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    Tread Lightly Running Podcast

    Tread Lightly Running Podcast

    About

    The Tread Lightly Running Podcast provides data-driven, evidence-based running advice in a practical, accessible, and inclusive manner. . You'll learn about how to run faster, marathon training, the latest fueling science, how to prevent running injury, and more. Tread Lightly Running Podcast is co-hosted by Amanda Brooks and Laura Norris, MSc. Together, they have over 20 years of coaching experience and have helped thousands of runners reach their goals through 1:1 coaching and group training. They've appeared in Runner's World, SELF, NPR, Outside, and other major media.

    Hosted By

    Amanda Brooks and Laura Norris

    Base Building Blueprint To Set Yourself Up for a Year of Running Success

    Base Building Blueprint To Set Yourself Up for a Year of Running Success

    January 3, 2026
    35m

    Base building is not very exciting – but it is highly effective, whether your goal is to run a faster marathon or 5K. While often conflated with an off-season, a base building phase is a distinct and crucial training phase. This phase of lots of easy miles develops both aerobic fitness and tissue tolerance, so that you can later build race-specific fitness with lower risk of injury and greater adaptations overall. In this episode, we discuss the adaptations of base building, how to structure a base building phase, and more!

    ✨Join us on Patreon.com/treadlightlyrunning or subscribe on Apple Podcasts starting in December, when we’ll be releasing special subscriber-only content!


    In this episode, you’ll learn:

    ✅ What is base building and why is it beneficial?

    ✅ Is base building solely easy running?

    ✅ How long should a base building last?

    ✅ Sample workouts for a base building phase

    ✅ The role of long runs during a base build

    ✅ How often should you run during a base building phase?

    References:

    🔬 PMID: 40913707

    🔬 PMID: 40878015

    Tread Lightly Running is hosted and researched by Amanda Brooks and Laura Norris, MSc. Production, show notes, and graphics by Laura Norris.

    Let’s stay connected:

    ➡️ Tread Lightly Running Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treadlightlyrunning/

    ➡️ Laura Norris Running on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauranorrisrunning/

    ➡️ Subscribe for weekly evidence-based newsletters, straight to your inbox, on https://lauranorrisrunning.substack.com/

    ➡️ Run to the Finish on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runtothefinish/?hl=en

    ➡️ Thousands of running gear reviews and training guides: https://runtothefinish.com/

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