This episode was inspired by a quote I read in a New York Times article about Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who, at only 21 years old, is at the very top of the world.

This quote was one of the most impactful things I had ever heard about athletic training: “Jakob Ingebrigtsen estimates that he seldom pushes himself beyond 87% of his maximum effort in workouts. Yes, 87%, so he can preserve the best of himself on race day.” 

If you think 87% doesn’t sound like it would do that much, check out his races on YouTube and you will see how he shoots straight to the front and dares anyone to pass him—Jakob manages to wear out the greatest runners on the planet by using his strategic and very powerful running strategy at his preferred distance of 1,500 meters. This show will walk you through all of Jakob’s specific training methods, and I share how his methods were actually designed by his father and two brothers (who also are quite impressive champions themselves) to formulate this uniquely effective training program—one that is notably different from the traditional model that we’re all used to. 

 

TIMESTAMPS:

Jakob Ingebrigsten estimates that he seldom pushes himself beyond 87% of maximum effort in workouts. [00:24]

The Ingebrigsten team has very unique training strategies. Training at or even a bit below anaerobic threshold can be highly effective to teach your body to buffer lactate more effectively. [03:06]

The athletes are very careful to work at or below that threshold, knowing that there is an extreme cost to pay in terms of recovery when you go too hard. [07:30]

Jakob, at age 16, broke the four minutes mile. [09:18]

Most of us are working relatively too hard. [12:20]

Jakob rarely runs an individual workout for over one hour. [16:48]

Eluid Kipchoge has a similar protocol for training although his distances differ from Jakob’s. [20:42]

How can you apply this 87% idea to your own training? [29:52]

Be sure you end any type of vigorous or stressful session well under an hour. The brain does not have to be trained to suffer. [33:44]

 

LINKS:

• Brad Kearns.com
• Brad’s Shopping page
• PrimalEndrance.fit
• Jakob Ingebrigsten on youtube
• Ingebrigsten Reality Show
• Primal Endurance Mastery course (FREE bag of Whey Protein Superfuel if you sign up for the full course, just email us!)

 

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• Online educational courses: Numerous great offerings for an immersive home-study educational experience

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