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The Training Blog

s5e27 (RE-RUN) Your Hybrid Training Crash Course with Dr. Alyssa Olenick, PhD (@doclyssfitness) | The Running Explained Podcast

  • Aug 14
  • 3 min read

This week we are diving into HYBRID TRAINING for endurance runners with exercise physiologist and hybrid athlete Dr. Alyssa Olenick (@doclyssfitness)! Hybrid training isn't just about picking between strength or endurance – it's about embracing BOTH for both health and performance goals. Dr. Olenick breaks down the interference effect, explains the shifting application of training intensity, and goes through hybrid training in the off-season all the way through your pre-race taper PLUS many more insights and educational tidbits along the way!




What You'll Learn:

  • What hybrid (or concurrent) training is and how it blends strength and endurance for optimal fitness.

  • How to manage the "interference effect" and fatigue when training for multiple goals.

  • Why strength training is essential for runners for both performance and injury prevention.

  • How to approach fitness with curiosity, NOT perfection.

  • The importance of seasonal training and post-race recovery for long-term health and performance.

  • Why group fitness classes can support your goals but shouldn’t replace focused strength or endurance work.


Sound Bites:

  • “When we think about hybrid training at its core, it's people who are trying to maximize their strength or some component of strength with some component of endurance to seemingly opposing characteristics and maximizing their fitness in both at the same time." 

  • "Yes, run hills, it will make you a stronger runner...But it's not going to be the same as the stimulus that we talk about going back to those muscles here, right? Just like lifting with a high heart rate isn't cardio because you're still stimulating that one pathway."

  • "Runners want to hear that they want to hear they don't have to strength train because they hate strength training. But sometimes we have to be the adult who say okay, but this is good for me, and I should do it."

  • "My thing with all things fitness, running, lifting, just general human fitness is the thing that you hate and suck at is the thing you need to do. Your weaknesses are weaknesses for a reason. And the more you ignore them, and the more you neglect them, the bigger of a problem they will be eventually down the line."

  • "That's my biggest thing with beginner lifters: don't worry about doing anything perfect. Get comfortable and confident... Lead with curiosity and humble your ego."

  • "I'm not anti -group fitness just because I think from a population level it is great. But if you do have specific running goals...it's better than nothing, but it's not specific enough."


Chapters:

  • 00:00 Introducing Dr. Alyssa Olenick, PhD in Exercise Physiology

  • 02:53 What is Hybrid Training?

  • 10:24 Concurrent Training & the Interference Effect

  • 20:30 Determining Your Training Tolerance

  • 30:36 Are Hills the Same as Lifting?

  • 38:29 Discomfort in Trying New Things

  • 46:48 How Fitness Classes Can Fit Into Your Training

  • 51:34 Lifting In-Season vs Out of Season

  • 01:00:07 Losing Fitness or Post-Race Fatigue?

  • 01:10:32 Underestimating Long-Term Accomplishments

  • 01:17:10 Setting Realistic, Long-Term Goals

  • 01:23:38 Enjoying the Training Process


About Alyssa:

Dr. Alyssa Olenick is an Exercise Physiologist, sports nutritionist, weight lifter, and ultra runner. She is known for her high energy and sassy approach to bringing science to your training in a no-nonsense way. Alyssa has helped thousands of women crush big lifting goals, cross race finish lines, or even do both.

Instagram: @doclyssfitness

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About Your Host

Elisabeth Scott is a running coach, educator, and the founder of Running Explained, where she helps runners train smarter, run stronger, and enjoy the process. After getting sober at 29, she laced up her running shoes with the goal of finishing a 5K—and never looked back. Since then, she’s gone on to complete multiple races, including marathons with a Boston Qualifying time, all while deepening her expertise in endurance training.


With a science-based approach, Coach Elisabeth is passionate about making complex running concepts accessible and actionable for runners of all levels. Her coaching philosophy centers on building a strong aerobic base, improving running efficiency, and developing a whole-human approach to training that prioritizes consistency, injury prevention, and sustainable progress.


Through Running Explained, Elisabeth offers training plans, online courses, and 1:1 coaching designed to help runners achieve their goals while avoiding the common pitfalls of overtraining, under-fueling, and burnout. Whether you’re training for your first half marathon or chasing a new PR, her guidance will help you train smarter, race stronger, and love the journey.

📲 Learn more at ⁠RunningExplained.com⁠

📢 Follow on Instagram: ⁠@runningexplained

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