Science Of Ultra

Today's episode breaks from our traditional format on Coaches' Corner. Instead of starting with a T/F statement and then discussing the topic, we talk about a specific event today. This episode was recorded on July 2nd, 2019, just a few days after the 2019 WS100 Endurance Run. My guest coaches each had some great insights and experience at the event and we thought this would be a great opportunity to talk about their experiences and about how training may differ among athletes for the same event. Remember that you can send your suggested T/F statements for topics of future episodes to [email protected]

Today, we take a closer look at focus, which is the first of our core features of a high performance mindset. From focus with mindfulness, you can develop the other features of a high performance mindset: calm, confidence, optimism, and trust.

If you're going to do something that's difficult, like running ultra-marathons, it's important to have a strategy. Inside of that strategy you have to develop and refine skills through deliberate practice. Train your mind, just like you train your body. In this installment, we create an overview of training the mind.

The average pace for an ultra-marathon isn't very fast. In races of 100 miles, for example, the average pace can be slower than easy training runs. How do successful ultra-marathon runners pace themselves? How do you pace yourself? Is it true that you should start races, especially longer ones, like a stroll in the park?

Do older athletes need to train differently compared to their younger selves? Coaches Ian Sharman, David Roche, Krissy Moehl, and Shawn Bearden discuss training as we age in today's Coaches' Corner. Watch the discussion on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/loH878kbRbQ Each coach can be reached through their respective websites: Krissy Moehl http://KrissyMoehl.com David Roche https://SWAPRunning.com Ian Sharman https://SharmanUltra.com Shawn Bearden https://ScienceOfUltra.com

Running economy is one of the three key features in performance, along with endurance and stamina. You can develop your running economy through heavy resistance training, sprints, and volume. This episode is a crash course in how do it right.

V̇O2max is the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use per minute. It's a metabolic rate that can be sustained for 6-10 minutes. Why do you hear so much about it in running, when competitions are so much longer. Maybe your V̇O2max isn't something you should ever focus on.

What we're talking about today is stamina. Stamina is your ability to maintain a pace for a long time. Stamina comprises endurance and economy. Endurance is your ability to cover a distance or to persist for a time. Economy is a traditionally quantified as the steady state oxygen consumption at a given running velocity. For our purposes, economy of running is the energy required to run at a given pace. Today's episode is meant to introduce the key concepts and functional goals of improving endurance and economy so that you can improve stamina. Today, we also explain endurance as a capacity and how to increase endurance within the context of consistency for sufficient and relative weekly volumes. We also outline how to progress training volume of easy running and how to test your bioenergetic and physiological capacity profile with an easy run test. Then we added strides as a salvo into developing economy. Economy will be the next topic in the series on training your body for ultra-marathons.

Workouts are when you stress your body. The rest of the day is when you improve. That's what we call recovery. Not only recovering to be able to do it again (get back to pre-workout capacity) but also adapt and become stronger (a new baseline capacity). Coaches Ian Sharman, David Roche, Krissy Moehl, and Shawn Bearden discuss recovery in today's Coaches' Corner. Watch the discussion on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/loH878kbRbQ Each coach can be reached through their respective websites: Krissy Moehl http://KrissyMoehl.com David Roche https://SWAPRunning.com Ian Sharman https://SharmanUltra.com Shawn Bearden https://ScienceOfUltra.com

As we begin to dissect the three domains of training - mind, body, craft - start by answering Why and What. Then we can decide How to train. Your answers are unique to you. This episode will give you definitions and guidance on answering Why and What for yourself.

The format of SOUP is going to shift a little. Here's what you can expect.

Part 2 of our conversation into the considerations for your first ultra marathon. In today's episode we focus mostly on the mental aspects of getting it right.

Today we dive deep into the mind of ultra runner and coach, Ellie Greenwood. We discuss everything from competition vs participation to the benefits of multidirectional sports in the development of a trail runner to how she prescribes intensity in training the athletes she coaches. You can connect with her at https://sharmanultra.com Twitter: @eLLiejG Facebook and Instagram: EllieJGreenwood

Should you run a marathon before signing up for an ultra-marathon? Coaches Ian Sharman, David Roche, Krissy Moehl, and Shawn Bearden discuss that question in today's Coaches' Corner. Watch the discussion on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/loH878kbRbQ Each coach can be reached through their respective websites: Krissy Moehl http://KrissyMoehl.com David Roche https://SWAPRunning.com Ian Sharman https://SharmanUltra.com Shawn Bearden https://ScienceOfUltra.com

Amelia Boone is the most accomplished obstacle course racer on the planet. Now she's running ultra marathons. What does it take to make that transition? What do success and failure look like to someone so dominant in one sport and very good in another? What motivates and drives Amelia's passion for endurance sports? We learn about all these topics and more in today's conversation, which is an in-person interview near her home California.

Train for speed when you're training for ultra-marathons...wuh? Should ultra runners train for speed? Short answer: yes! And, that's the topic of this edition of Coaches' Corner with David Roche, Ian Sharman, Krissy Moehl, and Shawn Bearden. Watch the discussion on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/loH878kbRbQ Each coach can be reached through their respective websites: Krissy Moehl http://KrissyMoehl.com David Roche https://SWAPRunning.com Ian Sharman https://SharmanUltra.com Shawn Bearden https://ScienceOfUltra.com

We've learned about foot strike patterns but never quite like this. What's the role of sensory feedback and shoe cushioning on foot strike and on your running patterns? Today we get deeper insights into these issues so you can make more informed decisions about your shoe choices and running mechanics with Missy Thompson, PhD. Connect with her: Researchgate:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Melissa_Thompson10 Instagram: flcexercisescience Twitter: FLC_Exercise Science Facebook: FLCExerciseScience

How do you handle adversity in the moment? Do you have a mental training practice? You know that ultra-marathon running is as much mental as it is physical. RISE to train your mind as well as you train your body.

Runners need to run. Ultra-marathon runner need to run a lot. But could you be more effective spending some of that time cross-training? If you're looking for a coach, or just have questions, you can reach: David Roche at https://SWAPrunning.com Ian Sharman at http://www.sharmanultra.com Krissy Moehl at http://krissymoehl.com Shawn Bearden at https://ScienceOfUltra.com If you want to submit a True/False statement for us to discuss on a future episode of Coaches' Corner, send it to [email protected]

My guest today is Luke Nelson. He's a physician assistant, race director, husband, father, and public lands activist. He's been on the podium at many of the top ultras, set course records, and has set numerous FKTs of mountain linkups and traverses. Prior to getting fully into mountain running, in 2012 he was the U.S. Ski Mountaineering National Champion. He's active on Instargram and you can follow him @slukenelson He's and ambassador for Patagonia and also runs for La Sportiva, GU, Zeal Optics, Jaybird, Suunto. And, in August of 2018, he placed 8th at the legendary Tor des Geants. Our conversation today is mostly about his preparation and experience in that race but we get into a lot more as well. He's also a friend and neighbor of mine, so we recorded the episode when he joined me at my house. If you'd like to support the podcast and keep it advertisement-free, go to https://scienceofultra.com/support. If you want to take your training to the next level, and you're interested in hiring me to be your coach, go to https://scienceofultra.com/coaching

True or False: Injuries are usually predictable and preventable. Coaches David Roche, Ian Sharman, Krissy Moehl, and Shawn Bearden discuss their answers in our ongoing series, Coaches' Corner. David Roche SWAPrunning.com Ian Sharman SharmanUltra.com Krissy Moehl KrissyMoehl.com Shawn Bearden ScienceOfUltra.com

Part 2 (of 2) in this extraordinary interview with Dr. Megan Roche. We talk about everything from research to coaching to dysfunctional eating to experiencing joy in a lifestyle of running. Megan Roche is a medical doctor, coach, scientist, book author, and exceptional trail runner.

Megan Roche is a medical doctor, extraordinary trail runner, coach, scientist, and book author. This episode is the first in a two-part interview. We talk about everything from research to coaching to joy in running.

True or False: Performance metrics are important for optimizing outcomes

The title says it all. Everything you should know about the foundations of a good diet from one of today's leading practitioners, nutritionist Nancy Clark, RD.

This is the first episode of Coaches' Corner, a new and ongoing series with several of the top trail running coaches in the world, Krissy Moehl, David Roche, Ian Sharman, and me. Each of these episodes is intended to highlight a specific topic relevant to all trail runners. We start in the form of a T/F statement, get a one-word answer from each coach, and then discuss the nuances that make the real answer less clear. Ultimately, the purpose is to provide you with information that you can apply to your own training. These are also published on our YouTube channel at YouTube.com/ScienceOfUltra The T/F statement for today's episode is: There's a minimum volume of running required before adding any structured workouts (such as intervals or hills) becomes more useful than simply adding more volume

When to walk vs run on inclines, how can poles help, use water in your weighted vest...practical gems from this top athlete and applied scientist.

Marlene Giandolini, PhD and Sebastien Pavailler, PhD are biomechanists who work for Salomon. Today, they bring us insights from their research and the applied intersection of biomechanics, trail running, and shoe design. We discuss everything from trail runner kinematics to shoe drop to foot swelling. So much valuable and new information in this one!

Gianluca Vernillo, PhD is one of the world's leading scientists studying mountain ultra trail runners. Today he brings a vast amount of science and practical insight from his years of studying the uphill, downhill, and other physiologic features of extreme endurance running in the world's toughest mountain courses.

How do the best endurance athletes partition their training? Most of understand what it is to go out for an easy run, but what about intervals. How do the best in the world do it? And, what does the science show about how you should design your interval workouts? What should you do for work duration, rest duration, total work, frequency, and effort level? These are the principle issues we discuss in this episode. And, we wrap up with parting advice from Dr. Seiler that you must hear if you're going to become your ultra best.

Professional runner Dylan Bowman invited me into his home to discuss his running. We cover topics ranging from his development and early years, to his motivations and mindset, to racing strategy and more.

Interested in training on low glycogen levels? Doing it by running in the morning, without breakfast? If so, you may not be doing what you intend. In this episode, I explain why...and provide an actionable and reliable approach to do it right.

Alex Hutchinson is a prolific science-based writer who covers all facets of running. In this interview, we dig into the insights he's developed over the years and talk about his new book: Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance.

Amino acids, the leucine trigger, and branched chain amino acids. What do you need, should you supplement, do they aid performance...all these question answered and much more.

An overview of recovery strategies with Dr. Shona Halson, Senior Recovery Physiologist at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Today's episode is a special compilation of advice from some of the brightest and most insightful minds in the world of sports physiology. I ask many of my guests for their insight and wisdom into the biggest mistakes and the most grounded advice from their years of experience in respective fields. This special episode of Science Of Ultra is a curation of the practical wisdom in those answers from the first 25 episodes.

Listener questions answered!

Backpacking legend, Andrew Skurka, is also an outstanding ultra runner. Today, we learn about the psychology, mindset, and perspectives it takes to become one of the most accomplished adventurers in the world.

So, you've been running for 4...6...10...18...24...hours. Yes, your legs are tired. But, what about your respiratory muscles? Are they suited to breathing heavily for that long? Do they fatigue? Does greater effort to breath in a long ultra translate into higher ratings of perceived exertion? Check out my interview with Darlene Reid, PhD to learn the answers to those questions and how you can train your respiratory muscle to become your ultra best!

Guillaume Millet, Ph.D. is the world's leading expert on neuromuscular fatigue in ultramarathons. We explore the many facets of fatigue and bring his years of field research to you in practical and applied terms that you can use to help become your ultra best.

Dr. Roger Enoka is the world's leading expert on the neuromuscular determinants of movement in health and disease. Today we talk about the physiology of controlling muscle force, new paradigms for viewing fatigue, muscle cramps, and aging. He also answers the question, "why is running fast downhill beneficial for a runners development?".

The structures that transmit force from muscle cells to bone are critical components of your running health and economy in addition to a common site of injury. Today we learn all about tendons and sinews from the world's leading expert on this topic.

Answers to listener questions.

Today we cover questions on heat acclimatization for altitude performance, veganism, building hiking into training even if you live in a flat area, respiratory discomfort after endurance exercise, foam rolling, weight lifting, mental fogginess after endurance events, body weight, and taking time off for niggling injuries.

A deep scientific discussion of the concept of critical power/critical speed as the 'fatigue threshold' with an emphasis on how it may apply to ultra-endurance training and performance.

Today we touch on a variety of topics in biomechanics, from shoe cushioning to children's shoes to pool running...and more...

Introduction of a new episode category: SOUP Bites. You have specific questions. In SOUP Bites, you'll get specific answers!

A thought-provoking analysis of training dogma, practices, and approaches from one of the world's leading experts on program development.

One of the highest profile and most sought after coaches in ultra marathon running, David Roche delivers novel approaches to training athletes that may help you as much as they've helped his runners.

An overview of the best predictors of ultra endurance performance from the world's leading expert. The data may surprise you...