Zone 1 is where the magic happens

About this episode

Joel Filliol discusses the importance of Zone 1 training for long-term athletic performance and common training errors.

Slowing Down to Go Faster: In this episode of The Real Coaching Podcast, Joel Filliol, an international triathlon coach, delves into the significance of Zone 1 training. Contrasting the popular high-intensity training methods, Joel argues that consistent, low-intensity work over time is crucial for long-term athletic performance and talent development. He discusses the common training errors, particularly the tendency to perform low-intensity work too fast, and emphasizes the importance of managing intensity to allow for a greater accumulation of volume. Joel also explores the misconceptions surrounding Zone 2 training and provides insights into appropriate training intensities using a five or six-zone model. This podcast serves as an extended version of an article on the Real Coaching Substack, offering valuable advice for athletes and coaches alike. 00:00 Introduction to the Real Coaching Podcast 00:08 The Importance of Zone One Training 02:11 Common Training Errors 02:42 Understanding Zone Two Training 03:24 Intensity Management for Long-Term Success 06:02 The Role of RPE in Training 07:47 The Impact of Popular Athletes on Training Trends 0:17 The Debate on Training…

People in this episode

Host: Joel Filliol

Topics covered

• Zone 1 training
• low-intensity work
• athletic performance
• training errors
• intensity management
• Zone 2 misconceptions
• coaching insights

Keywords

• Zone 1
• training intensity
• athletic development
• low-intensity training
• training errors
• RPE
• Zone 2
• coaching advice

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Real Coaching, Substack, youtube, Instagram, facebook, LinkedIn

More episodes of Real Coaching Podcast

• The Top 20 Rules for Faster Triathlon Swimming · March 10, 2026 · 45 min
• Risk and Reward · March 3, 2026 · 41 min
• Progression: A powerful training heuristic · February 2, 2026 · 46 min
• Don't be a January Champion · January 26, 2026 · 23 min
• Championship Reflections in Triathlon · January 9, 2026 · 43 min
• Optimising Bike Fitting and Aerodynamics with Matt Bottrill · May 13, 2025 · 1h 35m