#32: Training Masters Athletes

Oct 14, 2019

<p>Most masters athletes have some understanding that they may need to train a bit differently than their 24-year old peers. But, what exactly should they do differently? And what about masters athletes who haven’t really done serious training before? In this episode, we dive into how masters athletes should prioritize their training programs - and discuss the importance of having clear priorities and being willing to put some things on “maintenance.” We also explain why people underrate the ability of masters athletes to acquire new skills - and the mistake that most athletes make when trying to refine or develop their skills.</p>
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<p><b>Show Notes:</b>
<ul>
<li>[0:12] Understanding the difference between “biological age” and “training age” &#8211; and how the difference between those can dictate how much volume and intensity a masters athlete should have in their training.</li>
<li>[4:40] Athletes with higher “training age” (more experience in the gym) as well as higher “biological age” will adapt more slowly to training. Athletes with high biological age but low training age can still experience “newbie gains” and get better quite quickly.</li>
<li>[9:05] Masters athletes often have much more stress and responsibility outside of the gym &#8211; in addition to a slower rate of adaptation. Because of this, masters athletes need to be clearer in their training priorities, whereas younger athletes can often work on everything at once.</li>
<li>[15:17] Don’t fast track introducing higher volume and higher intensity training programs for masters athletes. And &#8211; how to retrain faulty movement patterns that have been ingrained through potentially decades of compensatory movement.</li>
<li>[23:20] Jon’s magical thinking detour into using visualization and PVC pipes to replace heavy squatting sessions.</li>
<li>[27:42] Masters athletes can still acquire skills through deliberate practice and technique work &#8211; often at a similar rate to younger athletes. However, very few people have the “skill of acquiring skills,” and masters athletes often have less unstructured time in their schedules to engage in the practice and play necessary for skill development.</li>
</ul></p>