In this episode, Host Allison Bettin is joined by Matt Dixon, an elite triathlon coach and cofounder of Purple Patch Fitness, for an athlete-focused episode on the off-season, including practical strategies to help athletes integrate their training with work, family, and life, as well as building systems that drive long-term success.
Instead of chasing peak fitness or pushing for higher power numbers, Matt urges athletes to focus on rejuvenation, consistency, and building foundational habits that set the stage for breakthroughs later in the season. He makes it clear: the off-season is not about piling on more work, but fine-tuning the invisible groundwork, like sleep, nutrition, strength training, and skill development.
Whether you’re a dedicated competitor or just striving to be your best, tune in for expert tips and actionable advice that will help you come back stronger, faster, and ready to tackle your goals head-on. If you’re wondering how to structure your downtime for maximum gain, this episode is packed with real-world wisdom on building consistency, adopting a “challenge mindset,” and making off-season training not just effective, but fun and fulfilling.
Standout Quotes
On the Power of the Off-Season: “It’s very difficult to truly think about technical development or skill development or even getting used to new equipment when you’ve got a looming race. So when you de-pressure that, when you’re not chasing and you’re not through this race-specific mindset, it gives you capacity.”
“But the true power is when you have a partnership to help you navigate the journey, to help you focus on the right things for you in your situation, and that’s where a coach has someone that’s got a lot of wisdom typically, a broad range of athletes they’ve worked with, can understand you and hopefully can really communicate with you in a way that works for you to ensure that you’re doing the things that are gonna help you be successful.”
on the benefits of a coach
On the Value of Strength Training: “One of the two things that you can do that are nonnegotiable, the best medicine we have is strength. And so forget about sport, this is important for us globally.”
“Because by taking on a journey that is realistic in nature and takes you towards that journey, so that’s why it wants to be realistic, you’re gonna get not just a boost of energy, higher cognitive function, but you’re gonna live through experiences that enable you to perform across much more in life because all of these experiences is the great trainer of the brain, all of the mindset traits that high performer share.”
ON The rewards of commitment
