NDURANZ Podcast

Everyone knows what Zone 2 is. Or do we?
In this episode of the Nduranz Podcast, Alex Rhodes and Dr. Tim Podlogar are joined by Aitor Altuna, cyclist and PhD researcher at the University of Exeter, to make sense of training zones and what they actually mean in practice.
They discuss why Zone 2 can mean different things depending on the model you use, the difference between polarized and pyramidal training, why perceived effort still matters even when you have power, pace or heart rate data, and how nutrition should support the purpose of each session.
You’ll also hear why making every workout harder isn’t necessarily better, how low-intensity training helps you accumulate more sustainable training load, and what amateur athletes commonly get wrong when structuring their week.

Lactate has long been blamed for muscle burn, fatigue, and declining performance. Now, some athletes are consuming it as a potential fuel source. Alex and Dr Tim Podlogar break down what lactate actually does in the body, why it is not simply a waste product, and whether the latest performance claims are supported by science. They also explore the potential problems with lactate supplementation, from gastrointestinal issues to questionable benefits when carbohydrate intake is already high.

Alex and Dr. Tim Podlogar break down what really happens when you race in the heat, why performance can drop so quickly, and how to prepare before temperatures become a problem. From heat acclimation and smarter pacing to hydration, carbohydrate intake, and caffeine, they explain the key mistakes athletes make in hot conditions and how to adjust your strategy so you can keep performing when the temperature rises.

In this episode of the NDURANZ Podcast, Alex and Dr. Tim Podlogar break down the fueling behind the sub-2 marathon, looking at how much carbohydrate the top athletes reportedly used and whether 70g, 100g, or even 120g of carbs per hour can make a real difference.
They also explain why marathon fueling starts before race day, how carb loading and low-fiber eating can help, and what everyday runners can learn from elite marathoners without blindly copying them.

As AI becomes more common in training and nutrition platforms, we decided to put it to the test. In this episode, we compare AI-generated answers with real sports nutrition practice, looking at questions around race fueling, coffee rides, and cramp prevention. Some of the advice is reasonable, but much of it lacks the context, nuance, and practical detail needed to make it truly useful for endurance athletes.