Brendan Brazier's Page

When it comes to training, proper nutrition is as important as physical activity itself. Without the proper fuelling, your body simply cannot perform at its peak, ultimately derailing the efforts of training. While determination will get you going, nutrition is what dictates…

For years people have told me they feel amazing when they follow the nutritional principals in the Thrive book series. Many have been able to stop taking medication, lower cholesterol, reduce body fat, reduce sugar cravings, improve sleep quality and mental clarity and boost athletic performance.

But, in spite…

So far, the 3-part Strength Training for Endurance Athletes series has discussed common misconceptions about endurance athletes and weight lifting, how greater strength can improve endurance, and how building upper body strength can result in improved muscle efficacy. Since it is important to…

Compare two runners who are equal in all respects except for muscular strength and the stronger one will be faster over any distance. The lower percentage of maximum strength needed for each stride translates into greater muscle efficacy and therefore, greater endurance. If one runner can squat 10% more than another, his muscles won’t have to work as hard to move his body forward, resulting in significant endurance gains.

When muscles don’t have to work as…

Buying into the myth, runners neglected to lift weights because they thought it would add body-slowing bulk, yet we know now that greater strength will ultimately improve endurance. Sadly, this myth came to pass because strength training was being lumped into the bodybuilding culture; with bodybuilders lifting weights to get bigger, as well as for definition and physical symmetry.

In the early eighties,…