In this article, coach Cathal Logue explains what periodization training is, why it’s so useful for runners training preparing for events, and how to apply it to your own training plan. Paul is a first-time marathon participant. Over the past 6 months, he’s followed his marathon training plan to a tee, avoided too many injury … Read more
The Cooper Test is a long-standing, internationally used measure of a runner’s fitness. It involves a simple test – run as far as you can in 12 minutes – and can give a pretty accurate measure of a runner’s fitness level and give a good estimation of their VO2 Max. Many athletes use the Cooper … Read more
Cross country running – abbreviated as XC running – is a form of racing that takes place in natural, open-air environments – it arose in the UK but is popular worldwide, especially in schools and athletics clubs. If the very sound of the word cross country fills you with dread, then perhaps it takes you … Read more
Overtraining is a real risk for athletes, both professional and weekend warriors. For most of us, trying to fit in your running training around your work, family, and other commitments can be very challenging. Unfortunately, this can lead to some runners searching for shortcuts to improvements in their fitness and perhaps consistently choosing fast interval … Read more
The effectiveness of hill running cannot be underestimated – if you’re looking for one workout that makes you faster, stronger, and go further, run hills. Hill runs were a staple for British athlete Sebastian Coe, who built up strength in his formative years by using a variety of hills in the streets of his hometown … Read more