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In episode #199 Savilia Blunk returns for a third conversation to break down how she approaches racing, recovery, and nutrition after the 2024 Olympic cycle. She and Kyla Channell discuss what changed after the Olympics, why a long off-season matters, and how Savilia fuels for short track and cross-country World Cup weekends.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Savilia explains how the post-Olympic season affected her rhythm and how coaching and team changes renewed her motivation.
  • The importance of embracing the off-season, and working with a sports psychologist
  • Testing with supplements like caffeine
  • How she approaches sleep and recovery during World Cup
  • Carb loading, hydration, and nutrition before, during and after race day, and how this changes between events.

Please note that this podcast is created strictly for educational purposes and should never be used for medical diagnosis or treatment.

ABOUT SAVILIA BLUNK:

Savilia Blunk is an Olympian and professional mountain bike racer for the Decathlon Ford Racing Team. Over the past decade, she’s climbed the ranks from small-town roots and humble beginnings—starting out on her high school NICA team, getting a taste of the international scene, racing as a Junior on the Bear National Team, and even co-creating her own team with her partner in 2021—before landing her first World Cup team contract in 2023.

Now a Paris 2024 Olympian and the current Elite National Champion in XCC, Savilia boasts 10 national titles, 2 U23 World Cup podiums, and 9 Elite World Cup podiums. But her drive doesn’t stop at the finish line.

Off the bike, Savilia is just as passionate about fueling the body and mind—she loves cooking, diving into nutrition, and exploring holistic wellness as a way to support performance and overall balance. Whether she’s training, racing, or experimenting in the kitchen, her mission is the same: to inspire others to find joy in movement and live well, however that looks for them.

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Welcome back and training in Durango

01:26 — Two truths and a lie setup

03:43 — What has changed since the previous conversation

04:01 — Post-Olympic season reset and renewed motivation

05:27 — Why Savilia stayed in the United States for winter training

06:35 — What taking the off-season seriously looks like

08:13 — Building back with a slower, structured progression

10:50 — Off-season recovery for the body and mind

13:18 — Working with a sports psychologist

14:22 — A World Cup win and changes to her nutrition

16:29 — Why she stopped using caffeine for short track

18:51 — How caffeine affects athletes differently

20:22 — Sleep banking before race weekend

21:44 — Higher-carbohydrate fueling in the days before racing

22:52 — Pre-short-track meals and “multiple breakfasts”

24:22 — Topping off before the start with gels and bottles

26:10 — Recovery after short track and dinner planning

29:01 — Tart cherry choices and preferences

30:11 — Fueling on Saturday between races

31:46 — Sunday race timing for elite women

32:24 — Breakfast options on race morning

34:58 — Hydration and gel strategy during cross-country

36:17 — Gel and bottle products that work for Savilia

36:56 — What is next on the race calendar

39:37 — One key fueling tip for newer riders

40:42 — The two truths and a lie reveal

42:02 — Where to follow Savilia online

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Podden och tillhörande omslagsbild på den här sidan tillhör Kyla Channell, MSc Nutrition & Human Performance. Innehållet i podden är skapat av Kyla Channell, MSc Nutrition & Human Performance och inte av, eller tillsammans med, Poddtoppen.