Pete Pfitzinger on How to Run Your Best Marathon: Aging, Intensity, Posture, and More

13 snips

Jun 30, 2025

Pete Pfitzinger, a RRCA hall of famer and top American marathoner, shares his expertise on peak marathon performance while highlighting the nuances of training. He discusses the impact of aging on endurance and the importance of good posture and core strength. Pfitzinger also introduces back-to-back hard workout days as a game-changer for improving results. Additionally, he emphasizes the significance of cross-training and warns of common training pitfalls, making this a must-listen for runners at any level.

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INSIGHT

Advanced Marathoning Target Audience

Advanced Marathoning targets dedicated marathoners improving beyond beginner level.
It avoids elite-level technical details, focusing on practical training understanding.

ADVICE

Safe Back-to-Back Hard Days

To safely manage back-to-back hard days, vary workout type, like threshold run then long run.
Pair hard days with subsequent easy days for balanced recovery.

ADVICE

Posture Affects Running Health

Practice good posture daily, including sitting and standing, to improve running form and reduce injury risk.
Incorporate warm-ups and mobility exercises after sedentary activities like driving or work.

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Pete Pfitzinger is a RRCA hall of famer, top American at two Olympic Marathons, and legendary coach and author most known for his book Advanced Marathoning (the 4th edition is now available for preorder!).

He's the top American at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Marathons, a 2-time winner of the San Francisco Marathon, 3rd place finisher at the 1987 NYC Marathon, and a coach with 30+ years of experience.

He's on the podcast today to discuss marathon training:

How is your posture during the delay related to how you run and your injury risk?
The value of back to back hard days (and how to structure them)
Training red flags that Pete consistently sees
Why "Advanced Marathoning" is not just for advanced runners
Recovery & training tips for Master's runners
The different applications for cross-training

Pete is one of the best and it's an absolute pleasure to learn from him. If you have someone running marathons in your life, please send them this episode or go leave it 5 stars in your podcast player. And don't forget to preorder the new edition of his book!

Thanks Boulderthon!

Boulderthon is a top 10 race in America according to USA Today and one of the best fall marathons according to Runner’s World. With a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and marathon, Boulderthon offers an amazing fall destination race weekend right at the foothills of the Rockies. Use code STRENGTH20 for $20 off the marathon or half marathon.

Join me in Boulder, one of the top running destinations in the country, on September 28th, to experience the tight knit running community here, race on the epic streets of Boulder, and finish on historic Pearl Street. While I live in Denver, I travel to Boulder probably once a week to run. It’s arguably one of the best running locations in the United States.

There’ll probably be cool and crisp fall weather for racing fast, too. And don’t worry, Boulderthon is a BQ-eligible, USA Track & Field Sanctioned Event.

Boulderthon is on track to sell out again this year so don’t miss out. Use code STRENGTH20 to save $20 on the marathon or half-marathon here and I hope to see you in Boulder this fall.

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