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The 1% Better Runner with DLake

The 1% Better Runner with DLake

By: Daren DLake
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This is a podcast about how runners can live better lives through consistent self-improvement.
Unlike other running brands, The 1% Better Runner focuses on how small, daily habit improvements ripple into broader life success, helping runners perform better both on and off the road, track, or dirt.
I’m Daren DLake: Certified running and nutrition coach, Sub-3-hour marathoner and 10-hour Ironman finisher.
Since 1996, I’ve been helping other self-coached runners, researching, and experimenting on how to better myself 1% each day.
A few times a week, I’ll drop how I’m tweaking my training, sticking to habits when life’s messy, and cool stuff from coaches and health pros. It’s a no-BS cheat sheet for building better habits—not just for running, but for work, relationships, and personal growth too.
Join thousands of other committed runners listening to the most exciting run and endurance sports content on the internet and get more tactics and strategies in your inbox each week.
Bonus - Get my free 30-day base and habits training plan when you sign up for the free newsletter here.
PS - Podcasting is very "1-way," so let's fix that. Hit us up if you have any feedback, want to collaborate, or just wanna tell me about your training. On Instagram @dlakecreates or talk@dlakecreates.com

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Episodes
  • Your Heart Rate Zone Is Wrong (Fix It in 10 Minutes)
    Jan 21 2026

    What if everything you think you know about running easy is actually making you slower and more exhausted?


    In this episode, I break down why your usual approach to running pace might be sabotaging your progress and how switching to heart rate training can unlock easier, more consistent runs. I explain why the same pace feels easy one day but brutal the next, and share a simple, equipment-free method to find your personal training zones without needing expensive lab tests. You will learn exactly when to rely on your heart rate monitor and—just as importantly—when to ignore it completely to get the most out of your hard workouts.


    Key Takeaways
    1. Running the same pace doesn’t always mean the same effort. Heart rate shows when your body is working harder because of stress, poor sleep, heat, or fatigue.
    2. Most runners think they are running easy when they are not. Using heart rate and the talk test together helps you slow down enough to actually build fitness.
    3. Heart rate is a powerful tool for easy and recovery runs, but it breaks down during short, hard efforts. Knowing when to ignore heart rate is just as important as knowing when to use it.

    Timestamps
    • [00:27] What You'll Learn
    • [01:33] What Heart Rate Training Is + Why It Works
    • [02:59] Why HR Training Works
    • [03:54] Use This To Run Faster
    • [04:49] How to Actually Use It - Step 1: Find Your Easy Heart Rate Range
    • [06:24] Step 2 - Use The Talk Test
    • [07:10] Step 3 - How To Do This
    • [07:37] Step 4 - Ignore Heart Rate On Hard Days
    • [08:38] Gear That You'll Need
    • [10:54] The Mistakes Everyone Makes: Mistake 1
    • [11:15] Mistake 2 - Obsessing Over Hitting The Right Pace
    • [11:57] Mistake 3 - Use HR For Everything
    • [12:07] Mistake 4 – Expecting Instant Results
    • [12:36] Use This To Run and Farther Faster with Little Effort

    Links & Learnings
    • 📈 Get your free run at low heart rate zone 2 training plan here https://dlakecreates.com/zone2free
    • 🎧 Listen, read and learn more here https://dlakecreates.com/hrtraining
    • Run Farther… Without That ‘Why Am I Dying?’ Feeling | Base Training - https://dlakecreates.com/base2
    • Instagram – https://instagram.com/dlakecreates
    • Strava – https://www.strava.com/athletes/120507


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    14 mins
  • What Actually Happens When You Start Running Again (It’s Not Pretty)
    Jan 14 2026

    What if the real reason you keep getting hurt isn’t laziness or bad form, but one single run where you went just a little too far?


    Most people don’t quit running because they’re lazy. They quit because they get hurt doing too much too soon. In this episode, I break down why that happens, why feeling good can actually be the most dangerous moment in training, and how small, boring choices are what keep runners healthy long term. I walk through a smarter way to start running again, how to build fitness without stressing joints and tendons, and how to think about running as something that fits into life instead of fighting it. If you want to stop starting over, stay injury free, and make running something you can do for years, this episode lays the foundation.


    Key Takeaways
    1. The run that causes injury is rarely the first one. It’s usually the run where you feel good, push too far, and don’t realize the damage until days later.
    2. Walking before running isn’t a setback. It’s the safest way to rebuild tendons, joints, and habits so you can stay consistent without breaking down.
    3. Consistency beats intensity every time. Running a few days a week for months is far more powerful than pushing hard for a few weeks and quitting.

    Timestamps
    • [00:19] What You'll Learn
    • [01:06] Why Walking Comes First
    • [02:47] The 3-Day Plan
    • [03:28] Week 1
    • [04:20] Week 2
    • [04:33] Week 3
    • [04:46] Week 4
    • [05:06] Week 5
    • [05:38] Use This to Start Running
    • [06:29] Why Running Is Different
    • [08:01] Build the Body | The Three Must Do Exercises for Runners
    • [09:35] The Mindset Reset
    • [11:26] Use This to Do Long Runs the Right Way

    Links & Learnings
    • 📈 Get your free run farther and faster training plan here https://dlakecreates.com/basefree
    • 🎧 Listen, read and learn more here https://dlakecreates.com/startrunning
    • How to Run a sub 30 min 5k - https://dlakecreates.com/5ksub30
    • You’re Wasting Money on the Wrong Running Gear ****https://dlakecreates.com/gear
    • The #1 Mistake New Runners Make With Knee Pain https://dlakecreates.com/runnersknee
    • Instagram – https://instagram.com/dlakecreates
    • Strava – https://www.strava.com/athletes/120507


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    12 mins
  • Why Most Runners Lift Wrong (And How to Fix It)
    Jan 7 2026

    Strength training isn’t extra work. It’s the hidden shortcut that finally stops your legs from fading in the last miles.


    If you have been skipping the gym because you think it takes too much time or will make you too bulky to run fast, this episode flips that script completely. I am breaking down a specific strength training formula that boosts running economy by 5%—that is like shaving minutes off your marathon time without running a single extra mile. You will discover why heavy weights and long rests are actually better for endurance than high reps, and I will walk you through a simple, scalable plan that fits into just 15 to 30 minutes a week so you can finally get stronger, faster, and injury-proof without burning out.


    Key Takeaways
    1. Strength training for runners isn’t about building big muscles—it’s about teaching your body to run more efficiently and with less risk of injury using just 20–40 minutes a week of targeted lifts.
    2. Heavy weights, low reps (4–6), and explosive follow-up moves like jumps help your nervous system recruit muscle faster, which translates to better speed and endurance on the run.
    3. Focusing on your posterior chain—glutes, hamstrings, and calves—is the secret to staying strong in the final miles, not just your quads or core.
    Timestamps
    • [00:25] What You'll Learn
    • [01:17] What Is Strength Training for Running?
    • [01:54] Why Low Reps = Less Fatigue
    • [03:50] Get the Free Training Plan to Do This Yourself
    • [05:06] The Top 10 Best Running Strength Exercises - #1 Squat
    • [06:48] Romanian Deadlifts (RDLs)
    • [08:06] Bulgarian Split Squat
    • [09:06] Step-Ups
    • [10:15] Help Another Runner Do More Smarter Strength Training
    • [11:01] Calf Raises
    • [14:04] Drop Jumps
    • [15:12] I Tried Them and It Hurt
    • [16:01] Squat Jumps
    • [16:33] Single-Leg Bounds (Forward or Up)
    • [17:19] The Load-Explode Protocol
    • [18:00] Which Muscles Power Your Running
    • [18:17] Backup Muscles for Running
    • [19:59] S.H.E. (Slow, Hold, Explode) Method Explained
    • [20:32] Putting It All Together
    • [22:43] The 4 Golden Rules
    • [23:58] How This Scales to Your Time Commitment
    • [26:23] Beginners Do This for Strength Advanced to This for Muscle Gain
    Links & Learnings
    • 📈 Get Strong & Run Fast In Less Time (Free Training Plan): https://dlakecreates.com/strengthfree
    • 🎧 Listen, read and learn more here: https://dlakecreates.com/strengthbest
    • New To Strength Training? Start Here: https://dlakecreates.com/10w2s-5
    • How To Gain Muscle & Run A lot: https://dlakecreates.com/gainmuscle
    • Instagram: https://instagram.com/dlakecreates
    • Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/120507


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    27 mins
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