What makes a good endurance runner? There are many skills that help endurance runners perform at their best, like:
– Power (the ability to produce force quickly)
– Mental toughness (the ability to psychologically endure discomfort)
– Economy (the efficiency of your stride)
– VO2 Max (the maximum amount of oxygen you can process)
– Speed (a high maximum velocity)
– Endurance (the ability to withstand fatigue at high workloads)
But of all these skills, endurance is the most important. And fortunately, for us, it’s one of the most trainable skills.
But what exactly is endurance? At its most fundamental level, endurance is the ability to run in an aerobic state (when our bodies are using oxygen as their primary source of energy) while withstanding fatigue. It’s having a highly developed aerobic energy system. Runners who can seemingly run forever have exceptional endurance.
Think of your training as a pyramid. Everything you do—from lifting weights, running hard workouts, using a foam roller, or completing a series of strides—forms your training pyramid. Easy running helps us gain endurance the most, and…
