WELCOME TO the Total Endurance Blog
Written by coaches, not professional writers. Everything here comes from real coaching conversations, real athletes and real-world experience. Our aim is simple: to share useful, practical insights for athletes of all levels.
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The Physiology Behind Mark’s Saltire 24 Race
At 59, Mark Macgillivray finished 2nd male at the Saltire 24 — 167.8km covered, 2,468m climbed, one continuous day and night on his feet. Here's what his physiology testing predicted, and what actually happened when it mattered.
We Didn't Get Mark's Marathon Training Right. This Is Why.
We had all the data. We still got Mark's London Marathon preparation wrong. Not recklessly — we just didn't read it deeply enough. This is what we missed, what the numbers were actually telling us, and how it's changed how we coach.
Running on Borrowed Time: Is Your Marathon Pace Sustainable?
We analysed four runners targeting a 3:30 marathon. Runner D had a massive "Ferrari" engine (VO2 Max 68), while Runner A had a modest "Sedan" engine (VO2 Max 48). Conventional wisdom says Runner D wins easily. The data proves the opposite. Find out why the "fittest" athlete on paper is actually the most likely to DNF.
Why This Runner Looks “Efficient”… but Is Burning Through Carbs Faster Than Expected
A runner we tested looked incredibly efficient — yet their data showed a rapid rise in carb burn at relatively easy speeds. This post unpacks the puzzle, reveals the hidden limiter, and shows how to train smarter to improve speed and endurance.
What is Running Economy and why you should care
When it comes to endurance performance, most athletes are familiar with VO₂ max – the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise. But there’s another, often overlooked metric that can make a huge difference to your performance, especially over longer distances…