This is what we do.
There can be no doubt about it: Racing is fun. And, like most things we enjoy: we want to do it. A. Lot. But, as with all things in life, moderation can be important. Too much racing can wind up being not much fun at all, leading to lackluster performance, burnout, and even injury. None[…]
“How much should I train each week?” This is one of the most frequent questions we get. Our answer is always the same. “It depends.” Total, weekly and daily training volume depends upon several factors: the type and length of races in which an athlete hopes to compete, the period of the yearly training cycle, the goals of a[…]
Professional athletes and those speedsters in our age group may leave us wondering: why are some people so fast? Assuming your endurance base is set, speed comes primarily from developing three physiological elements: 1) VO2max, 2) lactate threshold, and 3) economy. The bad news: our ability across these three factors is due to genetics – at least[…]
If you are in the final months before your key A race, then you are probably in or getting ready to start the build (a.k.a. specific preparation) period. (Not sure what I mean by a build/specific prep period? Check out our post about the principles of periodization.) During the build period, the main focus is[…]
Our bodies, regardless of how fit we are, have a limited ability to tolerate increases in core temperature. The research suggests that as our core body temperature reaches or exceeds about 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.5 celsius), our bodies will fatigue, our pace will slow, our rate of perceived exertion will increase, and we risk heat exhaustion[…]
Do you remember a time when you exercised simply for your health? Maybe you went to the gym and did whatever felt right for the day. Maybe you ran a few miles several times a week. Maybe you took group classes to push yourself and stay motivated. There is no doubt that exercise, performed[…]
This is the second in a two-part series focusing on tapering and recovery. In part one, we discussed the basics of tapering, which is a specific type of recovery. In this post, we will talk more generally about recovery strategies for day-to-day training and racing, as well as the various stressors of life, such as[…]
The taper is a period of training that includes a reduction in volume to allow the body to adapt to the previous periods of training stress. Tapers vary based on race distance, weekly training volume and intensity, race goals, and coaching philosophy. So, it is challenging to provide a one-size-fits-all answer to the taper question.[…]
When I was training for my first ultra-marathon, I learned how important hill training and hill repeats are to develop strength, endurance and power. But, you don’t need to be training for an ultra or a hilly race to reap the benefits of hill training. Hill training and hill repeats offer benefits for all runners[…]
There are a variety of metrics you can – and should – use when tracking your training. For purposes of tracking your intensity – from easy to very hard – or for tracking your progress based on how much effort you’re putting in versus how much speed you are getting out, heart rate is one[…]
