
302. Polarization vs. Pyramid Marathon Training
From Marathon Running Podcast by Marathon Journal by Marathon Journal (Letty Lundquist, Ryan Lundquist)
February 23, 2026 · 28 min · Season 6 · Episode 302
About this episode
This episode discusses the differences between polarized and pyramidal marathon training with performance coach Arj Thiruchelvam.
In this episode of the Marathon Running Podcast , updates and expert insights to keep you informed on the latest in running and competitive sports. We sit down with Arj Thiruchelvam , performance coach at Performance Physique , to discuss a brand-new study from Nature Scientific Reports that used machine learning to compare polarized and pyramidal training. We ask Arj why some runners thrive on threshold work while others need to "polarize" to see progress. Arj breaks down the 30% performance gap found in the study and explains how your training age determines your ideal intensity mix. Why You Should Listen: You will learn the difference between polarized and pyramidal distributions and how to use machine learning insights to personalize your own marathon training plan for maximum speed. Our guest this episode: Arj Thiruchelvam — performancephysique.co.uk Connect with Us: Our website: https://www.marathonjournal.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@marathonjournal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runningpodcast Follow us on Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/30798607
People in this episode
Hosts: Letty Lundquist, Ryan Lundquist
Guest: Arj Thiruchelvam
Topics covered
- polarized training
- pyramidal training
- machine learning
- marathon training
- performance coaching
Keywords
- marathon training
- polarization
- pyramid training
- performance gap
- training age
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Performance Physique, Nature Scientific Reports
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