Aerobic vs Anaerobic Training

What makes you dizzy after one heavy lift but able to run for miles?

Your body has two distinct ways of creating energy—and understanding them changes how you train. In this episode, Clayton and Jennie explain aerobic versus anaerobic training, why both matter for real-world fitness, and how to balance them without sabotaging your results.

What We Cover:

Defining the Terms

Anaerobic training: Short, intense efforts (sprints, heavy lifts) that generate energy without oxygen using sugars stored in muscles and liver

Aerobic training: Longer, sustainable efforts (distance running, rowing) that use oxygen to fuel movement

Why your body needs both systems and what happens when you only train one

The Three Energy Pathways

Phosphocreatine pathway: Fuels explosive, high-intensity work (seconds)

Glycolytic pathway: Powers efforts up to about 2 minutes (like a 7-minute workout at moderate intensity)

Oxidative pathway: Sustains longer aerobic efforts (30+ minutes)

How these pathways overlap and work together during mixed workouts