Coach Chris Newport takes listeners behind the scenes of the XTERRA North American Championships in Alabama, sharing insights from training preparation to race day execution. The race represented both a personal challenge to face mountain biking fears and a test of athletic growth after six months of dedicated preparation.

• Consistent training, especially on the mountain bike, led to improved technical skills and higher functional threshold power
• Thunder and lightning delayed race morning, but race directors made smart adjustments to ensure safety
• Swimming felt strong with plenty of drafting opportunities in the mass start format
• The muddy bike course created a playful, challenging experience through technical single-track and rock gardens
• Qualifying for XTERRA World Championships in Italy became an unexpected bonus achievement
• Creating your own post-race reports helps capture valuable insights about performance, mindset, and future improvements
• Growth happens when you step into the unknown and face your fears on purpose

If you've been sitting on a big, scary goal, take this as your sign to go for it. You don't need all the answers or perfection—just show up, trust your training, and be willing to learn along the way.

Support the show

Download our free resources:

• 6 Steps to Triathlon Success: Free Guide
• Hydration Guide for Athletes
• Runner's Fueling & Hydration Cheat Sheet
• Guide to High Performance Healthy Eating

Find us here: TheEnduranceEdge.com
Race with us: Humans of Steel Olympic & Sprint Triathlon at Harris Lake, NC
Purchase Safe Supplements here.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook

Coach Chris Newport shares her methodology for developing an evidence-based fueling and hydration plan for her upcoming off-road Olympic triathlon. She demonstrates how tracking personal sweat data, testing products, and adjusting for logistics leads to a race nutrition strategy that works specifically for her body's unique needs (and will help translate to yours!)

She discusses:

• Using the four T's approach: Track it, Try it, Tweak it, Trust it
• The importance of tracking sweat rate based on dew point, workout type, and intensity
• Calculating exact sodium, fluid, and carbohydrate needs using personal sweat testing data
• Choosing products that match your specific requirements (plus her specific products she uses)
• Managing pre-race logistics when traveling, including food planning and sleep considerations
• Preparing familiar foods that work well with your system before races
• Creating workable solutions for carrying nutrition during events with restrictions
• Planning recovery nutrition immediately after racing

Join our Fueling and Hydration Bootcamp at theenduranceedge.com/fuelingbootcamp to develop your own personalized plan and stop letting nutrition be the reason you fall short.

Support the show

Download our free resources:

• 6 Steps to Triathlon Success: Free Guide
• Hydration Guide for Athletes
• Runner's Fueling & Hydration Cheat Sheet
• Guide to High Performance Healthy Eating

Find us here: TheEnduranceEdge.com
Race with us: Humans of Steel Olympic & Sprint Triathlon at Harris Lake, NC
Purchase Safe Supplements here.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook

In this episode of Find Your Edge, Coach Chris Newport breaks down popular supplements for endurance athletes—backed by science, tested in real-world training. Learn which ones are worth your attention, and which ones may depend on your unique physiology and genetics.

🔹 The #1 most proven supplement for endurance
🔹 Why sodium—not just electrolytes—is your race-day MVP
🔹 How sweat testing can reveal your exact electrolyte needs
🔹 The caffeine conundrum: why your genes matter more than you think
🔹 Beetroot juice & nitric oxide: helpful or hype?
🔹 Beta-alanine, creatine, and sodium bicarb—when (or if) they make sense
🔹 The real risk of high-dose antioxidants on training adaptation
🔹 Why every supplement must be tested in training first

🎯 Ready to personalize your plan?
Join our Fueling and Hydration Bootcamp to get sweat testing, expert coaching, and customized protocols that actually work for YOU!

Support the show

Download our free resources:

• 6 Steps to Triathlon Success: Free Guide
• Hydration Guide for Athletes
• Runner's Fueling & Hydration Cheat Sheet
• Guide to High Performance Healthy Eating

Find us here: TheEnduranceEdge.com
Race with us: Humans of Steel Olympic & Sprint Triathlon at Harris Lake, NC
Purchase Safe Supplements here.
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook