Overtrained vs Undertrained - Which One Actually Wins on Race Day?

The 1% Better Runner | DLake & Friends

The most successful athletes aren't the ones who train the hardest; they're the ones who know exactly how much they can handle without breaking.

What if you’ve been doing it all wrong—pushing too hard or not hard enough—without even realizing it? In this episode, I unpack the real difference between being slightly overtrained versus slightly undertrained and why that small distinction could make or break your next race. You’ll learn how life, stress, and even altitude play into your training choices, and more importantly, how to listen to your body before it’s too late. Whether you're juggling a busy schedule, prepping for your first marathon, or trying to maintain your edge without burning out, this episode gives you the insight to adjust, recover smarter, and stay in the game longer.

Key Takeaways

1. Going into a race slightly undertrained is often safer than going in overtrained. It helps you avoid injury, recover faster, and stay consistent in your training long term.
2. Being a runner is about more than just workouts. It’s about finding balance—physically, mentally, and emotionally—so your running fits into your life, not takes over it.
3. Failing is part of the process. Whether it's messing up race nutrition or overdoing mileage, each misstep is a chance to learn, adjust, and come back stronger.

Timestamps

• [00:00] What Would You Rather: Be Slightly Overtrained or Undertrained For a Race?
• [00:25] Come Have a Convo In Zone 2 With Us
• [01:02] Why Overtraining Is Best For Racing
• [03:08] Why Undertraining Is Best For Racing
• [05:43] What's Keeping Us Healthy, Creative & Wise?
• [06:29] What's Keeping Remy Healthy?
• [07:43] What's Keeping Daren Healthy?
• [10:51] Use This To Get 1% Better Every Day In Your Run Life
• [11:40] What's Keeping Daren Creative?
• [15:14] What's Keeping Remy Creative?
• [17:20] What's Keeping Daren Wise?
• [21:43] What's Keeping Remy Wise?

Links & Learnings

• 📈 Get your free 30 Day Base Training & Habits guide here - https://dlakecreates.com/basefree
• 🎧 Listen & read more here - https://dlakecreates.com/overundertrained
• Learn more about my sub 3 hour marathon adventure - https://dlakecreates.com/marathonzone2
• Other This or That Episodes - https://dlakecreates.com/tot
• Daren on Instagram - https://instagram.com/dlakecreates
• Daren on Strava - https://www.strava.com/athletes/120507

---

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.