ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to real-life example of how a runner, at the start of their performance pathway, was carefully developed to reach their personal running goals. Physiological testing data are provided for the athlete in the case study. To facilitate a short-term peak in performance, the volume of training reduced slightly in the 2 weeks prior to the championships and intensity was maintained. Although science heavily informs the principles of training and recovery interventions, individual runners can respond differently to the same training programme for a multitude of reasons. Sport science has provided enormous insight over the last few decades into how best to prepare athletes for competition. Although the latest scientific research can provide a platform that guides and informs coaching practices, in the chaos and unpredictability of an athlete’s everyday life, the results of well-controlled scientific experiments can have limited applicability.
