CIM? Chicago? Berlin? NYC Marathon?

No matter what marathon you're prepping for this fall - Coach Andrew Simmons is sharing the key elements to training in the late summer heat, specific endurance runs, and a few extra tips to help you dial in that BQ or sub-3-hour marathon goal.

Do you want to hear more episodes like this? Swipe up on Spotify and let us know!

115 - Layers of Fitness #5 - Enjoying the Cake

Layers of Fitness #4: Decorating the Cake

Fast Racing demands vs. Marathon and beyond

Why we can run into stomach issues

What works for training?

Why Carbs or King, and Calories are crucial

Training your gut

Products changing the market!

What is a specific endurance run - it's more than race pace

Refining your strategy

Specific Questions?

E-mail me: [email protected]

Layers of Fitness #3: Baking the Cake

Welcome back. This is the 3rd episode in a 5 part series where we break down the principles of training and dig into some of the smaller nooks and crannies of performance, preparation, and racing. We spent last episode on our mise-en-place, prepping the ingredients and if I’m being honest - we only scraped the surface of preparation. Quite often, when we train we end up degrading in certain areas over a cycle and the “prep” can really be about preparing our bodies to train and rebuilding ignored areas of training. Sometimes that can lead to injury, or it can be from an imbalance in load.

Questions? E-mail me! [email protected]

112 | Layers of Fitness #2: What are the Ingredients?

Welcome back. This is the 2nd episode in a 5 part series where we break down the principles of training and dig into some of the smaller nooks and crannies of performance, preparation, and racing. We spent last episode on our mise-en-place, prepping the ingredients and if I’m being honest - we only scraped the surface of preparation. Quite often, when we train we end up degrading in certain areas over a cycle and the “prep” can really be about preparing our bodies to train and rebuilding ignored areas of training. Sometimes that can lead to injury, or it can be from an imbalance in load.

Questions? E-mail me! [email protected]

A Note to Listeners:

Moving forward Coach Andrew will be taking over all episodes of the podcast. We will still have guests on ocassionally but the podcast will now be used to give listeners more in-depth information. If you have questions you want answered - e-mail: [email protected]

Welcome to Episode 1 of a 5 part series I’m calling “The Layers of Fitness”. After some time away from this podcast, I wanted to reassess what this podcast was best used for and what was most helpful to our listeners. The episodes that seem to perform the best are often the ones that bring your knowledge of running and training up a level. 

As a coach, I can’t sit down and explain the intricacies of training person by person so the Defining Endurance platform (for now) is going to be a place where I can park some of the most important conversations I wish I had time to explain to my athletes

I reference Episode 79 - The Biology of Fatigue and Episode 85: the Mentality of Recovery in this episode. These are great prerequisites if you feel lost in this one.

Intro Song: Still, Kenny Beats from Louie

Sabrina Stanley is an elite ultra/ mountain runner known for her wins at the Hardrock 100 and her FKT of Nolans 14. In this episode, Sabrina sits down with Andrew to discuss her beginnings as an ultra runner, her relationship with competition, and how she trains for her incredibly feats. 

You can read more about Sabrina and watch her video about the Nolans 14 here.

Why does your pace and heart rate matter on easy days? Does it matter what kind of terrain you run on? How do you create a training schedule? Coaches Andrew and Lexi answer your questions

Sports-focused Social Workers Sollita Lucero and Jessica Joiner talk with Lexi Miller about common obstacles that athletes face in their mental wellness. The discussion dives into perfectionism, comparison, and societal pressure.  

Jessica Joiner LCSW, LAC, SAP, EMDR Trained: Jessica has over a decade of experience working with those afflicted with addiction, complex trauma, and co-occurring disorders.  She is using that experience and her expertise to address the many issues that arise for athletes. Jessica works with all levels of athletic performers to address issues such as anxiety/depression, daily stress and pressure, substance abuse/addiction, adjusting from one level of play to the next, identity, injury, and overall mental health and wellness.  She is a member of the Alliance of Social Workers in Sports and has been a presenter at their last two National Conferences. She is a Co-chair of the Clinicians Committee and is a member of the Pro Sports Committee. In addition, Jessica is an approved and listed provider on the Mental Health Registries for both the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

Jessica has a private practice in the Denver/Metro area of Colorado where, in addition to working with athletes, she also works with military personnel, first responders, as well as other individuals and couples. She has a holistic approach that includes a social justice, systems, and advocacy perspective. Jessica is a professional speaker and as part of her practice, she enjoys presenting material on various topics related to equity issues, as well as those related to substance abuse/addiction—both in general, and in the world of sports.

Sollita Lucero LCSW:  Sollita is a Social worker who specializes in sports mental health and is committed to helping people in all walks of life address their mental health. Her work focuses on targeting ineffective behaviors, habits, and beliefs around their mental health that is affecting their quality of life. She believes in taking a collaborative approach to helping clients reach their mental health goals.

Coach Andrew examines the need for speed work, especially for those training for a marathon.