The Endurance Matters Podcast, Hosted by Justin “BigMetz” Metzler, professional triathlete, is the ultimate destination for endurance enthusiasts. Join us as we dive deep into the world of endurance sports, from 5Ks to Ironman triathlons to Ultra Races, and everything in between. Each episode we'll bring you inspiring stories featuring athletes, trailblazers, and members of the endurance community. From the highs to the lows, this podcast will help us explore the limits of human physical and mental performance.
Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just starting your endurance journey, Endurance Matters is your go-to source for motivation, education, and entertainment. Tune in, lace up, and let's go the distance together!
Gordo Byrne: World Record Holder, Ultra-Endurance Pioneer, Human Performance Coach
In Episode 33 of Endurance Matters, @bigjmetz11 (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCmuPpeDBniCq7s74-dUl_6w) sits down with endurance world record holder and coach Gordon "Gordo" Byrn, a pioneer in ultra-endurance performance and one of the most thoughtful minds in the sport.
Gordo shares the lessons behind his remarkable career, from pushing the limits of human endurance to redefining how athletes approach training, recovery, and long-term performance. This conversation goes beyond workouts and race results and focuses on building a system that actually works over years, not just seasons.
We dive into:
⚡ What it really takes to perform at the highest level of endurance sport
🧠 The mindset shifts that separate sustainable success from burnout
📉 Why most athletes overtrain—and how to avoid it
🔁 The importance of consistency, simplicity, and repeatability in training
🛠️ How to structure training for long-term progression, not short-term gains
🧘♂️ Balancing life stress, training load, and recovery
Gordo also shares his perspective as a coach: what he looks for in athletes, common mistakes even experienced competitors make, and how to build a durable, resilient engine that holds up over time.
This episode is a masterclass in endurance; not just going longer, but going smarter.
🎧 Listen now to learn how to train with purpose, avoid burnout, and unlock your long-term potential.
3 Mar 2026
Melanie McQuaid: XTERRA World Champion, ITU Cross Triathlon World Champion, and multi-decade Professional Ironman Athlete
In this episode of Endurance Matters, host Justin Metzler sits down with triathlon legend Melanie McQuaid—XTERRA World Champion, ITU Cross Triathlon World Champion, Olympian-level cyclist, and longtime Ironman competitor—for a powerful conversation about resilience, reinvention, and longevity in sport.
Melanie shares her journey from growing up in rural British Columbia to racing mountain bike World Cups, nearly chasing the Olympics, and ultimately dominating the XTERRA circuit. She opens up about pivotal career crossroads, coaching missteps, taking ownership of her own training, and the mindset that allowed her to stay competitive into her 40s and beyond.
You’ll hear:
🌍 Her breakthrough race in Maui that changed everything
🚴♀️ The rise of XTERRA and how she built a career from prize money and grit
🧠 Why she became her own coach—and how that unlocked multiple world titles
💔 The devastating 2011 World Championship collapse that marked the end of an era
🔥 Transitioning to Ironman at 42 to prove she wasn’t “too old”
🎓 What great coaching actually looks like (and what athletes get wrong)
🤖 Her candid thoughts on AI coaching vs real human mentorship
This is more than a race recap—it’s a masterclass in belief, stubborn resilience, and understanding your own physiology. Melanie dives deep into athlete development, injury trends, vetting coaches, and why unshakable self-belief might matter more than raw talent.
Whether you’re an age-group athlete, aspiring pro, or coach yourself, this conversation is packed with hard-earned wisdom from someone who has seen every side of elite sport.
🎧 Listen now to hear how a triathlon legend stayed competitive for decades—and why she believes the real key to success isn’t magic workouts, but understanding yourself.
22 Dec 2025
Erin Carson: Endurance Strength and Mobility Coach to the Stars
In this episode of Endurance Matters, @bigjmetz11 (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCmuPpeDBniCq7s74-dUl_6w) (Justin Metzler) sits down with @ECFITStrength (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCRFVMZrFb4BM0MThMyxDEIw) (Erin Carson) is a leading voice in strength endurance training, to explore how endurance athletes can get stronger, more resilient, and perform better without sacrificing endurance 🏃♀️🚴♂️
Erin breaks down what strength endurance really means for runners, cyclists, triathletes, and hybrid athletes and why traditional strength training often misses the mark for endurance performance 🧠⚡
We dive into:
💪 What strength endurance actually looks like in practice
❌ Common gym mistakes endurance athletes make
🏋️ How to build strength that transfers to race day
🧘♂️ Durability, movement quality, and staying injury-free
You’ll also hear Erin’s insights on:
⚖️ Balancing strength work with high-volume endurance training
📆 Integrating strength training year-round
🧠 Long-term athlete development and performance longevity
Whether you’re an age-group athlete or a competitive endurance racer, this conversation will help you train smarter, stay healthier, and perform at a higher level 🚀
🎧 Listen now and start building strength that supports your endurance and be sure to tune in EVERY Monday at 6:45MT to Monday Morning Mobility @ECFITStrength (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCRFVMZrFb4BM0MThMyxDEIw)!
#EnduranceSports #UltraEndurance #OceanSeven #strengthtraining #strength #AdventureAthlete #ExtremeSports #MindsetMatters #Resilience #EnduranceAthlete #MotivationDaily #PodcastClips #Podcast #Triathlon #Ironman
✌🏼 - BigMetz
Follow Erin on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ecfit_strength/ (https://www.instagram.com/ecfit_strength/)
Erin's Website:
https://www.ecfitstrength.com/ (https://www.ecfitstrength.com/)
Who has been a guest on Endurance Matters Hosted by BigMetz
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Kevin McDowell
Colin Szuch
Sam Appleton
Flora Duffy
Brad Miles
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
11 ratings
Spotify
4.4 / 5
19 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 29 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
37
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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Guest appearances
Books guests
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Questions about Endurance Matters Hosted by BigMetz
Who hosts Endurance Matters Hosted by BigMetz?
BigMetz host the show. Published by Marcus Gordon and Justin Metzler.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Endurance Matters Hosted by BigMetz take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
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