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DB Performance Running Podcast

Dylan Belles

Hi, I'm Coach Dylan Belles! Over the past decade, I've trained with and learned from some of the best athletes in the world. Now, I’m sharing those experiences—both as a runner and a coach—with you. This podcast sheds light on training, racing, and the insights I’ve gained along the way. Whether you're one of my current athletes or just curious to learn ways you can train better (or perhaps differently), I invite you to join in and enjoy the ramblings!

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 38 min
  • English

Episodes 20

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  • July 9 · 39 min

    Use Hills to Get Stronger This Summer

    If you're prepping for a Fall racing season and looking to make a significant splash in performance, I think that starts with getting stronger this summer. And there's no better way to do that than by mixing in hilly runs and hill workouts into the training week. In today's episode, I'll share with you not only why you should add hills, but how to add them effectively so that you put yourself in the best position to be race-ready come fall.

  • May 27 · 47 min

    Bayshore Marathon Recap

    Hello! On May 23rd, 2026, I ran the Bayshore Marathon in 2:18:24, finishing second overall. In this episode, I provide a full breakdown of my training block, the days leading up to the race, the race itself, and my thoughts, intentions, and goals for the rest of 2026.

  • May 15 · 16 min

    3 Mental Strategies for When Racing Gets Hard

    You know this feeling. You're mid-race, pushing hard, and then that voice shows up - " this hurts," "just slow down," "you should quit."Here's the thing: that voice isn't a sign of weakness. It's your brain doing exactly what it's designed to do. And once you understand what's actually happening, you can stop letting it cost you races.In this video, I break down:- Why your brain sends the "quit" signal during hard efforts- The exact moment most runners lose the mental battle (and how to catch it)- Three tactics you can use mid-race to push through when everything in you wants to stop- The pre-race decision that changes everythingThis isn't about being tougher or grinding through on willpower. It's about understanding how your mind works - and training it the same way you train your body.

  • May 11 · 21 min

    A Smarter Way to Run VO₂max Intervals?

    I break down a different way to structure intervals that (according to the cited research) led to ~70% more time at VO₂max - without making the workout feel any harder or having to put in double time to achieve it!I’ll go through: where traditional intervals might fall short how this structure works and how to use it in your own trainingStudy:Vaccari, F., Giovanelli, N., & Lazzer, S. (2020)High-intensity decreasing interval training (HIDIT) increases time above 90% VO₂peakEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology

  • March 25 · 29 min

    The Norwegian Method: Thoughts, Learnings, and Training Applications

    In this episode, I break down what some of the best runners in the world are doing to maximize their training so they can handle more total quality work across the week. We get into the Norwegian method, double threshold training, and the real reason intensity control is becoming such a big part of modern distance running. I also share how this approach has impacted my own training and the athletes I coach, along with how you can start applying it yourself.

  • March 13 · 1 hr 21 min

    Talking Strength Training for Runners with Kameron Harder, PT, DPT, OCS

    In this episode, I sit down with my good friend, Kameron Harder, a physical therapist, endurance athlete, and someone who spends a lot of time helping athletes stay healthy and perform better. We get into the role strength training should actually play in a runner’s routine. We talk about why it matters, how it helps reduce injuries, and what it can do for your performance if you approach it the right way. Kam's Website 👉 https://ridgeathleticsaz.com/ Kam's Instagram 👉https://www.instagram.com/ridgeathleticsaz/https://www.instagram.com/ridgeathleticsaz/

  • February 25 · 28 min

    The Pro Marathon Workout Most Runners Aren’t Doing

    There’s a workout professional marathoners use all the time that most runners don’t fully understand - alternation sessions designed to train lactate clearance.I’ve used these sessions throughout my own build as a 2:16 marathoner and 2x Olympic Trials qualifier, and they’ve consistently been some of the best indicators of race readiness for the distance

  • January 23 · 28 min

    How to Run Faster After Mile 20

    Have you bonked after Mile 20 in the Marathon? I have! In today's episode, I'm going to walk through why we might bonk after mile 20 in the marathon, and leave you with a few ways in which you can work towards avoiding it next time!

  • January 21 · 27 min

    PUMA Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 - Your Next Marathon Shoe?

    Welcome! In today's podcast, I give you a full breakdown of my thoughts on the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 as a marathon shoe! These racing shoes have blitzed their way onto podiums and personal bests this past year, forcing their way into consideration as the fastest shoe on the market. But, is it? And is it the best shoe for you? Let's talk about it!

  • January 14 · 51 min

    Houston Marathon Race Recap!

    I give a full breakdown of my 2:17:44 & 12th place performance at the 2026 Chevron Houston Marathon

  • January 8 · 33 min

    How to Use the Treadmill Without Ruining Your Training

    The treadmill gets dismissed as a last-resort option-or worse, as “not real running.” In this episode, we take a deeper look at what treadmill training actually does, what the research says about how it compares to running outdoors, and why it can feel harder even when the physiology is similar. We talk about biomechanics, heat stress, pacing perception, and injury risk, explain where treadmill running truly differs from outdoor running, and walk through when those differences help versus hurt. You’ll learn why the 1% incline rule isn’t a universal fix, how indoor heat load quietly changes training stress, and why the treadmill can be one of the best tools for threshold work, hill training, winter consistency, and race simulation-if it’s used correctly.

  • January 6 · 21 min

    Why You Feel Flat Before Race Day - and What to Do About It

    In this episode, I break down the concept of muscle tension, and explain why race-week training should preserve useful tension rather than eliminate it. We’ll look at the difference between fatigue and readiness, why the nervous system detunes faster than aerobic fitness, and how overly passive tapers dull coordination and stride quality. You’ll learn how short, controlled faster running keeps the body responsive without adding fatigue, how to approach race week with intention, and what “ready” should actually feel like when you step to the line. If you’ve ever felt fresh but sluggish on race day, this episode will change how you think about tapering.

  • Dec 26, 2025 · 43 min

    Nailing this phase of training changes everything

    When the race is over, motivation often fades-and that’s where many runners lose momentum and find themselves on a negative trajectory. How can we change that? This episode reframes the off-season as a critical training phase, not complete downtime. You’ll learn how to replace race-driven motivation with purpose, build structure without burnout, and set practical goals that keep progress moving when there’s no start line in sight. I'll break down how to train with intent during lighter periods of the year, and how to use the off-season to create lasting gains for your next training cycle.

  • Dec 23, 2025 · 40 min

    Training Masters Athletes: Recovery, VO₂max, and Long-Term Performance

    Masters athletes aren’t fragile, but they do recover differently. In this episode, we break down what actually changes with age, why VO₂max decline drives performance loss more than threshold or economy, and how smart intensity placement keeps progress moving. We cover recovery limits, strength training, volume breakpoints, and why consistency across the year matters more than hero weeks.

  • Dec 16, 2025 · 40 min

    HIIT & VO₂max Training: What Actually Makes You Faster

    VO₂max training is often misunderstood and misapplied. In this episode, i'll talk you through the basics of VO₂max intervals, VO₂ kinetics, and why many HIIT workouts fail to deliver the intended aerobic stimulus. Using recent research comparing long versus short VO₂max intervals, I'll help explain why time spent near VO₂max matters more than pace, heart rate, or perceived effort. We also explore how VO₂max training fits into marathon preparation, why it plays a supporting, non-dominant role, and how to use it strategically without compromising endurance development or recovery.

  • Dec 10, 2025 · 37 min

    Is Marathon-Pace Training Overrated?

    Hey hey! Today, I'm talking heavily on the topic of LT1 and why building training around this intensity can help provide all the good stuff that will elevate your marathon race time. I'll break down why marathon pace may be overrated (but still important) and also how to specifically build LT1 training into your program for your next marathon.

  • Dec 2, 2025 · 45 min

    The Case for Hill Training: Stronger, Smoother, Faster

    Hill training has been a staple of great coaching for more than 70 years, long before sports science could explain why. In this episode, we break down every major type of hill workout - short neuromuscular sprints, medium aerobic-power repeats, long sustained climbs, and uphill threshold sessions. We explore the science behind each, the historical foundations from coaches like Lydiard, Cerutty, Bowerman, and Canova, and why hills often deliver bigger benefits with less stress than flat intervals. If you want to build strength, improve running economy, raise your aerobic ceiling, and train harder without breaking down, this is your blueprint.

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes