May 20, 2025

Interview with Dr. Phil Maffetone on Heart Rate Training

54 minutes

In this episode we talk heart rate training with Dr. Phil Maffetone who is the creator of the MAF Method (180 minus your age) and an internationally recognized researcher in endurance science.

Dr. Phil Maffetone has worked with endurance athletes for more than thirty-five years. He is the author of eighteen books on health and fitness. He is perhaps best known for the Maffetone Method of heart rate training. Some of his clients have included running guru Dr. George Sheehan, famed New Zealand coach Arthur Lydiard, marathon great Grete Waitz, and six-time Hawaii Ironman world champion Mark Allen. Outside the sports arena, Dr. Maffetone has coached a variety of people in the entertainment field, including musicians James Taylor and Johnny Cash, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and producer Rick Rubin.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Run Coaching. Work with a MTA running Coach.

COROS Watches will help you train according to heart rate. Use code MTA and get an additional free watch band with your purchase! Just pick the band you want, add it to your cart, and use code MTA.

Joint Health Plus by Previnex -prevention is the best medicine and you need to protect your joint cartilage from breakdown. Use code MTA for 15% off your first order!

The Richmond Marathon on November 15, 2024 -America’s Friendliest Marathon!

IQMIX -a zero-sugar drink mix from IQBAR that hydrates, boosts your mood and promotes mental clarity. Text MTA to 64000 to get twenty percent off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.

Dr. Maffetone’s two websites:

https://philmaffetone.com

https://maffetonemusic.com/home

Updated MAF 180 Formula:

Subtract your age from 180.

Modify this number by choosing one category below that best applies to you:

If you have or are recovering from a major illness (including any operation or hospital stay), are in rehabilitation, have been prescribed any regular medication, or are chronically overtrained, subtract an additional 10.

If you are injured, have regressed or not improved in training (such as poor MAF tests) or competition, get more than two colds, flu or other infections per year, have seasonal allergies or asthma, are overfat, are acutely overtraining, or if you have been inconsistent, just beginning or returning to exercise, subtract an additional 5.

If you have been training consistently (at least four times weekly) for up to 2 years without any of the problems mentioned in (a) or (b), no modification is necessary (use 180 minus age as your MAF HR).

If you have been training for more than 2 years without any of the problems listed above, have made progress in your MAF tests, and have improved competitively, add 5.

The resulting HR is the high end of the HR range with the low being 10 beats below. Train at this heart rate to build a strong aerobic base and improve the body’s ability to burn fat for fuel.

What people are saying,

“Excellent podcast episode! One of his interviews on MTA years ago got me started to run regularly, take care of my nutrition and many more things. I‘m forever thankful for his insights and wisdom!” -Steffen

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