Purple Patch Podcast

Welcome to the Purple Patch Podcast. On this episode, IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon explained how Purple Patch off-season training builds health, durability, and readiness for the next endurance season.
Core Focus
Four topics were covered: strength training, body composition, run-injury resistance, and maintaining structure during the off-season.

Off-season is intended to establish a foundation rather than pursue peak race fitness.

Training Guidance
Most endurance athletes should prioritize two 30–40-minute strength sessions weekly, using progressive heavy lifting with sound form; some mature athletes may benefit from three sessions.

Nutrition should emphasize individualized assessment, hydration, fueling, and adequate protein rather than chasing race weight.

Run durability should be developed through frequent easy running, optional walk breaks, short technical speed efforts, and patient progression.

Program Structure
Off-season officially begins September 28, with athletes transitioning after later-season races.

The off-season is a training phase within Tri Squad and one-to-one coaching, not a separate program.

No unresolved questions or blockers were identified.

Purple Patch and Episode Resources
 Check out our world-class coaching and training options:
Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad
1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached
Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad
Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1
Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike
Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi
Ready to book a consultation with Purple patch? Sign up: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/coachingconsult
Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com
 Everything you need to know about our methodology:
https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology
 Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin
https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch
 Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

Welcome to the Purple Patch Podcast. On this episode, IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon and Coach Max discuss strategic approaches to the triathlon off-season through various athlete case studies.
Matt and Max analyze several athlete profiles to provide guidance on transitioning from race season to the off-season.
Injury Prevention: For athletes like "Rachel" who struggle with run durability, Matt recommends a mindset shift toward building tissue resilience rather than chasing cardiovascular fitness. This involves high-frequency, low-intensity running and avoiding training under fatigue.
Raising Performance Ceilings: For experienced Ironman athletes looking to improve bike power, Matt suggests using the Velocity platform for terrain management and performing high-intensity, short-duration intervals (VO2 max work) to increase engine size.
Strategic Focus: For athletes feeling "cooked" or burned out, the coaches advise filtering out social media noise and focusing on a single strategic pillar—such as building a "platform of health"—to ensure long-term consistency.
Multi-Sport Integration: Max emphasizes viewing triathlon as one sport with three components, using swimming and cycling to build an aero
The discussion highlights how Purple Patch applies performance principles to both athletic and professional environments via the Wind Cycle program.
Team Culture: Matt shares insights from working with USA Triathlon, noting that high standards and coachability are essential for both world-class athletes and corporate leaders.
Sustainable Growth: The coaches advocate for the "Sunday Special" method, where athletes plan their week by prioritizing life commitments (family, work) alongside training to manage variable workloads effectively.
Holistic Approach: The off-season is framed not as a gap in training, but as a unique phase focused on joy, strength building (squats, deadlifts), and non-triathlon activities like tennis or skiing to prevent mental burnout.
Purple Patch and Episode Resources
 Check out our world-class coaching and training options:
Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad
1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached
Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad
Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1
Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike
Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi
Ready to book a consultation with Purple patch? Sign up: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/coachingconsult
Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com
 Everything you need to know about our methodology:
https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology
 Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin
https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch
 Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

Welcome to the Purple Patch Podcast! On this episode, IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon defines the off-season (or post-season) not as a gap between races, but as the foundational first step of the upcoming year. A successful period focuses on mental and physiological restoration while building a platform for future training.
Avoid the "No-Break" Athlete: Continuous high-intensity training leads to mental exhaustion and physiological plateaus.

Avoid the "Winter Warrior": Constant high-effort training causes burnout and prevents true recovery.

Avoid the "Rogue/Random" Athlete: Complete cessation of training leads to detraining, injury, and difficulty ramping back up.

The Goal: Achieve consistency over months and seasons rather than daily perfection, creating "compound interest" on fitness.

Training Principles
The off-season shifts focus from boosting functional thresholds or speed to preparatory work that builds a robust chassis for the next season.
Reduced Volume: Athletes are encouraged to train fewer hours (e.g., dropping from 20 hours to 12–14) to reduce cognitive load and life competition.

Strength Focus: This is the primary window to "double down" on strength training to increase durability and power.

Technical Development: Without the pressure of race deadlines, athletes should focus on craft, such as swim hand entry, running posture, and cycling traction.

Variety and Additive Activities: Incorporating activities like skiing, yoga, or mountain biking helps maintain vibrancy and prevents boredom.

Physiological Ceiling: Utilizing short, high-intensity bouts to build the heart rate ceiling without the volume of a full race prep block.

Program Details
Purple Patch will officially launch its off-season program on September 28th, though onboarding can begin around September 14th or 21st.
Structure: The program emphasizes building an athletic base (multi-directional stability and power) rather than just a traditional Zone 2 base.

Next Steps: A follow-up episode will feature a Q&A session to address specific training challenges and structural questions.

Inquiries: Interested participants can contact info@purplepatchfitness.com regarding the Tri Squad off-season program or request a complimentary assessment call with Max.

How can athletes best integrate these principles if they are still actively racing through October?
Purple Patch and Episode Resources
 Check out our world-class coaching and training options:
Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad
1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached
Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad
Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1
Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike
Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi
Ready to book a consultation with Purple patch? Sign up: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/coachingconsult
Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com
 Everything you need to know about our methodology:
https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology
 Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin
https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch
 Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com

IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon interviews Panos Kakoullis, a long-time Purple Patch athlete, at the Hawaii IRONMAN training camp. From Boardroom to Finish Line Panos Kakoullis on Balancing High-Stakes Leadership with Elite-Level Endurance Performance. Panos shares his Greek Cypriot background, growing up above a fish and chip shop, and his journey from becoming an accountant, later Senior Partner at Deloitte to CFO at Rolls Royce. He discusses his transition from powerlifting to endurance sports, influenced by his wife, and his 16 IRONMAN completions. Panos emphasizes the importance of consistency, recovery, and integrating sport into life. He highlights the role of curiosity, growth mindset, and releasing mental weight in his success. Looking ahead, he plans more marathons and a cycling trip across Italy. Panos reflects on the challenges and successes in his professional life, including the importance of integrating sport into his busy schedule. Panos recounts how he and his wife decided to do a marathon and then a triathlon, despite initially swearing never to do an IRONMAN. He emphasizes the importance of consistency over heroism and the need to prioritize recovery and nutrition. Matt and Panos wrap up the conversation, with Matt expressing his admiration for Panos' journey and achievements

Welcome to the Win Cycle Podcast! On this episode, IRONMAN Master Coach Matt Dixon and Purple Patch Fitness Co-Founder Kelli McMaster interview Sami Inkinen, co-founder and COO of Trulia and CEO of Virta Health, discussing his journey of high performance in sports and business. He emphasizes the importance of managing energy over time, integrating work, family, and personal interests, and treating oneself like an Olympic athlete. Inkinen highlights the significance of sleep, nutrition, and movement for sustained high performance. He also shares his approach to building high-performance cultures at Trulia and Virta, focusing on individualized support, community, and the role of leadership in modeling healthy habits. Inkinen's strategies include weekly planning, prioritizing rest, and fostering a culture of sustainable high performance.
Purple Patch and Episode Resources
Learn more about Win Cycle: https://wincycle.org/  
Check out our world-class coaching and training options:
Book a complementary needs assessment coaching call:
https://calendly.com/coaches-purplepatch/offseason-assessment-call
Tri Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/squad
1:1 Coaching: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/11-coached
Run Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness/com/run-squad
Strength Squad: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/strength-1
Live & On-Demand Bike Sessions: https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/bike
Explore our training options in detail: https://bit.ly/3XBo1Pi
Live in San Francisco? Explore the Purple Patch Performance Center: https://center.purplepatchfitness.com
Everything you need to know about our methodology:
https://www.purplepatchfitness.com/our-methodology
Amplify your approach to nutrition with Purple Patch + Fuelin
https://www.fuelin.com/purplepatch
Get access to our free training resources, insight-packed newsletter and more at purplepatchfitness.com