Dr. Phil Skiba on Breaking2, How to Build Critical Power, and the Secret to a Fast Kick

The Strength Running Podcast

Jason Fitzgerald

Health & Fitness, 10k, Beginnerrunning, Marathontraining, Fitness, Injuryprevention, Marathon, Halfmarathon, Running, Sports

4.8 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 24 July 2025

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Dr. Philip Skiba is a physician, performance consultant for the Breaking 2 project, coach to dozens of world class athletes, and author of Scientific Training for Endurance Athletes.

Phil is a world-class expert on running physiology and how to race faster. His groundbreaking research into Critical Power, Critical Speed, and the "W Prime" model of fatigue help the best runners in the world plan their training. And the best coaches seek him out for guidance.

In this conversation, we discuss:

How to determine and improve your "critical speed"
His work with Avelo (get your pair of smart running shoes!)
The under-discussed "battery" of speed that helsp you kick fast at the end of a race
Phil's contribution to Breaking 2 and Eliud Kipchoge's sub-2 marathon attempt

Please follow Phil on X and be sure to thank him for this conversation!

Thank you 2XU!

If you haven’t tried 2XU technical compression gear, you’re missing out. 2XU has been the world leader in performance compression for 20 years, helping runners feel better and recover faster with compression gear that’s backed by scientific evidence. Their graduated compression gear is engineered to improve blood flow and performance while speeding recovery.

My personal favorites include the Light Speed React half-tights (with tons of pockets for your phone and fuel!) as well as their Ignition Shield tights (for colder weather). But the recovery tights for use after running are more highly graduated and make me feel better after tough runs. 10/10 would recommend!

Knowing that their gear is engineered for runners by runners and backed by research makes me absolutely love 2XU. Go to 2xu.com and use code “JASON” in all caps to get 20% off sitewide, except clearance items or wetsuits.

Thank you to 2Before!

We are supported by 2Before, a powerful sports supplement made from New Zealand Blackcurrants 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.

Just like beetroot but more effective, blackcurrant berries are vasodilators, helping you get more blood flow to where it's needed.

Boost your performance and immune system with 2before: use code JASON for 30% off 20 packs and multi-serve packs at 2Before.com.

Thank you to 2Before for supporting Strength Running!

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Ready, set, go!
0:04.4	This is episode 416 with physician, Breaking 2 performance consultant, author of the incredible scientific training for endurance athletes book, and coached to dozens of world-class athletes, Dr. Phil Skiba.
0:29.8	Welcome to the Strength Running podcast.
0:32.6	We surround you with the same experts as pro runners.
0:39.5	So keep listening to hear running coaches, physical therapists, strength experts, dieticians, sports psychologists,
0:45.3	and other thought leaders give you the best guidance possible to take your running to the next level.
0:50.5	I'm your host, coach Jason Fitzgerald. I'm a former cross-country and track athlete for Connecticut College. I've been coaching runners since 2010, and I used to write for Trail
0:55.3	Runner Magazine and Runner's World. Today, I'm the head coach of Strength Running, host of this
1:00.1	podcast, and I work with a small handful of startups in the running space. You can learn more about
1:05.3	me and Strength Running at Strengthrunning.com. Now, a huge thanks to our brand partners who help make the podcast possible.
1:12.3	If you get value from the show, please consider using their discount codes so that I can keep
1:17.4	publishing episodes. A big thanks to Two Before. Get yourself a whopping 30% discount on their 20
1:24.2	pack and multi-packs at Two Before.com for their all-natural, scientifically
1:29.8	proven pre-workout with code Jason. Two-before, which is the numeral 2, followed by the word
1:36.3	before, is made from New Zealand black current berries, which improves vasodilation or blood flow,
1:42.7	just like beetroot. But they also improve recovery after exercise by managing oxidative stress
1:48.7	through their unique ratio of antioxidants, which also have a nice side benefit of supporting
1:54.0	your immune system.
1:54.9	Now, the main antioxidant is called anthocyanin, which I hadn't heard of before, but
2:00.5	is actually more present in New Zealand blackcurring berries than tart cherries, raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries.
2:08.5	Plus, 2 before tastes delicious.
2:11.0	I love products that are both good for your performance and good for your overall health.
	...

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