How to Build Physiological Resilience in the Marathon with Coach John Davis, PhD
The Strength Running Podcast
Jason Fitzgerald
4.7 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 16 October 2025
⏱️ 69 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
John Davis holds a PhD in Biomechanics, coaches elite marathoners, and is the author of Modern Training and Physiology for Middle and Long Distance Runners.
His newest book is a masterclass on marathon preparation: Marathon Excellence for Everyone. It includes new research on training theory, elite-level training plans, and guidance for every type of aspiring marathoner.
Today, we discuss physiological resilience:
- How physiological resilience is like the 4th metric of performance
- How to build this skill safely
- Example workouts for beginner to advanced runners
- The role of "depletion workouts" in physiological resilience
- What actually causes the "marathon fade" at the end of 26.2 miles
Learn more about John's new book on the Marathon Excellence website or follow him on IG here.
You can browse Strength Running's marathon plans here.
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Thank you LMNT!
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Ready, set, go! |
| 0:04.4 | This is episode 428 with author, elite running coach, former collegiate athlete, and PhD holder |
| 0:11.6 | in biomechanics, John Davis. |
| 0:27.2 | Welcome to the Strength Running podcast. We surround you with the same experts as pro runners, |
| 0:32.5 | so keep listening to hear running coaches, physical therapists, strength experts, dietitians, |
| 0:38.3 | sports psychologists, and other thought leaders give you the best guidance possible to take your running to the next level. I'm your host, coach Jason Fitzgerald. I'm a former cross-country and track athlete for |
| 0:43.4 | Connecticut College. I've been coaching runners since 2010, and I'm a former columnist for Trailrunner |
| 0:49.2 | magazine. You can learn more about me and strength running at strengthrunning.com. |
| 0:54.5 | And guys, it's a special time of the year. |
| 0:57.1 | It's marathon season. |
| 0:58.7 | I just had one of my private clients race a PR at the Portland Marathon, and you might remember Dan |
| 1:04.8 | from our Marathon coaching call episode last August. |
| 1:08.8 | He just ran the Twin Cities Marathon and also ran a new PR. We just had the |
| 1:13.9 | Chicago Marathon and coming up are the Philadelphia and New York City Marathons. What a time to be |
| 1:19.1 | alive. If you're running either Philly or New York coming up soon, don't miss our past episodes |
| 1:24.4 | on course strategy, chunking, and how to strategize these races. And if you'd like to |
| 1:30.1 | get your training right for your next big goal race, go to strengthrunning.com slash coaching to browse all |
| 1:36.0 | of our training programs for endurance runners. Let's also support our sponsors who help make this |
| 1:41.5 | podcast sustainable. Please consider using their discount codes. These are |
| 1:45.3 | companies I use myself, I trust, and that I think will help your training. Thank you, Previnex, for |
| 1:51.5 | offering 15% off your first purchase at Previnex.com with code Jason 15. And a big announcement, Previnex is now |
| 2:00.3 | offering international shipping. So if you live in the |
... |
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