A Study Of One
Turn your running into a lab experiment
Every other day it seems there’s some new sports science study purporting to revolutionize how we train and think about performance. Once the hype settles, and new product lines have come and gone, we’re reminded that basic training principles really haven’t changed that much over the years.
What “works” is relatively simple. Run consistently, mostly at an easy effort, sometimes hard, and occasionally challenging. Prioritize getting quality sleep and consuming a balanced diet that meets your nutritional needs. Strength train 2-3 times a week, focusing on the lower half, especially core, glutes, hips, and hamstrings.
If you can follow those basic tenets on a regular basis, you will find yourself the lone subject of an endless sports science study designed specifically around your running. In order to enjoy a long and fruitful relationship with the sport, you will eventually need to become your own sports scientist with side hustles in nutrition, physical therapy, and psychology.
If you are just starting out or trying to reestablish a relationship with running, don’t sweat the latest lab results. If the science is valid, its utility will eventually be tested by all the other independent studies of one. Besides, there are no short cuts, hacks, or marketing gimmicks that will ever compare to an aerobic base developed through years of consistent effort. You may as well start building yours now.
The rest of this week’s Shakeout is for paid subscribers. We’re exploring monster workouts, curious mindsets, and hip drives with resistance bands. It’s a party and you're invited for less than the cost of a box of overpriced gels. I don’t contain any carbs, but I do have a lifetime of running knowledge to share.