Zone 2 Training: What the Research Really Says About Cardio Optimization with Dr. Brendon Gurd of Queen's University

In this episode of the Discover Strength Podcast, CEO and exercise physiologist Luke Carlson interviews Dr. Brendon Gurd of Queen's University to unpack one of the biggest fitness buzzwords of the last five years: Zone 2 training.

Dr. Gurd breaks down his recently published paper in Sports Medicine, titled “Much Ado About Zone 2”, and reveals what the current science says about the efficacy of Zone 2 training for improving mitochondrial function and cardiorespiratory fitness.

Listeners will gain clarity on:

• What Zone 2 actually means in exercise physiology
• Why the 80/20 training model may be misunderstood
• How Zone 2 compares to high-intensity training for mitochondrial adaptation
• The myth of the “fat-burning zone”
• Practical cardio recommendations for busy people who want maximum results in minimal time

Whether you're a biohacker, fitness enthusiast, or strength training purist, this episode will reshape how you think about cardio—and how to integrate it intelligently alongside resistance training.

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