Science of Running
230 episodes — Page 2 of 5
238: When workouts don’t work: The art of the audible
What do you do when it all goes wrong during a workout? You call an audible! In this episode, we walk you through how and when to adjust a bad workout. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses plus…
237: Medium Dig Cycle: When and why to purposefully dig a hole in training.
Is it every worthwhile to dig yourself a hole? It turns out the answer is likely yes! In this episode we go through Jerry Schumacher’s medium dig cycle, Canova’s special block training, and much more. Learn when to go a little bit more, to get long lasting gains. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar…
236: Hard work vs. Overtraining: Finding the Sweet Spot for Optimal Adaptation:
Training is about adaptation. We have to apply the right stimulus that is just strong enough, without overwhelming us. It’s about embarrassing the body. In this episode, we discuss where the line is between overreaching and overtraining. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches…
235: The science of Flow states: How to turn it on and recapture it when it’s gone.
How do we get in the zone to perform at our best? This week we tackle the psychology of performance. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses plus an online interaction system with 500+ other coaches! And we’ve added…
234: The Science of Soviet Training Methods: A look back at the history of getting in shape.
In this episode we dive deep into the literature on soviet training. Yes, there was lots of drugs, but is there anything to learn? We go through circuits, strength training, periodization, and more. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+…
233: Traits of a champion: Why some are better than rest
What separates the best from the rest? In this episode, we go into the characteristics of a champion, and how to cultivate them in anybody. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses plus an online interaction system with 500+…
232: Defining the Win: How to stay on track, have success, and have fun doing it.
Are you and your athletes on the same page in how you define success? Have you ever walked up to an athlete after a race, expecting them to be happy, but they are dejected? You were on different pages in how you define success. In this episode, we talk about defining the win. Steve &…
231: The Athlete’s Hierarchy of Needs. Getting the basics down first
Decades ago, Abraham Maslow outlined a hierarchy of needs. We take this idea and translate it into athletic performance. What are the foundational level, how do we provide security for the athletes, where do workouts come in? We build the athletic pyramid of needs! Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program…
230: Coaching the Modern Athlete: The Role of a Coach
How has the role of the coach changed? Do we need to take a different approach with this generation? We answer these questions and more in this weeks podcast! Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses plus an online…
229: Modern Coaching: Ways to Promote Transformation in a Transactional Environment
Are you a transactional or transformational coach? Society pushes us towards transactional. In this episode, we outline why that’s the case and what we can do about it. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses plus an online interaction…
228: Before and After the Key to Maximizing your Workouts
A lot of focus is on the workout for good reasons, but in this episode we look at how what you do before and after the workout impacts the quality during and adaptations from the workout. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education.…
227: Peeling Back the Layers of Modern Coaching: Manager, Mentor, Teacher
A coach plays many roles— manager, teacher, mentor, guide. In this episode, we dive into how coaching has changed in the modern era and how to best serve your athletes in the roles you play. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It…
226: The Science of Middle Distance Training: Understanding HIIT
HIIT! High intensity interval training…what is it, what is it good for, what don’t we understand? In this episode, we demystify HIIT from a scientific and coaching perspective. We provide actionable takeaways with plenty of workout examples. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches…
Episode 225: The Magic is in the Man/Woman, Not the Miles.
This week, we take on the old Bowerman quote, to understand while we obsess over the workouts, what matters most is the people on board. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses plus an online interaction system with 500+…
Episode 224: Anxiety creep: How to fight back, take ownership, and thrive in training and on race day.
Pre-race anxiety is something we all face. How do we deal with it? In this episode, we go through the psychology of anxiety and tips and tools for helping athletes deal with it. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+…
Episode 223: The Science of Drive: How to Get Better and Become the Best
Motivation. We all talk about it’s importance, but how do you develop it within yourself and athletes? In this episode, we break down the science of drive and buy-in. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses plus an online…
Episode 222: What Greatness Really Looks Like: The Characteristics that Drive Elite Performance
Consistency over the long haul. Stacking week after week, month after month of good work. Being prepared instead of being ready. Flipping the switch to compete, instead of being hypercompetitive. These (and more) are the characteristics of great performers. Listen to hear more. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is…
Episode 221: PEAK WHEN IT COUNTS: Developing Mental Toughness
Today, we talk about the many kinds of competition, and how we need to stop seeing every meet as the be all end all. Stop using regular season meets as validation. Instead, see them as developmental competitions where you are working on something to grow and adapt! Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program…
Episode 220- Becoming a Great Coach: The Art of Managing Workouts
In this episode, we dive into how to manage and adjust workouts for both physiological and psychological gain. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses plus an online interaction system with 500+ other coaches! And we’ve added a new…
#219- Managing Change and Uncertainty: Injuries, Going from HS to College, Retirement, and So Much More
In this episode, we welcome friend of the show Brad Stulberg to talk about how runners can handle change and uncertainty. What do we do when the injury bug hits and it feels like our season is lost, or when we transition from high school to college and we go from star to also-ran, or…
Episode 218- Managing Fatigue: Understanding Glycogen Depletion
In this episode, we dive into glycogen depletion and how it impacts recovery and adaptation. We go over the timing of glycogen restoration (hint: it’s a lot longer than you think), and nutrition interventions that can help you handle the training load. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our…
Episode 217: Dedicated vs. Serious: Difference Between Real and Fake Excellence
We often mistake being serious with being dedicated. That’s often not the case. We are most dedicated when we were having fun and experiencing joy. We often create teams and cultures devoid of joy and the misplaced notion that serious need me seriousness means we are committed. It does that. There’s performative stuff, and then…
Episode 216: Winning culture: Building it, Keeping it, Maintaining it
In this episode, we dive into creating cultures and leadership style. Are you an ego coach, who only cares about winning at all costs, or are you a coach who wants to develop people holistically? We break it all down, combining examples with the latest psychological research. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program…
Episode 215: The difference between direction and magnitude of training adaptation
In this episode, we take a deep dive into workout stimulus, recovery, and adaptation! Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses plus an online interaction system with 500+ other coaches! And we’ve added a new course! The Igloi course.…
Episode 214: The Science of the Injury Cycle.
We’ve all been there, stuck in the injury cycle, unable to get healthy. In this episode, Jon and Steve break down what the injury cycle is and how to get out of it. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+…
Episode 213: Cross-Country Workout and Trouble Shooting Guide
In this episode, we take a look at cross-country training. How do we dig ourselves out a hole, what pitfalls to avoid, how to peak at the right time, and much more! Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses…
Episode 212: Wickets for Runners
It’s time to learn all about wickets. How do you utilize wickets to improve your running form and biomechanics? We’ve got you covered. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses plus an online interaction system with 500+ other coaches!…
Episode 211: Traditional workouts reimagined as Flux Training
Mile repeats. The 20 minute tempo. Hill repeats. 400m repeats. Cruise Intervals. In this episode, we take on some of the traditional workouts for distance running, and re-imagine them as flux training. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses…
Episode 210: Adapting Flux Training for Cross-Country
Looking to level up your cross-country training? Want to add a different mix of workouts to enhance adaptation? In this week’s episode, we discuss flux training for cross-country. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses plus an online interaction…
Episode 209: Getting Started and Staying Fresh. A guide for brand new and seasoned coaches.
How do we stay fresh in coaching and running? Both from motivation standpoint, but also from a training and innovation standpoint. It’s easy to get stuck. To feel like you know the way, and to stick to that path. This episode is about keeping mentally and physically fresh. To be open to new ideas, even…
Episode 208: Freaks of Nature: The Best are Different
It’s time to talk about the outliers. We cover the craziest workouts, the most mind blowing bounce backs, and much more of athletes who are just freaks of nature. This isn’t just a highlight reel of crazy athletes, it’s understand what we can and cannot learn from them. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar…
Episode 207: Instant Offense: Things you can do today to be better tomorrow
In this episode, we discuss recovery, priming, potentiation and other things that we can do to enhance our performance in both the short and long run. This one goes into preparing to race at our best. What can we do in the weeks, days, and hours leading into a race to set ourselves up to…
Episode 206: Resiliency: Bounce Back after you bomb!
We’ve all been there. A tough race or competition that didn’t go well. How do you bounce back from failure? In this episode we provide the science and tools to get back on track after a rough race. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things…
Episode 205: Risk Tolerance: What is it and how to build it?
We can either train ourselves or athletes to take appropriate risks or to shy away. In this episode, we talk about how to move towards discomfort and challenge. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+ courses plus an online interaction…
Episode 204: Polarized Training vs. Moderate Intensity Training: When, Where, and Why for each?
Should we follow the 80/20 training model, or go all-in on the threshold model? In this episode we break down the different training models, explaining when to use them, and when to put them on the backburner. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches…
Episode 203: Do What Works and Don’t Do What Doesn’t!
What actually works in training runners? There’s so much nonsense out there. Jon and Steve cut through the BS, and get at what works and what doesn’t when it comes to coaching runners. Steve & Jon Check out the Scholar Program The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. It has 20+…
Episode 202: Genius Revealed: Igloi- The Master Coach You Know Nothing About
Mihaly Igloi is one of the most underrated coaches in history. In this episode, we dive into his coaching genius, and how modern science has validated many of his ideas. If you are interested in learning more about Igloi, we just released a course exploring his ideas. Sign up now for a free month off!…
Episode 201: Establishing Culture and Setting Boundaries
Are you setting a performance or mastery-based culture? In this episode, we talk about setting standards versus boundaries, and the dangers of going too far toward an outcome-obsessed team? Steve & Jon Visit our Sponsor The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. And we’ve added a new feature! The Scholar Clubhouse…
Episode 200: Experimenting On Ourselves As Coaches
Do you try out workouts before you give them to athletes? In this episode, we talk about the importance of experimenting on yourself as a coach. It’s not about the speed of the workout, but that doing something difficult gives you an appreciation for what it feels like. Which then allows you to coach it…
Episode 199: Winning the Self-Improvement Game
Often in coaching, we obsess over the physiological and the physical. We go over and over the workouts. In this episode, we go in the other direction, talking about holistic improvement as a person. It’s time to talk about the soft side of development. Steve & Jon Visit our Sponsor The Scholar Program is our…
Episode 198: Mastering the Art of People. How to Successfully Navigate Working with Different Personality Types
Coaching is the people business! We have to help individuals see their capabilities and put them on the journey towards achieving their potential. But, people are complex. Sometimes we don’t always click. In this episode, we talk about the hardest thing of all: dealing with and helping people. Steve & Jon Visit our Sponsor The…
Episode 197: The Finishing Kick: How to Develop It
How do we improve the finishing kick? In this week’s episode, we give you a framework for developing your athlete’s kicks, along with specific workouts designed to help out. We cover everything from the energetics to the muscle recruitment pattern that impacts the finishing kick. Steve & Jon Visit our Sponsor The Scholar Program is…
Episode 196: Starting from Scratch. How to Grow a Successful Program from the Ground Up!
What do you do when you take over a program that’s in need of help? In this weeks episode, Jon and Steve go over how to change the culture, what to focus on, how to get people to join the team, and more. Changing culture is hard. But it is possible. Time to explore how…
Episode 195: The Art and Science of Speed Endurance Workouts
What is speed endurance? In this weeks episode, Jon and Steve go over this vital but often misunderstood ingredient to your training. Steve & Jon Visit our Sponsor The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. And we’ve added a new feature! The Scholar Clubhouse is an interactive chat system that gives…
Episode 194: Champions in The Making- Winners are everywhere. They just need coaching.
Arthur Lydiard once said, ‘There are champions everywhere.’ And for good reason, his most famous pupils were local athletes. In this episode, we explore how to give your athletes a chance to reach their potential. And why it’s so important that we give everyone an opportunity to do so, instead of pigeonholing athletes. Steve &…
Episode 193: General Vs. Specific Training?
This week we break down a classification for training, from general to specific. What is general training? How does it set the foundation for training? How does each level of training connect to the next? We break it all down! Steve & Jon Visit our Sponsor The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things…
Episode 192: You Don’t Need As Much Vo2Max Work as You Think!
Vo2max work! 800s at 3k pace, 1ks at 5k down to 2-mile pace. We all know the workouts. We include them all of the time. In some training programs, especially for high-school, they are the bread and butter of the program. In this episode, we discuss why this doesn’t have to be the case. We…
Episode 191: Strengthening Your Coaching Weakness
What do you suck at as a coach? In this episode, we go over identifying your weaknesses and shoring them up to allow you to become the best coach that you can be. Steve & Jon Visit our Sponsor The Scholar Program is our one-stop-shop for all things coaches education. And we’ve added a new…
Episode 190: See God Workouts: Reckless or Indispensable
Have you ever done a workout where you went to the absolute well? That’s a ‘see God’ workout. Going until there is nothing left. An exploration of what you are capable of. These workouts are meant to shift your perspective. Are they necessary or reckless? Time to explore on this weeks podcast. Steve & Jon…
Episode 189: The Norwegian Model of Lactate Threshold Training
Norway has had a lot of endurance success lately. From the Ingebrigtsen’s to triathletes winning major events, the small country of Norway has taken the endurance world by storm. We break down their threshold-influenced training, going all the way back to the work of Marius Bakken (13:06 5k runner). We travel back to the message…