Episode 402: All About that Tempo

Episode 402: All About that Tempo

The word "tempo" might be one of the most commonly misunderstood words in coaching vernacular, even as it might be the most commonly prescribed type of workout. It's also one of the most important and critical training efforts for distance runners, so it is critical to understand it well if you want to improve. This episode is all about that tempo. We give you the what, the why, and the how of executing a solid tempo workout. Plus, you get a host of examples of how it might be done in different ways across all training phases. Don't fidget. Tempo!

Episode 401: 9 Truths about Training Paces

400m reps at 5K pace. 800m reps at 10K pace. 1 mile repeats starting at HM pace and working down by 2-3 secs per rep. Our vernacular in running is to use training paces based on what you could theoretically run at each distance. It is a useful tool for dialing into effort, but it IS NOT The end all and be all. In this episode, we give you 9 truths about training paces and how to use them effectively while still keeping the big picture in mind!

Episode 400: Podcast Memory Lane

We take a break from our book discussions to reflect on 400 episodes and nearly 10 years of podcasting. Our hope with this one is simply to remind you and ourselves of why we do this. Thank you to everyone who has listened and downloaded through the years. We do it for you. One step at a time. Onward.

Episode 399: The What, Why, and How of Down Weeks

Recovery is how you build fitness. We need recovery after hard and long days, hence our emphasis on recovery running. You also need recovery after hard weeks, so in our programming, we do "down weeks" every third week to consolidate the fitness gains of the "up weeks." Two up, one down. That is the rhythm of working hard and then recovering from that work to actually get faster. In this episode, we talk about the what, why, and how of down weeks. What do they look like? Why do we do them? And how do you make them as effective as possible with 6 key success factors? Almost at 400 episodes!

Episode 398: Taper and Post Race Recovery

In this episode, we cover the final 2 phases of your training block - the taper and the post-race recovery phases. Both are critical for hitting this peak and then getting to your next one. We give you the reasons for the taper and the mechanics of it (for volume, speed, and routine), and then we break down how to recover from your race. It is critical to taper in order to be fresh and ready for your A race, and then it is imperative to recover appropriately in order to start your next cycle on the right foot, pun intended. In this episode, we also talk about special cases, including tapering while slightly injured or sick, as well as answer questions such as "what to do with strength training during the taper?". It's time to get fresh and ready, y'all!