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

What does it really take to coach elite triathletes to world-class performances? Reto Braendli, Swiss triathlon coach and former performance lab specialist, joins us to share the individualized approach behind some of pro triathlon's most remarkable recent results.

Reto coaches Sara Svensk (8th Kona 2024 with sub-3hr marathon), Anne Reischmann (back-to-back Ironman wins at Cozumel & South Africa), and Imogen Simmonds (9th overall T100 2024). In this Expert Series episode, he reveals how Sara ran one of the fastest marathons at Kona with only 4 hours of running per week (50% on a treadmill) due to injury.

We dive deep into body composition analysis, Reto's balanced fueling philosophy that rejects both extreme high-carb and low-carb trends, and the truth about how pro athletes' nutrition needs differ from weekend warriors. Plus, insights on indoor versus outdoor cycling, optimal cadence, Anne's decision to race Kona while pregnant, and why loving what you do matters more than any training protocol.

Whether you're a coach or athlete, this conversation offers practical wisdom for smarter, more sustainable training.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:27 Reto's Background and Career

01:33 Coaching Philosophy and Approach

02:16 Case Studies: Coaching Elite Athletes

05:25 Training Strategies and Adaptations

11:39 Balancing Training and Life for Age Groupers

17:36 Body Composition in Endurance Sports

25:20 Nutrition and Fueling Strategies

35:06 Approximate Energy Demand in Athletes

36:23 Fueling Strategies for Endurance Athletes

37:46 Integrating Cycling into Triathlon Training

39:54 Indoor vs. Outdoor Cycling: Pros and Cons

43:37 Cadence and Bike Position: Optimizing Performance

49:02 Coaching Anne Reischmann Racing Kona Pregnant: A Unique Challenge

55:45 Handling Doping Allegations: A Coach's Perspective

01:02:04 Final Advice for Athletes and Coaches

What does it take to become a World Champion while balancing medical school? Meet Samuel Studer, the 2025 IRIONMAN 70.3 Age Group World Champion who's rewriting the rules on what's possible when you refuse to choose between your dreams.

In this inspiring Guest Series episode, Samuel takes us through his incredible journey from competitive swimming to finding his true calling in middle-distance triathlon. Fresh off his stunning victory at the 2025 IRONMAN World Championships in Marbella, he shares the raw reality of race day: from a nutrition mishap on the bike to stumbling through the final 2 kilometers, unsure if he'd even won until 30+ minutes after crossing the finish line.

Samuel reveals his unconventional training approach inspired by Brett Sutton methodology, including his game-changing double bike session strategy that helped him achieve breakthrough fitness gains. He opens up about the difficult conversations with his parents when switching sports, managing 20-24 hour training weeks alongside medical school rotations, and the courage it takes to speak up for what you truly need.

Whether you're a coach seeking fresh training perspectives or an athlete trying to balance big ambitions with life's demands, Samuel's story proves that with the right priorities and relentless commitment, you don't have to choose.

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Connect with Samuel: @samuel_studer

Hosts: Bruna (@justbrunathings) & Fabi (@endurance_fabi)