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When Identity Becomes the Enemy: The Athlete’s Trap
At some point, every serious athlete crosses a line: the moment when the sport stops being something you do and quietly becomes who you are. You stop saying I run and start saying I’m a runner. It’s a subtle shift, but it changes everything. That identity can be powerful fuel. It keeps you accountable when motivation fades, and it provides a sense of belonging in a world that doesn’t always understand why you’re up at 5:00 a.m. chasing watts or pace or heart rate zones. But w
Benny Smith
Nov 92 min read
An Elite Week of Winter Running
ELITE WINTER BASE WEEK (81 MILES) This is my personal week of running from the winter of 2022-2023, not including my swim (20km) and bike (7 hours) training. For those interested. MON – AM: 8 miles easy / PM: 4 miles easy Mobility + band activation (5–8 min) TUE – 10 miles easy + 6 x 10-sec hill sprints Strength Session (30 min): split squats, single-leg RDLs, calf raises WED – 12 miles aerobic + light mobility/band work THU – Light Tempo Session (11 miles total)
Benny Smith
Oct 241 min read
The Hidden Spring: Why Great Running Isn’t About Strength
Runners love to talk about strength. Quads of steel, core stability, glute activation, the language of performance often sounds like a weight room. But the best runners in the world aren’t just strong. They’re elastic. Running isn’t a display of muscular force, it’s a symphony of stored energy. Every stride is a cycle of tension and release, a conversation between gravity and the body’s connective web. When your foot hits the ground, your tendons, fascia, and ligaments stretc
Benny Smith
Oct 242 min read
Why Nordic Skiing Might Be the Best Cross-Training for Elite Runners and Triathletes
If you talk to world-class endurance athletes, especially those coming out of Scandinavia or the Alps, you’ll notice a pattern: a lot of them Nordic ski. Not casually. They grew up logging serious hours on skis before ever specializing in running, cycling, or triathlon. That’s not a coincidence. Even American elites like Ben True, a 13:02 5K guy and one of the most aerobically durable runners in U.S. history, spent his winters Nordic skiing. He was a national-level skier befo
Benny Smith
Oct 143 min read
The Role of Mitochondria in Endurance Performance: A Scientific Deep Dive
Endurance athletes push the limits of human physiology, relying on efficient energy production to sustain performance over prolonged...
Benny Smith
Feb 163 min read
A Day of Eats as a Pro
Breakfast Oatmeal with Protein and Peanut Butter 2 cups rolled oats (600 calories, 108g carbs, 16g protein) 1 scoop whey protein powder...
Benny Smith
Feb 42 min read
The Cortisol Connection
Endurance training induces a complex interplay of hormonal responses that facilitate physiological adaptations, enhancing performance and...
Benny Smith
Jan 302 min read
Double Threshold Days
In endurance training, the concept of "threshold" is key. We’ve all heard about lactate threshold, the point where lactate builds up...
Benny Smith
Jan 212 min read
Norwegian Lactate Model
The Norwegian Lactate Model: Unlocking Elite Endurance Performance Endurance athletes, from marathon runners to cross-country skiers, are...
Benny Smith
Jan 105 min read
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