232. 10 Ways We Changed Training for Leadville and Javelina, Love Raging, Ultra Performance Study, Feel v. Heart Rate, and Motivation!
Nov 12, 2024
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Discover how small tweaks in training can lead to major performance gains for ultramarathon events like Leadville and Javelina. Dive into the emotional power of music during workouts and how it boosts motivation. Explore the significance of muscle damage and running economy in ultrarunning, and learn to balance health with motivation through flexible rest. Highlights include a heartwarming listener story and insights into heat training's role in enhancing athletic performance. It's all about embracing community, love, and relentless perseverance!
Creating a motivational playlist can significantly enhance performance and mindset during workouts by energizing and focusing athletes.
Muscle damage is a critical limiter in ultramarathon performance, highlighting the importance of strength training and injury prevention.
Acknowledging and honoring the need for adequate rest is essential in ultramarathon training to optimize performance and prevent burnout.
Building an inclusive community around shared experiences fosters motivation, emotional support, and a sense of connection among athletes.
Deep dives
The Power of Music for Motivation
Listening to music can be a powerful tool for enhancing motivation and mental focus, especially during workouts. An example mentioned is the use of DMX's music to boost confidence and energy levels before training sessions, with the idea that certain songs can recalibrate one's mindset. Playing energizing tracks on repeat before workouts can help set the tone for success as well, demonstrating the importance of having a motivational soundtrack. This approach can be particularly beneficial as it positively influences performance and overall enthusiasm during exercise.
The Role of Playlists in Training
Curating an energizing playlist specifically designed for training can enhance workout performance. The mentioned 'big dump truck energy' playlist contains a mix of upbeat and empowering songs, which have resonated with listeners, providing an emotional boost during workouts. By including various genres and moods, the playlist caters to different energy levels, effectively placing emphasis on personal taste and diversity in music. The experience demonstrates that embracing one’s unique musical preferences can lead to unexpected improvements in training efficiency.
Navigating Motivation in Tough Times
During challenging periods, like following a stressful election, it's important to focus on love and positivity. The speakers reflect on their feelings of sadness and anxiety stemming from external events, while also addressing the need to recommit to love and inclusion. It's essential to find ways to bring lightness into dark times and maintain a sense of community, which can serve as a stabilizing force. In recognizing shared emotions, there is value in discussing feelings and vulnerabilities, allowing others to connect and feel supported.
Training Strategies for Ultramarathon Performance
The conversation brings forward insight from an article discussing the determinants of performance in ultramarathon running. Muscle damage emerged as a significant factor limiting performance, more so than aerobic capacity or running economy. This emphasizes the importance of strength training and injury prevention strategies to mitigate muscle fatigue. Participants in ultramarathons should focus on muscular resilience, especially in training for downhill segments, to enhance overall race performance.
The Importance of Rest and Recovery
In ultramarathon training, the need for adequate rest is vital to prevent burnout and enhance performance. Allowing for sufficient recovery, particularly during tapering phases before races, can yield better results than overtraining with insufficient rest. The speakers discuss personal experiences demonstrating how unplanned rest days can sometimes lead to improved race outcomes. By acknowledging the body's signals, runners can recover effectively while still benefiting from their training efforts.
Balancing Performance with Authenticity
The discussion stresses the significance of being authentic in one’s athletic journey while also aiming for high performance. Understanding that imperfections and setbacks are natural parts of training helps athletes find joy in the process rather than solely focusing on outcomes. Acknowledging vulnerability in the midst of performance pressures fosters strong emotional connection both within oneself and with the broader community. This aspect of authenticity emphasizes the importance of sharing experiences and engaging authentically with others, allowing for a supportive environment.
The Impact of Community and Connection
Building a community that rallies around shared experiences and mutual support has tangible benefits for athletes. By fostering connections through social interactions, athletes can enhance their motivation and well-being, especially during what may be uncertain times. The speakers highlight personal anecdotes, where sharing experiences contributes to healing and growth within the community. Emphasizing inclusivity and love allows for stronger bonds and potentially inspires others to endeavor in their own pursuits while feeling supported.
We celebrated huge beating genius machines before this awesome episode! The main training topic was on 10 ways our training approaches changed for Leadville and Javelina. Throughout the process of preparing for 100 miles, we made itty bitty alterations that sometimes became big shifts in how our plans usually look. We break down each of them and how they might apply to other athletes. Time to pop a squat (or 2 x 10 reps of them).
Before that, we have a little love letter to listeners. That consists of a new playlist to motivate training, a SWAP hat release, some thoughts on celebration and next steps, and also some sadness about crap that we can’t control. Thank you all for giving us a space to be open and authentic, especially when we’re unsure what to say.
And this one had tons of great topics! Other topics: the Big Dump Truck Energy playlist, the poem How To Triumph Like a Girl, a question on balancing motivation and health, the new 100-mile training plan, a wonderful article on ultra performance that posits that muscle damage is the main limiter, why we think the trainability of running economy is being overlooked, how to think about using feel v. heart rate in harder efforts, David’s interview on the Singletrack podcast, heat training in the cycling peloton, some hot takes that become cold takes on the future of heat training, and Listener Corner.
A lyric that ran through our heads last week was from Bo Burnham: “I want to help to leave this world better than I found it / And I fear that comedy won’t help / And the fear is not unfounded.”