Discomfort is a constant feature of endurance running, particularly as training intensity and performance demands increase. While physical conditioning is essential, research increasingly shows that performance under fatigue is strongly influenced by how the brain responds to sustained effort and unpleasant sensations.
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Running builds strength, endurance, and resilience, but when does healthy training become too much? Every runner, from beginner to seasoned runner, eventually asks this question. The truth is that there isn’t a single answer. What’s “too much” depends on your background, age, recovery capacity, and training history. Yet, a major new study has shed light on when running volume starts turning from beneficial to harmful.
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Ever felt like your strength sessions are sabotaging your running legs? You’re not alone. Many runners skip the gym or squeeze in a short session during the off-season. The most common fears? “I’ll bulk up”, “It’ll ruin my endurance”, or “My legs will feel heavy for days.” The solution is periodisation.
The truth is: it’s not the strength training that causes the problem, it’s the timing and structure of it. When you periodise, plan, and align your strength work with your running phases, it becomes one of the most powerful tools for improving endurance, resilience, and speed.
Periodisation is the structured, evidence-based sequencing of training across the year. The goals are the reduce injury risk by balancing training load and recovery, optimise performance by targeting the right fitness qualities in each phase and sustain progress. It also considers real-life factors such as work stress, recovery, and nutrition.
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For many endurance athletes, the concept of running twice in one day is both intriguing and intimidating. Double running days — often called “doubles” — can be an effective way to increase training volume, improve physiological efficiency, and develop resilience. But, as with any advanced training tool, they require careful planning and a clear purpose.
Continue reading “Double Running Days: When, for Whom, and How”