Endurance Capital

Welcome back to Endurance Capital.Most people still measure performance by its peak: the record, the title, the one perfect race. This episode challenges that idea by putting two people in the same conversation who approach human limits from opposite ends.In 1991, Dr Michael Joyner sat down with a legal pad and a calculator and modelled the fastest marathon a human could run: 1:57:58. The world record at the time was 2:06:50. In April 2026, in London, Sabastian Sawe ran 1:59:30, the first legal marathon under two hours. Thirty-five years, and the lab values of elite runners barely moved. Shoes, pacing, fields and prize money did.Craig Alexander won the Ironman World Championship three times and the 70.3 World Championship twice. In 2011, at 38, he broke a course record that had stood for fifteen years and became the oldest man to win in Kona. He never had the biggest engine in the field. He was competitive on every test, consistent to the point of being boring, and still on the start line when bigger engines were gone.One of them defined the ceiling. The other proved that the ceiling is not what wins a career.This is not just a conversation about marathons and Ironman. It is about limits. Durability. Measurement. Ageing. And why the number that matters is the one you can repeat.Topics Explored:- How a seventy-dollar calculator and a legal pad produced the 1:57:58 marathon model, and why it was a question, not a prophecy- What actually closed the gap to sub-two, and why elite lab values barely moved in sixty years- The engine you are born with versus the hours you put in, and why most athletes never reach their physiological ceiling- Why durability, not peak output, is the variable the lab missed- Goodhart's law, the McNamara fallacy and the tiny margins that decide elite sport- Which falls first: a women's sub-two marathon or Kona under 7:30- What will move records in the next ten years- Inside Crowie's 2011 Kona course record at 38- Why to be a maximalist, you first must be a minimalist- What predicts a long life, and what to ignore on your wearable- Whether long-course racing is good for your health- What founders, CEOs, investors, athletes and leaders can learn about pacing the decade, not the quarterChapters:00:00 Intro: why peaks mislead03:03 1991: a legal pad, a calculator and a sub-two model05:15 Training by feel and the running haiku10:13 London 2026: the sub-two barrier falls19:01 The engine you are born with, or the hours you put in26:02 Talent at altitude28:10 When a doctor tells you your ceiling29:33 Goodhart's law, the McNamara fallacy and tiny margins31:52 For founders and investors: a ceiling is a hypothesis32:40 The next barriers: a women's sub-two and Kona under 7:3038:46 What will move records in the next ten years42:31 Inside Crowie's 2011 course record46:10 To be a maximalist, first be a minimalist48:36 Performing after 3557:22 For builders: availability is a strategy58:25 What actually predicts a long life1:01:46 Wearables: what to ignore1:08:55 Is long-course racing good for your health1:13:03 What they tell their children1:15:28 Takeaways and the quickfire1:17:53 Where to find Dr Joyner and CraigFeaturing:Dr Michael JoynerPhysiologist and author of the 1991 marathon model. Speaks in a personal capacity; his views are his own and do not represent the Mayo Clinic.Craig AlexanderThree-time Ironman World Champion, two-time Ironman 70.3 World Champion, founder of SansegoHosted by:Ignacio GarciaFounder, Trampoline Venture Partners; Host, Endurance CapitalPresented by:Endurance Capital sits at the intersection of endurance sport, longevity, founders, investors, and long-horizon decision-making. It is a practical playbook for people building and backing durable things.Links:- Endurance Capital Substack: https://substack.com/@endurancecapitalhq- YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EnduranceCapitalHQ- Craig Alexander: https://www.instagram.com/crowiealexander/- Sansego: https://sansego.co/- Dr Michael Joyner, research on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Joyner+MJDisclaimer:Endurance Capital is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this episode or accompanying materials should be construed as investment, legal, medical, training, or professional advice. Views expressed by guests are their own.Editorial Note:This episode was produced from original interviews and source material and refined with the assistance of AI as an editorial tool. The ideas, conclusions, and final wording reflect the host's own judgment.

🎙 Welcome back to Endurance Capital.Most people think recovery is about returning to the person you were before.This episode challenges that idea through the extraordinary story of Jonny Sammut — professional triathlete, entrepreneur, founder of Ogging and Lytework Labs, and a man rebuilding his life after a near-fatal crash at Ironman Western Australia.Jonny’s accident changed everything in seconds.He suffered catastrophic injuries to his femur, tibia, fibula and knee. His life was at risk. His leg was at risk. What followed was 19 surgeries, months on crutches, an external fixator and a decision no athlete expects to face: amputate, or fight to save the leg without knowing whether that fight would succeed.Jonny chose to fight.But this conversation is not only about injury.It is about uncertainty.The psychological weight of living without a promised timeline.The difference between waiting and rebuilding.The role of community when progress is slow.The loss of identity when the old plan disappears.And what it takes to keep moving forward when no one can tell you what the finish line looks like.Jonny did not put his life on hold while he recovered.During the same period, he transformed Ogging from a side project into a growing endurance coaching business and built Lytework Labs, a performance-nutrition company shaped by lessons learned through elite racing.This is not simply a comeback story.It is a story about building the next thing when the original plan is gone.It is about endurance in its most literal form.Pain.Patience.Identity.Community.Entrepreneurship.And what founders, athletes, investors and high performers can learn from someone forced to redefine progress one day at a time. ep-11-rising-above-y-10.txtTXTIn this episode, we explore:The moment Jonny’s race and life changedWhat happened during the crash at Ironman Western AustraliaWhy doctors were uncertain whether he would keep his legThe decision between amputation and attempting limb salvageWhy the hardest part of recovery was not pain, but limboHow Jonny learned to separate grief from regretWhy movement is a privilegeHow community carried him through the darkest daysWhat 19 surgeries taught him about patience and identityWhy recovery requires process when certainty is unavailableHow Ogging evolved from a lockdown project into a real businessWhy Jonny created LyteworkThe role of personalisation in endurance hydration and sodium strategyHis ambition to return through para rowing or para triathlonWhy founders should stop waiting for perfect conditionsWhat it means to rise above your summits when the old plan is goneFeaturingJonny SammutProfessional triathleteFounder, OggingFounder, LyteworkHosted byIgnacio GarciaFounder, Trampoline Venture PartnersHost, Endurance CapitalPresented by Endurance Capital.Endurance Capital sits at the intersection of endurance sport, longevity, founders, investors and long-horizon decision-making.It is a practical playbook for people building and backing durable things.FollowJonny Sammut: @jonsammutOgging: @oggingsquadLytework Labs: @lyteworklabsDisclaimerEndurance Capital is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this episode or accompanying materials should be construed as investment, legal, medical, nutritional, training or professional advice.Jonny’s experience is personal to him. Anyone facing a serious injury, rehabilitation decision, hydration concern or nutrition issue should consult appropriately qualified professionals.Views expressed by guests are their own.Editorial noteThis episode was produced from an original interview and source material and refined with the assistance of AI as an editorial tool. The ideas, conclusions and final wording reflect my own judgment.

🎙 Welcome back to Endurance Capital.Most people still believe the same lie about elite performance:that greatness comes from balance.This episode challenges that idea through the extraordinary career and mindset of Alistair Brownlee — double Olympic triathlon champion, multiple world champion, Commonwealth champion, and one of the defining endurance athletes of his generation.Alistair did not build his career by staying comfortable.He went all in.All in on training.All in on racing.All in on standards.All in on finding out what happens when talent, discipline, risk, and total commitment meet under pressure.Then he kept testing the edge.The edge of intensity.The edge of preparation.The edge of what the body can absorb.And the edge between commitment and overreach.But what makes his story powerful is not only what he won.It is the way he competed.The way he raised standards.The way he made intensity a system.And the way he approached performance without half-measures.This is not just a conversation about triathlon.It is about intensity.Standards.Sacrifice.Pressure.Identity.And what it really means to go all in, all the time.In this episode, we explore:Why elite performance requires uncommon standardsHow Alistair developed his all-in approach to training and racingWhat it takes to compete across multiple Olympic cyclesWhy confidence is built through preparation, not slogansHow to manage pressure when the outcome mattersThe difference between commitment and self-destructionWhy endurance sport rewards consistency, discipline, and suffering wellHow to think about risk when the margin for error is smallWhat happens when intensity becomes part of your identityWhy performance requires both aggression and judgmentWhat remains after the medals, the races, and the pursuit of peak performanceWhat founders, CEOs, investors, athletes, and leaders can learn from elite competitionFeaturing:Alistair BrownleeDouble Olympic Triathlon ChampionMultiple World ChampionCommonwealth ChampionProfessional triathlete and endurance athleteHosted by:Ignacio GarciaFounder, Trampoline Venture PartnersHost, Endurance CapitalPresented by Endurance Capital.Endurance Capital sits at the intersection of endurance sport, longevity, founders, investors, and long-horizon decision-making.It is a practical playbook for people building and backing durable things.Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by GetStride.comStride helps you understand how your body is actually adapting, so your decisions around training, recovery, and performance are based on signal, not guesswork.Visit GetStride.com and use code TRAMPOLINE for £100 off STRIDE1 and 30% off any other individual Stride tests or supplements.Links:Endurance Capital Substack: https://substack.com/@endurancecapitalhq?utm_source=user-menuYouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EnduranceCapitalHQStride: https://www.getstride.comAlistair Brownlee: https://www.instagram.com/alistair.brownlee/?hl=enDisclaimer:Endurance Capital is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this episode or accompanying materials should be construed as investment, legal, medical, training, or professional advice. Views expressed by guests are their own.Editorial note:This episode was produced from original interviews and source material and refined with the assistance of AI as an editorial tool. The ideas, conclusions, and final wording reflect my own judgment.

🎙 Welcome back to Endurance Capital.Most people still believe the same lie about high performance:that confidence must come before action.This episode challenges that idea through the extraordinary career and perspective of Chrissie Wellington OBE — four-time IRONMAN World Champion and one of the most accomplished athletes endurance sport has produced.Chrissie did not build her career through certainty alone.She built a system.A system grounded in purpose, preparation, feedback, health, recovery, environment, and the ability to adapt under pressure.Then she kept learning.She learned when to push.When to stop.Which limits should be challenged.And which limits protect the foundations that make performance possible.But what makes her story powerful is not only what she won.It is the way she thinks about success today.The medal is visible.The system behind it is not.This is not just a conversation about racing.It is about confidence.Purpose.Limits.Health.Identity.And what it takes to build performance that lasts.In this episode, we explore:Why confidence is built through action rather than certaintyWhy the system is the real successHow purpose creates the foundation for sustained performanceWhy consistency must be combined with agilityHow internal and external feedback improve executionThe difference between psychological, developmental, and structural limitsHow to know when to push and when to stopWhy health is the foundation of every performance systemHow environment shapes what becomes possibleWhy identity must remain larger than any single resultWhat success means beyond medals and trophiesWhy sustained high performance is a process, not a destinationWhat founders, CEOs, investors, athletes, and leaders can learn from elite endurance sportFeaturing:Chrissie Wellington OBEFour-time IRONMAN World ChampionFormer professional triathleteAuthor of A Life Without LimitsHosted by:Ignacio GarciaFounder, Trampoline Venture PartnersHost, Endurance CapitalPresented by Endurance Capital.Endurance Capital sits at the intersection of endurance sport, longevity, founders, investors, and long-horizon decision-making.It is a practical playbook for people building and backing durable things.Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by GetStride.comStride helps you understand how your body is actually adapting, so your decisions around training, recovery, and performance are based on signal, not guesswork.Visit GetStride.com and use code TRAMPOLINE for £100 off STRIDE1 and 30% off any other individual Stride tests or supplements.Links:Endurance Capital Substack: https://substack.com/@endurancecapitalhq?utm_source=user-menuYouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EnduranceCapitalHQStride: https://www.getstride.comChrissie Wellington OBE - https://www.chrissiewellington.comDisclaimer:Endurance Capital is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this episode or accompanying materials should be construed as investment, legal, medical, training, or professional advice. Views expressed by guests are their own.Editorial note:This episode was produced from original interviews and source material and refined with the assistance of AI as an editorial tool. The ideas, conclusions, and final wording reflect my own judgment.

🎙 Welcome back to Endurance Capital.Most people still believe the same lie about performance:that excellence belongs to the young.This episode challenges that idea through the remarkable story of Cherie Gruenfeld — 2025 IRONMAN Hall of Fame inductee, USA Triathlon Hall of Fame inductee, 14-time IRONMAN World Championship age-group winner, 4-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship age-group winner, and founder of Exceeding Expectations.Cherie did not start as a professional athlete.She came into triathlon around the age of 48, after already building a full life in education and then in the high-tech world.Then she kept going.For more than three decades, she built one of the most remarkable age-group careers in endurance sport.But what makes her story powerful is not only what she won.It is what the sport allowed her to become.And eventually, what it allowed her to give back.This is not just a conversation about racing.It is about confidence.Reinvention.Longevity.Contribution.And what it means to build a life that keeps expanding with age.In this episode, we explore:Why greatness does not only belong to people who start earlyHow Cherie entered triathlon later in life and built a 34-year racing chapterWhat Ironman gave her beyond medalsWhy you do not need to be a professional athlete to build something extraordinaryHow confidence compounds through actionWhat durable weeks, recovery, and planning look like over decadesWhy the people around you shape your ability to lastHow Exceeding Expectations turns achievement into serviceWhat founders, CEOs, investors, athletes, and parents can learn from late-life excellenceFeaturing:Cherie Gruenfeld2025 IRONMAN Hall of Fame inducteeUSA Triathlon Hall of Fame inductee14-time IRONMAN World Championship age-group winner4-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship age-group winnerFounder, Exceeding ExpectationsHosted by:Ignacio GarciaFounder, Trampoline Venture PartnersHost, Endurance CapitalPresented by Endurance Capital.Endurance Capital sits at the intersection of endurance sport, longevity, founders, investors, and long-horizon decision-making.It is a practical playbook for people building and backing durable things.Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by Stride.Stride helps you understand how your body is actually adapting, so your decisions around training, recovery, and performance are based on signal, not guesswork.Visit GetStride.com and use code TRAMPOLINE for discounts on STRIDE1 and any individual Stride tests or supplements.Links:Cherie Gruenfeld: https://cheriegruenfeld.comExceeding Expectations: https://www.eefoundation.orgEndurance Capital Substack: https://substack.com/@endurancecapitalhq?utm_source=user-menuYouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EnduranceCapitalHQStride: https://www.getstride.comDisclaimer:Endurance Capital is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this episode or accompanying materials should be construed as investment, legal, medical, or professional advice. Views expressed by guests are their own.Editorial note:This episode was produced from original interviews and source material and refined with the assistance of AI as an editorial tool. The ideas, conclusions, and final wording reflect my own judgment.