The Norwegian Method Podcast Olav - Marathon Planning and Training
Aug 14, 2025
Olav (Ola Alexander Bu), a peak human performance developer and coach for elite endurance athletes, shares his expertise on marathon planning. He discusses the key differences between standalone and Ironman marathons, stressing the importance of training adaptations. Olav advocates for cross-training to safely boost training volume and recommends splitting runs throughout the day for quality and intensity. He also addresses effective shoe periodization, cautioning against overuse of high-efficiency shoes and highlighting best practices for marathon training.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Triathlon Marathon Is A Different Beast
- Marathon after heavy cycling is a different physiological task because you start the run already fatigued from swim and bike.
- Triathlon requires redistributing training towards running durability despite less total run time.
Use Cross-Training To Manage Load
- Use cross-training when you lack precise metabolic intensity control to raise overall volume safely.
- Remove or reduce cross-training if it limits running-specific progress by testing priority changes.
Training As A Continuous Time Series
- Treat training as a continuous time series and use session breaks like interval set breaks to pack higher-quality work.
- Double and triple sessions are tools to distribute quality work across time, not arbitrary volume stacking.