We wrap up this mini-series on polarization with the final 5 questions for you.

First, we cover Chris's experience at his first stage race - Moab Run the Rocks - put on by the great folks at TransRockies Running. It is a 3-day stage race event covering ~54 miles of trails over 3 days in/around Moab, Utah. Chris had a blast and shares a little bit about his experiences there in the first 25 minutes of this one.

Then, we get to the final questions on polarization. Are you polarizing your training enough to optimize it?

The full list of questions (including the 4 from part 1):

From periodization to polarization, we cover two "ization" words in as many weeks, and we promise it isn't as boring as it might sound!

With this podcast, we discuss something that might just be at the crux of reaching your potential. Is your training polarized enough?

Plus, we make it fun by turning it into a pop quiz with 4 questions in this episode and more in part 2 coming next week. Grab a #2 pencil and a blue book so you can take the test that will determine if you are on a path to reaching your full potential, or not yet...

We start with some beef that I have been sitting on for a minute. We love our influencers and content creators in the running world, but there is at least ONE thing that a few of them need to stop doing. Let's see if we can agree...

Then, James and I dig into the art, science, and details of periodization. How should your training cycle be constructed in phases? Every. Single. Time. No exceptions or shortcuts.

Oh, and there are 5 periods to know, not the 4 you may have in your head. Can you name them?! Execute these 5 periods on repeat for the rest of your running life, and there will be big things in your future!

We believe that MOST runners are thinking in planning windows that are too short.

If your focus is ONLY on your very next race, then you are leaving potential on the table. In this episode, James and I discuss how to think about planning in 12-18 windows by strategically considering your sequence of macrocyles (aka big training blocks).

If you think long-term with THE big, main-priority goal in mind, then you will increase your chances of getting there. To break it down, we discuss what is a macrocycle, how to plan/periodize them, and how to schedule your racing checkpoints along the way.

Paint the big picture so that you are then master the details along the way!

Watch obsessed? Can't do any training without seeing your exact pace? Train in a difficult environment? This episode is for you.

James and I talk about the why and how of running by feel. We give specific examples and cues to use in order to dial into each training zone. Plus, we give some practical tips on how to learn to "use the force" while running as Yoda would have you do.

Running by feel is a lost art, and we want YOU to find it again.

In this episode, we break down the 4 main types of quality work (aka speed work). We talk about the what, why, when, and how of each type, as well as give some examples.

Of course, you don't want to start your speed work until your aerobic foundation is big enough, so we give guidelines on that too!

The 4 types:

• Running econony
• VO2Max
• Threshold
• Race specific

In this episode, we dig into Chapter 4 of the book where we discuss the importance of peaking.

To maximize potential, you will only focus on 2-3 peaks per year, prioritizing those "A races" above all else. In this discussion, we talk about the physiology of peaking and why it is important. Then, we dig into what peaking looks like, how to manage it well, and what to do if you peak too soon.

At the end, we challenge you to commit to peaking only 2 times in 2026!

In this episode, we dig into the why and the how of building miles. Increasing volume is perhaps the #1 way to improve as a runner, so we introduce the FVI framework for safely building miles and talk about how to maintain speed along the way.

Plus, we answer some of the practical questions:

• In what increments should I be building volume?
• How do I maintain speed while doing so?
• What if I miss a day?
• How fast or slow should I be going?

If you want to purchase a book, check the links on our instagram profile - @roguerunning. If you want to train with us, check out www.roguerunning.com.