Race Ready
Race Ready is the go-to podcast for Nordic skiing and biathlon coaches, athletes, and endurance sport enthusiasts. Hosted by Olympian Andy Newell and U.S. Biathlon coach Brian Halligan, each episode dives into technique, training, race strategy, and athlete development. Hear from top coaches, pros, and sport scientists as we explore what it takes to perform at your best—on and off the snow.
Episodes
S2 E8. Jason Cork: 16 years of coaching Jessie Diggins
Jason Cork has spent the last two decades quietly shaping some of the most successful athletes in American cross-country skiing. As the longtime coach of Jessie Diggins and a key figure behind multiple Olympic medals, World Championship podiums, and Crystal Globes, Cork has built a reputation as one of the sport's sharpest minds. In this rare long-form conversation, he joins Andy Newell and Br
S2 E7. What Percent of Training Should be Ski Specific?
This week on the Race Ready Podcast, Brian and Andy tackle one of the most common questions in endurance training: how should beginner athletes structure their intensity distribution when they only have three or four days per week to train? Drawing on both coaching experience and emerging research from Norway, they break down why low-volume athletes may actually benefit from a higher percentage of
S2 E6. Sophia Laukli opens up about why she needed to take a step away from skiing.
After stepping away from the World Cup circuit, missing the Olympic season, and disappearing from competition, Sophia Laukli sits down for an exclusive and remarkably candid conversation on the Race Ready Podcast. One of the most successful American cross-country skiers and trail runners of her generation opens up about the difficult decisions, physical struggles, and mental battles that led her t
S2 E5. Blood Volume, Burnout & Broken Training Zones
This week on the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan dive deep into the realities of early summer training. From rebuilding training rhythm after spring downtime to understanding why your heart rate suddenly feels sky-high on roller skis, the conversation breaks down the physiology behind those frustrating “out of shape” feelings that almost every skier and biathlete experiences in
S2 E4. Emma Albrecht: From Broken Spine to the World Cup
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, we sit down with rising American cross-country skier Emma Albrecht to unpack one of the most unique development stories in U.S. skiing right now. From elite-level gymnastics and career-threatening back injuries to becoming the 2026 SuperTour overall leader and qualifying for the World Cup, Emma shares how she went from barely skiing as a teenager to racin
S2 E3. Is Hawaii Secretly a Perfect Training Location for XC Skiers?
In this episode of Race Ready, Brian Halligan and Andy Newell answer listener questions centered around one of the most important times of the year for endurance athletes: the transition into summer training. The conversation focuses heavily on building the right foundation for long-term development, including how athletes should approach equipment, strength work, training structure, and recovery
S2 E2 Zak Ketterson on Why Training Harder Isn’t the Answer.
This episode of the Race Ready Podcast dives deep into the journey of rising U.S. cross-country skier Zak Ketterson, fresh off a breakthrough season that included a top-10 World Cup finish and Olympic qualification. Zak opens up about the mental side of high-performance sport, particularly the imposter syndrome that can follow major results, and how learning to trust his fitness and execute “norma
S2 E1. Stacking Bricks: The Real Path to Success is Consistency
Kick off a new training year with a fresh perspective in this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, where hosts Andy Newell and Brian Halligan dive into the art and science of planning and periodizing endurance training. Framed around the “Nordie New Year” on May 1st, this conversation explores how athletes and coaches can reset, reflect, and build a smarter path forward. From post-season debriefs to
Ep. 46 Rest, Reflect, Rebuild: How Much Rest Do Endurance Athletes REALLY Need?
As the season winds down and the energy of World Cup racing fades into spring, this episode of Race Ready captures the unique transition point every endurance athlete knows well. Fresh off a high-energy weekend in Lake Placid, hosts Andy Newell and Brian Halligan reflect on what it’s like to witness world-class racing up close. From the technical brilliance of elite skiers to the gritty reality of
Ep . 45 What Should Skiers Do in March? End-of-Season Training Explained
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, hosts Andy Newell and Brian Halligan catch up after a busy stretch of international racing, including the World Junior Championships for both biathlon and cross country. Brian shares insights from coaching in Arber, where the U.S. team battled tricky spring conditions and tough competition, while Andy reflects on the logistical chaos and technical challen
Ep. 44 Olympic Takeaways: Skis, Strategy, and Split-Second Decisions
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, hosts Andy Newell and Brian Halligan reconnect after an intense Olympic stretch, recording from an airport lounge en route to Junior World Championships in Europe. The conversation kicks off with behind-the-scenes Olympic reflections, including what viewers don’t always see on broadcast. From waxing strategy and ski selection decisions to the complex coll
Ep. 43 Sverre Caldwell’s Formula for Development Success
What does it take to develop world-class endurance athletes — not just fast juniors, but Olympic-level performers who thrive for decades? In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Brian Halligan and Andy Newell sit down with legendary Stratton Mountain School coach Sverre Caldwell, whose athletes have produced junior national champions for over two decades and gone on to Olympic success. Sverre s
Ep. 42 Kikkan Randall’s Honest Breakdown of Pressure, Pain, and Performance
In this powerful episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Brian Halligan and Andy Newell sit down with Olympic gold medalist Kikkan Randall for a deep dive into life after elite competition — and the lessons that still shape high-performance athletes today. From her transition into Olympic governance with the IOC, to leading grassroots skiing in Anchorage, to working behind the scenes with NBC’s Olympic
Ep. 41 The Peaking Episode
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan dive deep into one of the most debated topics in endurance sports: peaking for championship events. Drawing from elite World Cup trends, Olympic preparation strategies, and real-world coaching experience, they unpack why peak performance isn’t something you chase in the final week — but rather something built intentionally t
Ep. 40 JD Downing Leads Team USA to the Masters World Cup: Training, Tapering, and Competing After 40
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with JD Downing, one of the most influential figures in U.S. masters skiing and a driving force behind XC Oregon and American Cross Country Skiers. With more than two decades of experience coaching, organizing, and leading Team USA contingents to the Masters World Cup, JD offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how
Ep. 39 Faster after stepping away from the sport?
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy and Brian check in from opposite sides of the Atlantic as Brian joins the show live from Latvia during the IBU Junior Cup. The conversation opens with insight into international racing environments, athlete development at the Junior Cup level, and how these European competitions serve as a critical stepping stone toward World Juniors, World Cups, and
Ep. 38 What Elite Athletes Do Between Sprint Heats with USSS PT Ned Dowling
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with Ned Dowling, physical therapist at the University of Utah Orthopedic Center and one of the leading biomechanical minds working in endurance sport today. With experience spanning pro cycling, World Cup cross-country skiing, and ski mountaineering, Ned brings a unique, systems-level perspective to performance, in
Ep. 37 How Erika Flowers Balances Elite Racing, Motherhood, and a Full-Time Job
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with elite skier and trail runner Erika Flowers for a wide-ranging conversation on training, racing, and life as a professional athlete juggling work, family, and competition. Recording from a snowy holiday break in Vermont, the discussion opens with reflections on East Coast skiing culture before diving into Erika’
Ep. 36 Gary Chambers: The Master's Perspective
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Brian Halligan and Andy Newell sit down with Gary Chambers, a fourth-generation Alberta grain farmer, CANSkI Level 4 instructor, Alberta Masters Association director, and Masters World Cup competitor to explore what makes masters skiing such a powerful and often overlooked part of the Nordic community. From Norway’s participation culture to North America’
Ep. 35 Training Through Racing: Don’t Panic After Early Season Results
In this episode of Race Ready, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan break down the biggest early-season takeaways from the Biathlon and Cross-Country World Cups, including surprising yellow-bib leaders, hot starts from U.S. athletes, and why it’s dangerous to draw conclusions too early in the season. They discuss how elite athletes manage training volume during the opening weekends, what it really means
Ep. 34 Øyvind Sandbakk: The Science Behind the Norwegian Training Model
In this wide-ranging and deeply insightful conversation, Brian Halligan and Andy Newell sit down with Dr. Øyvind Sandbakk—one of the most influential figures in modern endurance training science. From his early days as a competitive skier to his role as a professor, researcher, and architect of much of what the world now calls the “Norwegian training model,” Øyvind shares the winding path that led
Ep. 33 Your Best Training Happens on the Worst Snow.
This episode dives into the realities of early-season ski training, especially the challenges of “shoulder season” conditions when snow coverage is inconsistent. Andy and Brian share how coaches and athletes adapt plans on the fly, trading perfectly structured workouts for creative solutions like sprint relays on rock skis and embracing less-than-ideal snow. The key takeaway: time on snow, even in
Ep. 32 Zach Caldwell's 4 Pillars of Coaching
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Brian Halligan and Andy Newell sit down with legendary ski technician, physiologist, and mentor Zach Caldwell for a wide-ranging conversation that bridges the worlds of elite performance and real-world application. Zach dives deep into the evolving craft of ski preparation in the post-fluoro era, breaking down why methodology often matters more than brand
Ep. 31 VO₂ Max vs. Threshold: The 'Double Whammy' Explained.
In this week’s episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy and Brian dive into the chaos, excitement, and pressure of early-season ski and biathlon preparation. From crowded inboxes to snow-hunting missions and travel logistics, they share what this time of year really looks like for coaches balancing athlete needs, race schedules, and constantly shifting plans. The conversation kicks off with a refle
Ep. 30 Chad Salmela: What is Threshold?
On this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with legendary skier, coach, and NBC analyst Chad Salmela for a deep-dive into performance, physiology, and the evolution of endurance training. Chad opens up about his eclectic career, from racing biathlon professionally, to leading NCAA runners, to shaping the next generation of Team Berkie athletes, and how each
Ep. 29 Inside the Athlete Mind: Lessons from Diggins, Ogden, Kern and Wright
In Episode 29 of the Race Ready Podcast, hosts Andy Newell and Brian Halligan reflect on the biggest lessons from this year’s training and racing season. From early-season takeaways at Soldier Hollow to insights drawn from World Cup athletes like Jessie Diggins, Julia Kern, Ben Ogden, and Campbell Wright, this episode dives deep into the mental and physical fundamentals that define elite endurance
Ep. 28 Campbell Wright: From New Zealand to the top of the world.
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, hosts Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with biathlon phenom Campbell Wright, Junior World Champion, U23 Blue Bib winner, and 2x World Championship silver medalist, to unpack his remarkable journey from the Snow Farm of New Zealand to the top of the international biathlon stage. Campbell shares how a small ski club at Snow Farm and a passion for rac
Ep. 27 Candidly Jessie Diggins.
In this special episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins for an in-depth and deeply personal conversation about the mindset, training, and heart behind her success. From her early days racing at Minnesota high school meets to becoming one of the most decorated cross-country skiers in U.S. history, Jessie reflects on the lo
Ep. 26 Do Masters Really Need Lactate Tests?
In this listener-driven episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan open with stories from Soldier Hollow, Whitefish, and early-season training camps before diving into a stack of listener questions. The duo explores the value of lactate testing for master skiers—when it’s worth the investment, when “easy, medium, hard” is good enough, and why feel still matters more than lab
Ep. 25 Inside the Athlete’s Mind: Building Resilience with Dr. Lauren Loberg
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, host Andy Newell sits down with Dr. Lauren Loberg, a performance psychology consultant whose experience spans the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team, the NFL, and elite winter sport athletes. Together, they explore the mental side of high-performance sport — from stress management and emotional regulation to the importance of mental “prehab” for preventing burno
Ep. 24 Altitude Camps Explained: Timing, Benefits, and Best Practices
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, hosts Andy Newell and Brian Halligan dive deep into the benefits and challenges of altitude training. They share insights from observing world-class athletes like Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Emil Iversen training in Park City, and discuss how altitude adaptation varies from athlete to athlete. The conversation covers what it means to be an “altitude respon
Ep 23 Susan Dunklee: From Vermont Roots to World Championship Podiums
In this episode of Race Ready, hosts Andy Newell and Brian Halligan welcome three-time Olympian and World Championship medalist Susan Dunklee for a wide-ranging conversation about her journey from Vermont ski racer to international biathlon standout. Susan reflects on her early days growing up in a skiing family, her transition into biathlon through the early days of "Project X", and the
Ep. 22 Chris Grover on Building U.S. Skiing Into a World Power
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with Chris Grover, longtime U.S. Ski Team coach and current program director for cross-country skiing. Grover shares his perspective on what it takes to bring more World Cup events to the United States, the financial and logistical hurdles behind them, and how climate change and global economics are shaping the inte
Ep. 21 The Long Game: Cultivating Endurance Resilience
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan dive into the lessons learned from Andy’s recent experience at UTMB and how they translate to building resilience as an athlete. From the challenges of fueling and sodium balance to the mental process of evaluating performance after a tough race, Andy shares candid insights into the realities of long-distance competition and
Ep. 20 Jim Galanes: Coaching Wisdom from 50 Years in Nordic Skiing
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with Olympian and legendary coach Jim Galanes for an in-depth conversation on training philosophy, athlete development, and the evolution of Nordic skiing in the United States. The discussion begins with the “dog days of summer” training block, where both coaches reflect on the heavy training loads their athletes ar
Ep. 19 The Elusive “Perfect” Training Plan, and More Listener Questions
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, hosts Andy Newell and Brian Halligan dig into listener questions and explore the nuances of summer training for cross-country skiing and biathlon. They kick things off with reflections on their own recent workouts, highlighting the contrast between long, steady L3 intervals and high-tempo double-pole sessions. This sets the stage for a broader discussion
Ep. 18 Ben Ogden: Balancing School and the Olympics
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with U.S. Ski Team standout Ben Ogden for an in-depth conversation about his journey from small-town Vermont skier to World Cup podium contender. Ben shares how the ski culture in Southern Vermont, with deep community roots and role models like the Caldwells and his own family, gave him the belief that a professiona
Ep. 17 Are You Biathlon’s Next Big Star? Ft. Tim Burke
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, hosts Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with Tim Burke — four-time Olympian, 2013 World Championship silver medalist, and current Director of Athlete Development for U.S. Biathlon. Tim shares his journey from growing up near Lake Placid to becoming the first American to wear the yellow bib on the Biathlon World Cup, including the pivotal coaching ch
Ep. 16 Noah Hoffman: Olympic Racer, Athlete Advocate.
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan sit down with former U.S. Olympic cross-country skier Noah Hoffman for a wide-ranging conversation that bridges elite sport, personal growth, and advocacy. Hoffman shares his journey from growing up in Aspen and racing World Cup straight out of high school, to representing Team USA at the Sochi and Pyeongchang Olympics. He o
Ep. 15 The Shorter the Race; The Longer the Warm-Up
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy and Brian dive deep into summer racing strategy, the value of time trials, and how athletes can sharpen both their physical and mental tools during the offseason. They discuss the timing and purpose of summer race series like the Jericho roller ski nationals, emphasizing the importance of high-intensity efforts at low altitude, building speed enduran
Ep. 14 Muscles don't have Memory: Balance and Movement Science with Dr. Sharon Henry.
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy and Brian sit down with Dr. Sharon Henry, Professor of Physical Therapy Emerita at the University of Vermont, to explore the intersection of neuroscience, balance, and athletic performance in Nordic skiing. With decades of research in neuromotor control and a unique perspective shaped by both clinical work and personal experience in the ski community
Ep. 13 Years of Club Development Wisdom with Rick Kapala
In this episode, we welcome seasoned coach Rick Kapala, Program Director and Head Nordic Ski Coach at the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation since 1987, a three‑time US Ski & Snowboard Coach of the Year, and a long‑standing force in developing junior athletes and national racing programs.Rick shares his incisive perspective on the current landscape of junior development in the U.S., highlight
Ep. 12 Overtraining vs. Under-Recovering. Understanding the Signs
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in endurance training: overtraining versus overreaching. Timed perfectly with mid-summer volume weeks, they discuss how athletes at every level—from juniors to pros—can recognize the signs of training stress and avoid the downward spiral of under-recovery. They also reflect on thei
Ep. 11 Criteria and Data-Driven Development with Gus Keading
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy and Brian welcome Gus Kaeding, the Director of Performance and Analytics at U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Gus shares his unique journey from competitive skiing and coaching to leading data-driven projects that are reshaping how the U.S. Ski Team approaches athlete development, Olympic criteria, and performance tracking. The trio kicks things off discussi
Ep. 10 Media, Pro-Teams and the Future of Broadcasting with Ryan Sederquist
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan dive into the world of Nordic sports broadcasting with guest Ryan Sederquist—voice of U.S. Ski and Snowboard Live, host of the Seder Skier Podcast, and longtime storyteller of endurance sport. They start with updates from their respective summer training camps, sharing practical insights into combi workouts, double-pole inte
Ep. 9 The Zone 2 Myth and the Art of Not Overtraining
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy and Brian dive into some timely listener questions and share their insights from a busy summer of training, testing, and travel. Brian recaps his recent certification at the IBU Academy and offers a behind-the-scenes look at US Biathlon’s June testing camp, including motion capture biomechanics, shooting analysis, and fatigue-based vision research. A
Ep 8. Altitude, Oxygen and Lactic Acid with Tom Cuddy
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy and Brian are joined by Bozeman-based physiologist Tom Cuddy, founder of Calibrated Coaching. The conversation dives deep into endurance physiology, with Tom unpacking the nuances of altitude adaptation, hemoglobin response, and the distinction between “responders” and “non-responders.” Drawing on his graduate work in high-altitude performance and is
Ep 7. The Strength Skiers Actually Need
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy Newell and Brian Halligan take a high-level look at strength interventions for skiers and endurance athletes. They discuss how strength training has evolved from old-school approaches—like static core routines and generalized lifting—to a more modern, individualized method rooted in movement quality, stability, and sport-specific needs. Andy shares h
Ep 6. Ski Flexes, Fitness and Family with Matt Liebsch
In this episode of the Race Ready podcast, Andy and Brian sit down with Matt Liebsch, co-owner of Pioneer Midwest, veteran World Cup skier, and legendary Birkie champion. Recorded while Matt was in Europe picking skis from top-tier race rooms, the conversation dives deep into the craft of ski selection. Matt shares his data-driven approach to picking skis, developed through years of engineering ex
Ep. 5 June Training Hacks
In this episode of Race Ready, Andy and Brian dive into their top June training tips for skiers and biathletes, breaking down how to structure early-summer training for maximum long-term gains. From why May is best used as a soft ramp-up to the importance of “back-to-basics” technique work, they outline how athletes of all levels can set the tone for a successful season. You’ll hear how elite team
Ep. 4 Sports Nutrition with Olympic Dietitian Megan Chacosky.
In this episode of Race Ready, we’re joined by Megan Chacosky, sports dietitian and performance chef at Craftsbury Outdoor Center and longtime collaborator with the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team. Megan shares her journey from pastry chef to Olympic performance nutrition expert and breaks down practical fueling strategies for endurance athletes. From recovery meals to on-the-go snacks, she explains
Ep. 3 Intensity Distribution: VO₂ Max Isn’t Everything.
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy and Brian dig into the science and practice of training intensity distribution for endurance athletes. Drawing on a recent Norwegian study that analyzed training logs from Olympic- and World Cup-level cross-country skiers, they explore how elite athletes build fitness over time—not by increasing the percentage of high-intensity training, but by addin
Ep. 2 Julia Kern on Intensity and Cross Training
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, we kick things off with an exclusive interview featuring U.S. Ski Team star Julia Kern. Fresh off a silver medal performance at the 2025 World Championships, Julia shares insights into her training philosophy, mental preparation, and how she balances life and sport to stay at the top of her game. She also discusses how she adapts her training during injur
Ep. 1 Training Logs: A Secret Weapon for Smarter Training
Welcome to the first episode of Race Ready, the podcast for Nordic skiing and biathlon coaches, athletes, and performance-minded endurance nerds. In this premiere, Olympic XC Skier Andy Newell and U.S. Biathlon coach Brian Halligan dive into the essential—but often overlooked—tool in high-performance sport: the training log.We break down how training data, from volume and intensity to subjective f
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