What happens when the sport you've dedicated your life to suddenly gets taken away from you?

At 17, Nina Derron was a Swiss Junior Champion in triathlon, duathlon, and the 10km. And then chronic back pain stopped everything...

What followed was nearly 3 years away from competition, a PhD in Clinical Science from ETH Zurich, and one of the most remarkable comeback stories in triathlon.

In this episode, Nina walks us through the injury that derailed her junior career, how she rebuilt her relationship with the sport, and the deliberate decision, at 32, to finally go all-in as a full-time professional triathlete.

We also dive into Brett Sutton's RPE-based training philosophy, why Nina barely looks at her data, what it's like training alongside the Chinese national team, and the importance of bone density screening for young endurance athletes.

A story about patience, resilience, and trusting the process: for athletes and coaches at every level.

--

Connect with Nina: @nina_derron

Connect with Bruna: @justbrunathings

Connect with Fabi: @endurance_fabi

Sign-up for augo's launch event: https://luma.com/8l4kbup7

What does it take to start triathlon at 28, coach yourself to a pro license within a year, and then break a cycling world record?

Meet Jonathan Guisolan, whose unconventional path is rewriting the rules of what's possible in endurance sports. Jonathan didn't grow up as a competitive athlete. He started cycling at 22 while studying Exercise Physiology, turned pro in cycling, then transitioned to triathlon at 28.

In 2025 (just his second year as a professional triathlete) he won his first pro race at Challenge Sir Bani Yas and then broke the 6-hour velodrome cycling world record, covering 276.795 km at an average speed of 46.1 km/h.

Whether you're a late starter questioning your potential, a self-coached athlete seeking validation, or simply someone fascinated by the intersection of science, resilience, and performance, Jonathan's journey will inspire you.

--

Follow Jonathan: @jonathanguisolan

Follow Fabi: @endurance_fabi

Follow Bruna: @justbrunathings

Swiss pro triathlete Leana Bissig joins the Human Endurance Podcast straight from her season high finishing top 20 in T100. Inspired by Nicola Spirig's Olympic gold, Leana worked her way up from junior swimming to racing on triathlon's biggest stages, all while completing a master's in health sciences at ETH Zurich.

In this episode, she opens up about balancing studies with 20-hour training weeks, the leap from short course to middle distance racing, what it's like competing in the T100 series, and the mental breakthroughs that took her to the next level. Additionally we share insights into her approach to nutrition, why she's never had a major injury, and her one piece of advice for every endurance athlete.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction00:46 Leana's Journey into Triathlon02:15 Transition to Professional Athlete03:54 Balancing Studies and Training08:35 Training Strategies and Adaptations13:17 Insights on Long-Distance Training20:56 Race Experiences and Successes22:44 Meet the Coach: Balancing Sports and Studies24:23 Choosing Races: From Middle Distance to WTCS26:38 The T100 Experience: Competing at the Highest Level27:46 Team Dynamics: Support and Sponsorship30:19 Nutrition Insights: Fueling for Performance34:45 Strength Training: Staying Injury-Free35:49 Planning the Upcoming Season: Training and Rest39:11 Favorite Training Sessions: Bike, Run, and Swim41:03 Final Thoughts and Where to Find More