The Purple Patch methodology is grounded in a belief that optimal endurance performance, for every level of athlete, arrives from a balanced approach to training. The foundation of these beliefs evolved from the education, athletic and coaching experience of Matt Dixon, and are the foundation of Purple Patch training.
Let's look at each Pillar of Performance in more depth:
ENDURANCE
When we talk about endurance, we are referring to the sport-specific demands that trigger physiological adaptations when applied to the body - in the case of triathles, this means in the areas of swimming, biking, and running. The Purple Patch focus of this training is to achieve the necessary volume while combining it with healthy lifestyle practices to avoid accumulated fatigue and improve performance.
Learn more about endurance here.
STRENGTH
Functional strength is the resistance training used to develop the mobility, stability and strength to support and improve the movements necessary for a specific sport. Carefully structured and progressed strength training can improve your biomechanics and the efficiency of different muscle groups, leading to more correct athletic movement, improved performance in endurance sports, and reduced risk of injury.
Learn more about strength here.
NUTRITION
General nutrition, and race-specific fueling are the two ways Purple Patch Fitness highlights the specific purposes and functions of caloric intake. They are distinct, yet synergistic aspects of an optimal nutritional approach to support training. Fueling describes the calories needed to successfully complete a training session or event. Nutrition will encompass the remainder of an athletes diet, outside the fueling window. Hydration is also included in this category, both in terms of daily life and race-specific electrolyte balance.
Learn more about nutrition here.
RECOVERY
Recovery is the physiological process the body goes through to compensate for the physical and mental demands of a progressive training load (and the load of daily life). Physiological adaptation, including metabolic rest & rebuilding, takes time - and it must be consistently incorporated into the fabric of life and training in order to elicit the changes that will optimize performance in sport and life.
Learn more about recovery here.
