s4/e21 Data Driven Training for the Everyday Athlete with Jonah Rosner, MS, CSCS
Jun 13, 2024
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Sports scientist Jonah Rosner discusses the importance of data-driven training for athletes, emphasizing the balance between objective data and personal intuition. Topics include heart rate monitoring accuracy, individualized data collection, leveraging subjective feedback, optimizing training through data-driven approaches, and the benefits of using data in everyday training. The conversation highlights the significance of trends over individual data points and the impact of external factors like heat on performance.
Consider the accuracy and reliability of wearable data in running, balancing objective metrics with subjective feelings for informed training decisions.
Building a baseline of personal data over time helps understand individual patterns, combining subjective feelings with metrics like heart rate for tailored training adjustments.
Lab testing like VO2 max tests may not be necessary for most runners, suggesting field testing like race performances as more practical data for progress tracking.
Deep dives
Navigating Technology and Data in Running
Using wearables and technology in running can provide valuable insights, but accuracy and reliability need to be considered. The podcast emphasizes the importance of being skeptical about data from devices like smartwatches due to potential inaccuracies, especially in measuring metrics like heart rate. It highlights the need to not solely rely on one data point and to consider subjective feelings and multiple sources of information in training decisions.
Optimizing Training Through Individual Data Interpretation
Individualized data interpretation is crucial in optimizing training. The podcast discusses the significance of building a baseline of personal data over time to understand patterns and normalize ranges. By combining subjective feelings with metrics like heart rate, runners can establish their unique physiological responses and make informed training adjustments. Trends and deviations from individual norms play a key role in adjusting training stimulus effectively.
Evaluating the Value of Advanced Lab Testing in Running
Advanced lab testing in running, like VO2 max tests or lactate testing, may not be essential for most runners. While such tests offer detailed physiological insights, they are more beneficial for elite or stagnant athletes seeking specific training refinements. The podcast suggests that field testing, like race performances, can often provide more practical and applicable data for most runners' progress, emphasizing the importance of repeated testing to track improvements effectively.
Impact of Training Intensity on Performance Improvement
Training intensity plays a crucial role in athletic performance improvement, especially for individuals with a high training age like experienced marathoners. The podcast highlights a case where a marathoner, despite consistent training at specific intensities, reached a plateau in performance. The analysis revealed that to progress further, the individual needed to focus on increasing their VO2 max through higher intensity training to allow room for threshold improvements, ultimately enhancing marathon performance.
Balancing Data Utilization in Training
The podcast emphasizes the significance of balancing data-driven training with a holistic approach that considers both objective metrics like heart rate, pace, and power, alongside subjective factors such as personal feel and intuition. It cautions against over-reliance on singular metrics like readiness scores, promoting a comprehensive understanding and utilization of varied data inputs to guide training decisions effectively. The discussion underscores the importance of combining data insights with subjective perceptions for informed and optimal training outcomes.
DATA DATA EVERYWHERE! VO2max, heart rate, training status, body battery, sleep score, intensity zones, HRV, heat acclimation status, training readiness, cadence, ground contact time, vertical oscillation... HOW DO YOU SORT THROUGH IT ALL?
Sports scientist Jonah Rosner, MS, CSCS, is here to help YOU understand 1) what's important and what's just noise, 2) how to accurately gather data, and 3) how to implement it in your training! We explore how to effectively use key data points such as distance, pace, heart rate, and subjective feel to guide your training, and discuss the importance of balancing objective data with personal intuition (just like the pros!)
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GUEST BIO:
Jonah is an applied sport scientist, strength and running coach/consultant living in Brooklyn, NY. Jonah spent the past 7 years working with athletes and teams from all major American Professional Team sports. Most recently, Jonah was the applied sports science coordinator for the Houston Texans in the NFL. At 25 he was one of the youngest sport scientist in NFL history. Jonah specializes in using the latest sports science technology and testing to individualize running and strength programs. He currently collaborates with Nike to run the Nike Running Performance Lab NYC. Jonah can be found on Instagram at @rosnerperformance where he shares practical tips on how to optimize marathon performance based on the latest research. His website is www.rosnerperformance.com