Find Your Edge: Training, Nutrition + Longevity for Endurance Athletes

Episoder

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  Carb Loading for Female Endurance Athletes: What New Ironman Research Reveals Ep 163 30.09.2026 24min

  Is your race week nutrition plan something you've actually practiced? New research on 27 women racing the IRONMAN World Championship found that only 26% met carbohydrate loading guidelines, even though most knew them. The women who ate more carbohydrate tended to finish faster, and higher fiber intake was linked to more GI symptoms. In this episode, Coach Chris Newport, MS, RDN, CISSN, breaks down what the study found and why race-day nutrition is as much a behavior and logistics challenge as...
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  What Are We Training For? Performance, Longevity & Finding Joy in the Process Ep 162 24.09.2026 1t 3min

  What are you actually training for? A faster race? A new distance? A PR? Or are you also training for the ability to keep doing the things you love for decades to come? This episode of the Find Your Edge Podcast is a little different because Coach Chris Newport is on the other side of the mic. Dr. Sarah Gordon invited Chris onto her PhD Journey Unplugged podcast for a conversation about endurance sports, coaching, nutrition, motivation, longevity—and what it really means to train for a life y...
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  How to Use Your Sweat Rate Pattern to Create Your Hydration Plan Ep 161 17.09.2026 16min

  Your sweat rate isn't one number—it's a pattern. The amount you sweat can change dramatically depending on your sport, intensity, temperature, humidity, environment, and individual physiology. So why are we still asking, “How much should I drink per hour?” as if there's one answer that works every time? In this episode of Find Your Edge, Coach Chris Newport breaks down how to understand your individual sweat-rate patterns and use them to make better hydration decisions. You'll learn why: Runn...
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  When You Can't Race the Same Way, Find Another Way: Kris Bonot's Triathlon Story Ep 160 10.09.2026 44min

  What happens when being an athlete is part of your identity...but your body can no longer race the way it used to? You find another way. In this episode of the Find Your Edge Podcast, Coach Chris Newport talks with longtime Humans of Steel athlete Kris Bonot about a remarkable endurance journey. Kris started triathlon in 2013, became a successful age-group athlete and eventually competed at USA Triathlon Nationals. Then an autoimmune disease and bilateral knee fractures dramatically changed t...
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  How to Prevent GI Distress in Endurance Athletes [Replay] Ep 159 03.09.2026 19min

  Nausea, bloating, cramping, reflux—or the dreaded mid-race bathroom emergency? GI distress is common in endurance sports, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept it as part of training and racing. With fall race season ramping up, we’re bringing back this practical episode of the Find Your Edge Podcast to help you understand what may be happening in your gut—and what you can do about it. Coach Chris Newport breaks down some of the most common causes of GI distress in runners, triathletes, cy...
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  Le Tour de Femme: Women, Cycling, Community & Supporting Women With Cancer Ep 158 27.08.2026 40min

  Le Tour de Femme is more than a women's bike ride. In this episode of the Find Your Edge Podcast, Coach Chris Newport talks with Catherine Davis and Nesha Daubenspeck about the story and mission behind Le Tour de Femme—a cycling event created to both empower women to explore cycling and support women going through cancer. Catherine's connection to the event is especially powerful: she discovered Le Tour de Femme in a breast cancer support group and completed her first ride in 2009 while under...
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  How Roadless Races Creates Trail Events Built Around Adventure & Community Ep 157 20.08.2026 47min

  What makes a race so good that you immediately want other athletes to experience it? On this episode of the Find Your Edge Podcast, Coach Chris Newport talks with Roadless Races founder and race director Jim Harman about his unexpected journey into race directing, beginning with an adventure race idea in 1999. Jim shares how he got started during the early days of adventure racing and how an idea involving trekking, mountain biking, paddling, navigation, and a few obstacles helped launch a ca...
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  Inside Pro Cycling Nutrition with Dietitian Kristen Arnold Ep 156 13.08.2026 56min

  What does nutrition really look like behind the scenes of professional cycling? In this episode of the Find Your Edge Podcast, Coach Chris Newport talks with sports dietitian, former professional cyclist, and EF Pro Cycling nutritionist Kristen Arnold, MS, RDN, CSSD. Kristen takes us inside the world of professional cycling nutrition—from morning hydration checks and chef-prepared meals to feed zones, heat protocols, gut training, and individualized carbohydrate testing. We cover: • Why nutri...
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  The Science of Lasting Motivation in Endurance Sports Ep 155 06.08.2026 49min

  Coach Chris sits down with Dr. Sarah Gordon, who explains the science behind lasting motivation in endurance sports—and why enjoyment, confidence, adaptability, and community help athletes stay active for life. You’ll learn: What self-determination theory teaches us about motivationWhy enjoyment may be more sustainable than chasing awardsHow community supports long-term participationWhy athletes need to adapt rather than compare themselves to the pastHow stress, rest, boundaries, and asking f...
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  Gut Health: Symptoms, Self-Checks, and Food First Habits [Replay] Ep 154 30.07.2026 38min

  We break down gut health using simple frameworks that connect digestion, inflammation, and the gut-brain axis. We share practical self-checks and food-first habits that help you understand what your symptoms might be telling you and how to start supporting your microbiome. • DIGIN framework for digestion, absorption, permeability, microbiota, inflammation, and the nervous system • baking soda test basics and common signs of low stomach acid • malabsorption clues and why def...
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  How Humans of Steel Became More Than Just a Triathlon Ep 153 23.07.2026 27min

  What happens when every race gets canceled...but athletes still want a finish line? That's exactly how Humans of Steel Racing was born. In this episode of the Find Your Edge Podcast, Coach Chris and Coach Carlie share the story behind Humans of Steel—from its unexpected beginnings during COVID to becoming one of North Carolina's most welcoming triathlon experiences. They discuss: Why the reverse-format triathlon is perfect for athletes looking for a unique challengeHow Humans of Steel creates...
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  How to Have a Triathlon Breakthrough in Only 1 Day (Performance, Confidence & Community) Ep 152 16.07.2026 26min

  Most athletes sign up for a training camp hoping to become a stronger swimmer, cyclist, or runner. But the biggest transformation usually isn't what they expect. In this episode of the Find Your Edge Podcast, Coach Chris Newport and Coach Carlie Frost-Poirier share stories from years of coaching Ultimate Training Days and triathlon camps, where athletes consistently discover breakthroughs that extend far beyond technique. You'll learn: • Why personalized coaching beats generic online advice •...
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  Exercise in the Heat: How Athletes Can Prevent Heat Stress [REPLAY] Ep 151 09.07.2026 31min

  Training in the heat doesn't just feel harder—it places extra stress on your body that can impact performance, recovery, and safety. In this replay episode of the Find Your Edge Podcast, Coach Chris Newport shares practical, science-based strategies to help endurance athletes and active individuals recognize the signs of heat stress, stay hydrated, and perform safely in hot and humid conditions. You'll learn: Why heat stress affects performanceEarly warning signs of heat illnessHydration and ...
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  Iron Deficiency in Endurance Athletes: Signs, Testing & Treatment Ep 150 02.07.2026 39min

  Iron deficiency is one of the most overlooked reasons endurance athletes struggle with fatigue, poor recovery, declining performance, and brain fog. In this episode of the Find Your Edge Podcast, Emily Qiu interviews iron researcher Dr. Cory Dugan, with Coach Chris Newport joining the discussion, to break down the latest science behind iron deficiency in endurance athletes. You'll learn: Why runners and triathletes lose more iron The role of hepcidin and why timing matters&nb...
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  Oats: The Simple Superfood for Performance, Health, and Longevity Ep 149 25.06.2026 41min

  Are oats really the superfood they're made out to be? In this episode of the Find Your Edge Podcast, Chris Newport and dietetic intern Emily Qiu break down everything endurance athletes need to know about oats, oatmeal, beta-glucan fiber, blood sugar control, heart health, gut health, and performance nutrition. You'll learn: • Why oats support both performance and longevity • What beta-glucan fiber actually does • The differences between steel-cut, rolled, quick, and instant oats • How oats a...
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  Lab Values That Matter For Athletes (and why doctors shouldn't do nutrition) Ep 148 18.06.2026 39min

  Most athletes get routine blood work. Very few understand which biomarkers truly matter for performance, recovery, and longevity. In this episode of Find Your Edge, Coach Chris Newport and dietetic intern Emily Qiu break down the special lab values endurance athletes should know about and why they matter. We discuss: • CBC and CMP basics • ApoB and cardiovascular risk • Magnesium and athletic performance • Vitamin B12 and MMA • Homocysteine and longevity • Vitamin D and bone health • Why athl...
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  Bone Health for Athletes: Performance Today, Longevity Tomorrow Ep 147 11.06.2026 37min

  Most athletes focus on muscles. But what about the framework that supports them? In this episode of Find Your Edge, Coach Chris Newport and dietetic intern Emily Qiu discuss why bone health matters for athletes of all ages. We cover: bone mineral density and agingwhy bone density peaks around age 30DEXA scans and why they matterstress fractures and injury preventioncalcium, vitamin D, protein, and magnesiumRED-S and low energy availabilitystrength training for stronger boneswhy cyclists and s...
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  Stop Chasing Products: Build a Fueling and Hydration System That Works Ep 146 04.06.2026 9min

  Why do so many endurance athletes struggle with cramping, GI distress, dehydration, and race-day fueling? Because they're asking the wrong question. Instead of asking: "What's the best gel?" "What's the best electrolyte?" "What's the best sports drink?" Coach Chris Newport encourages athletes to ask: "What does my body actually need?" In this episode, you'll learn: why chasing products rarely workshow sweat testing changes everythingwhy fluid, sodium, and carb needs are uniquehow ...
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  Energy Gels: What They Are, How They Work, and How to Choose the Right One Ep 145 28.05.2026 27min

  Should you use gels during training and racing? Which ones are best? And why do some athletes swear by certain brands while others cannot stomach them? In this episode of Find Your Edge, Coach Chris Newport and dietetic intern Emily Qiu break down the world of endurance gels. We cover: what gels actually dowhy fueling during exercise mattersdifferences between popular gel brandscaffeine, sodium, and carb sourcesGI distress and taste preferenceswhy you should never try a new gel on race dayhow...
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  Nutrition Strategies That Support Sleep And Mental Health For Endurance Athletes Ep 144 21.05.2026 34min

  Sleep is one of the most important recovery tools athletes have—but many endurance athletes are not getting enough. In this episode of Find Your Edge, Coach Chris Newport talks with dietetic intern Emily Qiu about how sleep and nutrition affect athlete mental health, recovery, anxiety, depression, insomnia, inflammation, and performance. We cover: why endurance athletes may need 8–10 hours of sleephow poor sleep affects recovery and inflammationthe link between sleep disorders, anxiety, and d...