Learn How Sweat Testing and Multisport Training Led to Success for a Fast Runner Moving to Ultra-Distance Races
This is a story of how adapting to the Purple Patch methodology, and how paying attention to your bodies natural abilities in order to provide it the appropriate fuel can help take your performance to a new level.
The Athlete:
Mike Olzinski is a Purple Patch Coach who had established himself as a competitive runner in shorter, faster endurance races. The one mile, 5k, and 10k were his primary distances. Mike is also a well-rounded athlete in general as the lead strength-focused coach at Purple Patch.
After years of running shorter events, Mike decided he was ready for the challenge of long-distance racing. He had the passion, a great endurance base, and a strong athletic background, which would lead one to think that he was primed for success. But, instead, what Mike ran into was a litany of issues that hampered his long-distance performances.
The Challenge:
Being an experienced racer, endurance coach, and a top-notch all-around athlete, it was strange to see Mike in this situation. Mike was experiencing cramps, systemic shutdown, and loss of form. After a brief diagnosis, the issues became evident.
We found:
Muscle Fatigue On Race Day: Mike arrived at race day with muscular fatigue from hard training, which wouldn’t allow his legs to carry him through the event’s distance.
Loss Of Form: We identified a loss of postural integrity and form-retention as being a limiter. Mike needed more strength work (as our lead strength coach, no less), particularly stabilizers and prime mover muscles.
Systemic Shut Down: Mike's case was unique because it was clear his issues were beyond just form loss. His body was legitimately shutting down. It undoubtedly was related to something around hydration, fueling, or electrolytes.
Mike could’ve easily stepped away after some difficult experiences but instead was up to the challenge of solving the issue.
Mike had the background in athletics and a routine and process he was comfortable with for training. So, Mike had to evolve his ingrained personal approach, which is never an easy task. However, Mike was willing to take on the challenges based on his bad race experiences.
The Solution:
Mike and the Purple Patch Team decided to train for a 50km trail running event with an evolved approach steeped in the Purple Patch methodology.
Embrace Multisport Training: For the first time, Mike decided to train for running via multisport training. He ran plenty still with a mix of intervals and hills and increased the ‘soul filling’ very low-intensity running sessions. He also replaced some of the normal big weekly running miles with training on the bike. Leaning into the mountain bike and road bike, Mike developed resilience in the hills north of San Francisco and even replaced some running intervals with very strong intervals on the bike.
Dive into Strength: Mike was coaching strength for athletes but not committed to complete integration of strength training for himself that synchronized with his preparation for the 50km. This time he decided to go all in. The result was a further reduction in weekly running mileage, with a 100% commitment to strength throughout the program.
Sweat Testing: The final piece of the puzzle was an information-grabbing exercise. Mike went through advanced sweat testing (from Precision Hydration) at the Purple Patch Center in San Francisco. From this assessment, we would learn about his sweat rates and sodium loss and be equipped to build a custom hydration and fueling approach to training and racing
The Results:
The results of implementing our solutions were staggering.
Mike started running faster and faster. He turned into an ever-vibrant ‘energizer bunny’ with a rhythm of consistency in training, never digging a deep hole of fatigue. Mike found he loved the mix-up of training rhythm from the multisport approach, always finding fun and challenges in training.
One of the most significant findings was from the sweat testing. Mike discovered he is a really salty sweater; he sweats a lot and was not fueling near enough to support his fitness and run performance level. It’s a fantastic lesson to think that someone who had been an athlete, and an accomplished runner, had not run into this issue before. Mike recorded one of the highest electrolyte concentrations ever tested via Precision Hydration, losing almost 2000mg of sodium per hour in normal conditions. He was shedding electrolytes at a fantastic rate. Adding this to his high sweat rate, he had a significant hydration challenge. Mike began practicing a pre-hydration routine the night prior and morning of key sessions and races. He began to consume more fluids, all of which included an electrolyte solution that would turn most of our body fluids into the dead sea: no more cramps, no more GI distress, no shutdown.
Mike ran a hilly 50km in 5 hours for an overall placement that he likely would not have finished just months prior. Yet, shockingly, and against my better judgment, he punched out a sub-one-mile time trial in 4 minutes and 59 seconds the next day.
Utilizing the Purple Patch training methodology, Mike overcame his unique challenges and is a shining example of stepping back and looking outside the training box for creative solutions.