Neuroplasticity and Brain Fatigue in Endurance Sports with Scott Frey – Season 7 Episode 17
Host Dirk Friel sits down with Dr. Scott Frey, author, neuroscientist, and psychologist, for a deep dive into the critical role that the brain plays in endurance sports performance.
Scott Frey explains how the brain is the "central command and control center" for both physical and cognitive performance, and how neuroplasticity—our brain's ability to change—offers untapped potential for athletes. Scott breaks down how mental fatigue impacts physical output and why neglecting “brain tapering” could be holding you back on race day.
Discover the science behind neuroplasticity, actionable strategies to regulate stress and arousal, and why even top performers may be leaving “low-hanging fruit” on the table by not deloading cognitive stress before big events. Whether you’re coaching, competing, or striving for your personal best, this episode is packed with insights and practical tips to harness the power of your brain for peak performance.
00:00 From Running to Brain Research
06:11 "From Science to Sport Mastery"
13:48 "Optimizing Performance Through Neuroplasticity"
20:44 "Brain's Role in Workout Performance"
23:13 "Tapering Cognitive Load for Athletes"
27:17 "Training Decision-Making Under Fatigue"
36:13 "Rethinking Brain Training Methods"
38:15 "Training for Resilience and Balance"
44:08 "Brain Signals and Survival"
48:53 Measuring Cognitive Fatigue in Training
56:37 "Concussion Effects and Recovery"
01:00:18 "How Brains Heal Differently"
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From Gravel to E-Sports: How Hayden Pucker Found His Edge in Virtual Racing - Season 7 Ep. 16
TrainingPeaks' Education Specialist, Cody Stephenson, is joined by returning guest and eSport cycling coach Zach Nehr and professional cyclist and esports racer Hayden Pucker—better known as Farm Watts—for an honest, high-energy deep-dive into the world of virtual endurance racing. We’ll hear about Hayden Pucker’s unconventional journey from riding a hundred miles before dawn in Wisconsin to racking up power records and chasing the podium at the esports world championships.
Zach Nehr, Hayden Pucker's coach, shares nuts-and-bolts insights on how shifting training toward shorter, high-intensity intervals unlocked Hayden’s next level—and how dialing in things like core strength, fueling, and tactical savvy makes all the difference in esports.
The episode tackles everything: race strategy, the key differences between virtual and real-world riding, handling setbacks, and why communication is everything between coaches and athletes.
Whether you’re an endurance athlete, coach, or just curious about the future of virtual competition, this episode is packed with empowering takeaways and a wealth of actionable advice.
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Jim Miller on Coaching Champions: The Art & Science of Elite Cycling Success — Season 7 Ep 15
Host Dirk Friel sits down with Jim Miller, Chief of Sports Performance at USA Cycling and the most decorated cycling coach in U.S. history. They dive deep into Jim’s unparalleled coaching journey—from collegiate racing days in Colorado to guiding athletes like Keegan Swenson and Kristin Armstrong to Olympic and World Championship podiums.
Jim shares insights on the delicate balance of science and art in coaching, the critical importance of an authentic athlete-coach connection, and how personal drive and learning from failure have fueled both his career and the athletes he coaches.
Whether you’re an aspiring athlete, a coach searching for inspiration, or someone fascinated by the human side of high performance, this episode delivers candid stories, practical takeaways, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from decades at the top of the sport.
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Adapting Your Coaching for Esports Success - Season 7 Ep 14
Zach Nehr dives deep into the world of cycling esports, unpacking its rapid evolution and what it takes to train and coach athletes for peak performance—indoors and out.
Matti and Zach explore Zach’s background of collegiate racing and coaching to the professional road scene, and how the pandemic unexpectedly propelled him into the universe of indoor racing.
What sets Zach apart is his insistence on meeting each athlete where they are, adapting plans around individual needs, training environments, and even race start times that can hit at 2 AM thanks to global competition. He highlights the critical importance of communication, balancing intensity, and keeping a sharp eye on mental as well as physical fatigue—especially for those riding the line between indoor and outdoor racing.
Whether you want to refresh your coaching toolkit, re-energize your winter training, or just geek out on how racing is changing, this episode is your ticket into the fast-paced universe of cycling esports. There’s something here for every coach and athlete ready to embrace structured training in a virtual space—no matter where you start.
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Elite Endurance: The Strength Training for Champions Like Taylor Knibb and Courtney Dauwalter — Season 7 Ep 13
Erin Carson explains the role of strength training in optimizing endurance performance, enhancing mobility, and supporting long-term athletic health for all athletes.
Dirk and Erin explain why strength training isn't just for bodybuilders or football players. It's a critical component for athletes seeking longevity, durability, and peak performance in endurance sports. Erin shares real-life examples of even elite athletes, like Taylor Knibb, Sepp Kuss, and Courtney Dauwalter, who've started incorporating strength into their training. Get ready for practical insights on how Erin structures strength programs for world-class athletes, why balancing strength with endurance matters, and how mobility and movement quality can be the secret sauce to keeping you on your feet (and on your bike) for the long haul.
Whether you’re an age-group triathlete, a mountain-loving runner, or just want to ride your bike pain-free into your fifties and beyond, this conversation has real actionable advice. Erin’s approachable wisdom and evidence-based strategies will inspire you to rethink the role of strength in your own training—no matter where you are on your athletic journey.
Dial in those workouts with deep insights and cutting-edge science from the most prominent voices in the endurance and hybrid sports world. Whether you're a triathlete, cyclist, runner, ultra-endurance athlete or coach, and many other sport types, subscribe now to learn how to train for success. Endurance Unlimited is your endurance training resource.
To learn more about how TrainingPeaks can help you achieve your training goals, visit us at trainingpeaks.com.
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