Triathlon

Podcasting

Olympic Heartbreak Turns into Life-Changing Blessing

Hey, Michael, really great question mate. I wouldn't say that. I have a career failure, so much as a career disappointment that turned into one of the best things that happened to me. And that was that the in 2004, the Sydney Olympic Games. I'd won on the course that you previous. I had been on the podium. The three years before that, I grew up a mile from the Sydney Olympic site, where it was going to be at the opera house. And anyway, was left off the Australian team ended up, being a bit of a court battle. It wasn't a joyous time the court battle didn't go my way. And I was pretty lost and bewildered. Anyway, young friend of mine. Simon. Whitfield said, Greg. Why don't you come over Canada? Help me get ready for the games and I did, and we trained relentlessly together for five, six months. And as it turned out, Simon went off to win the Olympic Games. He then stood on top of the die has got his gold medal and after he got his gold medal and was walking off. He ran up to the stadium and put the medal around my neck and said, this is yours. And when I Look back at my career highlights. That was a very, very special moment. And I love re telling that story because it was just such a special time. And you know, that was pre 9/11. So, you know, it was a bit looser and we could do those things. But on top of all of that, when I went to Canada help Simon train. I also met the woman of my dreams Laura and we were married. We were together right away and married after the 04 Olympics. And I always wonder if I'd been put on that Australian Olympic team, What would have happened both for my career and my relationships and everything going forward? So it was a really when I look back it was one of the the turning points in my life to be able to have that massive disappointment in that moment. But when you look back and big picture, it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Cheers.

In 2004, I was not selected for the Australian Olympic team, which was a disappointment at the time. However, looking back it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I moved to Canada to help my friend Simon train for the Olympics, where he eventually won a gold medal and put it around my neck. Additionally, I met the love of my life, Laura, and we later married.

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I wouldn't necessarily call it a career failure, but rather a career disappointment that turned into one of the best things that happened to me. It was during the 2004 Sydney Olympic Games. I had been performing well in previous races and had grown up near the Olympic site. However, I was left off the Australian team, and it turned into a court battle that didn't go my way. I felt lost and bewildered.

But then, a young friend of mine, Simon Whitfield, invited me to Canada to help him prepare for the games. We trained together relentlessly for several months. In the end, Simon went on to win the Olympic Games. After receiving his gold medal, he ran up to me, put the medal around my neck, and said, This is yours.

Looking back, that moment stands out as one of the highlights of my career. It was a truly special time. What makes it even more significant is that during my time in Canada, I met the woman of my dreams, Laura. We started our relationship right away and got married after the 2004 Olympics.

Reflecting on that experience, I often wonder what would have happened if I had been selected for the Australian Olympic team. Would my career and relationships have taken a different path? It was a turning point in my life, and despite the initial disappointment, it turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me.

So, while it may not be a favorite career failure, it was a significant moment that shaped my life in the most positive way.

Did you ever get into overtraining syndrome? If so, how did you recognize it and how did you deal with it?

Recognizing and combating overtraining syndrome: Insights from personal experience

Hey Milan. Yes, I think I was often overtrained. And actually it was often the people around me that would point out that I'm overtrained. Usually my wife who is closest and could see, usually behavioral changes to be honest. But then also I guess I would recognize it when you just day after day the fatigue was there and I was never really recovering and then finally, really when I couldn't get to sleep and I wouldn't start and I wouldn't sleep well. Those kind of things. But for me, probably the behavioral changes happen first before the physical fatigue chairs.

Overtraining was usually pointed out by my wife due to behavioral changes, followed by physical fatigue and difficulty sleeping.

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Yes, I have experienced overtraining syndrome. I often relied on the observations of those around me, particularly my wife, who noticed behavioral changes that indicated I was overtrained. Personally, I recognized it when I consistently felt fatigued day after day without proper recovery. Additionally, I struggled with insomnia and poor sleep quality. These were the signs that made me realize I was dealing with overtraining syndrome. In my case, the behavioral changes preceded the physical fatigue.

Endurance Training at Its Peak: My Epic Ironman Journey

Biggest Training Day of My Life. Well, maybe not the hardest but probably the longest day of my life was I would do this every Thursday when I was trying to get ready for Ironman. And I think I overtrained and that was generally on a Wednesday. We would have done a long ride in the mountains of Colorado 180 to 220 km on the bike. Then the Thursday I get up usually and run. And km warm up very early. It would be dark then jump on the bike warm up for about 2 to 3 kilometers. But literally, it was almost straight out the door time trial, 90 kilometers and have about 5 km cool down. Make it home in time to go to the 11 a.m. Swim Squad. At Scott Carpenter and swim between three and a half and four kilometers have a quick lunch at Whole Foods. And then make my way up to the Switzerland Trail and run that Loop up there, which I think was around about 25 kilometers. Do that reasonably well, and that would be the day but it would end up being a pretty significant day in itself. But I always overtrained cheers.

I would do a long ride in the mountains of Colorado of 180-220 km, followed by a time trial of 90 km, swim squad of 3-4 km, and finish with a run of 25 km. It was a very long day but I got used to it as part of my Ironman training.

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The biggest training day of my life was during my preparation for an Ironman. It wasn't necessarily the hardest, but it was definitely the longest. Every Thursday, I would embark on an intense training regimen.

On Wednesdays, we would have a long ride in the mountains of Colorado, covering a distance of 180 to 220 kilometers on the bike. Then, on Thursdays, I would wake up early, start with a kilometer warm-up run in the dark, and then jump on the bike for another 2 to 3 kilometers of warm-up. From there, it was almost straight out the door for a 90-kilometer time trial, followed by a 5-kilometer cool-down ride.

After making it home, I would head to the 11 a.m. Swim Squad at Scott Carpenter, where I would swim between three and a half to four kilometers. Following the swim, I would have a quick lunch at Whole Foods. The day wasn't over yet, as I would then make my way up to the Switzerland Trail and complete a 25-kilometer run loop.

Overall, this training day was quite significant and demanding. Looking back, I realized that I may have overtrained during that time. But it was all part of the journey. Cheers to pushing our limits!

How did you get started with your podcast?

From IRONMAN Insights to a Thriving Podcast: An Unexpected Journey

I knew nothing about podcasting when I started my podcast, I didn't know anything about the equipment or hosting or how you push it out or any of that producing side of it, I had no idea. And so probably even the better question than the how is, why did I start getting into it? And, and that was largely in 2019, I was asked to do some analysis for NBC Sports, for the Kona, IRONMAN World Championships, and so, Before I went, I started reaching out to a few of the guys on you, yawns for Dino, Tim O'Donnell and Sebastian, keenly, and a number of others and I was calling him. How you feeling, what do you think the race is going to be like and everything else? And it was one conversation in particular with Sebastian Kinley who is one of the greatest Ironman athletes we've ever seen and we ended up speaking for over an hour and I remember getting off that core going and saying to my wife, Laura, I said I should have recorded that. That was just really amazing to get that depth of insight that I got from that one phone call. So then I looked into podcasting a little bit. Looked did some homework on what equipment I need, how do I get started? And then I reached out to 15 or the world's greatest male and female triathletes and trifon coaches and ask them all. Would you come on my show? If I start a podcast and I've got an overwhelming, yes response, 100% success rate from all of them. So I was very privileged to be able to start with an amazing group. And I got my recording gear and away. I went and since then, I'm about 150 episodes in three years later, I've upgraded some of my gear, I have a little bit better understanding of what it takes to record show. What makes a good show. I think. I hope I've improved over time but yeah, that's how I got started and absolutely loved it. Having a really wonderful conversation with somebody. That's doing something remarkable once a week. I feel very privileged Age for it. So yeah, great question.

I was inspired to start a podcast after having a long conversation with triathlete Sebastian Kinley. I reached out to some of the world's best male and female triathletes and coaches, and they all said yes when I asked them to be guests on my show. I got my recording gear and have since done around 150 episodes. Over time I have upgraded my gear and improved my understanding of what makes a good podcast episode.

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When I started my podcast, I had no prior knowledge about podcasting. I didn't know anything about the equipment, hosting, or the production side of it. However, the better question to ask is why I decided to start a podcast.

In 2019, I was asked to provide analysis for NBC Sports during the Kona IRONMAN World Championships. Before the event, I reached out to several athletes, including Sebastian Kinley, for insights on the race. During our conversation, which lasted over an hour, I realized the depth of knowledge and insight I was gaining. It was then that I thought, I should have recorded this.

That experience led me to research podcasting, equipment needed, and how to get started. I reached out to 15 of the world's greatest male and female triathletes and coaches, asking if they would be willing to come on my show. I received an overwhelming response of yes from all of them, which was a privilege.

I acquired the necessary recording gear and started my podcast. Over the course of three years and about 150 episodes, I have upgraded my equipment and gained a better understanding of what makes a good show. I hope that I have improved over time.

Starting a podcast has been a wonderful experience for me. I feel privileged to have engaging conversations with remarkable individuals on a weekly basis. It's a great passion of mine, and I thoroughly enjoy it.

What has been the biggest challenge in transitioning from a professional athlete to a post-sport career?

The Challenge of Finding Purpose after Retiring from Professional Sports

The biggest challenge that I faced after retiring from professional sport was actually finding purpose. I had spent 27 years as an athlete always having very ambitious goals and training plans and knowing exactly what races I was going to be getting ready for and who I was going to be racing. And every year I had a great sense of purpose and when I retired there was a little bit of a void there and along with that void was missing that cocktail of good feeling hormones that you get from sports. So I was missing the endorphins and dopamine and serotonin and oxytocin and all those incredible hormones were lagging and I was missing that cocktail of feel good hormones and I think that puts you in a bit of a funk and it takes you a while to rebuild yourself refocus and find a great sense of purpose again.

After retiring from professional sport, I was faced with the challenge of finding purpose and filling the void that was left. This resulted in me missing the cocktail of good feeling hormones I got from sports and being in a bit of a funk until I was able to refocus and rebuild myself and find a new purpose.

The biggest challenge in transitioning from a professional athlete to a post-sport career was finding purpose. As an athlete, I was accustomed to setting ambitious goals, following training plans, and participating in races. Each year, I had a clear sense of purpose. When I retired, there was a void and a lack of the positive hormones that come with sports, such as endorphins, dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. Missing that cocktail of feel-good hormones put me in a bit of a funk and it took time to rebuild myself, refocus, and rediscover a strong sense of purpose.

What's the craziest thing you've done to realize "marginal gains" or to find an edge in your sport?

Triathlete's $2k Bike Upgrade Earns Big Marginal Gains

Hey Eduardo, well, it's not really crazy because it kind of worked. But in 2011, I was getting ready for the hi v-- Triathlon, which was a, you know, me and Dollar Plus prize purse. I looked at the course. It was a full lap bike, and each slap of the bike had 22, either 90 degrees or hairpin corners, and it was right. When Shimano di2, the electronic shifting was coming out on the bikes. I wasn't sponsored by Shimano, but I went and bought it anyway, and I put it on my It was a couple of thousand dollars and it was, I bought it because it had the gearing, the gear shifting down on the brake hoods, which we didn't have otherwise with the with the old way of Shifting. So I put it on and believe that if I could be able to shift in and out of the corners, right? Where my brake hoods were. I'd be able to save just tiny amounts every corner and, you know, I actually figured I could potentially save close to half a second on every corner, as it turns out. I got off the bike with With 55 second lead, over my main competitors and end up winning the race by about 30 seconds, but I think it was it was a it was a gamble to some degree to spend that much money in the hope of making a couple hundred grand, but it was one that worked out and I don't mean it in bragging or anything. It was just more one where you took the risk and it actually worked out so it's pretty excited about it.

I bought a Shimano di2 electronic shifting bike worth a few thousand dollars in preparation for a triathlon in 2011. I believed that the gear shifting would give me a half second advantage on every corner and it ended up working out, giving me a 55 second lead over my competitors and winning the race by 30 seconds.

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In 2011, I did something that may seem a bit crazy, but it ended up working out well for me. I was preparing for the Hi V-- Triathlon, which had a significant prize purse. The bike course had 22 corners, either 90 degrees or hairpin turns. Around that time, Shimano di2, the electronic shifting system, was being introduced. Although I wasn't sponsored by Shimano, I decided to buy it anyway.

The reason behind this decision was that the di2 system allowed me to shift gears right on the brake hoods, which wasn't possible with the traditional shifting method. I believed that being able to shift quickly in and out of corners would give me a slight advantage. I estimated that I could potentially save close to half a second on each corner.

As it turned out, my gamble paid off. I finished the bike leg of the race with a 55-second lead over my main competitors and ultimately won the race by about 30 seconds. It was a risk to spend a significant amount of money in the hopes of winning a substantial prize, but in the end, it worked out for me.

I don't mean to brag about it, but it was an exciting experience where taking a risk paid off.

Greg Bennett answers your Triathlon questions. See all the advice Greg Bennett has and get answers to your own Triathlon questions.

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Greg Bennett is the Co-founder and Chief of Staff at AnyQuestion. He is also the podcast host of, “One Moment Longer with Greg Bennett” which dives into what makes a world-class athlete and High Performer. Greg is a retired professional triathlete. Greg grew up in Sydney, Australia and found a passion for triathlon at a young age. He competed for Australia at the 2004 Olympics and has raced over 500 international races and won over 100. Greg has won multiple World titles, the worlds largest prize purse wins, and been awarded the International Triathlon Unions President trophy. He has been named one of the “Top 15 Triathletes of all time” (Inside Triathlon, 2011) and “Triathlete of the year” on multiple occasions (Triathlete magazine). Greg had a strong desire to become better and set goals, which helped him reach the highest level in sport and sustain it for almost three decades.