In this back-to-basics episode, the hosts—Paul Warloski, Dr. Paul Laursen, and Marjaana Rakai—strip away the noise of elite training paradigms to focus on what truly moves the needle for everyday endurance athletes. They lay out the six foundational pillars of performance: movement, HIIT, strength training, nutrition, sleep, and mental health. With refreshingly real talk, the...

In Episode 77 of the Athletes Compass Podcast, hosts Paul Warloski, Marjaana Rakai, and Dr. Paul Laursen dive into listener questions about VO2 max training, with a focus on the nuances of interval sessions like 30-30s, 40-20s, and five-minute efforts. They explore the importance of pacing, individual adaptation, terrain selection, and recovery while emphasizing context-specific...

In this episode, the Athletes Compass team continues their deep dive into VO2 max, shifting the spotlight from the heart and lungs to the muscles, capillaries, and mitochondria. Dr. Paul Laursen breaks down how oxygen delivery is only part of the equation — your muscles must be primed to use that oxygen. They explore how...

In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, hosts Paul Laursen, Marjaana Rakai, and Paul Warloski explore how the heart functions as a major limiter of VO2 max and endurance performance. They break down the components of cardiac output, discuss genetic ceilings and the effects of aging on heart rate, and offer practical training strategies...

In this episode, Paul Laursen, Paul Warloski, and Marjaana Rakai tackle one of the least understood but critically important VO2 max limiters: the lungs. From the phenomenon of exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia (EIH) affecting 50% of elite athletes to practical methods for respiratory muscle training, the trio breaks down the science of lung function and its...

In this episode of the Athlete’s Compass, the team—Paul Warloski, Dr. Paul Laursen, and Marjaana Rakai—breaks down VO2 max: what it really means, why it’s relevant for every endurance athlete (not just the elites), and how it connects to performance, recovery, and long-term health. They explore how training, genetics, testing accuracy, and strength work all...

In this episode of the Athletes Compass podcast, Paul Warloski, Marjaana Rakai, and Dr. Paul Laursen tackle one of the most hotly debated topics in endurance sports: strength training. They break down why lifting heavy won’t make you bulky but will make you a more efficient, resilient, and injury-resistant athlete. With practical advice for beginners...

In this episode of The Athletes Compass, Paul Laursen, Marjaana Rakai, and Paul Warloski tackle the most overlooked but pivotal phase of race performance—race week. They break down everything from tapering and travel to gear choices, mindset shifts, and even the science of sleep. With personal stories, cautionary tales, and practical strategies, this episode is...

In Episode 70 of The Athletes Compass, hosts Paul Warloski, Dr. Paul Laursen, and Marjaana Rakai bust major endurance training myths with science-backed insights. From the ineffectiveness of sodium supplementation during exercise to the power of maintaining blood glucose over muscle glycogen, this episode is packed with paradigm-shifting ideas. They also explore fasted training, metabolic...

This episode of The Athletes Compass explores the role of heat training in endurance performance. Dr. Paul Laursen, Marjaana Rakai, and Paul Warloski discuss how controlled heat exposure leads to increased plasma volume, red blood cell production, and overall endurance gains—similar to the effects of altitude training. They also provide practical tips on integrating heat...