My new book Running Breakthroughs is now available worldwide as Audio Book, autographed book and eBook.

"Overtraining is probably the most significant and frequent problem in sports."

Dr. Phil Maffetone has been saying this for decades, yet most runners still don't realize it's happening to them.

You run more... You train harder... You add intervals... But somehow you're getting slower, not faster.

Dr. Phil Maffetone has coached hundreds of elite endurance athletes over four decades, including SIX-TIME Ironman champion Mark Allen. His MAF method has helped countless runners build aerobic efficiency, avoid injury, and run faster by training slower.

This is his 5th time on the podcast, and this conversation might be the most important one yet!

We dive deep into overtraining, hidden stress, recovery, and the new research study he just published on refined carbohydrates and brain health. The findings are shocking!

This conversation shows exactly how to tell if you're overtraining and what you can do about it.

Click HERE to watch the full video.

Here are some of the topics covered:

• ​0:00 - Low Heart Rate Training + Overtraining + Recovery
• ​1:43 - Running Breakthroughs signed copies
• ​2:42 - My favorite running apparel by Path Projects
• ​3:22 - Round 5 with Dr. Phil
• ​4:41 - What creates athlete breakthroughs
• ​10:16 - How stress slows you down
• ​14:28 - The “gray zone” & low heart rate training
• ​20:29 - Lactate shuttles & aerobic speed
• ​27:44 - Why low HR training doesn’t work for some
• ​32:47 - Refined carbs & brain health
• ​36:07 - Common carbs & better alternatives
• ​39:16 - Are there better bread options?
• ​42:45 - What athletes should eat
• ​44:45 - Potatoes, rice, and carbs explained
• ​47:22 - Cholesterol & fat myths
• ​52:47 - Testing nutrition instead of guessing
• ​54:37 - Why enjoyment matters
• ​56:40 - Common training misconceptions
• ​58:17 - Overtraining warning signs
• ​1:02:15 - Resting heart rate & hidden stress
• ​1:09:48 - Strength training and why it matters
• ​1:14:05 - Recovering from burnout
• ​1:18:55 - Where to find Dr. Phil’s study
• ​1:19:38 - How to be a healthier, stronger, happier athlete

​CLICK HERE to watch this new video.

Or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

5 key lessons that stood out from my conversation with Dr. Phil Maffetone:

1. "If you just remove stress, you're going to be a better athlete."​
Stress is cumulative. Physical stress, biochemical stress, mental and emotional stress. They all add up. Dr. Phil recommends making three columns and listing every stress in your life. Once you identify them, you can start removing them.

2. "When we build the aerobic muscles more and more, they are called red muscles because they're well-endowed with circulation. And that circulation also helps the anaerobic muscle fiber."​
This is why low heart rate training improves your race pace. As your aerobic system gets stronger, it helps clear lactate from your anaerobic muscles faster. Your top end speed improves even though you're training slower.

3. "Recovery is the key. You have to recover. And for many athletes, for many runners, recovery means building that aerobic system up. It could take six months of aerobic training where you don't exceed that heart rate."​
If you're overtrained or burned out, the solution isn't to push harder. It's to build your aerobic base for six months. No intensity. Just consistent, low heart rate training while you heal.

4. "The primary recommendation is to avoid refined carbohydrates including sugar if we want a healthy brain."​
Dr. Phil's new research study found that about 80% of people on earth have an unhealthy brain. The biggest culprit? Refined carbs. When you eat refined flour or pasta, it's just like eating a few teaspoons of sugar. Your body can't tell the difference.

5. "Every workout should be fun. And the individuality component is really important. What your training partner is doing is probably a lot different from what you should be doing."​
If you're not enjoying your running, something is wrong. Find what works for you as an individual. Don't copy someone else's plan just because it worked for them.

Hope you enjoy this new video, CLICK HERE to watch it.

Cheers,
Floris Gierman
​www.florisgierman.com​

P.S. My new book Running Breakthroughs is available now worldwide as Audio Book, autographed book and eBook. It's a summary of 10 years podcasting lessons, takeaways from coaching thousands of athletes and my own breakthroughs in running and life.