Running Rogue

We've discussed knowing your purpose. Now, it is time to paint a picture of what you want in this sport. Your vision is the dream and the big picture which isn't bounded by time. Your goals are the timebound milestones along the way. In this episode, we talk about the process of creating a vision board and then discuss the do's and don'ts of goal setting. Should you create process or outcome goals...

There are two big questions underpinning this episode... Is mental strength innate or do you build it?  What's the distance between your true limits and the perceived limits posed by your mind? We discuss these questions to open the episode. We truly do believe that mental fortitude is built. AND, there is plenty of room to better match your perceived limits with your actual limits.  To do that, y...

We are turning the page (pun intended) to a new section of the book where we discuss the mental side of training and racing. And, as cheesy as it might sound, it all starts with knowing your purpose for the run. Why do you run, and specifically why do run for performance? For you, running might be about stress relief, health or longevity, but we would submit that there are likely deeper reasons as...

If the long run "puts the tiger in the cat," then the long run workout puts the saber tooth in the tiger! Yes, we need all of those easy long runs to build the aerobic foundation. Then, as you gain experience and appropriately timed in the cycle, it is important to add quality into your long runs to give you that extra edge for race day. We call these workouts race simulations or race preps becaus...

There are 3 main pillars of recovery - sleep, nutrition/hydration, and easy movement. In this episode, we talk about the third pillar. In our training programs, easy movement primarily manifests as recovery running. These are the glacially slow runs that enable blood flow which promote healing for the next long or hard thing. If you are skipping your recovery runs, then you are likely on the bulle...

Last week, we talked about the long run, and now this week, we talk about the medium long run. I call it the "unsung hero" of fitness building, and it's a run that is often overlooked relative to the speed workout or primary long run. In this episode, we discuss why it's really the third leg or pillar in your training that should be given equal weight to those other two. Listen in to learn about t...

Mile for mile... the long run might just be the most important run of the week. It builds aerobic capacity, improves neuromuscular resilience, and facilitates metabolic flexibility - 3 of the most important tools you need as a distance runner. In this episode, we discuss the benefits in detail and then break down the tactics by answering these 6 questions about the long run: How long? How many or...

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 ex...

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 effectiv...

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.

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, w...

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 y...

We continue our journey through the training phases. In this episode, we talk about the goals and guiding principles of the race-specific phase of work. This is where you put the icing on the cake or the cherry on top of the sundae. You've earned the right to be a little more aggressive, but it's time to crowd out the noise/distractions and focus on the final steps to be race-ready!

Last week was all about that base. This week is all about that aerobic strength - the aerobic strength phase of work specifically. We think there is a lot of confusion about this phase of work and what's involved. We break it all down in this episode. It's about building endurance and staying power in order to be prepared for the race specific phase to come. We give you guidelines on volume buildi...

In this week's episode, we begin a walk (err... run) through each period of training. We start with base building, digging into what it should look like for you. What should you focus on in this phase? How should you think about the running and building your weekly mileage? What are other considerations including strength and lifestyle? We also discuss the Maffetone Method and how it might fit int...

We wrap up this mini-series on polarization with the final 5 questions for you.  First, we cover Chris's experience at his first stage race - Moab Run the Rocks - put on by the great folks at TransRockies Running. It is a 3-day stage race event covering ~54 miles of trails over 3 days in/around Moab, Utah. Chris had a blast and shares a little bit about his experiences there in the first 25 minute...

From periodization to polarization, we cover two "ization" words in as many weeks, and we promise it isn't as boring as it might sound! With this podcast, we discuss something that might just be at the crux of reaching your potential. Is your training polarized enough?  Plus, we make it fun by turning it into a pop quiz with 4 questions in this episode and more in part 2 coming next week. Grab a #...

We start with some beef that I have been sitting on for a minute. We love our influencers and content creators in the running world, but there is at least ONE thing that a few of them need to stop doing. Let's see if we can agree... Then, James and I dig into the art, science, and details of periodization. How should your training cycle be constructed in phases? Every. Single. Time. No exceptions...

We believe that MOST runners are thinking in planning windows that are too short. If your focus is ONLY on your very next race, then you are leaving potential on the table. In this episode, James and I discuss how to think about planning in 12-18 windows by strategically considering your sequence of macrocyles (aka big training blocks). If you think long-term with THE big, main-priority goal in mi...

Watch obsessed? Can't do any training without seeing your exact pace? Train in a difficult environment? This episode is for you. James and I talk about the why and how of running by feel. We give specific examples and cues to use in order to dial into each training zone. Plus, we give some practical tips on how to learn to "use the force" while running as Yoda would have you do. Running by feel is...

In this episode, we break down the 4 main types of quality work (aka speed work). We talk about the what, why, when, and how of each type, as well as give some examples.  Of course, you don't want to start your speed work until your aerobic foundation is big enough, so we give guidelines on that too! The 4 types: Running econony VO2Max Threshold Race specific

In this episode, we dig into Chapter 4 of the book where we discuss the importance of peaking. To maximize potential, you will only focus on 2-3 peaks per year, prioritizing those "A races" above all else. In this discussion, we talk about the physiology of peaking and why it is important. Then, we dig into what peaking looks like, how to manage it well, and what to do if you peak too soon. At the...

In this episode, we dig into the why and the how of building miles. Increasing volume is perhaps the #1 way to improve as a runner, so we introduce the FVI framework for safely building miles and talk about how to maintain speed along the way. Plus, we answer some of the practical questions: In what increments should I be building volume? How do I maintain speed while doing so? What if I miss a da...

We continue our journey through chapter 2 of the book, taking our time here on some of the fundamentals. In this episode, we cover the second 3 of our racing fundamentals. How do you approach racing to get the most out of yourself? In this one, we touch a little more on race execution. As a reminder, you can get the book via the links in our instagram bio (@roguerunning), and if you want to check...

We continue our journey through chapter 2 of the book, taking our time here on some of the fundamentals. In this episode, we cover the first 3 of our racing fundamentals. How do you approach racing to get the most out of yourself?  As a reminder, you can get the book via the links in our instagram bio (@roguerunning), and if you want to check out our training options, go to www.roguerunning.com ....