Zwift PowerUp Tri Podcast – Complete Episode List
ZWIFT COMMUNITY | on July 9, 2019 by Zwift
The PowerUp Tri Podcast is hosted by former pro triathletes Matt Lieto and Jordan Rapp, who lend their in-depth knowledge of the multisport to the Zwift Tri audience.
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Episode 33: Lionel Sanders
2020 Achievements
In what may be the understatement of the decade, 2020 has been a challenging year for everyone—athletes included. Making goals. Checking them off. Finding the next event. 2020 is, ahem, the worst. But Canadian pro triathlete Lionel Sanders has kept the negativity of this year at relative bay, managing to set a new Canadian Hour Record on the track, chasing down a 5K personal best, winning the Z Pro Tri Series, and recently finishing 4th at the PTO Championships in Daytona. In this episode, we chat with Lionel about how important these missions are for an athlete in 2020. Oh, and Matt welcomes on his new co-host, Sarah True!
December 11, 2020
Episode 32: Jess Learmonth
The effect of e-racing on professional triathlon
Jess was hoping to build up to and compete in the 2020 Olympics but has pivoted, along with a lot of us, to adding some E-racing into her resume. She’s come off a recent win at the inaugural Super League Triathlon Arena games as well as highlighting our Z Pro Tri series field earlier this year. We get some insight into her experiences with these new formats as well as chat about her move from swimming into triathlon and the current state of ITU racing.
Sep 23, 2020
Episode 31: Jesse Thomas
A look back at a unique triathlon career
Jesse Thomas had a surprisingly quick rise to the top of triathlon, and he stayed there right up until his recent retirement announcement. Jordan and Matt catch up on what Jesse has been up to since and reminisce about some great times shared in the sport.
Sep 8, 2020
Episode 30: Dirk Friel
Using metrics to stay on task
Dirk, a pillar of the endurance industry, shares the history behind founding TrainingPeaks and what it’s like to be the son of a true legend of the coaching world, Joel Friel. We also talk about how to use metrics while training to stay on point during these strange times.
Aug 20, 2020
Episode 29: Flora Duffy
How to be a Multidimensional Triathlete
Now, not all triathlons are equal – there’s ITU, Xterra, 70.3, and more. Flora has dominated all of the disciplines, which is no small feat! So we pick her brain on how she’s done so, and how we should all mix up the sort of racing that we do.
Jun 11, 2020
Episode 28: David McNamee
45 Days in a Spanish Flat!
British pro triathlete David McNamee has been crushing it on Twitter the last few months. Why? Well, he’s locked down in Girona and has been churning out some fun, clever content to document his time indoors. A two-time podium finisher in Kona, with a best time of 8:01, David is in the prime of his career. Not being able to train outdoors for six weeks was undoubtedly tough, but what he actually found hardest might just surprise you.
May 22, 2020
Episode 27: Sarah Crowley
The Coach/Athlete Relationship
Sarah has always been vocal about crediting her team, and there’s no doubt that coaches play an important part in every athlete’s success. Sarah sheds some light on just how important that relationship can be!
May 1, 2020
Episode 26: Michellie Jones
Optimal Training When Training isn’t Optimal
Michellie is one of the most successful triathletes of all time – an Olympic Silver Medalist and Ironman Hawaii champ with more World titles than we can count. Now an accomplished coach, we pick her brain on the best ways to optimize training during lockdown life.
Apr 21, 2020
Episode 24: Jan Frodeno
On Legacy
We dig into the reigning IRONMAN World Champ’s achievements and ask big questions. Is he the best? Does legacy transcend beyond race results? On the heels of the tragedy of Kobe Bryant, this standout episode hits all the notes. Plus, he spills the beans on why he’s changing shoe sponsors after 17 years! Not to miss.
Mar 13, 2020
Episode 23: Tim Reed
Perception versus reality when it comes to the life of a pro triathlete
From juggling training, family, sponsor obligations, and even a regular job, pro triathletes have more in common with age groupers than you may realize. We also chat about the recent news of a notable triathlete jumping back into the pro peloton and the recent sponsorship change with the reigning Kona champion. Jordan also discusses some new workout features he personally worked on that just came out for Zwift Run.
Feb 20, 2020
Episode 22: Malindi Elmore
From pro triathlete to Marathon record holder!
We were lucky enough to score a sit down with the freshly minted Canadian Marathon record holder, Malindi Elmore. You might ask why we’d have a runner on the show, but Malindi raced as a pro triathlete after 2 decades of running on the track, inclusive of an Olympic appearance and some National Championships, only to go back to dominate the Marathon in just her 2nd attempt. We talk all things marathon and what she learned from triathlon to make her a better runner!
Jan 30, 2020
Episode 21: Skye Moench
Goal Setting
As a new pro athlete, Skye had a breakthrough season this year with several wins including the European Ironman Championship in Frankfurt. With a recent bike crash, Skye shares with us how she’s learned more about goal setting in her recovery on her journey back to the top!
Jan 15, 2020
Episode 20: Heather & Trevor Wurtele
The Wurteles on Moving On
Heather and Trevor have been a force in triathlon over the last decade. Recently, the power couple announced their retirement. What’s it like leaving something that’s been such a driving force in your life? How do you know when it’s time to move on? In Episode 20, they drop by the studio to answer these questions and chat about their next move as well as recent tri happenings.
Dec 16, 2019
Episode 19: Dan Plews
Heat Adaptation
Say hello to Dan Plews, the architect of Zwift Academy Tri’s training plan. A physiologist, sport scientist, and researcher, Dan is a top-level triathlon coach as well as the fastest-ever age group athlete at Kona. He’s all about low carbs, high fats, and heart rate variability. In Episode 19, he drops into the studio to chat about heat adaptation as well as some of his favorite workouts in the program and the “why” behind them.
Dec 9, 2019
Episode 18: Ronnie Schildknecht
Athlete Management and Athlete Contracts
When it comes to life as a pro athlete, performance is only half the battle. To truly reach the next level, you need to know the business of sports. In this episode, we bring in an expert on the matter: 9x winner of Ironman Switzerland, Ronnie Schildknecht. He dives into and corrects misconceptions about how athletes make their living. Beyond that, we also chat about news regarding aerodynamic effects of drafting riders and motos.
Nov 20, 2019
Episode 17: Dede Griesbauer
Longevity in Endurance Sports
Have you noticed that many elite endurance athletes are getting fitter and faster as they get older? Some are peaking in their late 40s. Multi-time Ironman champ and Kona top 10 finisher Dede Griesbauer sat down to chat with us about this recent phenomenon. With an athletic career that will reach its 4th decade this January, Dede has some great insights. Lots of recent race news in this episode, too, as well as Jordan’s quick take on CBD and its place in triathlon.
Nov 5, 2019
Episode 16: Sam Appleton
Gaming and Esports
70.3 specialist Sam Appleton joins us coming off of an impressive 8th place at 70.3 World Championships in Nice last month. For many users, Zwift is an outlet combining their love of gaming with their necessity for quality training. This is very true for Sam, and we take the chance to chat with him about his (and Jordan’s) love for gaming and esports. We, of course, get a breakdown of the World Champs race as well as some exciting news about Sam’s plans for the rest of the season. In the tech corner, Jordan talks about what to him was a surprise at Eurobike—that no one has released an answer for a 12-speed drivetrain on a smart trainer?!
Oct 2, 2019
Episode 15: Sarah True
Depression in Endurance Athletes
Recent Kona qualifier and Zwift Academy Tri mentor Sarah True stops in for a chat. We take this opportunity to talk about an often overlooked yet important topic: depression in endurance athletes. We dive right in and speculate on why depression seems to be so common in athletes as well as our advice for dealing with it.
Sep 17, 2019
Episode 14: Dan Empfield
The Current State of Triathlon and Where It’s Headed
You know who Dan Empfield is, right? Multisport entrepreneur. Inventor of the triathlon wetsuit and triathlon racing bike. When it comes to the business side of triathlon, few people know more than Dan. He swings by the studio in Episode 14 to talk about the current state of the sport as well as where it’s headed.
Aug 30, 2019
Episode 13: Pieter Heemeryck
Maximizing Indoor Training for Outside Gains
Ironman 70.3 Champion Pieter Heemeryck lives in Belgium and rides a lot on Zwift — he’s a level 47! That’s 21,000km of Zwifting. Second only to Lionel Sanders, at least in the pro triathlon world.
When he won Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote, Pieter’s bike split was the fastest of the day. Same goes for his split at the 70.3 World Championships last year in South Africa. Pieter chats with us about why training indoors can translate into outdoor PRs. We also chat about recent tri news and Jordan’s first vacation in years.
Jul 29, 2019
Episode 12: Gwen Jorgensen
Moving from Triathlon to the Marathon
Gwen won a Gold medal at the Olympics in tri and immediately dropped the mic and retired from the sport. We talk to this legend about that decision and her move to marathon running.
Jul 29, 2019
Episode 11: Alistair Brownlee
Moving from Short Course to Ironman
Alistair Brownlee is often seen on G.O.A.T. lists, and he just completed and won his first IRONMAN! What’s next for the 2x Olympic Gold Medalist? We chatted about his move up in distance and what podium he’s hoping to stand on next.
Jul 15, 2019
Episode 10: Mike Reilly
Triathlons: Then vs Now
Almost half-a-century old, the sport of triathlon has seen its fair share of progress. A pillar of the sport for decades, tri legend Mike Reilly is a staunch advocate of its positive effects. He stops by in Episode 10 to talk all about it. How it’s evolved. What the scene looks like now versus then. His experiences, and recently published book, Finding My Voice. The crew also goes over a few recent races, and checks in on some interesting tech from E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo.
Jul 1, 2019
Episode 9: Lucy Charles-Barclay
Age and Performance
One of the reasons long-distance triathlon is so beloved is its all-ages appeal. Young. Old. It doesn’t matter. If you have the drive to go the distance, you can be a triathlete. Over the years, there’s been frequent debate on what the “ideal” age is for top performances. Traditionally, “older” (30–40) has been seen as better, with experience and knowledge helping tri veterans make it to the podium. Lucy Charles-Barclay is pushing back.
Only 25 years old, she’s already racked up a number of Ironman wins as well as three World Championship podiums. She joins the crew in Episode 9 to explain how younger athletes can approach races similar to older competitors, and how age is just a number when it comes to experience and tri knowledge. We also talk about Allied’s successful gravel bike launch in Kansas as well as other recent happenings in the tri scene.
Jun 14, 2019
Episode 8: Tim Don
All About the Zwift Academy Tri Team
Want to know more about the Specialized Zwift Academy Tri team? Here’s your chance.
We sat down for a chat with Tim Don — a tri legend and one of the team’s two mentors — to talk about the camp at Morgan Hill. The workouts. The team. The gear. Everything. We also dive into triathlon training tips and some awesome new tech: the DJI action camera and Wahoo Elemnt Roam.
Aug 12, 2019
Episode 7: Mark Allen
Judging Performances Over the Years
How do we judge athletes over time? Are “World Records” the best way? The most wins?
We asked one of the greatest of all time, Mark Allen, to explore the topic. With 6 Kona wins and multiple World Championship titles over various distances and a record-setting 21-race winning streak—he knows what it takes to be the best. Plus: Jordan and Matt talk shop with Mark about triathlon and see what makes him tick.
May 18, 2019
Episode 6: Sebastian Keinle
Staying Motivated
Staying motivated to train hard every year can be challenging, but when you’re a professional, it’s necessary.
2014 Ironman World Champion, two-time 70.3 World Champion, and three-time European Champion Sebastian Kienle knows a thing or two about this.
In Episode 6, he dives into the demands of staying motivated and goal-setting when you’ve already been on the top. Jordan and Matt also give an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the creation of the new Watopia expansion and discuss the latest wetsuit brand creating waves.
May 7, 2019
Episode 5: Heather Jackson
Balancing Life and Performance
Can you be a successful athlete while maintaining a healthy social life?
In Episode 5, IRONMAN record holder and World Championship podium finisher Heather Jackson chats with Matt and Jordan about her sports background before diving into the question of the day.
As always, Jordan gets into the latest and greatest tri tech and we also debate how many pillows it takes to truly be comfortable before a big race.
Apr 20, 2019
Episode 4: Ben Hoffman
The Business Side of Being a Pro
6x IRONMAN Champion Ben Hoffman joins Matt and Jordan to dive deep into the business side of triathlons and how pros can make a sustainable career out of it. Between sponsorships, networking, and social media, they cover it all.
Apr 8, 2019
Episode 3: Greg Henderson
Cycling vs Triathlon Bike Training
It’s a crossover episode! Greg Henderson of the Power Up Cycling podcast visits Matt and Jordan to talk training differences between cycling and triathlon.
A cycling perspective can help triathletes tackle typical weaknesses on the bike.
Mar 21, 2019
Episode 2: Holly Lawrence
Eating Disorders in Endurance Sports
2016 Ironman 70.3 World Champion Holly Lawrence joins Matt and Jordan to talk training, racing, life, injury, dietary habits, doping accusations, and everything in between. Episode 2’s key topic dives into nutrition, from carbo-loading with sweets to whether leaner is better in the world of tri.
Mar 7, 2019
Episode 1: Lindsay Corbin
What is Off-Season?
Linsey lends her expert knowledge on the topic of how to do off-season right. Matt, Jordan, and Linsey tackle the tough topic of knowing when to shut it off and give your body rest, but actually resting and not just posting about #offseason on social media.
Feb 20, 2019
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