Training as Learning
I’ve been learning about learning lately. My teacher is Jake Tuber, who, when he’s not organizing and hosting Endeavorun athlete camps, is studying toward a doctoral degree in adul
Matt Fitzgerald ·
Articles
Training science, coaching, and the 80/20 method — from Matt Fitzgerald and the 80/20 Endurance coaching team.
What Does It Mean to Be an Injury-Prone Runner?
I’ve always considered myself an injury-prone runner. I used to half-jokingly say that I had suffered more running-related injuries than any runner my age in the history of running
Matt Fitzgerald ·
A Fresh Look at Block Periodization
Many moons ago, I wrote a post for this blog that bore the title, “The Human Body Is Not a Smartphone.” In it I argued that endurance training methods cannot advance indefinitely i
Matt Fitzgerald ·
Please, Don’t Beat Yesterday
I ran 20 miles the day before my first marathon. At 17, I didn’t know any better. Whether by choice or chance I had no running mentor, no athletic background, and this was long bef
Matt Fitzgerald ·
When the Question Is Cycling Cadence, the Answer Is Nobody Knows
Every once in a while an athlete asks me why cadence is never prescribed in the cycling workouts included in our 80/20 triathlon plans. I fear that I will soon hear this question m
Matt Fitzgerald ·
Screw Loose, Sh*t Together: A Theory of Athletic Greatness
I have a theory about athletic greatness, or more specifically, about what it takes to achieve greatness as an athlete. It’s quite simple. There are two mental traits that I see ag
Matt Fitzgerald ·
Do Big Workouts Make You Nervous?
Raise your hand if you’ve ever gotten nervous before a big workout. Whoa, that’s a lot of hands! I guess it’s a universal experience. Here’s another question: Why do big workouts m
Matt Fitzgerald ·
New Study Finds Most Age-Group Triathletes Are Still Stuck in the Moderate-Intensity Rut
It’s been nearly a decade since I coined the term “moderate-intensity rut” in reference to the widespread habit among recreational endurance athletes of doing a plurality of their
Matt Fitzgerald ·
Is It a Real Problem or a Measurement Problem?
A few months ago, “Kevin” posted a concern about his training in the 80/20 discussion forum. He explained that lately his heart rate had seemed rather high relative to his pace, an
Matt Fitzgerald ·
Leo Tolstoy: Honorary Endurance Coach
“Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina Inspiration can come from unexpected authority. My progress as an enduran
Matt Fitzgerald ·
