{"id":1136,"date":"2025-03-04T18:49:10","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T18:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sixminutemile.com\/?p=1136"},"modified":"2025-03-04T18:49:24","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T18:49:24","slug":"our-most-popular-stories-from-february-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sixminutemile.com\/post\/our-most-popular-stories-from-february-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Most Popular Stories from February 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
You might think long runs are one of the most straightforward parts of training. Set off at a slow pace, go further than your weekday runs, and then enjoy coffee and the Sunday paper. Well, there\u2019s a bit more to it, and to avoid making critical mistakes, you can read: \u201cMarathon Training: How Long Should Your Longest Long Run Be?<\/a>\u201d The article notes that aiming for a 20-mile marathon training run could leave beginners crawling to the start line come race day. Instead, coaches like Jack Daniels recommend capping your longest effort at 2.5 to 3 hours to avoid overtraining, since \u201canything over three hours increases injury risk.\u201d For a 12-minute mile runner, that\u2019s 15 miles. If you need help dialing in your speed, you can check out: \u201cFinding Your Best Long Run Pace: Key Factors and Strategies<\/a>.\u201d Coach Greg McMillan questions a lot of old-school rules of thumb, as they originated at a time when far fewer amateurs were racing. Despite what you may have heard, slower marathoners (think 5-hour finishers) shouldn\u2019t slog through runs 1-2 minutes slower than race pace. Their marathon pace already falls in the endurance-building zone, so plodding at 13:30\/mile is a bit like revving a car in neutral. If you need help identifying a proper endurance pace, then the McMillan Running Calculator<\/a> could be exactly what you\u2019re looking for. For advanced runners, once you enter a few of your running stats and goals, Greg\u2019s calculator produces important metrics like your lactate threshold pace and your ideal tempo run pace.<\/p> #PaceBeWithYou<\/p> You asked for top-notch training plans. We delivered.<\/p> Meet Greg McMillan\u2014national champion, exercise science expert, and the coaching mind behind 20,000+ Boston Marathon qualifiers and Olympic marathoners.<\/p> Unlike generic fitness apps that offer one-size-fits-all programs, McMillan’s plans deliver elite-level insights refined through decades of real-world testing. Each plan includes:<\/p> Transform your running today at\u00a0McMillan Running<\/a><\/strong><\/p> Last week at the Millrose Games, fans were blown away by Yared Nuguse\u2019s short track mile record-breaking run. He ran a heck of a lot faster than a six minute mile, and it reminded us that sometimes, greatness starts with a pre-game hustle. How did he do it, you ask? The answer is here: \u201cThis workout might make you break a world record<\/a>.\u201d His final workout before setting the indoor mile WR consisted of nearly 10km of mileage with strategic intervals \u2014 a 2km threshold run, an even faster 2km run at near-all-out intensity, 1km repeats, and finishing with hard 200m efforts designed to sharpen turnover and boost lactic acid clearance. You can follow this method to not only challenge your speed, but also enhance your body’s ability to manage lactate buildup. If you aren\u2019t sure what that means, geek out on the technical details with our partner Greg McMillan to learn \u201cWhat is the Lactate Threshold?<\/a>\u201d The article explains that it\u2019s the point where your body\u2019s lactic acid production outpaces its clearance, essentially marking the shift from sustainable performance to fatigue. Generally, pushing this threshold means your race pace becomes more efficient and less taxing, saving energy for the final push. If you\u2019re aiming to set a PR in any distance from a mile to a marathon, you won\u2019t want to skip these kinds of workouts.<\/p> #NuguseIsLoose<\/p> Runners who want to rock the boat on their own training often choose rowing. Whether you\u2019re getting into an actual boat, or using a rowing machine on dry land, this full body exercise has a lot to offer, provided you\u2019ve got the right technique. If you want to level up your cross training, you should know: \u201cThe Two Biggest Mistakes Beginners Make on the Rowing Machine<\/a>.\u201d As you progress in your rowing, some athletes will dial up the resistance, but that isn\u2019t always the right approach. After all, in a real row boat, the water doesn\u2019t get any more viscous \u2014 rowers just go faster. Some experts suggest working up to a moderate resistance level (roughly 4 out of 10) and keeping it there. Push the damper too far, and it will be hard to establish a natural rhythm to your row. Speaking of rhythm, the order of your movements can make or break your technique, and you should remember to follow these steps: Push with your legs, lean back, and then pull with your arms to finish. Since your legs are bigger and stronger than your arms, they should provide most of the force. If you\u2019re on the fence about adding rowing to your training, you may want to read: \u201cCross-Training 101: Row Your Way To A Better Run<\/a>.\u201d Rowing is a low impact activity that engages many of the muscles we miss on a run. Shane Farmer, founder of Dark Horse Rowing, says it’s a great way for runners to preserve their bodies while developing functional flexibility \u2014 something we often lack due to the limited range of motion in running.<\/p> #RowWithTheFlow<\/p> Last Sunday, we witnessed history when Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo set a new WR in the half marathon. We are fully fired up about his performance, which is why we can\u2019t stop watching the replay here: \u201cWATCH: Jacob Kiplimo Demolishes Half Marathon World Record<\/a>.\u201d This was the largest jump in the men\u2019s half marathon record ever at 48 seconds, and it has us wondering: What sets Kiplimo\u2019s training apart? Some of the answers can be found in: \u201cHow The Ugandans Train For A Marathon<\/a>.\u201d Many elite Ugandan runners train in the rural town of Kapchorwa, which stands at an altitude of 1,800 meters, boosting oxygen delivery systems. If you aren\u2019t able to train at altitude, you can still get a microdose of the same benefits by eating: \u201c6 Superfoods To Boost Oxygen Levels<\/a>.\u201d Leafy greens and beetroot contain iron and nitrates that can increase your red blood cell production and oxygen delivery. Another strategy that sets Ugandan runners apart is their double session days. Many of these runners will do harder work in the morning, followed by an easy run in the afternoon of the same day. You can mimic these strategies in your own training, but if you want the full experience, running camps in Uganda are open to visiting amateur runners thanks to companies like Run Kapchorwa<\/a>. It\u2019s worth checking out their site just to admire the scenery. <\/p> #BeetYourBest<\/p> The \u201cTortoise and the Hare\u201d taught us that slow and steady wins the race. But does that apply to runners hitting the gym? While there\u2019s no one-size-fits-all prescription for resistance training, a recent study revealed why you may want to try slower, heavier lifts in your next session: \u201cWhy Strength Training Won\u2019t Magically Make You a Better Runner<\/a>.\u201d Turns out, lifting above 90% of your one-rep max was especially good at boosting neuromuscular efficiency and tendon stiffness, leading to improved running economy and maximal aerobic speed. So go ahead and load up the barbell with heavy weight and press for a slow, controlled, and intense lift (after a proper warmup and with good supervision, of course). Lifting may make you faster, but the article also challenges the popular notion that strength training is key for injury prevention. The article notes that while strength training can be helpful for novice runners getting their bodies adjusted to training, more advanced runners may increase their risk of injury by overworking their bodies. To avoid that problem, you can learn: \u201cHow to Balance Running and Weightlifting<\/a>.\u201d Prioritizing compound lifts like squats and deadlifts can improve your hip stability for a safer run. Just be sure to limit your heavy days to 2 or 3 times a week to avoid overtaxing your muscles. <\/p> #IroncladTruths<\/p> If you want to get a jump on spring marathon training, now is the time to start plyometrics. A recent post from @madeleinenilssons<\/a> broke down 6 moves that target the legs and ankles to build fast-twitch muscle fibers, which help to generate explosive power and speed. They can fit into a warmup or cooldown, or build the foundation for a gym day that\u2019s sure to have you hopping toward a PR in no time.<\/p> Minute 1: Do your long runs the smart way You might think long runs are one of the most straightforward parts of training. Set off at a slow pace, go further than your weekday runs, and then enjoy coffee and the Sunday paper. Well, there\u2019s a bit more to it, and to avoid making critical […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":880,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_breakdance_hide_in_design_set":false,"_breakdance_tags":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-miles"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sixminutemile.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sixminutemile.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sixminutemile.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sixminutemile.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sixminutemile.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1136"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sixminutemile.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1139,"href":"https:\/\/sixminutemile.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1136\/revisions\/1139"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sixminutemile.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sixminutemile.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sixminutemile.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sixminutemile.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Expert Plans That Deliver Results<\/h3>
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Not sure? Switch plans risk-free if your first choice isn’t the perfect fit.<\/p>Minute 2: Build record-breaking speed and lactate threshold levels with Nuguse’s workout<\/strong><\/h3>
Minute 3: Cross training with rowing? Don\u2019t make these common mistakes<\/strong><\/h3>
Minute 4: How Kiplimo broke the half marathon WR<\/strong><\/h3>
Minute 5: According to the latest research, runners should lift heavy<\/h3>
Minute 6: Daily Inspiration<\/h3>
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