Purplepatch Fitness

Dear Coach, I read a lot about the high- mileage versus high-quality debate. Is it true that to thoroughly develop an aerobic foundation you have to put in years of low-intensity, high- mileage training? Others say that higher quality training is a superior route to success. There seems to be a lot of disagreement. What’s the deal?

This question strikes to the heart of the discussion about the optimal approach to training for a single-day endurance event. First, I think it is worth acknowledging something that is beyond dispute—athletes develop over years—not months— and your performance progression is certainly a journey that, when nurtured correctly, will evolve over multiple seasons. It is also true that volume, programmed into the season along with adequate recovery, is a critical component of performance development, and the benefits are cumulative and strong. The problem arises when athletes and coaches take...

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