Three Elite Coaches. Six Impossible Decisions | EP 796
About this episode
Coaching advice almost always starts with, “It depends.” In this special Ask the Coaches episode, Don and Scott take away that safety net by forcing Ian Sharman, Hal Koerner, and Ellie Greenwood to make definitive choices on some of trail running’s biggest debates. Is it better to be undertrained or overtrained? Should you trust data or your instincts? Would you add mileage or strength training? Can motivation be taught? Along the way, the coaches reveal not only their philosophies, but also the surprising amount of agreement behind them. Beneath the conversation emerges a consistent message: sustainable training, learning to listen to your body, and developing good judgment matter far more than chasing perfect numbers. It’s entertaining, occasionally chaotic, and full of coaching wisdom every trail runner can apply.
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Timestamps:
00:00 | The Rules: No “It Depends” The coaches are forced to choose between two coaching philosophies before explaining their reasoning.
04:00 | Training Smarter vs. Training Harder
Should runners prioritize perfect execution or simply never miss a workout? The coaches debate consistency, intensity, and long-term improvement.
21:00 | Undertrained or Overtrained?
The panel discusses why arriving healthy, rested, and mentally excited may be more valuable than squeezing in one more week of training.
29:00 | Mileage or Strength Training?
With limited training time, the coaches debate whether extra running or extra strength work produces the biggest return.
44:00 | Trust the Data or Trust Yourself?
Heart rate, recovery scores, wearables, and intuition collide as the coaches explain why learning effort by feel remains one of the most valuable skills in ultrarunning.
56:00 | What Should You Do When You Want to Quit?
The coaches tackle one of the hardest race-day scenarios: stop, regroup, and reassess, or keep moving forward no matter how slowly.
1:11:00 | Final Thoughts (and One Last “It Depends”)
The episode wraps with laughs, reflections, and one final reminder that while coaching often depends on context, the principles of smart, sustainable training remain remarkably consistent.
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