Traditional energy systems suppose you can use energy anaerobically—without oxygen—and that energy system produces fatiguing byproducts that make you tired. Well, the problem with that is your muscles begin using oxygen immediately when you start doing work (proof below). So if there is no such thing as “anaerobic” training and our bodies use oxygen at all intensities, then what are we actually trying to do? We’re training one or more of three things: our muscles’ ability to use oxygen, our heart’s ability to pump oxygen-carrying blood to the muscles, or our lungs’ ability to exchange CO2 for oxygen.

Curious how the COVID vaccine affects athletes? Take it from an athlete who's gone through the process.

Endurance athletes put our bodies and minds through all kinds of torture, but do we really know why we’re doing that 6:00 a.m. track session? There should be a good reason behind every workout we do, and a good coach or plan helps make every workout worth it.

Worried about your weight? Maybe it’s time to think twice about what your change in weight says. Here’s an example from my training.

Muscle oxygen consumption assessments through near-infrared spectroscopy is a new technique for assessing an athlete’s optimal training zones, limiters, and race paces. Explore how we do that here!