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What if the hardest part of your fitness journey wasn’t the training—but the reactions of the people around you?

In the first episode of our new Training Truths series, Coach James sits down with Melanie to share her remarkable journey of losing more than 100 pounds and discovering a passion for running that transformed her life.

Along the way, she expected challenges like early mornings, sore legs, and tough workouts. What she didn’t expect was the criticism from people closest to her. From being told she’s “too skinny” to hearing she’s “addicted to running,” Melanie opens up about the emotional side of pursuing better health and learning to stay committed when not everyone understands your journey.

Together, we discuss the difference between discipline and obsession, why personal growth can make others uncomfortable, and how to remain focused on becoming the healthiest version of yourself without letting outside opinions define your path.

Whether you’re training for your first 5K, preparing for a HYROX race, or simply trying to build healthier habits, this conversation will encourage you to keep moving forward, even when the people around you don’t fully understand why.

Training Truth #1: Not everyone will understand your commitment, but you don’t need everyone’s approval to pursue better health.

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HYROX is evolving, and so should your training.

This week on the Running with James Podcast, Coach Tommy joins the show as we break down the latest HYROX rule changes, what they mean for athletes, and how they’ll impact both training and race day.

We also tackle one of the biggest challenges in the sport today: with so much advice online, how do you know who to trust? From social media influencers to experienced coaches, we discuss how to separate good information from bad, avoid common training mistakes, and build a plan that actually prepares you for success.

Whether you’re training for your first HYROX or chasing a World Championship qualification, this episode will help you navigate the noise and train with confidence.

In this episode:
• The newest HYROX rule changes explained
• How the changes affect race strategy and training
• Common mistakes athletes make while preparing
• Who you should (and shouldn’t) listen to for training advice
• Practical coaching insights from Coach James and Coach Tommy

Train smart. Stay consistent. Build champions.

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Success isn’t built in a single workout, one race, or even one season—it’s built through consistency, patience, and trusting the work when the results aren’t immediately visible.

In Week 6 of The Performance Lab, we’re talking about one of the hardest lessons every athlete has to learn: trusting the process.

Whether you’re training for a marathon, preparing for HYROX, chasing a new PR, or simply trying to become a healthier version of yourself, there will be moments when you question if your hard work is paying off.

This episode is about learning to stay committed during those moments.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why progress is rarely linear
• The difference between results and growth
• How consistency compounds over time
• Why comparing your journey to others slows your own progress
• The importance of patience in long-term athletic development
• How elite athletes stay committed when they don’t see immediate results

The best athletes aren’t the ones who never struggle—they’re the ones who keep showing up, trusting the process, and allowing time to do its work.

💬 Question of the Day:

When has trusting the process paid off in your life or training?

Share your story in the comments—we’d love to hear it and encourage others in the community.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs this reminder today.

For exclusive Coach’s Corner episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and bonus coaching conversations, join us on Patreon.

Remember…
Change your mind. Change your life.

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Have you ever felt like you’re doing all the right things—showing up, putting in the work, staying consistent—but somehow you’re not getting any better?

You’re not alone.

In Week 5 of The Performance Lab, we tackle one of the most frustrating challenges athletes face: the plateau. We break down the hidden reasons runners, HYROX athletes, and fitness enthusiasts stop progressing, even when they’re training hard.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why consistency alone isn’t enough
• The danger of training your strengths and ignoring your weaknesses
• How comfort can quietly stall your progress
• The role of fatigue, recovery, and life stress
• Why coachability matters more than talent
• How high-performing athletes continue to improve year after year

The truth is, most athletes don’t hit their ceiling—they hit their habits.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, frustrated, or like your progress has slowed down, this episode will help you identify what’s holding you back and how to break through to the next level.

Question of the Day:
Where do you feel you’re currently plateauing—fitness, mindset, recovery, consistency, or confidence?

Subscribe for more episodes from The Performance Lab, where we explore what actually helps athletes perform better.

When you change your mind… you change your life.

#RunningWithJames #PerformanceLab #HybridAthlete #RunningTips #HYROX #EnduranceTraining #Mindset #RunningCoach #FitnessPodcast #AthleteDevelopment

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This week on Running with James… Coach Carlos is BACK!

We dive into the current state of HYROX and there’s a lot to unpack:

🔥 The controversy surrounding HYROX NYC
🎟️ Why getting a race ticket feels harder than ever
🌎 What to expect as the World Championships approach
📈 Is HYROX growing too fast, or is this just the next phase of the sport?

And of course, Don Carlito himself, aka Coach Carlos, returns to the mic to share his thoughts, insights, and a few opinions that might stir the pot.

Whether you’re a seasoned competitor, training for your first race, or just trying to figure out what all the HYROX buzz is about, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation:
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing HYROX right now?

#RunningWithJames #HYROX #HYROXTraining #FitnessPodcast #CoachCarlos #DonCarlito #HybridAthlete #FitnessCommunity #RaceDay #HYROXWorlds

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This week on the Running with James Podcast, we’re joined by new friend Christian Rhodes—ultra runner, Ironman finisher, owner of Rhodes Run Lab, and a guy whose mission goes far beyond selling running shoes.

Christian shares the story behind Rhodes Run Lab, how he got started in endurance sports, and the experiences that shaped his personal motto: “Bigger Than Me.”

We dive into:

• His journey into ultramarathons and Ironman racing
• The purpose that fuels his training and business
• Why helping people is about more than finding the right shoe
• Building community through running
• Lessons learned from pushing physical and mental limits
• The impact a local run specialty store can have on an athlete’s journey

Plus, we check out some of the latest performance footwear from PUMA and talk about what’s new, what’s exciting, and what runners should have on their radar.

Whether you’re chasing a PR, training for your first race, or looking for a little inspiration, this episode is a reminder that the miles we run can be about something much bigger than ourselves.

Run hard. Serve others. Think bigger than

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With Special Guest Co-Host Leah Wyatt & Coach Lauren

Episode Description

In the world of running, HYROX, and endurance sports, we spend a lot of time talking about training plans, workouts, nutrition, recovery, and race day strategies. But what about the people who help make it all possible?

This week on The Performance Lab, James is joined by Coach Lauren and special guest co-host Leah Wyatt for a conversation about the often-overlooked side of performance: relationships, support systems, community, and the environment that shapes every athlete.

Together, they discuss:

• Why high performance is rarely a solo effort
• The impact of spouses, family, friends, and training partners
• Balancing ambitious goals with everyday life
• When training becomes identity
• The difference between commitment and obsession
• How community helps athletes stay consistent through hard seasons

Whether you’re chasing a marathon PR, preparing for your next HYROX, or simply trying to become a healthier version of yourself, this episode is a reminder that the people around you play a bigger role in your success than you may realize.

Because behind every athlete is a story—and often, a team of people helping them become who they’re meant to be.

High performance isn’t built alone.

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Everybody loves the highlight reel: PRs, podiums, and race photos. But what actually builds great athletes? Pressure. Adversity. Failure. Fatigue. The moments when things don’t go according to plan.

In Week 3 of The Performance Lab, James is joined by Rocky and Coach Lauren to break down the mental side of performance and why adversity often becomes the greatest catalyst for growth.

The crew dives into:
• Why pressure reveals preparation
• The difference between discomfort and danger
• Why one bad workout doesn’t define you
• Mental toughness vs reckless training
• HYROX, compromised running, and composure under fatigue
• Why consistency matters more than emotional training
• Learning to stay calm when everything starts getting hard

This episode is for every athlete who’s ever struggled through a bad race, doubted themselves during training, or wondered if hard seasons were actually worth it.

Because comfort hides weaknesses.
Pressure exposes them.

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