Endurance Unlimited

Pregnancy and Elite Athletic Performance: How Pro Cyclist Sarah Sturm and Coach Dennis Van Winden Redefine Training for Mom Athletes. Discover top pregnancy-safe training tips, real athlete-coach strategies, and how to navigate racing, metrics, mental health, and sponsorships, without missing a beat.

Elite cyclist Sarah Sturm and her coach Dennis Van Winden break new ground with a candid look at what it takes to maintain consistency, motivation, and health throughout pregnancy as a professional athlete. From adapting the athlete’s mindset to rethinking metrics and embracing Rate of Perceived Exertion, this episode delivers essential insights for female athletes (and coaches) facing the unknowns of pregnancy and postpartum return to racing.

00:00 – Mindset Shift: From Performance to Health in Pregnancy04:07 – When Career Meets Family: Planning for Pregnancy10:17 – Stress, Racing Seasons, and Conceiving as an Athlete14:56 – Privacy, Career Impact, and the Athlete Mindset17:33 – Letting Go of FTP: Embracing RPE and Subjective Training21:02 – Nutrition & Fueling: Adapting Intake for Pregnancy Needs22:36 – Flexible Programming: Communication and Weekly Check-ins29:10 – Grand Prix Notification: Navigating Pregnancy in Pro Competition31:15 – Pioneering Deferrals: Advocating for Maternity Policies33:14 – Sponsor Support: Contracts, Clauses, and Progressive Change35:35 – Identity Shifts: Psychological and Emotional Dynamics38:12 – Planning the Comeback: Hopes and Unknowns for 202743:02 – The Coach-Athlete Relationship: Trust, Adaptability, and Support49:03 – Data Gaps and Experimentation: Building Knowledge for Future Athletes54:38 – Comparing Experiences: Each Pregnancy is Unique59:46 – Postpartum Roadmap: Day-by-Day Planning for the Comeback1:02:02 – Advice for Athletes: Building a Support System Before and During Pregnancy1:02:41 – Closing Thoughts: Changing the Conversation about Pregnancy, Athletics, and Support

Heat Adaptation Hacks for Cyclists: How the Pros Master Sauna Protocols, Active Heat Training & Performance Gains. Discover the power of heat acclimatization to boost resilience, race readiness, and recovery in any climate.

Pro coach Ben Day unleashes the secrets of modern endurance training through practical protocols and behind-the-scenes stories from Girona, Boulder, and the pro peloton. This episode peels back the science of heat training—from sauna and hot tub sessions to sweat-inducing paint suits and indoor trainer hacks—and reveals how every athlete, from ambitious amateurs to WorldTour contenders, can unlock cardiovascular and performance gains with just 7-14 days of heat exposure.

Learn how to:

Integrate heat training into your annual plan for serious marginal gains without burning out

Dial in the balance between active (trainer, paint suit) and passive (sauna, hot tubs) protocols to match your schedule

Track adaptation using heart rate, power, core temperature, and good old-fashioned athlete feedback for a complete picture

Avoid common mistakes—why “more is not better” and the art of nailing your heat adaptation window for race day

Whether you’re prepping for a midsummer gran fondo, an early Tour Down Under, or just want a physiological edge, you’ll hear exactly how the world’s best apply cutting-edge research and TrainingPeaks tools to bring it all together. Consistency, structured feedback, and smart scheduling are the name of the game—get the pro tips to adapt faster, recover better, and take your performance into the red-hot zone.

In this episode, George Hincapie and Bobby Julich joins host Dirk Friel to dive into the ambitious launch of Modern Adventure Cycling—a new American cycling team that’s already making waves on the international stage. With decades of experience racing and leading teams, George Hincapie and Bobby Julich share what inspired them to tackle this monumental project, how they overcame challenges in building their roster, and why fostering a positive team culture matters more than chasing results.

From candid stories about assembling their squad to detailing their unique approach to high performance and athlete development, this episode is a masterclass on leadership, adaptability, and what it means to create opportunities for the next generation of American cyclists. Plus, hear behind-the-scenes moments from training camps in Girona, their unexpected invitations to world-class races, and the philosophy that guides them as they strive not only for podiums, but for lasting impact in the cycling community.

00:00 Power Analysis and Lap Comparison

03:09 "New Devices, Metrics, Automation"

07:50 "Inside Modern Adventure Pro Cycling"

12:04 "Securing the Deal to Start"

13:43 "Selecting Young Cyclists Wisely"

18:14 Supporting Riders, Building Futures

21:40 "Building a Team We Wanted"

24:26 Teamwork Boosts Morale

27:52 "Coaching: Data vs. Connection"

31:58 "Adjusting Plans for Race Invites"

33:11 American Cycling's Ambitious Revival

36:04 "Performance Priorities and Future Goals"

40:20 Emerging American Cyclists in Spotlight

42:54 "Team Unity Drives Success"

47:51 "Maintaining American Presence Abroad"

50:42 "Endurance Unlimited Podcast Sign-Off"

In this episode, we dig into an inspiring athlete’s evolution, exploring the high-stakes world of elite road marathoning and the tough transition to trail and ultra running. Olympic marathon bronze medalist Molly Seidel and her coach, Cliff Pittman, join us to walk us through her running journey —overcoming chronic injuries, recalibrating her goals after an Olympic medal, and battling the mental and physical challenges that come with shifting from polished pavement to rugged singletrack.

You’ll hear firsthand how Molly faced setbacks, from broken bones to burnout, and how her passion led her to the trails. Cliff shares how he’s helping Molly adapt her world-class engine for the unique demands of ultras, blending thorough communication, athlete autonomy, and strategic training techniques. From dialing in race nutrition to conquering technical descents, this episode delivers real lessons — plus a behind-the-scenes look at one of the newest and most intriguing athlete-coach duos in endurance sports.

Whether you’re a long-time road runner, aspiring ultramarathoner, or endurance coach, you’ll find wisdom, humility, and plenty of practical takeaways on embracing change, trusting the process, and honoring the journey.

Host Dirk Friel is joined by sleep researcher and sleep coach Charlotte Edelsten, whose expertise is backed by over two decades of research on sleep and performance. Together, they dive deep into the science behind sleep for endurance athletes—addressing why sleep is a true foundation for training adaptations, injury prevention, and race-day performance.

Charlotte Edelsten shares insights from her years conducting research at high-profile endurance events like UTMB Mont Blanc, unpacks why many athletes struggle with sleep quality (even Olympians!), and dispels myths about supplements and wearables. She discusses practical strategies for managing sleep during training and competition, including napping protocols, sleep banking, and how to optimize rest at altitude or before an ultra-endurance race.

00:00 "Endurance Training & Sleep Insights"

03:37 Sleep Disturbances in Athletes

09:10 Caffeine: Adenosine Blocker Explained

11:10 Limitations of Sleep-Tracking Devices

13:21 "Sleep's Impact on Athletic Performance"

18:46 "Understanding Sleep Through Sleep Diaries"

20:54 "Supplements Won't Cure Sleep Issues"

26:07 "Pre-Race Sleep and Mindset"

29:18 "Sleep Strategies and Performance"

31:01 "Gradual Sleep Extension for Athletes"

33:39 "Strategic Napping in Sports"

37:39 "Optimizing Sleep for Best Rest"

42:09 Sleep's Role in UTMB Success

43:49 "Fatigue Management for Runners"

47:42 "Caffeine Strategies in Training"

50:51 "Hallucinations From Extreme Sleep Deprivation"

55:12 "Endurance Unlimited: Follow & Train"