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2015 Chicago Marathon. Mile 13. Iām flyingāfeeling like I could run forever. Heart surgery, back surgery, barely able to stand a decade before, and here I am crushing it. Then I see the sign: NOT ALMOST THERE.
Everything changed. Heavy legs. Cramping. Mental breakdown. I barely finished what started as my best race ever.
That sign broke me, but it also built me. Southside Chicago kid who studied for 15 seconds between building cars on the assembly line. Graduated in 5 years. Built companies. Sold two. 800 employees. Young father at 20 who figured it out as I went.
Iāve spent 50+ episodes of Not Almost There interviewing experts, and now my cohost and I are diving deeper into the conversations that matter most. We dig into what it really takesāin business, branding, health, life. No fluff. Real talk about building something that matters while the clockās ticking.
Whether youāre running your first mile or your hundredth company, weāre here to help you go the distance.
Because almost there isnāt good enough.
Episodes
Monday May 17, 2021
Monday May 17, 2021
šāāļø Alex Hutchinson is an Author with a Masterās degree in journalism from Columbia University, a physicist with a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge. Aside from academia, he is also a professional athlete with credentials as a two-time finalist in the 1,500 meters at the Canadian Olympic Trials. Today he writes about the science of endurance for Runnerās World and Outside, while frequently contributing to little-known publications like the New York Times, The New Yorker, and Torontoās Globe and Mail. FiveThirtyEight recently named him one of their āfavorite running science geeksā and he was also one of only two reporters granted access to cover Breaking2 ā Nikeās top-secret training project to break the two-hour marathon barrier.Ā
āIN THIS EPISODEā¦ Joe and Alex break down the science behind VO2 max. Alex explains what it is, how to figure out your numbers, and what you should use this metric for. They also discuss fitness; what the optimal exercise frequency is, how to gain muscle back after you lose it, and the importance of strength training. Alex shares his favorite gadgets to help track your progress, and his most important tips you can start using today.
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š Breakdown withĀ Alex Hutchinson:
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Chapter 1 (0:00ā) Joe Re-Introduces Alex Hutchinson
Alex is the author of Endure, and publishes many articles in Runnerās world and Outside
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Chapter 2 (1:19) Breaking down VO2 max
Itās the volume of oxygen, the fastest rate at which you can take oxygen and give it to your muscles. Alex explains how this varies depending on your level of fitness and why this is important.
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Chapter 3 (ā6:32) VO2 Max and how you should apply it
Remember VO2 max is important to understand your physical well-being. Even if youāre not an athlete, improving your Vo2 max can potentially improve your overall health. Low levels of cardiovascular fitness correlate with an increased risk of heart disease.
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Chapter 4 (8:12) How to improve your VO2 Max
You can increase your Vo2 max in two ways: by increasing the amount of blood your heart can pump and by increasing how much oxygen your muscles can take up.Ā
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Chapter 5 (21:09) Going back, what would you do differently
Alex looks back on his career and thinks about what he might change or do differently. The purest answer is no. Alex explains that although he knows so much more now about the physiological side of training, he feels proud of the way he handled his career.
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Chapter 6 (24:12) Minimal amount of exercise to get maximum results
30 minutes of moderate exercise 5 days a week is what is advised. Although, even 10 minutes moves the needle.
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Chapter 7 (29:37) Losing muscle quickly when you stop exercising
If you are sitting all day or not moving at all, you lose muscle extremely quickly. Scary if you are sitting at a desk all day. The good news is that it is easier to regain that muscle, and Alex explains why.
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Chapter 8 (ā35:56) Gadgets or methods that help your training
The most important method is focusing on your mental strength. The extras are just not proven to be any more effective than your own training routine.
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Chapter 9 (40:05) Nike Vapor Fly
Alex was one of 2 journalists to be able to report on the Nike Vapor Fly, and almost breaking the world record. Nothing in the shoe was new, but it was just the perfect combination to create faster run times.
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Chapter 10 (54:46) Joe wraps up Part 2
Joe closes the episode by asking if Alex would expand the book, what would the new chapters be.
Material Referenced in this interview:
āEndure by Alex Hutchinson
āThe Genius of Athletes by Noel Brick and Scott Douglas
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š Connect with Alex Hutchinson
āhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/alexhutchinson
āhttps://www.facebook.com/sweatscience
āhttps://www.instagram.com/sweat_science/
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š To learn more about Not Almost There by visiting this linkĀ
ā Not Almost There http://notalmostthere.com/ā
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Connect with Joe on social here:
āInstagram https://www.instagram.com/joe_chura/ā
āFacebook https://www.facebook.com/notalmostthere/ā
āTwitter http://twitter.com/joechura
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