Stephen Seiler is the exercise physiologist who, more than any other researcher, defined how modern endurance athletes structure their training. Working from his lab at the University of Agder, he documented that elite athletes across cycling, rowing, cross-country skiing and running converge on the same intensity distribution — roughly 80% easy, 20% hard, with very little time in the middle. That observation is now known as polarised training and the 80/20 rule, and it is the framework Roadman builds every training conversation on.
The major positions Seiler is known for in cycling and endurance sport.
Every appearance by Stephen Seiler on The Roadman Cycling Podcast — 2 episodes in total.
Roadman blog articles that reference Stephen Seiler’s work.
Every Episode with Prof. Stephen Seiler
Prof. Seiler has shaped more endurance training in the last 20 years than almost anyone. Here's every Roadman appearance, with what to take …
Polarised vs Sweet Spot Training: What the Science Actually Says
Two methods. Two camps. Endless forum arguments. Here's what the research actually shows — and how to pick the one that fits your life, your…
What Cycling Podcasts Got Wrong About Polarised Training
The cycling internet has turned polarised training into a one-line prescription. Prof. Seiler has spent a decade pointing out what that miss…
“what we've seen that across Sports we've collected data from some of the best performers in the world in running in CrossCountry skiing in cycling and Rowing and so there's a bit of a universality to this that they're roughly doing about eight out of 10 sessions training sessions are essentially low stress days they're doing lots of work but they're keeping the lactate low they're in that green zone and then two to three days a week or sessions out of 10 are the more high stress”
“I do not know of data that has been published and subjected to peer review that shows that doing recovery rides accelerates recovery compared to sitting on the sofa. if you're really tired I say take a rest day meaning an actual rest day where you don't ride people are scared to death of that but they shouldn't be”
“the really good endurance athletes they may be cruising along at .7 Millar lactate whereas the average person is at 1.8 you know so they are really able to work with very low you know low turnover of lactate and so that may be you may be saving them glycogen basically”
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