What is “Training?” The Principles, Science and Art of the Training Process with Dan Cleather
Release Date: 12/25/2025
The Strength Running Podcast
Ian Sharman is a 2x USATF 100-mile Trail Champion, 4x winner of the Leadville Trail 100, and author of the new book . He's one of the most recognizable names in the world of ultrarunning. He’s won more than 50 marathons out of over 250 he's run, ran a 2:21 marathon at age 43, holds the fastest time in a trail 100-mile race by a Brit (12h44m), and holds the record for the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning (69h49m). In this conversation, we discussed what's changed and what remains fundamental for ultramarathon training (fueling, mileage, workouts, terrain, durability, and more). Resources...
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This is a sneak peak into our coaching calls! Our group meets regularly to discuss training, ask strategy questions, get coaching guidance, and figure out exactly how to achieve our biggest goals. If you'd like to join these calls, ! You'll also get access to the broader community, opportunities to come on the podcast, our training plan library, and a lot more. Like the show? Support our sponsors! Thank you Altra! New customers can ge 10% off your entire order with code jason10 . I’ve been wearing Altra shoes for years - I absolutely love the roomy toe box that leaves extra room for my feet...
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Todd Marentette is the co-host of the RUNegade Podcast - and he partnered with Jason to help him with a breakthrough. For years, Todd has run almost the same time in the marathon: just over four hours. He's given Jason full control of his training and 10 months of runway to do the impossible: break his plateau, run a massive PR, and change how he thinks about training. This episode originally aired on the RUNegade Podcast (, ). We discuss: The importance of cycles and dividing time into distinct seasons Varying your training focus to achieve maximum progress Race-specific work vs....
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Don Nichter is the head cross country coach at , where he's built their men's and women's programs into consistent national-level contenders. His teams have claimed 24 Centennial Conference championships across cross country and track and field and he has been named Mideast Regional Coach of the Year seven times and was voted the men’s Centennial Conference Cross Country Coach of the Year twice. During his 40+ years with Dickinson, he has coached 39 All-Americans. Today, he shares what he's learned and how you can apply those lessons to your own running. Coach Nichter and Jason chat...
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Alyssa Olenick is an exercise phyisology PhD, ultramarathoner, hybrid athlete, and weightlifter. She's been featured in Time, Nike, Women's Health - and pretty much every major media outlet and podcast that exists. She's also one of my favorite communicators about training theory and physiology. Today, she's helping us decipher : How to grow Z2 fitness (hint: don't just run in Z2!) The timeline of Zone 2 improvement Why Z2 is not a "cage" How heart rate at this effort is impacted by heat a lot more! Resources & Extras: (video) Thank you Previnex! Get yourself 15% off your first...
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Charlie Sweeney is chasing the dream... by running up to 145 miles per week. This volume is not for the faint of heart (or most of us mere mortals...). But we can learn a lot from elite athletes who are training at top mileage levels. In this episode you will learn: How Charlie makes time for running twice per day with a full-time job His progression of mileage over the years that got him to 145 mpw The benefits he expects to receive from this level of mileage The importance of going all-in on what you can control Charlie's recovery strategies for running such high volume For more on...
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Eoin Everard is a physiotherapist with a PhD in Biomechanics. He’s also a sub-4 minute miler, a sub-14 minute 5k runner, and a five-time Irish National Champion in the 1500 and 3000m. He also hosts the and is the cofounder of the . Today's conversation focuses on plyometrics: How can your average runner even get started with plyometrics Why you do NOT need advanced depth drops and other types of plyos The non-plyometric types of training that give you benefits just like plyos What types of shoes and surfaces to wear for plyometrics A lot more! Plyos demand strength so before you...
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Running form has often focused on concepts like cadence and footstrike to create change and improve efficiency. But a “top down” approach - focusing on the arms, torso, and - is an innovative and accessible way to become a stronger, healthier runner. Paul Mackinnon is a former semi-pro hockey player who has become an expert on gait retraining. He's is from Melbourne, Australia and has worked with many high level athletes over the years to improve their running form. My discussion with Paul is a masterclass on form. Despite this being a complex topic, his ideas are easy to grasp...
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has a Master's degree in Human Performance, writes the incredibly popular , and has recently run a 2:24 marathon. He also trains unconventionally: gone are the 100-mile weeks and in place of them are moderate mileage weeks (60-80) with 10+ hours of cycling. In this episode, we rank the core 3 performance metrics of VO2 Max, Lactate Threshold, and Running Economy and discuss how they interact with physiological resiliency, how they can be improved, and which one is the most important. Extra Resources: (one of our most popular episodes with Brady!) Thank you Previnex! Get...
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Stevie Lyn Smith is a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, a Registered Dietitian, and an 11x Ironman competitor with an 11:35 PR. Today, we're exploring the most recent advances in sports nutrition for fueling: How many carbs are now recommended per hour of hard running? What about workouts or long runs? Is "proteinmaxxing" valuable for runners? What are its potential drawbacks? How much dehydration is acceptable before a decrease in performance is inevitable? Should every runner consider sodium bicarb for better performances? A lot more... A big thanks to Stevie for her...
info_outlineDan Cleather is a strength and conditioning coach, professor at St. Mary's University, and author of The Practice of Change: The Art & Science of Training.
So, what exactly is "training?" Is it different than "exercise?"
In this episode, we discuss what training specifically is, what it's not, and what it's attempting to do. Once you understand that we're after change in our bodies, we can better structure training to reach our goals.
Visit Dan's website or follow him on Instagram here.
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We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrant berries designed to increase endurance, manage inflammation, support immunity, and promote adaptation. 2Before helps to boost performance by increasing blood flow, making it more efficient for the body to pump oxygenated nutrient-rich blood into the muscles.
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Thank you Gut & Green!
Previnex’s new Gut & Green Superfoods powder is my new go-to. It has organic barley and oat grass, alfalfa, spirulina, chlorella, kale and broccoli… and that’s it. Simplicity is powerful and Gut & Green delivers on what I care most about: doing one thing really well.
Their ingredients are backed by clinical data and contain three specific gut fibers that help promote GI health, digestion, reduced inflammation, and a better microbiome. As someone who doesn't always eat all of their vegetables, this is important to me.
With twice of the fiber of my last greens mix and a better flavor, it’s a no brainer. Gut & Green Superfoods is like insurance against my diet (which isn't always as good as it should be) so I can feel my best throughout the day.
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Thank you MOBO Board!
Invented by renowned physical therapist Jay Dicharry, MOBO helps you stabilize your stance with an innovative rocker board that’s set up on two fins. The design effectively forces you to drive your big toe into the board to improve your stability. I was pretty arrogant going into my first session on the MOBO Board. How hard can it be to balance, right? Well, I was humbled pretty quickly!
Even if you’re a good runner, better balance, stability, and proprioception is going to help you have a more powerful stride and prevent more running injuries. You’ll learn how to improve the efficiency of the kinetic chain from your hip to your big toe. Because as Jay likes to say, it’s not just how strong you are, but how well you use that strength.
I was recently at a weekend physical therapy workshop (lol I was the only running coach) and learned how important (and rare) this simple movement is. Save 10% with code STRENGTHRUN10 at checkout at moboboard.com.