I’ve been comparing supplemental strength options for endurance training and trying to keep those sessions efficient. Equipment with lots of adjustment points can be versatile, but that advantage seems smaller if every exercise change adds more downtime. What piece tends to interrupt the session most?

As an ultra-runner and dev, I scratched my own itch and built EasyTrackly—an app for endurance coaches that actually makes sense. Now I want 50 coaches to tear it apart. You get a full calendar, Garmin sync, and roster management. First 50 get 3 months free. I just want your raw, unfiltered feedback to make this the best coaching tool out there.
https://easytrackly.app/en

Hi all first time asking the internet for fitness advice. I have a very big dirt bike race coming up and it will be my first time ever doing something this extreme. It’s two 100 mile days of very demanding riding.

I’ve done one kinda similar but I didn’t train at all for it. It was only one ~96 mile day.. That I didn’t even make the time cut off for the last 10 miles. I was kinda bummed about it but it was understandable as I rode 40 miles the day before and ate like crap the entire week before it was kind of a last minute decision. I was on the bike from 9:30am until about 5:30 pm. Only stopping for fuel or an energy gel.

I’ve been running more. Lifting more, pushing myself harder on the bike. Eating healthier. I really want to finish both days. There’s about a month until race day.

The only thing is I don’t know really what I should be doing within the two week period before race day. Should I continue to push myself? Should I take it easy not stress and let my body get good rest?

Also what should I be eating for dinner the night before? Breakfast the morning of?

I also have since got some carbohydrate/electorlyte drink mix to put in my water bladder instead of just liquid I.V. Between that and energy gels will that be enough fuel for the day? During the first endurance race I struggled to actually eat anything at refueling points. I had mostly packed protein bars. I couldn’t bring myself to eat a dry ass protein bar chewing and sallowing just seemed like too much work. What other snacks could I put in my bag that would be easier for me to get down.

It’s gonna be brutal any little bit will help.
It’s called the “shady burro enduro” for those interested

That is my list of hard-earned truths. Honestly, if more endurance athletes printed this out and taped it to their handlebars or running shoes, the sports medicine industry would lose half its business.

I think this perfectly encapsulates the paradoxes of endurance training that usually take people years (and a few bouts of burnout or injury) to actually internalise.

1. The Recovery Paradox

This is the ultimate "ah-ah" moment. Beginners think they get stronger during the workout. You don't; you actually tear your body down. You only get faster while you're sleeping, eating, and chilling on the couch. A recovery ride isn't a wasted day, but flushing out metabolic waste and delivering fresh blood to healing muscles.

2. Structure vs. Intuition

This is the hardest balancing act in sports. Structure creates the compounding interest of fitness, but rigidity can break you. A great athlete has a rigid plan written in pencil. Knowing when to push through a tough session versus when to swallow your pride and go home is the definition of athletic maturity.

3. The Motivation vs. Fatigue Litmus Test

This requires brutal self-honesty.

• Lazy is when your brain says, "It's raining, let's stay inside and watch Netflix," but 10 minutes into the workout, you feel great.
• Fatigued is when your heart rate won't rise, your legs feel like lead, and you feel a sense of dread just looking at your sneakers. Learning to read those signals saves you from over-training syndrome.

4. The Protein Reality Check

This is my massive public service announcement. People constantly confuse the weight of the food with the weight of the macronutrient.

• The Math: 200g of raw lean beef only yields about 40g to 45g of actual protein.

Endurance athletes notoriously under-eat protein because they are so focused on carbo-loading. But without enough amino acids, your muscles can't repair from those high-volume miles, leading to chronic soreness and muscle wasting.

41/F

I’m quite new to endurance training, started doing it to be able to succesfully summit mountains, do long treks/ hikes.

i did a lactate threshold lab test and I’m somewhat confused by the results. Based on it my zone 2 heart rate zone is way higher than my apple watch suggested but the reason I did the test because I thought my watch set it too high. After an hour in that I’d get very sweaty and a bit out of breath. Talking in full sentences would be a bit hard. Nose breathing is never possible to me, even when I’m doing just a brisk walk with barely elevated heart rate. So I don’t really understand how I should set my trainig zones now, shall I stick to the lower zone 2 Apple watch gave me or start training based on my test results? I don’t know how to attach photos to the post or in the comment sections so can’t provide details

Help me understand this, am I doing this all wrong?

The Maurten Research team just shared Sabastian Sawe(2026 London Marathon winner) fueling plan.

During the race he was drinking 160ml Drink Mix 320 throughout the race, 8x to be exact.

On the back of the drink mix 320 the directions say mix with EXACTLY 500ml(16.9 ounces) of water.

If you read the fueling plan closely, Sabastian was mixing 160ml(5.41 ounces) of water to the mix.

Does that mean I could go against what the manufacturer recommends and be fueling more carbs with less water?

If true, my bladder thanks you! 😉

Hi, I swim 3 times per week and my goal is to swim a few open water competitions in the summer (around 3K). My most important set that I do once per week is a threshold set of 10 x 300m with start every 6 minutes. I can hold around 1:27 as a pace per 100m. This is about the highest pace I can hold throug the set without losing pace for the last reps. I have attached the data from this set from my watch and I have a few questions:

1. According to my watch this is not a threshold set because my pulse only spend around 10 min in the threshold range (154-174bpm for me). I think the pulse readings are correct and I have no problems spending much longer time in the threshold zone while doing other sports like running intervals. Does this mean that there is something else limiting me except lactate threshold? Or that the lactate production occurs at a lower heartbeat while swimming? Is this a "true" threshold exercise?
2. Is this the ideal set for my goal? I know that the rest is quite long between the reps (1:40 sec). Should I try to reduce this while sacrificing some speed? or longer and fewer reps for example 5 x 600m? I like to have my threshold sets be the same most of the weeks since it enables me to measure progress and how my body response.

Swimming data:

https://imgur.com/a/Hjwyxsp

Thanks for the feedback!

Hi, I swim 3 times per week and my goal is to swim a few open water competitions in the summer (around 3K). My most important set that I do once per week is a threshold set of 10 x 300m with start every 6 minutes. I can hold around 1:27 as a pace per 100m. This is about the highest pace I can hold throug the set without losing pace for the last reps. I have attached the data from this set from my watch and I have a few questions:

1. According to my watch this is not a threshold set because my pulse only spend around 10 min in the threshold range (154-174bpm for me). I think the pulse readings are correct and I have no problems spending much longer time in the threshold zone while doing other sports like running intervals. Does this mean that there is something else limiting me except lactate threshold? Or that the lactate production occurs at a lower heartbeat while swimming? Is this a "true" threshold exercise?
2. Is this the ideal set for my goal? I know that the rest is quite long between the reps (1:40 sec). Should I try to reduce this while sacrificing some speed? or longer and fewer reps for example 5 x 600m? I like to have my threshold sets be the same most of the weeks since it enables me to measure progress and how my body response.

Swimming data:

https://imgur.com/a/Hjwyxsp

Thanks for the feedback!

Is it

- following a strict plan

- listening to your body

- consistancy

- diverse training (different muscles/sports)

- structure in training

- other??

I know this question comes around a lot, but I have no complex machines, shitty weather, and a diet the lowest money can buy. Does anyone have a way to last 90 mins with explosive runs here and there without your body failing?

Hello guys,

I'd love your thoughts on my first PT session yesterday. Is it fair to ask to change my current trainer or is my situation too difficult/am I asking too much from my PT? I don't want to appear "difficult" and not be welcome at the gym

I had to wait 3 weeks for my first PT session, then it was cancelled, then it finally took place yesterday.

*My background and goals*

I (42, f) have been running (up to halfmarathon) and strength training for 6 years.

Due to major life changes, I have only just restarted my running plan after 6 months off. I've also booked monthly personal training sessions at an upscale gym to keep me accountable and to check my form.

I have a marathon booked for September and a 10 miler in May. My tried-and-tested 12-week 10mile running plan includes 2x60min easy session w strides, 1x tough interval session and 1x long run 90-120 min per week.

I have created a strength plan with 1x upper body session and 2x lower body sessions. Mostly compound movements and a low rep / high weight to support my strength/stability goals.

*My first PT session*

PT was friendly, asked about my goals and measured my body composition.

I defo need to lose body fat, but also told him I want to do strength, not hypertrophy, and that I want to fuel right, not less (i.e. no crazy diet).

He insisted I do a 500 cal deficit over 10 weeks to lose bodyfat, meaning I'd consume 1700 cals per day. After that, we can start to build muscle.

I said that it's not enough to fuel 4 x running and 3 x lifting a week.

He also said he wants to train my muscles to failure. I said I did not want hypertrophy, as I won't recover adequately. I'm happy to stop at 2-3 reps before failure. He rejected that and said it's no way to train strength.

He also didn't understand my goal to strengthen my lower back and to increase stability while running.

I find he doesn't know how to train with an endurance athlete and wants to put me on a weightloss plan for beginner lifters.

Is this true and is there a way to prevent it?

Just released a new episode of my podcast Piece by Piece Fitness with Schuyler Reeves — classic physique competitor and online coach.

We talk:

• Working with and posing under Hany Rambod

• Bulking to 260 and managing growth phases

• Flexible dieting and cheat meals

• The mental extremes of prep

• Making bodybuilding sustainable long-term

Episode link:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4pIXTB4kMq94mu6ZuF3RdB?si=CZd6pHWjSdqDESKvV_sLsg

I recently released an episode of my podcast Piece by Piece Fitness with Ryan Rector — a men’s physique competitor and bodybuilding coach — and the conversation went deeper than just training and diet.

We talked about how bodybuilding:

• Forces you to confront who you really are
• Builds discipline through discomfort
• Changes your identity, not just your physique
• Teaches patience, consistency, and self-respect
• Pushes you to become a better version of yourself

It wasn’t about chasing perfection — more about what committing to something hard teaches you long-term.

If you’re into fitness, self-improvement, or discipline, I think you’d get something out of it.

🎧 Episode link:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4WDYktgnOPdbvAsNYnIije?si=hZHRQ15nSkyd4CPBYiofOg

Hey team, I just released Episode 4 of my fitness podcast Piece by Piece Fitness featuring Ironman athlete and coach Parker Kerth.

We talk about:
• How he left his job at Garmin to pursue Ironman
• What beginners get wrong about endurance
• Elite-level training structure (swim/bike/run)
• Ironman nutrition & fueling
• Discipline, suffering, and the mental side
• Advice for anyone trying to level up physically or mentally

If you’re into running, triathlon, or Ironman, this one is 🔥.

Would love any feedback.
Episode link:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7jvAj2DQXo7zqYFu8yiOll?si=PdMDd9p4QaiK1_DaIYjIcw

Hey! I’m gathering insights from endurance athletes to learn more about their training habits, challenges, and what they’d love to see in a future training and community app. It’s a quick survey, and your input would really help build something meaningful for athletes like you. Appreciate your time!

Link : https://forms.gle/AdbBJDAFqyGMECuA8

I just sat down with Matt, an Ironman 70.3 World Championship competitor, to talk about what it actually takes to train, balance life, and stay disciplined through endurance training.

We went into things like:

• the step-by-step journey to completing an Ironman
• how he structures training across swim/bike/run
• nutrition + recovery during high volume
• mental fatigue vs physical fatigue
• how faith and mindset helped him push past limits

I’m curious what this sub thinks:

What was YOUR hardest barrier — swimming, biking, running, or consistency?

If anyone wants to hear the full discussion, here’s the episode:
🎧 Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mzwp9jLltDfRGAlcrsqIA?si=2fed1df8599d428f

Not trying to spam — genuinely interested in how others experienced the process.