Running gives me plenty of time to think, and a fairly steady supply of questions. As a marathon runner and occasional 70.3 triathlete, I want to understand what is worth doing, what might help, and what is unlikely to justify the time, effort or money.
This is where I’ll explore those questions: starting with why I’m asking, looking at the research, and adding thoughts as I learn or try things. My own experience will be part of the discussion, but it won’t stand in for evidence. Answers may change along the way.
Questions I’m exploring
Supplementation. What actually helps endurance performance? What may help in particular circumstances? From caffeine and creatine to NAD, NMN and “functional” mushrooms, how much of the enthusiasm is supported by useful evidence?
Training sessions. Speed work, double threshold sessions, hills and MAF training: what does each offer, and what makes sense for someone fitting training around a busy life?
Fitness metrics and kit. Which measurements lead to better decisions? Which devices are worth investing in, and which just give me more numbers to look at?
Injuries. How do I respond to a niggle, decide when to seek help, and rebuild training? What can we reasonably say about prevention and rehabilitation?
I’ll also look at fuelling, recovery, strength training, race execution, combining running with triathlon, and training as I get older.
Follow the discussion
Each question will have its own post. I’ll add dated updates to that post as my thinking develops, keeping the original question, the evidence and my current view together. You can join the discussion in the comments beneath individual posts.
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Does training more actually make you faster?
There was a period when I thought getting fitter largely meant doing more. I’d be up before 6am and could train hard for two hours before starting work. Coffee would get me through the morning and, despite the early start, I often wouldn’t get to bed until close to midnight. Everything felt rushed. Work was…
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MAF explored: can running slower help me run faster?
Can running slower help me run faster? With Chester behind me and roughly ten weeks before my next marathon training block, I have a useful opportunity to explore MAF training—and put myself through a small experiment. MAF stands for Maximum Aerobic Function. Developed by Dr Phil Maffetone, the approach uses a heart-rate ceiling to keep…
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Do we need supplements?
Starting from first principles: do we need supplements—for everyday life, sport or getting older? The word suggests something extra. So what are we adding, and why? Are we filling a nutritional gap, looking for a performance benefit, or buying reassurance? Those are different questions. Before reaching for a test, perhaps the simplest starting point is…
