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Where the real gains are made. This is a triathlon podcast dedicated to the big picture ways to get faster and develop as an athlete. Hosted by Marilyn Chychota head coach of Marilyn Chychota Coaching, and Jesse Vondracek the head coach of Top Step Training.
Episodes
Wednesday Aug 13, 2025
Wednesday Aug 13, 2025
Readiness for performance isn’t a simple checklist of fitness metrics or generic data points. It’s personal, layered, and often emotional. It evolves as we do—shaped by age, experience, setbacks, and growth.
Friday Aug 01, 2025
Friday Aug 01, 2025
Episode # 134
The Endurance of Adaptation: Living, Racing, and Thriving with Diabetes
In this edition of “The 99%,” Marilyn sits down with two longtime friends, athletes, and training partners—Eddie Fishman and Gary Allen—to talk about endurance sport, diabetes, and the delicate balance between performance and health. What unfolds is a raw, insightful, and powerful conversation that transcends diagnosis and dives deep into self-awareness, adaptation, and the athlete’s mindset.
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Episode #133 Open Water Swim Skills
In this Episode Marilyn and Jesse chat about going from swimming in the pool to swimming in open water. We go into ways to mimic open water in the pool and some skills you can work on in the pool to get better at open water swimming, after all how you swim in open water is really the only benchmark of success! Enjoy -
Marilyn -- swim resources
Jesse -- Top Step Training
Friday Jun 13, 2025
Friday Jun 13, 2025
Episode #132 The Benefits of Exercise on Mental Health
A really fun chat with Marilyn outlining all the positives of exercise on mental heath. There are so many benefits that training has on your life, we just touched on a few - goal setting, routine, health, great habits and many more!
Thursday May 22, 2025
Thursday May 22, 2025
Episode #131 Kona, Training trends and Racing!
This Episode we discuss the move of Ironman back to world championships as a one day event in Kona. We talk about some discussions on training and racing we have been hearing in the triathlon world especially after Sanders dominate start to the year. We also talk in a bit more detail what is going on in our own racing.
Thursday May 08, 2025
Thursday May 08, 2025
Episode #130 The long swim with Christina MacDougall
We dive into the world of Open Water Swimming and have a great chat with Christina. She is an extremely accomplished swimmer herself and we roll through lots of the ins and outs of swimming long. She has recently completed the SCAR event in Arizona and is preparing for th English Channel Swim! Lots of great insights here!
Questions?
Looking for individual coaching? -- check us out!
Top Step Training - Jesse
MCC - Marilyn
Friday Apr 25, 2025
Friday Apr 25, 2025
Episode #129 Scheduling workouts -- behind the curtain
In this episode Marilyn and Jesse get into what factors go into the writing, scheduling and spacing of an athletes workouts. We talk about our key points in looking at cumulative fatigue, race performance, athlete history. This is a really good listen if you have ever asked about the why behind a workout!
This document is referenced in the workout!
Looking for individual coaching? check us out!
Top Step Training - Jesse
MCC - Marilyn
Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
Episode #128 Short Course Racing with Anna Zehnder
In this Episode Marilyn and I are joined by Short Course rock start Anna Z. She is a duathlete and xterra athlete with Olympic goals in triathlon. She most recently raced few races in the Americas and we were fortunate to hear her take on the racing and training leading in. She is a Wildcat so I get the privilege to be one of the on deck coaches while she swims! Follow her journey-
Thursday Mar 27, 2025
Thursday Mar 27, 2025
Episode 127 Marathon in Triathlon Training
Jesse and Marilyn tackle the topic of adding in a marathon into your triathlon year. We discuss the whys and the why nots for including one in your year. Ultimately, racing is an expression of passion so you need to do what you love! But, we chat about some of the pros and cons to both.
Friday Feb 21, 2025
Friday Feb 21, 2025
Episode #126 The mental side of performance
Do you race better happy or angry? Are you sure? In this episode Marilyn and Jesse discuss the emotional and mental state you need to be in in order to get the most out of yourself. I spend a decade doing it wrong, so have a listen, and spare yourself 10 years!