Training hard has its place, but harder is not always better. In this episode, we explore why the real value of a session is not just in the stimulus it provides, but in the recovery cost it creates.

For trail and ultra runners, going too hard too often can quietly reduce consistency, compromise quality, increase injury risk, and leave you too fatigued to absorb the training that actually matters.

The key message is simple: the best training is not the hardest training, but the training you can recover from and repeat.

Key references:

• Seiler S. What is best practice for training intensity and duration distribution in endurance athletes? 2010.
• Stöggl TL, Sperlich B. The training intensity distribution among well-trained and elite endurance athletes. 2015.
• Sperlich B, et al. The proportional distribution of training by elite endurance athletes. 2023.
• Casado A, et al. Training Periodization, Methods, Intensity Distribution, and Volume in Highly Trained Endurance Athletes. 2022.
• Jones CM, et al. Training Load and Fatigue Marker Associations with Injury and Illness. 2016.
• Drew MK, Finch CF. The Relationship Between Training Load and Injury, Illness and Soreness. 2016.
• Gabbett TJ. The training-injury prevention paradox. 2016.
• Kreher JB, Schwartz JB. Overtraining Syndrome: A Practical Guide. 2012.