Fast Talk 377: When Is Our Interval Work Too Much?
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Jun 26, 2025 
Brent Bookwalter, a mental performance coach and former pro cyclist with a background in sports psychology, shares insights on balancing physical and mental training. He emphasizes the risks of overtraining and the need for tailored coaching strategies that respect individual athlete's needs. Brent discusses the role of teamwork and mental clarity in effective workouts while highlighting the importance of enjoyment in sports. He also notes the value of sustainable training methods and the impact of personalized feedback on performance.
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Brutal Interval Workout Recall
- Trevor Connor recalls his hardest workout involving intervals with top Canadian mountain bikers truly burning him out.
- After the brutal session, even a woman on a commuter bike easily passed them on the way home, highlighting the workout's intensity.
Minimal Effort for Max Benefit
- Do the minimal amount of work necessary to achieve maximal benefit in your workouts.
- Save maximal efforts for race days and avoid proving yourself every workout to prevent mental fatigue.
Diminishing Returns with Sets
- Most training gains come from the first few sets of intervals, with diminishing returns thereafter.
- Doing too many sets adds fatigue and physiological stress but adds little additional adaptive benefit.