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The Strength Running Podcast

The Endurance Episode: Zach Bitter on How to Push the Boundaries of Endurance

The Strength Running Podcast

Jason Fitzgerald

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

4.81.3K Ratings

🗓️ 25 January 2024

⏱️ 71 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Do you want to have a monster aerobic engine? No matter what your level of experience, you can learn how to build volume safely and implement intensity to get the most from your training miles.

Zach Bitter was formerly the 100-mile world record holder, and is currently the American record holder in the 100-mile and 12-hour events. He's a four time national champion at the 50-mile, 100k and 100-mile distances between 2012 and 2021.

Zach has won some of the country’s most competitive ultra races and competed on Team USA’s 100k world team on three occasions. He is also a coach and host of the popular podcast, Human Performance Outliers.

Our conversation today focuses on:

  • Zach’s journey to 100+ mile weeks
  • The process of learning to truly race a 100 miler
  • How Zach maximizes his benefits from zone 2 running
  • Understanding how and when to train in zone 3
  • The holy grail of distance running: how to run faster at a lower heart rate
  • Zach’s preparation heading into a fast 100 miler
  • How Zach uses cross-training in various ways through the training cycle
  • Advice for new and lower mileage runners to take their training to the next level

No matter what distance you're training for or where you are at in your running journey, my discussion with Zach will help you build your own massive endurance engine!

Links & Resources from the Show:

Thank you Previnex!

After resisting most supplements for the better part of my life, I’m cautiously changing my tune. I’m now a Masters runner and in my personal life, I’m optimizing for longevity. I want to be my healthiest self for as long as possible and I’m excited to partner with Previnex to make that happen.

Previnex uses the most bioavailable, clinically tested ingredients, the optimal form and dose of each ingredient, pharmaceutical grade manufacturing, testing of raw ingredients and finished products. For every purchase you make, they also donate vitamins to kids in need.

Their new Muscle Health Plus is something I'm now taking. Turning 40 - and having a thin frame - has made me realize that I need to prioritize lean muscle mass to stay healthy and age well. Muscle Health Plus has creatine, essential and branched chain amino acids, and it's designed in a way to maximize protein synthesis and the absorption of amino acids.

Muscle Health Plus will help you prevent muscle damage, which is particularly important for aging runners who want to protect themselves from muscle loss and recover faster after hard workouts. As is true for all of their products, Previnex adheres to the highest of standards: their ingredients are clinically proven to do what they say they’re going to do.

Previnex offers a 30-day money back guarantee. If you don't feel the benefits of their product, you get your money back no questions asked. With their focus on quality and customer satisfaction, I hope you’ll try it! Use code jason15 for 15% off your first order at Previnex!

Thank you CXP SPORT!

Our newest sponsor is CXP Sport. They make the world’s most advanced underwear, engineered specifically for optimal sports performance with their patented pressure regulation technology.

CXP Sport collaborated with ultra runner Zach Miller to create an amazing product. It has no-chafe, bonded seams, 4-way stretch sweat wicking fabric, and temperature regulating features that keep you cool when you start to get hot.

For me, CXP’s performance underwear is snug, fits well, and most importantly, I just don’t think about them when I go running. They're that comfortable. For endurance runners who have to run for a long time, the goal is to have gear so good that it works without any problems!

You can check out their Endurance XP, Run XP, and React XP performance underwear collection for the most comfortable pair of underwear you’ve ever worn. Use discount code CXPStrength for 20% off all their products at CXP Sport.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Ready?

0:02.0

Say, go.

0:04.0

This is episode 335 with American record holder in the 100 mile and 12 hour events,

0:11.0

four-time national champion, running coach, and host of the Human Performance Outlier's

0:16.7

podcast, Zach Bitter. Welcome to the Strength Running Podcast. I'm your host Coach Jason Fitzgerald and my singular goal is to help you improve your running. your of your goals. I'm a monthly columnist for Trailrunner magazine, a 239 marathoner, and author of the

0:46.4

Performance Training Journal on Amazon. You can learn more about me and Strength Running at

0:52.2

Strengthrunning.com.

0:53.4

And if you enjoy the show, please support our partners who are offering you some great deals

0:58.1

on amazing products that are going to help your performances and overall health. First is Prevenex, the only supplement company that I trust. And Prevenex has a big announcement. They've just released their new product, Muscle Health Plus. It's a combination of creatine, branch chain, and

1:15.2

essential amino acids, as well as ingredients to aid protein synthesis and absorption.

1:20.4

Use code Jason 15 for 15% off your first order at PrevenX.com.

1:27.0

Now if you're a master's runner, you want to build some muscle.

1:30.0

Or maybe if you're particularly injury prone,

1:32.5

Muscle Health Plus is going to help you hold onto your muscle

1:36.0

and rebound faster from workouts and long runs.

1:39.2

You can see all the details at PrevenX.com

1:42.1

and be sure to use code Jason 15 to save 15% off your first purchase.

1:47.0

Next is our newest sponsor, C.X. Sport, they make the world's most advanced underwear,

1:53.7

engineered specifically for optimal sports performance

1:57.0

with their patented pressure regulation technology.

2:00.2

You can check out their endurance XP p run x p and react x p performance underwear

2:06.6

collection for the most comfortable pair of underwear you've ever worn use discount

...

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