In this episode of the Athletes Compass Podcast, hosts Paul Warloski and Marjaana Rakai discuss the critical relationship between arousal levels and athletic performance. They explore the Inverted U Hypothesis, which suggests there’s an optimal level of arousal for peak performance, and share personal stories and expert insights on managing anxiety and excitement in both...

In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, hosts Paul Warloski, Dr. Paul Laursen, and Marjaana Rakai explore the critical role of mindful breathing in athletic performance. They discuss how breathing affects the body systemically, its mindful aspects, and the importance of recovery in training. The conversation highlights techniques like box breathing and the benefits...

Summary: In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, listeners’ questions about altitude training, cross-training, and strength training are answered by hosts Paul Laursen, Marjaana Rakai and Paul Warloski. They discuss utilizing heat training and respiratory muscle training to simulate altitude, emphasizing the importance of not neglecting basic training principles. The benefits of cross-training for...

Summary In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, hosts Paul Warloski, Marjaana Rakai, and Paul Laursen welcome Erik Olsson, also known as the Primal Swede. Erik shares his unique journey from a sedentary lifestyle to becoming an ultra-endurance athlete. He discusses his passion for discovering personal limits, the mental challenges associated with endurance sports,...

Summary In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, hosts Paul Warloski, Marjaana Rakai, and Dr. Paul Laursen interview Cindy Maloney, a dedicated endurance athlete who has mastered the art of balancing rigorous training with everyday life. Cindy shares her journey from discovering running in her 20s to competing in marathons, triathlons, and ultimately the...

Summary In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, hosts Paul Warloski, Paul Laursen, and Marjaana Rakai get into the crucial topic of tapering for endurance events. They explore the science behind tapering, discussing its impact on performance and the physiological changes it induces. The hosts emphasize the importance of individualizing tapering strategies to suit...

Summary In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, hosts Paul Warloski, Marjaana Rakai, and Dr. Paul Laursen address a listener question about the benefits of heat and altitude training for race preparation. They discuss how heat acclimation can improve cardiovascular function and lower heart rate during exercise, similar to altitude training. The hosts explore...

Summary In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, Paul Warloski interviews Bartolomew Buczek, an Ironman athlete from Poland who has overcome tremendous odds. Despite having no athletic background and facing a serious health scare with a pituitary tumor, Bart transformed his life through dedication and training. He recently completed the challenging Lanzarote Ironman in...

In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, hosts Paul Warloski and Marjaana Rakai dive into the contentious issue of muscle cramps with sports science expert Dr. Paul Laursen. They explore two prevailing hypotheses: the common belief that cramps are due to electrolyte imbalances and dehydration, and the neuromuscular hypothesis which posits that cramps stem...

In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, hosts Paul Warloski and Dr. Paul Laursen, along with Marjaana Rakai, delve into the topic of atrial fibrillation (AFib) and its impact on endurance athletes. They discuss the symptoms, causes, and risks associated with AFib and other heart issues like ventricular tachycardia, drawing from personal experiences and...