Training Philosophy Hub
A Map of Content covering the core training philosophies and methodologies that underpin CoachSaltmarsh.com — from Lydiard’s aerobic pyramid to Daniels’ VDOT system, Zone 2 science, and elite coaching adaptations for high school runners.
This hub collects all articles on the why behind the training. Before picking workouts, understand the systems they’re built on.
Video Deep Dives & External Perspectives
- A Coaching Legend’s Training Program – Lydiard Method — Full walkthrough of Lydiard’s four-phase periodization system: base, hills, track, and sharpening. Ideal companion to The Lydiard Effect.
- Norwegian Model Revisited – Marius Bakken — Marius Bakken’s account of the Norwegian double-threshold model’s origins, influences, and evolution. Historical context behind Norwegian Method High School Guide.
- Coaching Masterclass – Marius Bakken Double Threshold — Practical integration of lactate testing, muscle tone monitoring, and double-threshold session structure.
- My Coaching Framework – A Comprehensive Guide — Build-Maintain-Connect periodization model: a generalist coaching framework applicable across event groups.
- You Need to Run Slower – Guide to Easy Running — The case for easy running: common mistakes, how to pace properly, and what “easy” actually does physiologically.
- Non-Specific Lactate Work — Hill circuits and compound exercises as lactate-clearing work that doesn’t require a track. The “missing piece” in many programs.
- How to Build a Killer Base — Multifaceted base-building: aerobic volume, high-end aerobic work, and neuromuscular development as simultaneous goals.
- The Mileage Debate – Running Volume for Performance — Evidence-based breakdown of how much mileage actually matters for 5K, XC, and marathon performance.
Distance Training Framework
- High School Distance Running Training — Master hub for all distance training: the three pillars (aerobic foundation, threshold/economy, strength/durability), the six foundational coaching systems (Lydiard, Daniels, Vigil, Cerutty, Igloi, Canova), and a sample training week.
The Big Three Foundational Philosophies
These three coaches form the philosophical backbone of CoachSaltmarsh.com’s approach:
- Jack Daniels VDOT Training — Science-first approach. VDOT assigns each athlete a number that drives all training paces. Periodized phases (E, M, T, I, R) targeting specific energy systems.
- The Lydiard Effect — “Miles make champions.” The aerobic pyramid: base → hills → sharpening → peaking. Long-term development over short-term results.
- Joe Vigil Training Methods — High-volume, team-centered approach. Physiology is psychology. Periodization informed by both Lydiard and Daniels.
Zone 2 & Easy Running Science
- Zone 2 Training for High School Runners — The 80/20 principle and why the 4-year burnout crisis is a coaching failure. Mitochondrial biogenesis, metabolic flexibility, capillary density.
- Zone 2 vs Daniels Method — How “easy” is easy? Comparing heart-rate-based Zone 2 with Daniels’ Easy pace. When to use each.
- VDOT Paces vs Heart Rate Zones — Integrating pace-based and HR-based training. Practical hybrid approach for high school programs.
- Mileage Manifesto — The principles of progressive volume: why mileage matters, how to build it safely, and the mental benefits of consistent aerobic work.
Elite Coaching Methods Adapted for High School
- Norwegian Method High School Guide — Double-threshold adaptation for prep athletes. RPE-based intensity control. Not for beginners.
- Cerutty Training Method — Stotan philosophy: suffering as character formation, sand dune training, running as identity. The Percy Cerutty approach.
- Hobbs Kessler Training — Low-mileage, high-intensity alternative model. How world-class 1500m results can come from ~40 miles/week.
- Lessons on Middle Distance Training — Igloi’s lactate-clearance approach, varied-intensity training, and its application to 800m–1600m development.
- Beyond Tempo Runs – Kenyan Diagonals — Fartlek-style diagonals on grass fields as a natural, athlete-friendly alternative to structured tempo runs.
Individual Coach Studies
- Mike Scannell Coaching Philosophy — “Mechanic” philosophy. Athlete autonomy, collaborative coaching, data-driven feedback loops.
- Mike Scannell Grant Fisher Racing Tactics — The three-step move, OODA loop decision-making, tactical racing applied to high school competition.
- Lydiard Lacing — A simple but often overlooked Lydiard technique: lacing shoes to accommodate foot swelling during long-duration aerobic work.
Related MOCs
- MOC – Season Planning — How these philosophies get translated into macrocycles and mesocycles
- MOC – Workouts & Physical Training — The specific workouts that express these philosophies
- MOC – Athlete Development — How training philosophy shifts across the 4-year high school arc