013: Cycle Your Training to Get Faster

What the heck is periodization of training?  It's a fun vocabulary word that refers to cycling your training plan.  If you are shooting for a goal race, or if you just want to keep improving and getting faster, training cycles are very important.  

Macro cycles are the big chunks of your training plan that have one goal in mind, like one season of the year.  Micro cycles are the weeks within that larger macro cycle, where you vary your mileage and purpose of your workouts to make the most gains and avoid injury.

Today's episode is chock FULL of some pretty technical stuff and guidelines on planning out your training cycles to allow your body to make the gains it needs to get faster.  Cycling your training is also very important for injury prevention and to avoid boredom. 

If you like going out on a run just for fun, you might want to skip this one.  It's pretty technical, so if that doesn't interest you, no biggie!  If you want to learn some new ways to get faster and design a training plan to get you to a goal race, this is a MUST listen episode.  Grab a notebook, because you'll probably want to take notes on this one!  

 We talk about: 

• The difference between macrocycles and microcycles
• The 3 important phases (macrocycles) of training: base building, speed building, and peaking/tapering
• The key things to focus on in each phase
• The purpose of each phase
• Example workouts for each phase
• The importance of drills, core, and strengthening in each phase
• How to successfully taper for a race
• And of course, how it all relates to our lives outside of running!

Thanks for Listening!!

To share your thoughts:
Share this show on Facebook or Instagram and leave your comments below the image for that episode.

To help out the show:
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one!

Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play

Right click here to download this episode directly to your computer

 Check out our other episodes here

 Check out our new members-only area with TONS of resources, including distance-specific training plans, non-distance based training plans, a HUGE video library of strengthening, stretching, foam rolling, and mobility exercises, our guide on choosing the right running shoe, and more!! Check that out here.

Don't forget: The information in this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.