Insights
Our articles feature regular insights on a variety of topics related to recovery from unexplained underperformance, athlete development, performance optimization, and general well-being, based on the latest research and best practices.
The Post-Season Evaluation Process: A Roadmap for Success
A well-structured post-season evaluation is crucial for setting athletes and teams up for future success. This process goes beyond recovery - it's about reflecting on performance, analyzing strengths and weaknesses, and strategically planning the next season. By systematically reviewing training, competition results, recovery, and team dynamics, athletes and coaches can make informed adjustments to optimize performance and long-term development.
The importance of a training diary
A well-kept training diary isn’t just about logging workout data - it’s the most powerful monitoring tool. By tracking both data and personal insights, athletes and coaches can fine-tune training, prevent setbacks, and build a smarter path to peak performance. Discover why your training documentation is a key for long-term development.
Equipment in Nordic Skiing: Insights for Trondheim 2025
At the World Championships in Trondheim, unpredictable weather has made ski selection and preparation a decisive factor. This article explores how top teams gain an edge through relentless testing, team work and smart decision-making, proving that while training lays the foundation, the right skis can make the difference when it matters most.
Pacing in cross-country skiing: Insights for Trondheim 2025
Pacing is a critical but complex factor in cross-country skiing, influenced by terrain, technique, and conditions. While other endurance sports rely on even pacing or negative splits, skiing requires a more dynamic approach, balancing energy distribution with tactical decisions. The Norwegian team’s dominance at the 2021 World Championships showcased the power of meticulous pacing strategies, refined through years of race analysis. As the World Championships in Trondheim conclude this weekend, athletes who manage their effort wisely, optimize their ski selection, and adapt to changing conditions will have the best shot at gold.
Peaking for the World Championships: Insights for Trondheim 2025
This article explores how top athletes fine-tune their performance in the final weeks, balancing workload, tapering effectively, and maintaining the psychological confidence needed to perform under pressure.
Norway’s holistic approach to athlete development and success in the 2025 Nordic World Ski Championships
Norway’s success at the 2025 Nordic World Ski Championships is built on a long-term, athlete-centered development model. From inclusive youth sports to elite training at Olympiatoppen, the focus is on enjoyment, skill mastery, and collaboration rather than early specialization or short-term results. MYRA embraces these same principles to support athletes in achieving sustainable success both on and off the field.
Experiences with long-term underperformance in endurance athletes
Our latest post explores the complex causes and symptoms of long-term underperformance and discusses key differences between male and female athletes. We dive into the psychological, physiological, and health-related signs of underperformance, as well as the underlying factors like training errors, nutritional challenges, and mental strain. The article also highlights effective recovery strategies, emphasizing the importance of individualized approaches, monitoring systems, and comprehensive support structures.
Understanding the Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports Syndrome: A Silent Threat to Athletic Performance and Health
REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) is a complex condition where multiple factors—training load, life, environment, nutrition and nutritional behaviour, mental health, sleep etc. —interact in ways that can impact both health and performance. Understanding this interplay is crucial for athletes, coaches, and support teams.
This article explores the latest research on REDs, highlighting why a holistic approach is essential when addressing underperformance.
Low intensity training: The most important and most ignored training intensity for endurance athletes
Low-intensity training (LIT) often takes a backseat in discussions about endurance training, yet it forms the backbone of elite athletes’ success. In our latest blog post, we uncover the paradox of LIT: why it’s the most important yet most misunderstood training intensity. From building a robust aerobic base to understanding how "easy enough" can unlock peak performance, we explore the science and practical insights behind LIT.
Deciphering the enigma of intensity zones and the concept of risk management
Understanding intensity in training can be complex due to varying definitions and applications across sports and regions. We introduce these concepts by promoting a shared language and understanding, as demonstrated by the Norwegian Olympic federation's system. We also explore how integrating risk management strategies into training ensures athletes achieve consistent, long-term development by effectively balancing intensity and recovery.
The performance equation: Introducing the key determinants of endurance performance
A comprehensive guide on physiological determinants. We explore key performance determining factors like maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), fractional utilization, and anaerobic capacity, and explain their impact on endurance performance.
What is a training philosophy?
A training philosophy is an evolving framework that balances scientific principles and empirical strategies to guide athletes' holistic development. This article explores the essential components of a training philosophy with insights from elite Norwegian endurance coaches.
Training Theory: There must be a system to the madness!
Navigating the complexities of training theory can be overwhelming, but having a clear system is essential for achieving athletic success. In this blog post, we break down the fundamental training principles—specificity, progressive overload, periodization, individualization, recovery, reversibility, and continuity—necessary for optimizing performance and avoiding analysis paralysis.
The Athlete’s Career Insurance: Implementation of Monitoring Tools to Prevent Underperformance in Sports
Discover how the implementation of monitoring tools can safeguard an athlete’s career by preventing underperformance and speeding up recovery. This blog post explores how tracking load-recovery balance and utilizing a decision-support system can be the cornerstone of an athlete's career insurance.
The unexpected opponent: Underperformance Syndrome in Sports
Unexplained Underperformance Syndrome (UUPS) can derail even the most promising athletic careers. In this article, we define UUPS, dive into possible causes, and explain why knowing how to navigate underperformance is crucial to sustaining long-term success and keeping performance on track. Take a proactive approach and explore what you can do to avoid this frustrating challenge.
Why We Created MYRA
At MYRA, we bridge the gap between performance science and human care, empowering athletes to overcome Underperformance and reach new heights. Discover how we’re redefining athlete development with evidence-based strategies and a deeply human-centered approach to success.