The Dangerous Level of Marathon Running No One Talks About

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The 1% Better Runner with DLake

Daren DLake

212 episodes

22 hours ago

This is a podcast about how runners can live better lives through consistent self-improvement.

Unlike other running brands, The 1% Better Runner focuses on how small, daily habit improvements ripple into broader life success, helping runners perform better both on and off the road, track, or dirt.

I’m Daren DLake: Certified running and nutrition coach, Sub-3-hour marathoner and 10-hour Ironman finisher.

Since 1996, I’ve been helping other self-coached runners, researching, and experimenting on how to better myself 1% each day.

A few times a week, I’ll drop how I’m tweaking my training, sticking to habits when life’s messy, and cool stuff from coaches and health pros. It’s a no-BS cheat sheet for building better habits—not just for running, but for work, relationships, and personal growth too.

Join thousands of other committed runners listening to the most exciting run and endurance sports content on the internet and get more tactics and strategies in your inbox each week.

Bonus - Get my free 30-day base and habits training plan when you sign up for the free newsletter here.

PS - Podcasting is very "1-way," so let's fix that. Hit us up if you have any feedback, want to collaborate, or just wanna tell me about your training. On Instagram @dlakecreates or talk@dlakecreates.com

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

All content for The 1% Better Runner with DLake is the property of Daren DLake and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

This is a podcast about how runners can live better lives through consistent self-improvement.

Unlike other running brands, The 1% Better Runner focuses on how small, daily habit improvements ripple into broader life success, helping runners perform better both on and off the road, track, or dirt.

I’m Daren DLake: Certified running and nutrition coach, Sub-3-hour marathoner and 10-hour Ironman finisher.

Since 1996, I’ve been helping other self-coached runners, researching, and experimenting on how to better myself 1% each day.

A few times a week, I’ll drop how I’m tweaking my training, sticking to habits when life’s messy, and cool stuff from coaches and health pros. It’s a no-BS cheat sheet for building better habits—not just for running, but for work, relationships, and personal growth too.

Join thousands of other committed runners listening to the most exciting run and endurance sports content on the internet and get more tactics and strategies in your inbox each week.

Bonus - Get my free 30-day base and habits training plan when you sign up for the free newsletter here.

PS - Podcasting is very "1-way," so let's fix that. Hit us up if you have any feedback, want to collaborate, or just wanna tell me about your training. On Instagram @dlakecreates or talk@dlakecreates.com

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

The Dangerous Level of Marathon Running No One Talks About

The 1% Better Runner with DLake

12 minutes 3 seconds

1 month ago

The Dangerous Level of Marathon Running No One Talks About

Most runners aren’t stuck because of fitness… they’re stuck because they keep repeating the same mistakes.

Every marathoner is somewhere on the five-level spectrum—and most don’t even realize they’re training themselves into a trap.

In this episode, I break down the stages every runner moves through, the exact moments the transitions happen, and why some levels lead to growth while others quietly wreck your performance, mindset, and enjoyment. You’ll learn how to recognize where you are right now, avoid the psychological and physical pitfalls that derail so many runners, and dial in the approach that keeps you improving without burning out.

Key Takeaways

Every marathoner moves through predictable levels, and most get stuck because they repeat the same habits without changing anything.
Chasing times too aggressively turns smart training into obsession, which often leads to injury, burnout, and frustration.
The best progress happens when you stay curious, train with intention, and avoid letting your self-worth depend on one race result.

Timestamps

- [00:00:20:14] What You'll Learn
- [00:01:02:26] LEVEL 1: THE BUCKET-LISTER
- [00:02:08:15] Use This To Run a Smarter Marathon
- [00:02:51:27] Level 2 – The Repeater
- [00:05:02:12] Do This Easy Thing To Help Another Runner
- [00:05:17:00] Level 3: The Student
- [00:07:24:14] LEVEL 4: THE QUALIFIER
- [00:09:36:13] LEVEL 5: THE ZEN PSYCHOPATH
- [00:10:45:04] What Level Should You Really Be On?
- [00:11:43:25] Do This Before You Run Your Marathon

Links & Learnings

📈 Get your free run far and long easier base training plan https://dlakecreates.com/basefree
🎧 Listen, read and learn more here https://dlakecreates.com/marathonlevels
Learn how to hydrate for races like NASA astronauts - https://dlakecreates.com/smart-hydration-runners/
Learn why and how I ran a half-marathon 1% better for 10 years so you can do it too - https://dlakecreates.com/half2024
Instagram – https://instagram.com/dlakecreates
Strava – https://www.strava.com/athletes/120507

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