How to Train for Endurance After 50 with Dr. Reaburn

How to Train for Endurance After 50 with Dr. Reaburn

From The Athlete's Compass by Athletica

April 23, 2026 · 57 min · Episode 125

About this episode

Dr. Peter Reaburn shares insights on how endurance athletes over 50 can train effectively and maintain performance as they age.

In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, Dr. Peter Reaburn shares practical and science-backed guidance for endurance athletes who want to stay healthy, strong, and competitive well into older age. Drawing from both decades of research and his own experience as a masters athlete, Reaburn explains why strength training becomes increasingly important with age, how muscle mass and power underpin endurance performance, why perceived recovery often feels harder for older athletes, and how flexibility, sleep, protein intake, and smarter intensity distribution all play major roles in longevity. The conversation also explores how athletes can adapt psychologically to changing performance, reduce risk as they age, and continue training with purpose by listening to their bodies and using science wisely Key takeaways Strength training should be a priority for aging endurance athletes, especially to preserve muscle mass and offset sarcopenia. Older athletes benefit from periodizing training so that strength and hypertrophy are emphasized farther from competition, with endurance-specific work increasing closer to the goal event. Zone 1 and Zone 2 work remain foundational, but…

People in this episode

Host: Athletica

Guest: Dr. Peter Reaburn

Topics covered

  • endurance training
  • aging athletes
  • strength training
  • muscle mass
  • recovery
  • psychological adaptation

Keywords

  • endurance
  • strength training
  • older athletes
  • muscle mass
  • recovery
  • flexibility
  • protein intake
  • training intensity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Athletica

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