Simplicity Always Wins…
I’ve linked to Dr. David Lipman’s work before, and his latest piece, “Earning the Right,” might be his best yet.
The short version:
We’re deep into a third running boom—and a lot of runners, especially newer ones, are doing too much, too soon. Social media hype, ego, and racing FOMO are driving people to skip the basics. But real progress comes from mastering fundamentals, being smart about your load, and—as Lipman puts it—“earning the right” to level up.
“Simple never sells, and as such complexity is often what is used in the attention industry... If you use advanced methods too early, you rob yourself twice; once via not using the basics and the second time when you start to plateau with the advanced methods.”
— Dr. David Lipman
As I texted David after reading it:
“The problems you describe are a big reason I have (and will continue to have) a job.”
📉 When “Longer is Better” Starts to Backfire
I’ve coached plenty of athletes who didn’t come from a traditional endurance sport background. Many got into sport by signing up for an event to chase a big challenge—and got hooked. But over time, I often see:
Plateaued performance
Recurring overuse injuries
Burnout masked as motivation
In these cases, one of my first recommendations is this:
👉 Dial it back. Train shorter. Train smarter. Get faster.
⚡ Why Focusing on Speed (and Fundamentals) Works
Here’s what happens when athletes shift focus to speed and foundational strength:
They realize shorter training isn’t easier—it’s just a different kind of hard.
They unlock speed they didn’t know they had, because they’d never trained for it.
They raise their performance ceiling, gaining new gears they can tap when they return to the long stuff.
🎯 The Bottom Line
Mastering the fundamentals isn’t flashy. It’s not the stuff of epic Strava uploads or race photos. But it’s what builds durable, high-performing athletes.
If you skip steps, it’ll take you twice as long to get where you want to go.
There are no shortcuts—only earned rights.
💬 One Last Thing
This quick post from Seth Godin on managing expectations reminds me of a line from the Gin Blossoms’ 1992 hit "Hey Jealousy":
“And if you don't expect too much from me, you might not be let down.”