Base Phase Training: Building Your Aerobic Foundation
The base phase is where champions are made, even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time. While other athletes are posting impressive interval sessions on Strava, you’re grinding through long, steady miles at what feels like a frustratingly easy pace. But here’s the truth: skip or shortcut your base phase, and you’ll pay for it later when it matters most. What Is Base Phase Training? Base phase is the foundation period of your training cycle, typically lasting 8-12 weeks. During this time, you’re primarily working in Zone 1 and Zone 2—that conversational pace where you could hold a discussion without gasping for air. For many athletes, especially those coming from running backgrounds, this feels painfully slow. That’s exactly the point. ...