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...

In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, hosts Paul Warloski, Marjaana Rakai, and Dr. Paul Laursen talk with Phil Whitehurst, a prominent long-distance cyclist and key contributor to Athletica. Phil shares his journey from charity rides to ultra-endurance events, revealing the secrets behind his training, the mental and physical challenges he faces, and the...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Phil Becker, an everyday endurance athlete from New Zealand, as he shares his passion for adventure, mountain biking, and sea swimming. Discover how he balances training with work and family life, the mental strategies he uses to push through challenges, and the unexpected rewards he’s found in endurance...

Summary In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, Paul Warloski, Paul Laursen, and Marjaana Rakai discuss how endurance athletes can transition to a low-carb, high-fat diet to become more fat-adapted. They tackle listener questions about dietary changes, the minimum carbohydrate intake, and the nuances of training metrics such as CTL, ATL, and TSB. Marjaana...

Summary: In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, hosts Paul Warloski and Dr. Paul Laursen, along with guest Marjaana Rakai, delve into the science and strategies behind heat acclimatization for endurance athletes. They discuss the physiological processes that occur when the body is exposed to heat, including increased heart rate and sweating, and the...

In this episode of The Athletes Compass, hosts Paul Warloski and Marjaana dive deep into their recent athletic endeavors. Marjaana recounts her challenging yet triumphant experience at Ironman Texas, where she overcame mental and physical obstacles to qualify for the Ironman World Championships in Nice, France. Paul shares his journey back to competitive gravel racing...

In Episode 3 of the Athletes Compass podcast, hosts Paul Warloski, Marjaana Rakai and Dr. Paul Laursen, delve into advanced strategies for high-intensity interval training (HIIT). They address a triathlete’s question about the best ways to structure HIIT workouts, discussing the progression of interval lengths, the importance of workout reserves, and the nuances of active...