• The Athlete's Compass

  • By: Athletica
  • Podcast

The Athlete's Compass

By: Athletica
  • Summary

  • The Athlete’s Compass Podcast is your compass for navigating endurance training and health. In this show, we explore the cardinal directions of training, nutrition, recovery, and mindset, delving into the dynamic relationship that drives athletic success. Athletes are more than numbers; they're individuals with unique lifestyles and mindset challenges. Coaches who understand these personal nuances play a vital role in their athletes' journey. While training details and data are important, tools like Athletica provide a solution to streamline the technicalities, allowing coaches to focus on the human connection which makes the human coaches the best they can be. Each week, renowned sports scientist and researcher Paul Laursen will be our teacher and guide as we break down training principles so you can understand how best to train for your sport! We take a no-bullshit and practical approach to support age-groupers, masters, and everyday cyclists, runners, and triathletes like you as you find your direction as an athlete. The hosts are Paul Laursen, sports scientist and founder of the Athletica.ai training platform, Marjana Rakai, coach, sports scientist, and triathlete, and Paul Warloski, coach and cyclist.
    Copyright 2024 Athletica
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Episodes
  • Strength in Adaptation: Knowing Your True Fitness Profile
    Nov 21 2024

    In this episode, the Athletes Compass team discusses the science of fuel adaptation, focusing on how athletes can optimize performance using fat or carbohydrate energy systems. With real-world insights from endurance athletes, they tackle the benefits of metabolic flexibility, the transition from carb to fat adaptation, and why both may be crucial for peak performance in different race lengths. They also cover HIIT adaptations for various athletic profiles, overtraining indicators in Athletica, and how to effectively incorporate heat training into workouts. Finally, they dive into cutting-edge sports technology like glucose and temperature monitors to evaluate their evolving role in training.

    Key Takeaways
    • Fuel Adaptation: Athletes can perform high-intensity workouts effectively by training their bodies to rely on fat, which helps conserve glycogen for bursts of energy.
    • Metabolic Flexibility: Developing the ability to switch between fat and carb metabolism enhances endurance and optimizes energy use for varied workout intensities.
    • HIIT for Profiles: Tailor high-intensity interval training (HIIT) based on whether an athlete is more endurance-focused or fast-twitch-oriented.
    • Heat Training: Incorporating heat into workouts improves cardiovascular efficiency and performance in warm climates.
    • Athletica’s Overtraining Warnings: These alerts are guidelines to prevent burnout, reminding athletes to monitor recovery needs alongside performance metrics.
    • Emerging Sports Tech: Devices like continuous glucose and core temperature monitors show promise but require further development to be fully reliable for athletes.

    • Athlete Profiling Primer
    • Paul Warloski - Endurance, Strength Training, Yoga
    • Marjaana Rakai - Tired Mom Runs - Where fitness meets motherhood.

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    38 mins
  • Duathlon World Championships: Allan Egbert’s Path to Success
    Nov 14 2024

    In this episode of Athlete's Compass, hosts Paul Warloski, Marjaana Rakai, and Dr. Paul Laursen welcome guest Allan Egbert, an inspiring duathlete and endurance competitor. Allan shares his journey from competitive pole vaulting and martial arts to endurance racing, including his participation in the World Duathlon Championships in Switzerland. Through humorous and honest reflections, Allan discusses the role of AI in his training, the importance of consistent routines like meal prepping, and how overcoming initial challenges with Athletica’s adaptive training technology has propelled his progress. Allan’s insights reveal the crucial balance of mental resilience, discipline, and purpose-driven training.

    Key Takeaways:
    • Journey to Endurance Sports: Allan transitioned from high-impact sports like boxing and pole-vaulting to endurance racing, leading to participation in the World Duathlon Championships.
    • AI’s Role in Training: Athletica's adaptive training system provides real-time adjustments, enhancing workout efficiency and endurance.
    • Mental and Physical Resilience: Facing challenges like rain-soaked conditions during races taught Allan the importance of mental strength and race-day adaptability.
    • Importance of Purpose: For Allan, training is a mission fueled by camaraderie and personal growth rather than competition alone.
    • Nutrition and Routine: With over 30 years of meal prepping, Allan emphasizes how consistency in diet supports his performance, citing the power of whole foods and nutrient timing.

    Adaptive Tech: Athletica’s Garmin integration and AI-driven pacing help maintain and optimize Allan’s race and training efforts.

    • Paul Warloski - Endurance, Strength Training, Yoga
    • Marjaana Rakai - Tired Mom Runs - Where fitness meets motherhood.

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    31 mins
  • From Novice to Ultra-Endurance: Amber Searer's Inspiring Journey
    Nov 7 2024
    Episode Summary:

    In this episode of Athletes Compass, Amber Searer joins hosts Paul Warloski, Paul Laursen, and Marjaana Rakai to discuss her journey as an ultra-endurance athlete. Amber shares insights on balancing family, career, and rigorous training while preparing for intense events like the 354-mile Unbound XL race. She reflects on her athletic growth from short rides with her children to conquering hundreds of miles of challenging gravel terrain, overcoming a serious back injury, and her involvement with Team One Mile, which raises funds for children of fallen military service members. Her story highlights the importance of finding a purpose, managing recovery, and the discipline needed to keep pushing boundaries.

    Key Takeaways:
    • Endurance Development: Amber's evolution from short rides to ultra-endurance events demonstrates the power of incremental challenges.
    • Training Approach: She emphasizes structured planning and setting workouts based on heart rate to avoid overtraining.
    • Nutrition Challenges: Amber discusses adapting nutrition strategies to avoid gastrointestinal issues during long races.
    • Recovery Importance: Mental and physical recovery play key roles in Amber’s regimen, with strategies such as scheduled rest days and monitoring heart rate variability.
    • Mental Resilience: Amber underscores the mental strength needed to overcome physical injuries, setbacks, and the isolation often encountered in endurance sports.
    • Team One Mile: Amber shares her experiences with Team One Mile, which raises funds for children who have lost parents in military service through endurance rides across Wisconsin.

    • One Mile Leadership Project's mission is to support the children of fallen service members and disabled veterans

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    40 mins

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