Please enjoy our long form interview with Nate Thomas, newly minted member of Top Gunz Tri team. Nate is a Triathlon coach, small business owner, and teacher. In this episode, Nate discusses his training methods, his triathlon related business (Uniq Endurance), and what motivates him in the triathlon space. Thanks for listening and please enjoy.
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Key Takeaways
Nate qualified for Kona in 2019 after multiple attempts, highlighting perseverance in triathlon
Cycling is Nate's strongest discipline, with impressive power numbers (384W 20-min test, 240-245W Ironman)
Nate founded Uniq Endurance, an endurance sports apparel and gift company
Nate's training emphasizes high-volume cycling with strategic intensity, minimal swimming off-season
Topics
Nate's Background
Teacher for nearly 20 years
Started triathlon in 2010 after doing P90X
Completed 7 Ironman races, qualified for Kona in 2019
Became a triathlon coach with 4 athletes
Family: Wife and two children (8 and 11 years old)
Based in Bedford, Massachusetts
New member of Top Guns Tri team
Triathlon Journey
First full Ironman: Beach to Battleship 2011 (sub-10 hours)
Multiple close attempts to qualify for Kona (missed by 7 seconds in 2013)
Focused on 70.3 distances in 2016-2017 to build speed
Qualified for Kona at Ironman Norway 2019 (9:05 finish, 4th in age group)
Completed Kona 2019 with a challenging experience (4+ hour run)
Training Approach
Cycling: Rides almost daily, 3 quality sessions per week
Emphasizes VO2 max intervals (30/30s) and threshold/sweet spot work
Long rides often 5-10% above race power to make race day feel easier
Minimal swimming in off-season, focuses on 2-3 months pre-race
Runs off the bike, typically 20-30 minutes after long rides
Avoids complete rest days, preferring active recovery
Uniq Endurance Business
Apparel brand (t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies)
Personalized canvas wall art for endurance events
Recently added mugs with popular designs
Uses Shopify platform and meta ads for marketing
Offered 20% discount code for listeners: AGF4L
Kona Experience
Described the unique atmosphere and energy of the event
Found the bike course challenging with headwinds
Struggled on the run, finishing in over 4 hours
Appreciated seeing pro athletes and the overall race experience
Next Steps
Nate to focus on injury recovery and prepare for Ironman Lake Placid 2025
Goal to break 9:30 at Lake Placid (targeting ~4:50 bike split, high 3:20s run)
Continue developing Unique Endurance business
Represent Top Guns Tri team in upcoming season
Listeners encouraged to follow Uniq Endurance on social media and use discount code