One of my other enjoys besides running is NASCAR. It’s the off-season now, but the sport is more interesting than ever. Why? Two race teams — one of them co-owned by Michael Jordan — are in federal court suing NASCAR for being a monopoly and for using anti-competitive practices to keep it that way. The judge has already ruled that NASCAR is a monopoly. That alone isn’t illegal. Using monopoly power the wrong way is, and that’s what this case is about. 

What strikes me is how convinced both sides are that they’re right. They had months — years — to compromise. They even tried a last-minute arbitration. Nothing worked. Each side is so entrenched in its position that the only resolution is airing everything publicly in court.

The judge opened the trial by saying something sad: no matter what happens, there will be no winners.

I’ve never been part of anything this contentious, but the dynamic feels familiar in a simpler way. Runners fall into these same battles around training. I’ve stepped away from most social media because the debates get so intense. People argue as if there is one correct method and everyone else is wrong.

High mileage or low mileage.
Slow miles or speedwork.
Heart rate or VO2 max.
Double days or cross-training.
Pick your influencer. 

Everyone can dig in like a legal team preparing for trial. But maybe, like the NASCAR case, the truth is somewhere in the middle. And maybe “winning” isn’t about proving one system right — it’s about finding what actually works for you.

I do best when I run more days than not, and when I get a couple of quality workouts in each week. That’s my balance. It wouldn’t work for everyone. It might not work forever.

Training isn’t a court case. No one has to lose for you to figure out how to run well. You just have to listen, experiment, adjust, and trust the answer your body keeps giving back to you.

Best wishes on chasing your running goals,
George