Distance running is on fire these days; top athletes around the world are continually pushing the envelope and setting new records more frequently than in years past. The 2024 Paris Games were no exception, with Olympic records falling left and right, both on the track and in the marathon. So, what’s fueling this trend? I believe two factors are making the most impact: the explosion of shared training knowledge and breakthroughs in running shoe technology.
Access to Training Tips Like Never Before
One of the biggest game-changers in distance running over the last 10-15 years has been the ease with which athletes and coaches can now share training insights. I recently spoke at a distance coaches' convention primarily attended by high school coaches. I’ve spoken at many of these events before, but this year, I observed a noticeable increase in the number of highly informed coaches in the audience. An overwhelming majority were up-to-date with the latest training theories. Although the coaches varied in experience levels, even the most seasoned among them agreed: information is now more accessible, and people in the sport are more willing to share than ever before.
Niche sports media sites like Flotrack and Runnerspace have been around since the mid-2000s. These sites revolutionized how coaches and athletes learn from others almost in real-time. They provided video footage of training sessions and interviews with the most accomplished coaches and athletes at every level. For the first time, we had consistent inside access to training sessions and in-depth explanations of techniques from the best in the business. Today, numerous outlets offer similar coverage of running, including detailed analyses and interviews about the latest advancements in the sport and training.
Watching these videos and understanding the reasoning behind various training ideas has provided deeper insights into both the what and the why of training. This has significantly contributed to our baseline understanding of the sport. As a young coach, I personally benefited from learning from the best coaches in the world with the click of a button. Coaches at all levels have shared and learned from each other, allowing them to implement these insights into their own programs and refine them further. The result is that athletes are now experiencing better coaching than ever before.
However, this level of access and connectedness is not without its pitfalls. Just like in any field, running has its fads. Over the past decade, we’ve seen terms like “Double Threshold,” “Critical Velocity,” and “Zone 2” gain prominence. While exploring new concepts is valuable, it's important to recognize that no single workout will independently revolutionize the sport or your training. These terms certainly have their place, but to benefit from them, they must be integrated properly into a comprehensive training plan. Achieving this requires a deeper understanding of training principles.
Apps like Strava and TrainingPeaks have also transformed how we track and share our workouts. Before these apps, sharing training logs was almost taboo, and even if you did, there wasn’t an easy way to do it. These apps now allow you to log your runs, monitor progress, and share training results with a global running community. Wearables now collect an astounding amount of metrics, letting you see instantly what others are doing, almost to the point that you are there witnessing the run in person.
But sharing training tips is only one piece of the puzzle. Advances in running shoe technology are also driving performance gains.
New Shoe Tech Is Changing the Game
Today’s running shoes often include plates that enhance propulsion and energy return. This means runners can maintain faster paces with less effort, effectively giving them a built-in boost. Setting a world, Olympic, or even national record once required optimal biomechanics—picture-perfect form. Now, there is arguably less emphasis on developing form and more focus on the athlete’s physiology—just make the engine bigger!
The latest running shoes provide greater cushioning and responsiveness. This reduces the impact on joints and muscles, making runs more comfortable and potentially resulting in fewer injuries from overuse. If you can train consistently without interruption, there’s a good chance you’ll see improvements in performance.
Looking Ahead
A recent article by Michael Rosenberg in Sports Illustrated, titled “Have We Reached Our Athletic Limits?”, explores predictions about the future of marathon records. The piece reviews performances and world records over the past 60 years across many events in running, raising the question of whether we are approaching the absolute limits of human potential. Speculation suggests that marathon records could fall to around 2:05 for women and 1:56-1:57 for men. It’s a fun topic to consider. However, the quest to quantify human limits isn’t new—I’ve been involved in the sport for about 30 years, and the conversation about pushing boundaries has always been a part of it. That’s what makes breaking records so thrilling to watch!
Regardless of where we stand on the spectrum of human potential, one thing is clear: the sport is evolving at an incredible pace. We’re on the verge of witnessing breakthroughs that will redefine what’s possible in distance running. Records will continue to fall, and new milestones will be reached. It’s an exciting time to be involved in running. But for all this to happen, one thing remains true: you still have to get out there and put one foot in front of the other. Train hard, keep pushing your limits, and embrace the journey. You get out what you put in. That’s why I love this sport!
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