The E3 Rehab Podcast 237. The Art and Science of Training w/ Dan Cleather
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Jan 27, 2026 Dan Cleather, strength and conditioning coach, biomechanist, and professor at St Mary’s University, and author of The Practice of Change. He talks about why consistency matters, planning by prioritizing key sessions, distinguishing skills from capacities, managing fatigue to protect freshness, and creating supportive learning environments for skill transfer.
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Capacities Versus Skills
- Distinguish capacities (muscle, VO2) from skills (how you use them) to train effectively.
- Both pathways overlap but require different processes: adaptation and practice.
Use Principles Not Fixed Systems
- Use progressive overload to grow capacity and discovery-plus-repetition to build skill.
- Derive frequency, intensity, and variability from these core principles rather than rigid systems.
Fatigue Is A Signal, Not The Goal
- Fatigue is a byproduct and signal of training, not the primary goal of it.
- Excess fatigue gives diminishing returns and can reduce session quality and consistency.
