#13 - From Heartbreak to High Performance: Paula Findlay’s Consistency Playbook
Today’s guest is Olympian Paula Findlay
How do you rebuild world-class endurance performance—physically and psychologically—after injury, public disappointment, and inconsistent results?
In this conversation, Olympic and Ironman Triathlete Paula Findlay and Dr. Greg explore sustainable training (boring but brilliant consistency), proper fueling, and a healthier competitive mindset that removes unhelpful pressure while still racing at the front.
She breaks down the “no secrets” method that brought her back—relentless consistency, intelligent volume, and fueling to match the work. Paula also shares how moving to middle-distance triathlon and building That Triathlon Life with Eric Lagerstrom renewed her joy and results. Along the way, we dig into confidence, expectations, and what it really takes to stay healthy at the top of the sport.
You will learn why consistency beats “epic” workouts; how Paula structures 25–30 hour training weeks without breaking down; the recovery habits (simple, repeatable, unglamorous) that keep her healthy; how her nutrition philosophy flipped from restriction to fueling; and the mindset shift that comes from lowering external expectations while still racing like you belong at the front.
You will discover that elite endurance success is far less about secrets and far more about boring, repeatable systems—consistent aerobic work, adequate calories, and steady recovery—executed for months on end. That formula rebuilt Paula’s performance and confidence
Most driven athletes and leaders over-optimize complexity and under-value consistency. Paula’s approach shows you how to escape the burnout loop—train and fuel enough to adapt, not so much that you implode—so you can perform for years, not weeks.
Key take aways:
Consistency compounds; epic sessions don’t.
Fuel the work; stop chasing leanness.
Simple training plans beat flashy ones.
Lower pressure, keep standards high.
Recovery is routine, not a luxury.
“There’s no real secret… it’s the day in, day out, not getting injured, and just building a huge base of fitness.”
Today’s Expert Guest - Olympic Triathlete Paula Findlay
Paula Findlay is an Olympian and one of the world’s top middle-distance triathletes. She stunned the sport in 2010–2011 with five World Triathlon Series victories, competed in triathlon at the London 2012 Olympic Games, and later re-emerged to win major 70.3 events, including the North American Championship. She’s also a three-time Canadian national time-trial cycling champion (2022–2024) and silver medallist at the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.
Beyond résumé lines, Paula is refreshingly transparent about the messy middle of elite sport—injury, anemia, confidence dips, and rebuilding. She and partner Eric Lagerstrom created That Triathlon Life, a community and media brand that demystifies high performance and celebrates the lifestyle side of multisport. Her philosophy is pragmatic: high, steady volume; nutrition that matches workload; and mindset tactics that reduce unhelpful pressure while keeping competitive fire.
Follow Paula Findlay on Instagram & Linked In.
Check out her website.
This podcast contains advice and information relating to health and wellness. It should be used to supplement rather than replace the advice of your doctor or another trained health professional. If you know or suspect that you have a health problem, seek your physician’s advice before embarking on any medical program or treatment. All efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of the information contained in this podcast / interview / article as of the date of publication. The author and publisher disclaim liability for any medical or other outcomes that may occur as a result of applying the methods suggested in this material.
