Brad updates you on topics of recent interest and new strategies he is trying out in training. Included is his experiment to bring more downtime into his exercise patterns. This means periods of 24-36 hours where there are no formal workouts; this is in order to perform at a higher level when he pushes himself with challenging endurance or high-intensity workouts. That said, Brad also discusses the importance of establishing a baseline routine of general everyday movement, mobility/flexibility exercises, random strength/explosive efforts, and not worrying as much about filling in all the blanks of a training log. 

 Brad reports that despite reduced overall running frequency and monthly volume, he felt stronger than ever delivering a maximum effort to get his first win in a Speedgolf tournament—playing 18 holes on a hilly course in San Luis Obispo in 52 min and shooting 85 for a Speedgolf score of 137. Brad credits being fully rested, along with having some good sprint workouts, for a strong endurance performance at the tournament. Yes, high-intensity sprint sessions will greatly improve your endurance if they are conducted properly and not in an overly strenuous manner. Then, you pair occasional hard stuff with very comfortably paced aerobic workouts that are safely below MAF heart rate or perhaps WAY below MAF heart rate. Don’t worry; you still get a significant aerobic stimulus even if it’s a brisk walk or a cruiser bike trip to Farmer’s Market. Dr. Maffetone details these concepts in his series of outstanding videos in the Primal Endurance Mastery Course at primalendurance.fit

Brad lets us in on some of the fitness routines that keep him in shape. What?? Downtime?? [00:02:21] 

Does slowing down interfere with the competition? What happens when Brad plays Speed Golf? [00:14:39] 

"Simply Running" is a book about modifying training by Nick Willis suggesting the same slowing down theory. [00:18:30] 

Is excessive cardio really unhealthy? [00:20:54] 

What happens if you are sleep deprived? What is Leptin?  What is Ghrelin? [00:24:06]  

Are endurance athletes at risk? [00:26:44] 

Does genetics come into play? [00:30:21] 

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