Olav Bu - Your Training Isn’t Broken—But It Could Be Better
1 Feb
Most athletes think they need more volume.

More hours. More intensity. More suffering.

Olav Bu, the mastermind behind world-class triathletes like Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden, knows that’s not the full picture.

In our recent conversation, he broke down why elite performance isn’t just about stacking more miles.

It’s about precision, consistency, and understanding the physiological demands of endurance sports at the highest level.

The 3 Things Holding You Back
You’re training hard, but not targeting what actually moves the needle.

Olav’s system isn’t just about suffering. It’s about identifying the key physiological markers that truly drive performance—such as VO2 max, lactate threshold, and efficiency.

Most athletes assume working harder means getting better, but without targeting the right energy systems, you’re just burning fuel without measurable progress.

Takeaway: Track your key metrics. Invest in wearable tech or lab testing if possible. Then ask yourself—are you training the right systems, or just training?

You lack structure when it matters most.

Even Blummenfelt and Iden, post-Tokyo, drifted from strict structure for a period. The result? A noticeable dip in their performance consistency.

Training without structure can feel liberating, but the best athletes in the world don’t leave progress to chance. They have dedicated training blocks, progressive overload, and planned recovery.

Takeaway: Freedom in training feels good—until you lose sharpness. Your plan should be periodized, balancing intensity and recovery, and aligned with your peak performance goals.

You’re avoiding experimentation.

The Norwegian team is known for controlled experiments. They test new training methods, analyze data, and make adjustments—not based on gut feelings, but real numbers.

Small refinements in technique, fueling strategies, and recovery protocols can yield massive improvements over time. What worked last season might not be optimal now.

Takeaway: Treat your training like a science experiment. Test, tweak, repeat. Keep a training journal, analyze patterns, and adapt based on results—not assumptions.

Your Next Move
You don’t need to train more.

You need to train smarter.

Identify your key performance drivers and set clear benchmarks.

Add structure to ensure you're progressing efficiently while minimizing burnout.

Experiment with new techniques, fueling strategies, and recovery methods to optimize performance.

The best in the world aren’t just working harder—they’re working better.

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