Fergus Crawley, a well-known hybrid athlete, consistently experiments with various training techniques to build a better combination of strength and endurance. His current target is scoring a 500-pound deadlift and running one mile all under five minutes.
On Sept. 11, 2023, Crawley shared what he believes are the top five mistakes people make when hybrid training. Check out Crawley’s advice and workouts in the video below, courtesy of his YouTube channel:
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1. Going 100 Percent In Endurance & Strength Training
Crawley believes it is crazy for an athlete to go all out simultaneously with triathlon and strength training. One can’t work at 200 percent capacity; training too hard is almost certainly going to lead to burnout. Such a result might reflect negatively on hybrid training when hybrid training was not the actual cause of the burnout.
Crawley says to cut “junk volume” to make training “focused and intentional.” With a stricter program and intentional training, Crawley avoids burnout while hitting both endurance and strength goals.
2. Randomization & Blending Training Modalities
To describe hybrid training as clearly possible, Crawley compares it to CrossFit. While CrossFit blends different training styles, hybrid training features powerlifting at one point in the day and race training at another point in the day. Hybrid training is a methodology where one develops individual disciplines concurrently.
Randomization doesn’t have much room in a hybrid training protocol due to the latter’s hyper-focused training sessions. For example, a hybrid training session won’t feature low reps of heavy-weight power cleans and a five-mile run in the same workout session.
3. Undereating
Hybrid training is an excellent reason to increase caloric intake. One must eat sufficient calories to maintain strength and energy to support the additional training hybrid training calls for, especially if it is an increase from previous programming.
Do a reassessment…audit your nutrition.
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4. Not Checking Ego
Consistency and improvements over time are more crucial to hybrid training than striving for a personal best. Crawley encourages people “to let curiosity, eagerness to learn, and excitement for the unknown that comes with new disciplines be what drives them rather than the ego that comes with it.”
If ego wins out, people are less likely to approach the challenge as a student and become unwilling to learn or complacent with specific skills like running technique.
By accepting his ego does not work in his best interest, Crawley allows it to ride in the backseat, so to speak, so his training goals can take the wheel. He applies an “ego is the enemy” mentality, which helps him remain open-minded and more available to developing his skills.
5. Body Mass Considerations
Body mass must be factored in when swapping from a single training modality to two. If, for example, someone who has additional body mass from recent strength gains goes out for a run, they may need to focus on not overstriding, acquire the right accessories to avoid chafing, and/or consume more sodium or carbs, among other factors.
Mobility might be more of a hurdle for those with extra muscle mass. Those with a deep endurance training background might suffer from an extended range of motion or less biomechanical knowledge of strength movement patterns during strength training. Either way, mindfulness of the differences in training and body mass is pivotal for hybrid training success early on.
Suppose one avoids the pitfalls of blending training modalities or eating at a deficit. By dodging Crawley’s five notable hybrid training mistakes, one can build an effective hybrid training strategy to improve their strength and endurance.
Featured image: @ferguscrawley on Instagram
