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.Don't forget to like, follow, and subscribe!Key TakeawaysNate qualified for Kona in 2019 after multiple attempts, highlighting perseverance in triathlonCycling 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 companyNate's training emphasizes high-volume cycling with strategic intensity, minimal swimming off-seasonTopicsNate's BackgroundTeacher for nearly 20 yearsStarted triathlon in 2010 after doing P90XCompleted 7 Ironman races, qualified for Kona in 2019Became a triathlon coach with 4 athletesFamily: Wife and two children (8 and 11 years old)Based in Bedford, MassachusettsNew member of Top Guns Tri teamTriathlon JourneyFirst 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 speedQualified for Kona at Ironman Norway 2019 (9:05 finish, 4th in age group)Completed Kona 2019 with a challenging experience (4+ hour run)Training ApproachCycling: Rides almost daily, 3 quality sessions per weekEmphasizes VO2 max intervals (30/30s) and threshold/sweet spot workLong rides often 5-10% above race power to make race day feel easierMinimal swimming in off-season, focuses on 2-3 months pre-raceRuns off the bike, typically 20-30 minutes after long ridesAvoids complete rest days, preferring active recoveryUniq Endurance BusinessApparel brand (t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies)Personalized canvas wall art for endurance eventsRecently added mugs with popular designsUses Shopify platform and meta ads for marketingOffered 20% discount code for listeners: AGF4LKona ExperienceDescribed the unique atmosphere and energy of the eventFound the bike course challenging with headwindsStruggled on the run, finishing in over 4 hoursAppreciated seeing pro athletes and the overall race experienceNext StepsNate to focus on injury recovery and prepare for Ironman Lake Placid 2025Goal to break 9:30 at Lake Placid (targeting ~4:50 bike split, high 3:20s run)Continue developing Unique Endurance businessRepresent Top Guns Tri team in upcoming seasonListeners encouraged to follow Uniq Endurance on social media and use discount code