Kristian Blummenfelt & Gustav Iden: Why Are They So Good?
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- čas přidán 9. 10. 2022
- Have you ever wondered why and how Kristian Blummenfelt & Gustav Iden got so good at triathlon? With Olympic, Ironman & 70.3 titles in the camp, we sat down with the pair ahead of the Ironman World Championships in Kona to chat data, testing, coaching, and new innovation!
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Will they top the podium again next year? Let us know, and don't forget to subscribe 😉
Yes. 1) Blum 2) Iden 3) Frodeno
We need more short courses to join long course! They will dethrone the Norwegians.
Olympics preparation...
They not racing
Another fascinating insight with arguably the world leaders in Triathlon. Its a powerful formula of talent & science the Norwegians have established. Its inevitable fellow sports organisations and their triathletes will try to emulate over the coming years. It will be a rather excellent watch ! 👌
Keep in mind that norwegians are the best nation in cross country skiing ever. There probably is quite a lot of knowledge concerning coaching endurance sports in general. This is now giving them an edge in every other endurance sport.
Yes, even the speed skaters spend a ton of time on bikes, the program seems well established and now proven
Between them they have cleaned up from Olympic to IM
Add to that being known for their biathletes who also have staggering physiologies. Both sports tend to have significantly higher vo2maxes due to it being an all-body sport. Though, the biathletes are mostly drawing upon the well established cross country skiing training methods which have long used cutting edge exercise physiology research.
I watch quite a few biathlon and cross country skiing channels and see quite a few differences in the way they go about things. First, it seems there is a lot more emphasis on team training and camps in Nordic countries. And they dont do just one or two camps as a fun getaway and team morale booster, its an ongoing year round effort. This may push the athletes much harder than training alone. The second thing I notice is the nordic countries do a crazy smount of varied cross training. I think in most countries nowadays, cross training is seen as of marginal benefit. In the U.S., we cling tight to the idea of specificity which seems to not be working out. I think thats what I enjoy watching most, is all the different types of cross training they do. Another observation is they cross train pretty hard. Its not just going through the motions, "oh I'll go to the gym and do some squats for an hour." Its a several hour effort.
Dead on. Best endurance athletes in the world are cross country skiers.
Yes and cross country skiing is great for biking (similar muscles used apparently) and obviously good way to cross train in cold winter months in Scandinavia
Aside from all the cool science, I’m quite fascinated by the difference in build between these two. I guess that just goes to show tri is for everybody! 😁
Totally agree! Everyone is welcome. 💯
I've been using and coaching "lactic acid burn" (lactate) method since I was a swimmer in the late 80s. Learned it from weightlifting modified for endurance results. For an interval, push the pace medium hard so that your muscles begin to burn. Then back off a little and stay just below the burn so you can still feel it, but just barely. This trains your body to both use lactate and flush it. The longer the better. You'll start off with just a couple minutes and learn to go 20-30 minutes over time. As your body adapts, you'll see that every workout, you can put out more power before you start to hurt. The fastest people put out the most power before they hurt, because they've trained themselves up to that. In a race, you'll see that you used to put out 220 watts and it hurt and now you can put out 320 watts before it hurts. Race below the burn as much as possible and only burn up the worst hills and a mile from the finish line and boom, you're on the podium.
This sounds a lot like what I do on my local hard hill climb.
Dont understand why people keep talking about flushing lactate. Its a fuel source of extreme importance. Jus took at ICUs all over the world and they'll tell you just where the research is going now. Lactate is crucial
^ @Brett Blankner, Your comment shows 100% that most people don't understand. That is NOT what they are doing.
@@barryturner8972 Yes it is. They are monitoring lactate and using that as a guideline. You think that you/they've invented something astounding when plenty of people have been doing it forever. They aren't the only triathletes with a Scandinavian background - I have one too. And so do plenty of other people. It comes from our cross country skiing heritage. Work uphill with just below a slight burn, coast downhill to recover - flushes the burn out. Repeat. All the way to grandma's house. For hundreds of years.
@@johngmcdonnell Flushing doesn't mean throw it away. It also means reuse it as fuel. I'm quoted back in 2007 as saying "LACTIC ACID (Lactate really) IS FUEL" at my athletes as they ran by. I knew that back then, you are just learning it this year.
People think these guys have only recently (2/3 years ago) got into all this tech but they’ve been ahead of competition for a decade now. Amazing to see it all helping contribute to their success as well as very specific training programmes from their coaches. Can’t not like these two!
Who are these "people?" I think it's common knowledge that they started these methods when these two guys were young
Still many miss genetic factor. VO2max about 90 is not something you see often over general population even for elite athletes. BTW, Caper Stornes from their team, though still great athlete, but is not shining this year somehow. So personal factor should not be ignored: KB and GI are genetic monsters. A lot of great coaches backed with science and data in this sport, not only Norwegians are tech geeks. Great work done by Norwegian coaches anyway.
Very Interesting even for regular folks 😉 Gustav is very well spoken & explained many complex concepts easily. Thanks!
Me and KB have the same Garmin strap. That’s where the similarity ends …..
That's a great claim to fame. 💯
Brilliant interview! Thanks so much for this video!
Best triathlon channel ever! Congratulations for this rare interview with these greatest triathletes!
Wow, thank you!
Definitely the most interesting video I’ve watched in 2023! Full of great insights, tech details, science but at the same time fun and light to follow
2023?
Thanks James/Mark for the interview, talented guys who have taken training to another level. My question is did Sam Laidlow or Max Nauman use any of this really high tech stuff?
Gustav was the energetic and informational leader of that conversation... like everyone subconsciously knew he was going to win Kona. So weird that Kristian keeps the spotlight usually, while Gustav stands off-camera and makes subtle yet hilarious jokes all the time. Yet here, we see Gustav more well spoken and confident.
I did a half Ironman several years ago and it was one of the most fun challenges I’ve ever experienced. I would love to do it again… maybe it’s in the cards soon…
Do it!! 🙌
I’m subscribing just because of Gustav 😂
The Norways' population is less than 6 million people and they collect a huge amount of medals in winter and summer olympics. This success in sports must also drive a boost in population's health. I have read that they don't have ranking for kids competition till an advanced age and a very smooth policy to transition from one sport to another to test and have fun. We have something to learn here...
P.S. tech usage is the icing on the cake to get an edge (and confidence ?) for the races. as they have said, the background of tens of thousands of easy endurance training is something you can't shortcut. Magnetic trans cranial stimulation won't turn you into a piano virtuoso. Playing the piano could.
Thanks GTN for this interview and hope to learn what they did before Kona one day ;)
so you think because Norway gives kids a participation medal, this is what contributes to these 2 pro's success? you're delusional. these 2 are the exception - they are freaks of nature. let's not soften up kids more than the liberals already are - take your garbage comparisons elsewhere.
It’s the Viking blood 😂
….or, like you said, a well-designed system and thousands of hours of base training… plus the Viking blood.
Norway is by far the country in Europe spending the most money in sports. With school ending at 2 pm, there is also a lot if time to sport
im from Sweden and we use to have a school system and free time system that made oss test a lot of sports from younger ages
but now is only fotboll or soccer and Norway is doing that know and almost every sport was for free and if you didn't do sport they would say is bad
@@porsche45353 europe is much more educated when it comes to endurance sports and invests more in the younger schools. living in the US, i've never heard of triathlon unti my 20's.
Kristian and Gustav are now legends in the sport of triathlon.
very clever boys and their team sounds extreme
Are there any issues with injuries, infection and long term scarring from pricking the ear up to 12 times a day for mot of the year?
crazy that they recorded this prior
I subscribed because I did not want Gustav to wait all day for me, you can go now Gustav.
what I like about Kristian is! that he does not give up! and that is the mark of a true champion!!! we already saw him on the World Cup events with the Olympic distances, he fought very hard in all his finishes! he amazes me more and more with his physique more like a young boxer than a runner! sturdy at the level of the bust, it does not pass for a light-footed runner but then !!!! Here is the proof! what efficiency .... it does damage! its strength resides in an incredible cadence, a regularity which has succeeded rather very well for the moment! I would be really curious to see!? what it is worth on a marathon with 4 to 5 kg less ......
I watched your videos several times but realised I wasn’t subscribed. Gustav was pretty convincing so I subscribed 🤣
Welcome aboard!
in 2018 i read an article i the german magazine triathlon where they predicted their success.
The word they were looking for is enthalpy
I would love to see an interview whit chris nikic
I’m ready for the rest of the super leaguers to join the long distance train. That’ll be when our sport peaks!
Its at a pretty good peak now and most of those SL/ITU athletes will be focused on Paris games in 2024
@@gourami7 just wait m8
Core is crazy OP
Why they are soo good ... 😎 looking for possibilities - instead of obstacles. Train smart, preparation is all !
They've certainly got their head in the game! Really pushing the sport 🙌
They are a living walking extremely hard working physiology lab. Their most brilliant thing may not be the data they are collecting but to capitalize/incorporate the data they are producing into the company. They are about as elite physiologically as you can get and can produce consistent useful data for any scientists/doctors who need reliable data to study physiological response or the effectiveness of their tech. The rest of us have to wait for the tech to come out and pay for it to benefit but by contributing and leading on the development end they get everything before everyone else and get paid for testing and access to their data. Brilliant.
It's am interesting interview, but let's not forget that Sam, who came second, also beating the old record, setting a bike record, etc etc etc, doesn't have access to this level of tech. In the end it will always be about the athlete.
I'll be interested to know where Gustav Iden goes from here. We know Blu will go back to ITU to defend his Olympic title in Paris which takes precedent but Iden's success at ITU level has been limited. As a 2 x 70.3 and now Kona IM World Champion, he may see this as his new home.
Save that! Just watched breakfast with Bob, he's going back to ITU and unlikely to race Kona next year
He's chasing gold in Paris...
He's definitely aiming for Paris, said he may not be at Kona for a while
I would love to know what their resting heart rates are, and James and Mark's in comparison, as well!😄
I hope they're working on a non-invasive lactate test.
Like a continuous blood glucose but for lactate would be incredible
@@Neon-zj1uk it would be even better if they could get a reading like with photoplethysomography. I'm sure the boys are working on something ;)
I think the word they were looking for was entropy - for the app
I truly hope these guys are clean, I want to believe but There is HUGE science involved in performance enhancing pharm. and is no one questioning beating the bike course record - over pro cyclists, then going on to have a run PR by 11 minutes? Is no one asking the questions out loud?
I kinda like them although I'm convinced they are doped AF. Lots of Norvegians were doping in cross country skiing in the past. They don't provide any real information during the interview, to me this whole tech stuff is just some kind of smoke screen.
Same opinion for pro cyclists since the pandemic, too many performances that make no sense, like sprinters winning climbing etaps...
Run PR by 11mins? It was slower then his previous IM. LAIDLOW broke the bike course record not these two
@@andrewg2855 ya, I’m including him in the mix of how. By “these guys” i question more than the Norwegians.
What is your take on Laidlow breaking the bike course record and beating two uber bikers Cameron Wurf And Chavlier by more than four minutes and still being able to hold a decent run? Is it the coach, the technology, the nutrition or the course condition?
Yeap, icing on the cake, not the cake, the training is all the same approximately. Four beat the course record, 50% not Norwegian. Its mainly genetics.
Wurf had a pack to contend with and draft rules. Laidlow at front had no concern drafting
~28 hours a week is ~4 hours/day, I'd be really curious what these guys and other pros do during the rest of their days! GTN has done some great day in the life videos focused on training and nutrition but that can only take up so much time so I'm wondering what else the pros do to keep busy.
Great Idea, watch this space 👀
It looks like Mark and James are just chomping at the bit wanting to get back into pro triathlon just for the latest science innovations!
This is a great video and I’m loving the insight into their training approach but it’s depressed me too because it’s now clear that we won’t be seeing a Non-Norwegian winner of Kona for many years to come. The rest might as well give up, their racing for 2nd place AT BEST.
Well probably both wont race kona in one or two years and if they do they wont be prepared for it. So dont worry :-)
There are too many factors involved to say that the Norwegians will keep wining Kona every year. Ironman is very extreme and competitive and there are always injuries waiting around the corner. Even athletes who only do a couple of full IM a year cant guarantee a win in Kona as many things have to go your way all year to deliver such a great performance.
The champions always look unbeatable.
Still hell of a performance! Sam Laidlow also came very close so don’t count him out.
The other thing I was thinking about is when they talk so much science, and that they just follow what the coach says, what’s not to say they’re taking PEDs? And know exactly how to cycle them well? triathletes travel all over the world so it’s hard to keep an eye on them all the time. Reminded me of the Lance Armstrong case somehow…
Gustav went into psycho mode there at the end. 😮
Gustav at the end... @14:50 legend 😄 haha I wonder if anyone dared not to subscribe to @GTN 😏...
Hopefully, you did as he requested? 😏
@@gtn of course 😉 that box has been checked for over two years now.
Well where is the Kona's bike record Sam Laidlow ? ?
VITS - analytically Swim developing - Worldwide unique
Blood replenishing ?
This interview stays a bit at the surface I'd say.
Consider the lactate testing for example: typically you do a lactate test once a while and then you use RPE, watts or heart rate. But it seems to be not enough. This means lactate is changing over time and it is a better control of intensity. This means that it is crucial to have a certain intensity distribution etc. I miss this kind of interpretation because the norwegian guys are not sharing much new stuff. Maybe this is also already known but please mention it for the general audience here.
the Ingebrigtsen brothers do lactate measurements (not test) on each quality sessions (2x2 times a weeks) to be sure to work at the right intensity (tempo, threshold, anaerobic). These guys seems to do the same.
Its the lutefisk
Yikes! 😂😂
Those 4 spoke wheels have been known to be slow for three decades!
gustav is great
The main reason they are so good is their high VO2 Max (both above 90)
It's not all about VO2 max
For endurance sports where competetion lasts over one hour LT1 and LT2 is more important, the longer duration the more important LT1 is. In general VO2max tempo will be larger than LT2 tempo which is larger than LT1 tempo. For long distance you want all of these to be close and high. Ability to recover from too high lactate levels fast without having to reduce speed much is also very important.
if it's only VO2Max you wouldn't need any daily lactate testing ... LOL.
Amazing nice to they don't let every number out but is all this testing to much I understand we want to improve but if it's drug free cool
Where’s Laidlow? 😂
Think we’re forgetting to include an athlete here…
I thought S Laidlow was 2nd ?!
if you would have watched till the end you knew the vlog was made before the race.
Norges once were Vikings, you know.
And I am Peter Ningelgen....😎
Where’s Lionel ???🙁
still on Queen K
Doping !
Brunost
What I don't understand is all the secretness, if things where fair every one of the pros should have the same access to resources. The way things are now now only allows athletes with money to access the newer stuff that can help them to keep winning.
Why, does Apple tell Samsung their secrets?
A great point Elena. What do you think they should do differently?
@@gtn they could be more transparent and I think the PTO it is helping professional athletes that are just starting. It’s true triathlon is changing.
Ask about their food
Gustav is still on crocs
huge fan of GI and KB for their elite performance and personality, watched all videos from Mikal Iden’s channel and KB’s channel. However it does feel like what the folks in the comments said, they are backed by so much resource and feels more streamline-ish. When we look at other athletes they are unique individuals who train for Tri in their own methods and race in their own styles, Sam Long is Sam Long, no limits is no limits, even Ali Brownlee from GB national team is first Brownlee then GB. somehow GI and KB gave me the first image is Norway then the person himself, a bit ‘inhuman’, maybe thats what professional means.
It reminds me Michele Ferrari. The Italian coach of Lans Armstrong and his secret of success
👀 Norway has been in the headlines as well over the past decade…
The disgraced drug supplier / doctor ….. ! I hope and trust that the Norwegians are clean !
@@moytheboy22 SO Lans Armstrong. He wins 7 Tour de France
@@Alexisger correction he loose 7 tour de France :😁
100% down with you, they are highly suspicious to me
Rim brakes easy win
Not to be cynical but doping could also be the reason why they dominate that much.
Kristian is a T-Rex, High Power Energy cell.
But the way of Evolution we all know.
Gustav is next, and others will come.
Anyone think Norwegians will ever take over marathon running from Kenyans?
Not a chance. But back in the day Paavo The flying Finn was the top runner
It’s amazing that a man that clearly isn’t built to run 10K can outrun Yee and no one seems to find it in the slightest bit suspicious. 🤔
What I find far more suspicious is a triathlete who smashes the kona bike record and runs a massive marathon P.R.
Kristian has a 13 minute 5k PB before his long distance days
bigger rib cage means bigger VO2max. In a 10Km race that matter even if obviously it does not ensure victory. Could be the reason why Gustav seems better on long distance while Kris is a beast on olympic and below.
You got the wrong sport, nobody runs a stand alone 10km like what happened before it has zero effect on the body.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$= Gustav, Olafand Kristian!!!!!!!!
Not so good but divine runners. Norway has nothing to envy Kenya on this issue, for athletics' sake. ✌️✌️😁😁
Can't say that what they are doing aren't working ...
Absolutely baffles me how people think these guys are natural. People are literally brain dead, multiple world records etc, even when finishing Kona ,both look fresh faced, running the marathon like it's nothing, vo2max above 90! Low heart rate...it's pretty obvious. Backed by a highly sophisticated, intelligent team who know there shit to a T. Not to take anything away from Gustav or Kristian , they work there absolute ass off, but to think they are not on the hot sauce you've got to be delusional. If you want to believe it's just sugar and water , you go believe that.
2 great guys but shocked and slightly saddened that they have drank 4 bottles of a £2000 drink.
Retail price. Cost of water is probably $1, marketing $1999.
@@extraordinaryminds6041 demonstrates what an elitist sport triathlon is. At the moment it appears only the middle classes can succeed, more needs to be done to make the sport more inclusive.
@@whymumtrains What is it that you think needs to be done, precisely? Why do you think it should be inclusive?
@@gtkona1608 I think widening participation needs to be considered at grass roots level. There needs to be more support for kids to take up triathlon and compete at an early age. It shouldn’t be only those whose parents can afford to buy them the kit and pay the race fees. Also, help getting the kids transported to races is needed. This would also lead to a bigger pool for talent spotting, the most talented could then be invested in-diversity developing the sport.
As for why should it be inclusive? Im surprised you need to ask, but the comment about how much was spent on 1 drink. I think triathlon is rich enough to spread some wealth and develop a diverse group of people, in turn developing the sport. There is evidence that diversity in football yields better performance on the field. Sport is more than just performance, it teaches values, sportsmanship and respect.
@@whymumtrains Not everyone is supposed to play golf or practice horse riding. The triathlon already took it's way, the sponsors and money is there so you won't get an edge without a proper bike, or running shoes. If you want to compete on a budget there are other sports. Sad but it's reality and it's the same in most of the sports. Brutal truth is that in every sport it's pretty much the same, you won't get pro without investing a ton of money. You can keep dreaming, but in fact the only way is to start enjoying the process and not chase the impossible results, as for some of us it's already too late.
i will unsubscribe cuz jan frodeno wasn there🤣
Maybe they're on EPO. 😏
I didn't want to subscribe, but Gustav made me no choice.
Thanks for the sub!
I knew these guys were cheating! jk
Let no one say that we sat idly by doing nothing.
Shame on all the youtubers who don't talk about the current cruel agenda
What are you talking about, you say: Find out exactly what you have put in your blood!
Give me a link where I can file all the evidence if you don't want to search.
This is no longer inspriring.
And I don't believe a word of all these fog grenades.
I personally find this video to be disturbing. I think it's great people are becoming way more intelligent as far as science behind sport goes, but at what point do we draw the line? At what point is it no longer the athlete and just a bunch of numbers? As an aspiring pro athlete looking in, this just looks more and more out of reach for anyone. Large teams to support them, coaches, lab testing, expenses associated with being a triathlete. Several well know pros weren't even able to attend Kona due to costs. My point behind all this being is that I personally don't believe that there is any discussion behind the affordability of the sport. Most pros are 30-40, with the average income of age groupers at Kona being around $120K USD/year. At some point, there won't be a next generation for this sport because of cost. KB and GI are world class, and I love watching them kickass out there, I'm just fearful of the precedent they may be indirectly setting as athletes and for the sport.
Technological innovation is a natural part of human evolution. If we want to draw the line on technology then let's go back to running marathons bare foot, because the moment we invented shoes that person had an advantage. (Bare foot marathon world record is 2:16 incidentally, so it is possible)
Also technology gets cheaper over time as the technology reaches mass production.
So right now the tech the Norwegians are using will be expensive and they'll have the advantage, but in a few years all the Pros, probably including you, will have access to it and all the gadgets will be cheaper too. A question of time. When, not if.
@@TheDomLouis @TheDomLouis 100% agree. I do believe innovation is great, and it will inevitably become widespread (kind of how carbon bikes are more affordable). My opinion though was talking more about the moral line in the sand. For example, the TT hour record is done without data. I also put some thoughts on the affordability as a whole. Triathlon is a very cost prohibitive sport, and there even talks amongst UCI world pros on if there should be a spending limit (there already is a weight limit). I just don't see with how the current state of things there will be much that attracts new talent, unless they come from a privileged background.
Most pros wouldn’t get to their level even with all of the tech & funding that they have. You can get to a good level in pro ranks without any expensive tech, but if you want to be the best, marginal gains like this will help push you above your competitors. That’s all they are doing
It's so disturbing about being able to training OPTIMALLY and personalize the training for different human physiologies?
That's not cheating ... it's maximizing your potential.
@@makemebadfan95 as a swimmer I’ve been on training camp in Sierra Nevada with KB and gustav. They are supported by the federation and it is the Norwegian federation that sets up all the lab testing and that provides the structure around them I believe. They are often with 10+ national team members + staff on training camps. I think that to push innovation this is the only way to do it as it would cost way too much for a single individual as you said.
However, I think we can definitely learn a lot from them and pro triathletes who can have discussions with them will gain a lot of insight on the general demands of training and racing which will improve their performance as well.
Drugs