WELCOME TO the Total Endurance Blog
Written by coaches, not established technical writers, Everything within this blog comes from real coaching conversations, real athletes, and real-world experiences. Our aim is simply: to share useful ,practical insights for all levels of athletes.
If theres any topic you’d like covered in our blogs please get in touch.
Why Your HYROX Training Is Probably Too Hard
Feel explosive in the gym but flat on race day? You aren’t unfit—you’re inefficient. We explain why high-intensity training might be sabotaging your endurance, the science behind the "Run 2 Crash,"
The Glycogen Bottleneck: Why Your Training History Dictates Your Fueling (and Your Speed)
"Why the ‘Norwegian Method’ might be failing you." We are told that to go fast, we must first go slow. But for many junior or power-based athletes, "Zone 2" training leads to a frustrating plateau rather than peak fitness. The problem isn't your effort—it’s a biological phenomenon called the Glycogen Trap. Discover why your muscle fiber architecture might be turning your "easy" miles into a metabolic drain that kills your top-end speed, and learn how to build the oxidative machinery you actually need to break through.
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 You Shouldn’t Be Smelling Ammonia When You Train
If you’ve ever finished a hard training session and noticed a strong ammonia smell after exercise, your body is trying to tell you something. That sharp odour isn’t from sweat; it’s a sign you’re under-fuelled and breaking down protein for energy. When carbohydrate stores run low, the body starts converting amino acids into fuel, producing ammonia as a by-product.
At Total Endurance Coaching in Aberdeen, we use Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) testing to identify exactly how much energy an athlete’s body needs to function and train effectively. By understanding your true RMR and energy balance, we can pinpoint under-fuelling, correct nutrition errors, and build data-driven fuelling plans that improve recovery, protect muscle mass, and enhance performance.
If fatigue, poor recovery, or that distinctive ammonia smell sound familiar, it’s time to stop guessing and start measuring your metabolism.
Nicoles Road to Ironman Barcelona
Follow Nicole’s journey as testing helps her unlock the data, training insights, and confidence to take on Ironman Barcelona