Column

Performance

Why Do Runners Suddenly Hit the Wall at 30 km? — The Truth Behind “Hitting the Wall” (HTW) and the Science of Durability

Introduction: Breaking Down at the Same Spot, No Matter How Many Times You RunIf you have ever run a marathon, you have ...
Performance

Why I Rethought Lower Leg Training: The Belief That Thinner Calves Mean Faster Times

I used to be quite reluctant to actively train my calves for running. In fact, I believed that "thinner calves are bette...
Strength & Physical Performance

“Muscle Loss” Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story — What Changes Inside the Muscles of the Body After 50

As we continue training into our 40s, 50s, and 60s, we occasionally notice a "gap" between numbers and bodily sensations...
Body & Conditioning

Is Being Tall Always an Advantage? The “Operational Costs” and “Physical Completeness” Citizen Athletes

If you often think, "I train consistently, but struggle with pacing or stability over longer distances," looking at your...
Training Theory

Fatigue Accumulates Faster Than Fitness: Reconsidering Progressive Overload and the Case for Workload Consolidation

When engaging in consistent endurance training, it is easy to assume that building greater performance requires a weekly...
Masters & Aging

From 80% at Age 20 to 60% at 75? – The Age-Related Decline in Peripheral Oxygen Extraction

"I feel like my stamina isn't what it used to be." This is a reality that virtually every long-term endurance athlete ev...
Training Theory

How Long Should Your Intervals Be? Examining the Time for Maximum Cost-Effectiveness

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is widely recognized as a training method that delivers high improvements in car...
Strength & Physical Performance

You Don’t Have to Go to Absolute Failure: The Cluster Set Approach to Breaking Up Repetitions

"If you're going to do ten reps, you do ten reps straight through."When you lift weights, you rarely question this assum...
Exercise Physiology

Is Threshold Training Easier to Recover From Than VO₂max Training?

In endurance sports, setting training intensities and managing fatigue are ever-present central challenges. In particula...
Exercise Physiology

Why Your VO2max Drops Even When You Train Hard: After 50, It Is Not Just About the Heart—It Is Also About Muscles’ Ability to Use Oxygen

In my 50s, my maximum heart rate is lower than it used to be.Running at the same pace feels much harder.Even with high-v...