media
trail magazine
Lockdown Gains
Coach Rebecca wrote an article on the benefits that athletes can reap from lockdown. She discussed the benefit of having some time off from racing as it allows for: consistent training block that nee no interruption due to races, time to focus on the often-neglected strength and rehab routines, & time for the ‘fire in the belly’ – the motivation to perform – to grow. She also wrote about the science behind high-intensity interval training, and the mental resilience associated with maintaining exercise routines while on lockdown. The next low patch you hit in a race, you will think back on these times and consider that pulling yourself to the finish line of a challenging endurance race in a beautiful mountain setting is a walk in the park compared to exercise in lockdown.
the training peaks coach blog
A New Approach to the 10 Percent Rule
Coach Rebecca is a contributor to the Training Peaks Coach Blog. In an article that was published in August 2020, Rebecca wrote about the origins of the 10 percent rule in training & how it shouldn’t be applied to all athletes. In a research study she conducted while doing the Ph.D. at the University of Cape Town, she found a group of well-trained recreational runners increased their weekly training load by approximately 25% successfully. However, this increase was only maintained for a period of 1-2 weeks before decreasing the training load.
the training peaks coach blog
How Accurate is Your GPS Watch?
Coach Rebecca is a contributor to the Training Peaks Blog. In an article published in July 2020, Rebecca wrote about results from a study on GPS accuracy that she completed while doing her Ph.D. at the University of Cape Town. Overall, the GPS accuracy in measuring distance was good. This means that coaches, athletes, and sports scientists can use GPS watches to track training load and measure performances. However, there were some differences between brands. Accuracy was also impacted by factors such as turns, tree cover, and mountains.
the training peaks coach blog
The Relationship Between Training Load and Performance: It's Complicated
Coach Rebecca is a contributor to the Training Peaks Blog. In an article published in June 2020, Rebecca reviewed two studies from her Ph.D. data that highlight the complexity between training and running performance. Performance is multi-factorial, and it is important to consider training, work stress, family commitments, sleep, and nutrition when considering possible reasons for improvements or declines in performance.