Episode 120: Competing with Joy, Nervous System Training, and Mid-Season Check-Ins

In this week’s episode, we start with some great listener questions on swim data, VO2 max testing, maintaining speed as a Masters athlete, and avoiding injury. We then dive into mid-season check-ins as a way to avoid later season burnout and outline key questions you should be asking yourself and discussing with your coach as we progress through the base period. Next, we hit takeaways from Olympic figure skating, exploring what happens when you choke versus find flow, how identity can amplify pressure, and what it looks like to compete with joy, freedom, and process-driven focus. We also zoom out to discuss why racing feels so different from training, how competition shifts the nervous system, and practical ways to introduce controlled chaos during base season to train your nervous system to handle race day more effectively. Finally, we hit Katie’s reflections on Peloton vs. Zwift in the postpartum era, covering when it’s a great aerobic and mental health tool, where it falls short for specificity, and how to align any platform with your goals and intentions. Check it out!To view extended show notes for this episode, visit: theendurancedrive.com/podcast To share feedback or ask questions to be featured on a future episode, please use ⁠this form⁠ or email: [email protected].