.

Ali discusses the mental and emotional aspects of becoming a professional athlete and the excitement of traveling and racing in different locations. She also shares a challenging race experience where she had to overcome illness and push through to the finish line. Ali emphasizes the importance of having a strong why and the growth that comes from facing challenges! This is a great interview and we hope you enjoy it!

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April 11, 2024

Fueling Performance: Insights from a Sports Nutritionist Craig David

In this conversation, Coach Mike interviews sports nutritionist Craig David. They discuss the importance of nutrition in athletic performance and recovery. Craig shares his background in nutrition and his experience working with endurance athletes. They talk about the timing of nutrient intake after workouts and the role of hydration in recovery. They also discuss the use of supplements, including essential fats, amino acids, and adaptogens.

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April 4, 2024

Running with Power: Optimizing Performance with D3 Coaches Dave Sheanin and Mike Ricci

D3 Multisport Coach Mike Ricci, interviews, Coach Dave Shannon aboutthe use of power meters in running and the benefits they provide. He shares his experiences with early power meter technology and how advancements have made power meters more reliable. Coach Dave also talks about the importance of incorporating strength and plyometric exercises to improve stride length and leg spring stiffness. The conversation highlights the balance between stride length and cadence and the impact on running economy. The use of power as a metric is explored, along with the importance of connecting metrics to perceived effort. Overall, power meters are seen as valuable tools for improving running performance.

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March 21, 2024

The Road to Ironman: Michelle Franks' Story of Endurance and Triumph

Coach Mike Ricci interviews 2 time Ironman triathlon finisher, Michelle Franks. Michelle discusses learning to swim, overcoming panic attacks and is on the verge of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. Please reach out if you have questions: Info@d3multisport.com Give this episode a share with your friends.

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March 21, 2024

Champions Corner: Conversations with Six-Time National Champion, Coach Jim Hallberg

Coach Mike Ricci interview 6 time National Champion Jim Hallberg.

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March 14, 2024

University of Colorado Tri Team Ramps up for Conference Championships

In this episode, Coach Mike Ricci interviews members of the CU Triathlon team as they prepare for their conference championship and nationals. Madeline and Devin share their journey into triathlon and their roles within the team. Coach KJ discusses her background in swimming and her transition into coaching. The team emphasizes the importance of fundraising to support their races and the upcoming crowdfunding campaign. They also highlight the team's focus on process-based goals and the importance of a supportive team culture. The episode concludes with information on how listeners can ⁠donate⁠ and support the team.

Link to Donate to CU Triathlon Team

Link to Buy CU Triathlon Gear

Takeaways

  • The CU Triathlon team relies on ⁠fund raising⁠ to support their races and subsidize costs.
  • The team emphasizes process-based goals and a supportive team culture.
  • Coach KJ has seamlessly transitioned into her role as coach and has brought a focus on swim workouts and maintaining team traditions.
  • The team is focused on preparing for their conference championship and nationals, with a goal of performing their best and enjoying the experience.
  • Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Team Background
    03:06 ⁠Roles and Fundraising⁠
    05:55 Preparations for Conference Championship
    09:03 Coach KJ's Impact on the Team
    12:00 Coach KJ's Transition and Comfort with the Team
    14:58 Coaching Moments and Frustrations
    19:46 Fundraising and Support
    21:30 Closing Remarks and Good Luck

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March 10, 2024

Dave Schell - Kaizen Endurance - All Things Cycling

In this episode our guest is Dave Schell of Kaizen Endurance. Dave is a long time endurance coach and we discuss all things cycling, include why triathletes should get off road, average power vs normalized power and other important talking points. Listen in as these two experienced coaches give their points of view and ideas on cycling for triathlete and how simple it can be to improve your bike leg. Please share this episode with a friend and if you have a question about training or coaching, please reach out to us: Mike@d3multisport.com

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March 7, 2024

Is Swim Technique More Important than Swim Volume?

In this episode, D3 Coaches Mike Ricci and Dave Sheanin discuss the best approach to swimming faster. Does a volume based program work better than a technique based program or is it something in between? Listen in as these two experienced coaches give their points of view and ideas on how to  balance your swim training to make the most of your time investment in swimming. Please share this episode with a friend and if you have a question about training or coaching, please reach out to us: Mike@d3multisport.com

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December 27, 2023

Two Time Ironman World Championship Qualifier

Mia Keller finished last in her 1st Olympic Distance Triathlon. This didn't deter Mia but motivated her to see what she could accomplish. She has since qualified 2 times for the  Ironman World Championship; once in Kona,  and once for the for the upcoming race In Nice, France. Mia also battles Ulcerative Colitis (UC), which is also known as Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBD). She has yet to find the perfect solution for her disease and it certainly affects her training more than 2 weeks per month. Mia isn't deterred as much as she's motivated to find a solution so she can really find out what a perfect training block feels like and how much better she can race without worrying about UC. Please share this episode with your triathlon friends and give us a like and  a follow. If you have any questions pertaining to triathlon, please contact us at info@d3multisport.com

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December 20, 2023

Matt Makes the Marathon Podium with a 19 Minute Improvement

Matt Cicchinelli is a retired US Marine with almost 20 marathons under his belt. After a life time best of 3:15 many years ago, Matt has been chasing the podium, year after year. His recent best has been 3:39. He reached out to D3 about a year before planning his goal of getting on the podium at the Marine Corps Marathon. This is another example of a D3 Athlete working with their coach together to accomplish a goal that may have been a reach, but with great planning and a great work ethic, once again we see the end result: Mission Accomplished! If you like our show, please share with your friends and give us a like and a follow. If you have any questions related to training or racing, please reach out to us at info@d3mutisport.com - thank you!

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December 13, 2023

84 Minute Improvement in Ironman!

This week on our Trust the Process Podcast we are talking with D3 athlete Matt Szymaszek, who is coached by D3 Coach Brad Seng. Matt recently finished IM Florida in 9:43 – with a 1 hour and 24 minute PR. Matt finished the race with a 3:17 run, despite cramping. Matt is a full-time physician and has a young family. I hope you enjoy this interview with Matt and please your friends, follow the show and send us some feedback. Thank you! If you have a question about triathlon reach out to us at info@d3multisport.com


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December 7, 2023

National Champion Coach Dave Sheanin

In this episode we sit down with D3 Coach Dave Sheanin. Dave balances so many things in life and does them all at a high level. On top of his day job as a COO, Dave also volunteers with Athletes In Tandem, where he'll tow, pull and push an athlete across a triathlon course. Dave also volunteer coaches with the University of Colorado Triathlon Team and has been doing so for 14 years. He was named the USAT Community Impact Coach of the Year for his volunteer work. Dave certainly has a great perspective on life and this episode is well worth your listen. Please give us a follow, share with your friends and let us know your thoughts!

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November 30, 2023

Sub 9:30 Ironman and a 50 Minute Personal Record

This week on our Trust the Process Podcast we are talking with D3 athlete Dixon McDonald. Dixon recently finished IM Florida in sub 9:30 – with a 45+ minute PR. He definitely had some challenges this season with a sprained ankle and then some back issues and we were unsure if he would even start the race 8 weeks out. Although his leadup was far from perfect, race day went pretty well. He has an incredible endurance background, having rowed with a team of rowers across the Atlantic. That’s just an incredible feat to me and pretty much unfathomable. Obviously, he has a lot of drive and can dig deep when he needs to draw off experience like rowing 3,000 miles! I hope you enjoy this interview with Dixon! If you like the podcast, please share it with your friends, follow the show and send us some feedback. Thank you!

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November 23, 2023

After 20 Years of Racing, Cathy Casey Qualifies for Ironman Kona!

On this week's podcast we are chatting with D3 Athlete Cathy Casey. Cathy has a long career in triathlon and had her sights on Ironman Hawaii for a number of years. This was the year she made it happen. The only problem was that in her buildup she had a nagging Achilles injury. Listen to how she got through it and made the most of her special day in Hawaii. I hope you enjoy this episode with Cathy. Please let us know if you have any questions that are triathlon related - you can reach us at info@d3multisport.com

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November 16, 2023

All-In! Reaching the Top Step of the Podium

On this week's podcast we are chatting with D3 Athlete Mike Reed. Mike is a former surfer, turned triathlete, who has qualified for Ironman Hawaii multiple times.  Mike is fresh off winning his age group at IM MD and then coming back to run the NYC marathon a few weeks later. Mike is a great example of someone who has worked hard over several years and continues to see results even into his 50s. I hope you enjoy this episode with Mike Reed.

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November 5, 2023

From an Ivy League Athlete to Ironman Hawaii Finisher

Karen Rice is a 9 time Ironman finisher and just recently finished Ironman Hawaii in Kona. She is also an ultramarathoner, an avid skier, and played two varsity sports while attending Harvard. Karen says that sports changed her life and gave her the gift of resiliency when she had to learn to deal with being the only female on her baseball and soccer teams growing up. We hope you enjoy this episode with Karen. Please let us know if you have any questions that are triathlon related - you can reach us at info@d3multisport.com

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November 1, 2023

Pro Triathlete and National Champ Coach

I sit down with long time D3 Coach Brad Seng. Brad was a multisport athlete growing up. He took up triathlon in his 20s and turned pro when he was in his 30s. His personal best at the Ironman distance is 8:55. He was coached numerous National Championship teams and individuals at the University of Colorado and has been coaching with D3 Multisport since 2013.

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October 22, 2023

If it Makes you Uncomfortable, Go For It!

Coach Mike Ricci interviews Kalee Tyson after her Ironman Hawaii finish. Kalee has worked incredibly hard over the last several years to qualify for the World Championship. She has a 2 year old, a full time job, and a husband, Isaac, who is also an Ironman athlete. She does an amazing job of keeping the balance in her life. This episode will make you laugh and inspire you to take your own training to the next level, no matter what your current training level is.

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