Sep 28, 2017
Brad is a world famous triathlete. He’s one of the most well-known persons in the world of endurance sports having garnered multiple awards and victories on top of being ranked 3rd best in the world in 1991. He’s also an author of many books catering to a primal way of life.
Today Brad will talk with us about his take on what people associate endurance sports with, the importance of sleep and recovery for endurance athletes, the type of nutrition that works, and why he likes the idea of resistance training for endurance.
"We get deluded these days into thinking succeeding in endurance sports is all about enduring in a negative context rather than being good to your body as you pursue ambitious fitness goals.” Brad Kearns
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Sleep habits are more important than whatever endurance books will tell you. Brad said he slept half his life throughout his best career to get the best out of his body.
- Most athletes should add more hours of sleep even if it means sacrificing physical activity or training.
- Getting up before sunrise will disrupt the way your body functions, especially when it comes to your circadian cycle and hormone production.
- If you're running yourself down, back up so you don't just keep wearing the system down. Dictate your training decisions according to your mood.
- You want to have a nutrient-dense diet compared to getting fuel with little to no nutritional content such as sugar-based sports food.
- Just because you're not getting morbidly obese when you eat more sugar than the average person doesn't mean it's not hurting you.
- Fixing your sleeping habits especially after sundown will do wonders to your body's metabolic processes, especially when it comes to controlling your appetite and burning fat.
- When it comes to training for endurance sports, balance is important; not just miles but also mobility, functional strength, and other activities that translate to better endurance performance.
- Resistance training will simulate what happens to your body when it’s under extreme fatigue or stress during endurance competitions. With that said, nothing can substitute with actual cardio training when it comes to building a solid aerobic base.
- You can't go in and perform at your best level when you're working out almost every day of the week. It's better be varied in your training and focusing on intensity for a short period of time and rest for a short period of time, rather than going at it 100% all the time.
Key Takeaways:
- Everyone knows stress and recovery is important but not everyone can get it balanced.
- The intuitive element is everything; the difference between coming in first or last place. Having the discipline to realize the state of your body and mind are at each day and taking what your body gives you and nothing more is what will bring out the best in you.
Connect with Brad Kearns:
- Brad Kearns Official
Mentioned in this episode:
- Primal Endurance book by Mark Sisson with Brad Kearns
Primal Endurance podcast
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