Fast Talk 380: Durability: The Fourth Pillar of Aerobic Fitness
Jul 17, 2025
Discover why durability is deemed the fourth pillar of aerobic fitness. Coaches have long recognized its significance, but research is catching up. Learn how durability influences fatigue and performance metrics in athletes. The episode contrasts the needs of cyclists versus runners and delves into the role of weight training in enhancing endurance. Nutritional strategies, particularly carbohydrate intake, also take the spotlight. Explore the dynamic nature of durability and its vital importance for long-term athletic success.
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Durability: The Fourth Pillar
- Durability is the ability to sustain VO2 max, economy, and threshold over time before they decline.
- It is now considered the fourth pillar of endurance performance, explaining why predictions based on the first three often overestimate actual performance.
Durability Supports Other Pillars
- Durability uniquely affects the other three pillars by determining how long they can be sustained.
- It serves as the foundation that supports VO2 max, economy, and threshold under prolonged stress.
Durability Over Repetitions Matter
- A Tour-level cyclist, Michael Berry, can match local amateurs on a one-minute climb when fresh.
- However, over multiple repetitions or a long effort, his superior durability allows him to outperform them significantly.