The Aerobic Edge

Joost Dekker

The Aerobic Edge, by Pacebuddies I'm Joost, running coach at Pacebuddies. This podcast is for runners who are tired of cookie-cutter plans and training hard without getting faster. No generic advice. No copy-paste schedules. Just honest, no-nonsense conversations about what actually works — from the SRA cycle to smart pacing, recovery, and real progress. Whether you're training for your first 5K or your tenth marathon, this is coaching that fits your life, your goals, your body. New episodes every two weeks. 👉 pacebuddies.com

Episodes

  1. 4 APR

    Hills and Strides - Your secret weapon for better running

    Most runners shuffle. Short stride, low heel lift, zero power. It's not laziness — it's your glutes being completely switched off. And the frustrating part? Adding more miles or speed work just reinforces the problem. In this episode we go deep on gluteal amnesia, the neuroscience of running mechanics, and the two tools — hill blasts and strides — that will rewire your movement pattern from the ground up. ───────────────────────── WHAT YOU'LL LEARN ───────────────────────── • Why your glutes are the primary engine of your stride — and why most runners never actually use them • What gluteal amnesia is and how hours of daily sitting literally rewires your neural pathways • Why adding speed before fixing your form makes the problem worse, not better • The injury connection: why Achilles issues, calf strains and plantar fasciitis are almost always a glute problem in disguise • Hill blasts: how 8 seconds uphill forces the correct movement pattern and retrains your nervous system • Full technique breakdown: Tall · Relaxed · Piston · Pop — and why each cue works • Strides: how to translate the new pattern to flat, fast running • The ATP-PC energy system and why 2.5 min walking recovery is non-negotiable • The Pre-Super Base phase: what needs to happen before any threshold or marathon-specific training ───────────────────────── TIMESTAMPS ───────────────────────── 00:00 — Cold open: the shuffle on the running path 02:30 — Intro: Form Before Speed 05:00 — The glute as engine: why almost nobody uses them 10:30 — Neuromuscular adaptation: you train a movement, not just fitness 16:00 — Hill blasts: science + full technique breakdown 22:00 — Strides: from hill to flat running 27:00 — Practical takeaway: what to do differently this week 31:00 — Outro + next episode: the minimal strength system ───────────────────────── START THIS WEEK ───────────────────────── Hill blasts — Pick one easy run day. At the end, find a ~5% gradient and do 4 reps. Run hard uphill for 8 seconds. Walk for 2.5 minutes between each rep — no jogging. Technique cues: tall (perpendicular to the slope, not leaning in) · relaxed shoulders · piston arms straight forward and back · pop your heels up under your hips. Add one rep per week until you reach 8. Strides — On a different day (at least 2 days apart): add 5 × 20 sec at 5K effort after an easy run. Walk back to the start between each. You're training the nervous system, not building fitness. Myrtl routine — 5–7 min of hip work after your long run. 12 movements: leg swings, hip circles, donkey kicks, fire hydrants. Search "Myrtl routine running" on YouTube. ───────────────────────── LINKS ───────────────────────── 🌐 Website: pacebuddies.com 📞 Free coaching call: cal.eu/pacebuddies/freecall Not making progress? Book a free 30-min call — no commitment. We look at where you are, what your goal is, and whether coaching is the right fit. ───────────────────────── NEXT EPISODE ───────────────────────── The Minimal Strength System — how 10 minutes a day, done right, gives you 95% of the injury prevention benefit without destroying your recovery. Do runners actually need to lift weights? That episode gives you a very clear answer.

    21 min
  2. 20 MAR

    Coaching Beginners to Olympians - Interview with John Starrett:

    Interview with John Starrett: Coaching Beginners to Olympians — The Stazza System Explained John Starrett has been coaching runners for over 40 years. Since moving online in 2017, he's guided nearly 900 athletes to sub-3 marathons and over 250 to sub-2:30 — including athletes at the US Olympic Trials and the Tokyo Olympics. In this episode, he breaks down the complete Stazza's Stable system from the ground up. What you'll learn: Why 5 runs per week is enough for most sub-3 marathonersThe Foundation phase: building the base before any real training beginsThe Pre-Super Base: hill blasts and aerobic strides to go from hip flexor to glute dominantThe Super Base: the 40-50-60 endurance spine runs and the V-shaped valley of deathWhy one marathon per year beats two every timeTimestamps:00:00 – Intro & John's background01:18 – The numbers: 900 sub-3s, 250 sub-2:30s, Olympic athletes02:03 – Ifa Cook: from 2:46 to the Tokyo Olympics03:00 – How online coaching works04:10 – The Kenya running camp05:33 – Coaching recreational runners: form before fitness07:00 – One marathon per year08:08 – Why 5 runs/week beats Norwegian doubles10:25 – Why most runners plateau11:00 – The Foundation phase13:09 – The Pre-Super Base14:05 – Hill blasts explained18:31 – Aerobic strides progression21:15 – The Super Base24:45 – The V-shaped valley of death28:39 – Results: 30 sec/km improvement in 14 weeks Find John:Website: stazzasstable.comInstagram: @stazzas_stableYouTube: youtube.com/@stazzasstable1965Podcast: The Stablemaster Speaks (Spotify & Apple)

    33 min
  3. 7 MAR

    Building an Aerobic Base with the SuperBase

    About this episode Most runners skip the one phase that actually builds speed. They go straight into marathon-specific training, do the long runs, hit the intervals — and wonder why they plateau after 8 weeks. The secret? It's called the Super Base. A 4-month training block that builds durability, raises your lactate ceiling, and makes your body ready to handle real speed work without breaking. In this episode, I break down exactly how it works. [00:00] – Intro: What is the Super Base?[01:15] – Why building a base matters (the glass analogy)[03:00] – Who needs the Super Base?[04:00] – The 3 key sessions explained[04:45] – Midweek workout: threshold progression (weeks 1-4)[06:30] – The V-shaped valley explained (weeks 5-11)[08:45] – Climbing back up (weeks 12-17)[10:00] – The endurance spine run (40-50-60 progression)[11:30] – Hill blasts: why 8 seconds changes everything[12:30] – How to schedule your week + the 48-hour rule[13:30] – Why pacing discipline matters[14:15] – Outro & CTA The glass analogy: Your training capacity is a glass. Base building makes it bigger. Threshold progression: 20 min → 40 min @ threshold in 4 weeks The V-shaped valley: Weeks 5-11 go down in rep length, up in speed. Weeks 12-17 build back up with faster paces. Endurance spine: 30 min warmup + 40/50/60 min @ tempo + 30 min cooldown. Repeat every 3 weeks with faster pace. Hill blasts: 8-second hill sprints to activate glutes and improve stride efficiency The 48-hour rule: Never do a midweek workout and a long run within 48 hours. Protect your key sessions. I'm Joost, running coach at Pacebuddies. This podcast is for runners who are tired of cookie-cutter plans and training hard without getting faster. No copy-paste schedules. Just honest, no-nonsense conversations about what actually works — whether you're training for your first 5K or your tenth marathon. New episodes every two weeks. The Super Base works — but only if you get the pacing right. If you want someone to look at your numbers, adjust your weeks, and keep you accountable: → pacebuddies.com/ Book a free 30-minute call. No pressure. Just a conversation about where you are and where you want to go.

    17 min

About

The Aerobic Edge, by Pacebuddies I'm Joost, running coach at Pacebuddies. This podcast is for runners who are tired of cookie-cutter plans and training hard without getting faster. No generic advice. No copy-paste schedules. Just honest, no-nonsense conversations about what actually works — from the SRA cycle to smart pacing, recovery, and real progress. Whether you're training for your first 5K or your tenth marathon, this is coaching that fits your life, your goals, your body. New episodes every two weeks. 👉 pacebuddies.com

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