We are about 11-14 weeks out from some of the major marathons in the US. Today, Coach is breaking down how to build a marathon training block for fall races like Chicago, New York, and Indianapolis. He covers periodization, weekly workouts, long runs, marathon-pace training, fueling, recovery, heat adjustments, and tapering. Most importantly guys, he explains how to train consistently, build mileage safely, and avoid cramming missed workouts like some college student facing a Monday deadline.CHAPTERS:00:00 Intro02:17 Marathon Training Periodization Explained05:27 How Long Should a Marathon Block Be?09:28 Why a 13-Week Marathon Plan Works13:51 Critical Velocity Repeats and Pacing19:01 Tempo Runs and Combination Workouts22:05 Long-Run Workouts and Marathon Tapering24:52 How to Space Workouts for Recovery27:05 Adding Marathon Pace to Long Runs28:18 Adjusting Training for Heat and Humidity30:01 Maintaining Speed During Marathon Training33:22 What to Do When You Miss a Workout38:02 Gut Training, Carbohydrates, and Sodium39:54 How to Prepare for Your Marathon Course42:00 How Many 20-Mile Runs Do You Need?43:24 Balancing Repeats and Threshold Workouts46:32 Marathon Block Length and Mental Fatigue48:40 MailbagBecome a BPN member FOR FREE - Unlock 25% off FOR LIFE ⁠⁠https://www.bareperformancenutrition.com/collections/performance-nutrition⁠Bat City Track Club is an emerging national class and regionally elite team with a primary focus on distances 5,000m to the marathon.⁠https://www.batcitytc.com/⁠FOLLOW:IG: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastYT: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastJEFF CUNNINGHAM:IG: @jdcunningham97BAT CITY: @batcitytrackclubThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal [health or profession] advice. Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) is not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice.MB01CJB7DV9B4VS

Coach revisits his disastrous first marathon to explain why race-day success depends on preparation, confidence, adaptability, and competitive integrity. He’s covering managing anxiety to trusting your training and adjusting to conditions, he shares how runners can execute when doubt arrives without turning every workout into the Olympic Trials. Here we go!CHAPTERS:00:00 Houston Marathon Wakeup Call01:57 Why Racing Feels Hard06:52 Competitive Integrity Explained10:46 Stop Racing Workouts16:50 Make the Decision Midrace23:33 Three Step Race Day Switch25:39 Ditch Negativity and Noise30:41 Avoid Overcontrol and Superstition37:51 Accept Imperfect Outcomes44:04 My 1998 Marathon Meltdown48:25 Race Day Checklist and SendoffBecome a BPN member FOR FREE - Unlock 25% off FOR LIFE ⁠⁠https://www.bareperformancenutrition.com/collections/performance-nutrition⁠Bat City Track Club is an emerging national class and regionally elite team with a primary focus on distances 5,000m to the marathon.⁠https://www.batcitytc.com/⁠FOLLOW:IG: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastYT: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastJEFF CUNNINGHAM:IG: @jdcunningham97BAT CITY: @batcitytrackclubThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal [health or profession] advice. Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) is not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice.MB01EU36CNZWWZL

Coach Jeff Cunningham sits down with filmmaker and runner Eric Floberg to unpack the road from under 4 hours to 2:29 at Boston. They talk breakthrough races, brutal training blocks, creative burnout, family, online criticism, and why simplifying life helped Eric rebuild belief, enjoy the process, and finally put it all together.CHAPTERS00:00 Intro01:04 Marathon Journey Begins06:21 Creative Roots and Filmmaking14:44 Handling Online Hate18:23 Bittersweet PRs and Progress23:45 Burnout and Too Many Pots28:55 Boston Build and Belief33:38 Race Week38:21 Closing Miles Breakdown41:45 Racing With an Audience55:11 Berlin Plans and Fueling57:52 Speed Gains and Haters59:25 Dad Life and Sports Joy01:04:11 Impact Beyond RunningBecome a BPN member FOR FREE - Unlock 25% off FOR LIFE ⁠⁠https://www.bareperformancenutrition.com/collections/performance-nutrition⁠Bat City Track Club is an emerging national class and regionally elite team with a primary focus on distances 5,000m to the marathon.⁠https://www.batcitytc.com/⁠FOLLOW:IG: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastYT: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastJEFF CUNNINGHAM:IG: @jdcunningham97BAT CITY: @batcitytrackclubThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal [health or profession] advice. Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) is not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice.MB01WH1HTYXIY1B

This week, coach Jeff Cunningham discusses how people in life transitions can chase new passions without becoming “all consumed." He contrasts being productively "all in” for defined windows of time with letting a goal become an identity that causes neglect, anxiety, or spiraling when training or races go poorly, and warns about hyper-obsession with diet and clean eating. He argues balance is often a cliché and reframes it as healthy imbalance, where excellence requires weighting time toward a pursuit while protecting non-negotiables. CHAPTERS:00:00 Chasing Change02:08 All In vs Consumed03:43 Poker Chips Metaphor06:56 Protect Your Identity10:11 All In Done Right13:01 Quixotic Passion17:42 When More Is Justified21:27 Sponsor Fuel Break22:18 Myth of Balance24:08 LeBron and Talent Garden31:24 Consistently Good Mindset37:35 Faith and Audacious Goals40:41 Mailbag Heart Rate44:30 Final SendoffBecome a BPN member FOR FREE - Unlock 25% off FOR LIFE ⁠⁠⁠https://www.bareperformancenutrition.com/collections/performance-nutrition⁠Bat City Track Club is an emerging national class and regionally elite team with a primary focus on distances 5,000m to the marathon.⁠https://www.batcitytc.com/⁠FOLLOW:IG: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastYT: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastJEFF CUNNINGHAM:IG: @jdcunningham97BAT CITY: @batcitytrackclubThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal [health or profession] advice. Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) is not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice.MB01I73BYB7R5WI

Listen guys, when coach says he has some important things he wants to address, you hit record.Coach collected GPS data from over 100 Boston Marathon runners to settle the "course was long" debate once and for all — then he breaks down fartlek execution, why missing a workout doesn't ruin your race, and why trying to optimize everything might be the thing that's actually holding you back.CHAPTERS:0:00 Intro:1:17 GPS vs. Race Time2:55 How Race Courses Are Officially Measured9:08 The Boston Marathon Data Study11:33 What Extra Distance Costs You in Real Time18:13 What Is a Fartlek?20:48 The GPS Anxiety Problem24:19 The Highway Analogy27:04 Skipped Workouts, Bad Workouts & the Rule of Thirds38:08 Bandwidth Management46:54 MailbagBecome a BPN member FOR FREE - Unlock 25% off FOR LIFE ⁠⁠https://www.bareperformancenutrition.com/collections/performance-nutrition⁠Bat City Track Club is an emerging national class and regionally elite team with a primary focus on distances 5,000m to the marathon.⁠https://www.batcitytc.com/⁠FOLLOW:IG: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastYT: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastJEFF CUNNINGHAM:IG: @jdcunningham97BAT CITY: @batcitytrackclubThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal [health or profession] advice. Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) is not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

Coach is walking you through his complete race weekend blueprint which starts 48 hours out and going all the way through post-race recovery. Diet, pacing discipline, the danger zone at miles 13–17, fueling strategy, race morning prep, and why the plan you made calmly before race week is still your best plan at the starting line.CHAPTERS:0:00 Racing Is an Investment4:12 48 Hours Out7:13 Carb Loading Is Real9:24 It's a Business Trip, Not a Vacation11:38 Pack Smart: Weather, Logistics & Throwaway Clothes13:43 Have a Plan. Know It. Trust It.17:25 Race Morning24:22 At the Start Line26:57 Miles 0–13: Restraint, Fueling & Neurological Calm35:54 Miles 13–17: The Danger Zone38:28 Miles 17–2140:30 Miles 21–Finish42:38 Post-Race: Celebrate, Refuel & RestBecome a BPN member FOR FREE - Unlock 25% off FOR LIFE ⁠⁠https://www.bareperformancenutrition.com/collections/performance-nutrition⁠Bat City Track Club is an emerging national class and regionally elite team with a primary focus on distances 5,000m to the marathon.⁠https://www.batcitytc.com/⁠FOLLOW:IG: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastYT: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastJEFF CUNNINGHAM:IG: @jdcunningham97BAT CITY: @batcitytrackclubThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal [health or profession] advice. Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) is not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

Mailbag goes deep this week answering as many of your questions as possible in a reasonable time. Just call it another chapter in our seasonal Q&A episode! We're talking mileage sweet spots, post-marathon recovery timelines, race day anxiety, carbon plate strategy, Boston qualifying buffers, fueling ratios, and why most runners aren't overtraining at all. This one is technically for everyone even if your question wasn't answered. Just go ahead and drop it in the comments so coach can see it (We'll remind him to check, but he's pretty good).Become a BPN member FOR FREE - Unlock 25% off FOR LIFE ⁠⁠https://www.bareperformancenutrition.com/collections/performance-nutrition⁠Bat City Track Club is an emerging national class and regionally elite team with a primary focus on distances 5,000m to the marathon.⁠https://www.batcitytc.com/⁠FOLLOW:IG: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastYT: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastJEFF CUNNINGHAM:IG: @jdcunningham97BAT CITY: @batcitytrackclubThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal [health or profession] advice. Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) is not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

Jeff is covering the real science behind heat training vs. altitude training from EPO production and red blood cell growth to plasma volume and stroke volume. Now, that's a lot of science, but he makes it very approachable. That's a promise.Plus, he walks through the carbohydrate conundrum, sodium strategy, and why fasted heat training simply doesn't work. We know this.Train smarter this summer, wherever the heck you are.CHAPTERS:00:00 Intro01:12 Setup07:33 Why Altitude Works13:08 Heat Training Basics17:41 Heat Adaptations Explained26:05 Heat and Red Blood Cells35:43 Fueling in the Heat40:23 Heat Prep Mindset42:30 Preload Calories Overnight46:09 Hourly Sodium Targets50:13 Small Bites Fueling52:09 Race Day Salt Tactics56:41 Heat Training Takeaways01:04:20 MailbagBecome a BPN member FOR FREE - Unlock 25% off FOR LIFE ⁠⁠https://www.bareperformancenutrition.com/collections/performance-nutrition⁠Bat City Track Club is an emerging national class and regionally elite team with a primary focus on distances 5,000m to the marathon.⁠https://www.batcitytc.com/⁠FOLLOW:IG: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastYT: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastJEFF CUNNINGHAM:IG: @jdcunningham97BAT CITY: @batcitytrackclubThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal [health or profession] advice. Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) is not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

In this episode, I break down what to do before your fall marathon block begins. We talk summer mileage, running economy, heat training, 5Ks, hill circuits, fartlek workouts, strength training, nutrition, and how to stay fit without showing up to marathon training already cooked, crispy, and emotionally unavailable.CHAPTERS:00:00 Intro03:06 The Consistently Good Paradox05:21 Why Fitness Disappears Faster Than You Think07:49 Periodization For Summer Training09:21 Lower Volume, Lower Stress, Better Timing12:23 Improve Your Running Economy15:21 Speed Work, Hill Reps, And Fartlek Training21:41 How Much Mileage Should You Run?25:05 Why Strength Training Matters Now27:33 Heat Training Is A Gift32:59 MailbagBecome a BPN member FOR FREE - Unlock 25% off FOR LIFE ⁠⁠https://www.bareperformancenutrition.com/collections/performance-nutrition⁠Bat City Track Club is an emerging national class and regionally elite team with a primary focus on distances 5,000m to the marathon.⁠https://www.batcitytc.com/⁠FOLLOW:IG: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastYT: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastJEFF CUNNINGHAM:IG: @jdcunningham97BAT CITY: @batcitytrackclubThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal [health or profession] advice. Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) is not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

Jeff Cunningham kicks off Season 3 with the chase every marathoner knows. Breaking three hours.However, the goal here is to accomplish this uncommon feat without losing your mind, your legs, or your family’s respect. Too much?He breaks down the benchmarks, mileage, workouts, long runs, fueling, taper, and race-day decisions that make sub-3 elite but possible. Simple? Not exactly. Doable? With consistency, patience, and fewer heroic mistakes, we say yes. More people can do it than they think!CHAPTERS:00:00 Season 3 Starts Now01:00 The Sub-3 Marathon Standard02:25 How Rare Is Sub-3 Really?04:44 Raising Your Marathon Ceiling07:52 Do You Have the Wheels?09:45 The D.I.V.N Training Framework12:55 Building the Weekly Mileage16:39 Long Runs That Actually Matter20:24 Density, Easy Days, and Not Being a Hero24:52 Setting Up the Hard Work31:53 Three Track Workouts That Build the Engine41:55 Tempo Work That Transfers50:40 Long Run Workouts for Sub-357:29 How to Taper Without Panicking01:03:57 Picking a Race That Helps YouBecome a BPN member FOR FREE - Unlock 25% off FOR LIFE ⁠⁠https://www.bareperformancenutrition.com/collections/performance-nutrition⁠Bat City Track Club is an emerging national class and regionally elite team with a primary focus on distances 5,000m to the marathon.⁠https://www.batcitytc.com/⁠FOLLOW:IG: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastYT: @theconsistentlygoodpodcastJEFF CUNNINGHAM:IG: @jdcunningham97BAT CITY: @batcitytrackclubThis podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal [health or profession] advice. Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) is not responsible for any losses, damages, or liabilities that may arise from the use of this podcast. This podcast is not intended to replace professional medical advice.MB01JQJAPHE4KXZ