Hello Reader,

On May 19, 2021 I published a simple piece: “Why Athletica.” It laid out a hope. That science, thoughtfully encoded, could help everyday athletes train well, stay healthy, and perform.

Today that hope feels a little surreal. Luke Evans, a Toronto-based engineer who started triathlon five years ago, recently used Athletica to self-coach his way to the overall win at IRONMAN Canada–Ottawa (8:40:22).

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Below are the podcast, the deep-dive blog, and the principles behind the result—transferable to any motivated athlete or coach.

🎧 New podcast

“Self-Coached to an Ironman Win: Luke Evans on Consistency, Load & Readiness”
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In the podcast, we cover:

• The path from hockey/water polo to triathlon during COVID
• How he uses Athletica week-to-week (load management, workout alternates, taper cues)
• Race execution: smart swim into the current, steady aero pacing, and managing the day around a full-time job
• What changes as he builds toward Arizona

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📝 New Blog - How a Self-Coached Athlete Won IRONMAN Canada with Athletica AI

• Key charts: Performance Potential, Recovery/HRV, and the over–under long-ride strategy
• Training blueprint you can copy (progressive intensity, consistency over perfection)
• Race-day execution, compressed

How the science and technology merged for Luke

These are the same principles available to any motivated athlete or coach:

1. Load management you can follow — A clear progression curve (Performance Potential) to calibrate stress across the build, then a taper that lets freshness rise on time.
2. Progressive intensity — Threshold sets extend over the cycle; VO₂ density increases; late-phase long runs include quality.
3. Consistency over perfection — A fixed 4-hour Saturday ride every week. The work (e.g., over–unders, 2×40′ at race pace) stays sacred; warm-up/cool-down flex with life.
4. HRV-guided readiness — Recovery trends used to green-light or down-shift key sessions, and to confirm taper freshness—especially after a July 5 car collision.
5. Simple gear, clear intent — An older Felt IA and sensible wheels; training execution and planning trump fancy equipment.
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If you have the desire, a bit of time, and can access the tech, these principles are learnable. They’re not reserved for elites.

Try this this week (for athletes)

• Pick one anchor habit: protect a consistent long-ride or long-run slot for the next 4–6 weeks.
• Make the work explicit: write the key intervals you’ll keep even if the clock changes.
• Track one readiness signal: HRV or morning resting HR, plus a quick 1–5 “how I feel” check-in.
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For coaches

• Use performance-potential style load charts to align athlete perception with plan intent.
• Gate high-intensity days with HRV + athlete narrative, not the calendar.
• Use athlete case studies to note the specific sessions that moved the needle.
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Thanks for reading. It’s been a long arc from the initial idea to an athlete breaking the tape with these tools. I’m grateful for everyone contributing to our exploding Forum around the science and the evolution of product, and for athletes like Luke who put it into practice.

Paul Laursen, PhD

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