Season 6 Ep 2 — Exploring Joe Friel's 40-Year Coaching Evolution

TrainingPeaks CoachCast

In this episode, we have none other than Joe Friel, a legendary figure in the world of endurance coaching. As the co-founder of TrainingPeaks and author of several seminal books on athletic training, Joe has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of endurance sports. The fifth edition of the Triathlon Training Bible hit shelves earlier this month. Plus, he has kept his peak health and participation in the sports scene into his 80s.

In our conversation, Joe takes us on a journey through his career: from opening the first triathlon store in the U.S. in the late 1980s to becoming a pioneering coach when the concept was still in its infancy. He shares the challenges and triumphs of building a coaching business, from charging a mere $5 for training plans to achieving his goal of having 70 clients.

We'll break down Joe's philosophy on integrating RPE and data, stressing the importance of experienced athletes tuning into their own bodies in conjunction with the objective metrics from technology.

Joe also provides insights into the evolution of triathlon coaching, his prolific writing career started by personal health challenges, and his peers' concerns about sharing his knowledge too freely — a concern echoed in today's discussions around technology and AI.

**pardon the audio quality in the first five minutes of the interview, as there were some technical difficulties.