---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The last great unknown, in terms of…"
description: "\"The last great unknown, in terms of physiological training, is the optimum length of a piece. Is three minutes enough? Is ten minutes too much? No one ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/brad-alan-lewis-16353_coaches_the-last-great-unknown-in-terms-of-physi_1421234.jpg"
---

#  The last great unknown, in terms of physiological…

![“The last great unknown, in terms of physiological training, is the optimum length of a piece. Is three minutes enough? Is ten minutes too much? No one knows. Perhaps someday the question will be answered-we'll find out that thirteen minutes is the perfect length for a training piece when preparing…” quote by Brad Alan Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/brad-alan-lewis-16353_coaches_the-last-great-unknown-in-terms-of-physi_1421234.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/brad-alan-lewis-16353_coaches_the-last-great-unknown-in-terms-of-physi_1421234.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dab/brad-alan-lewis-16353_coaches_the-last-great-unknown-in-terms-of-physi_1421234.jpg)

> “The last great unknown, in terms of physiological training, is the optimum length of a piece. Is three minutes enough? Is ten minutes too much? No one knows. Perhaps someday the question will be answered-we'll find out that thirteen minutes is the perfect length for a training piece when preparing for a 2000 meter race. Until then, coaches will continue exploring the whole scale, up and down, from thirty seconds to sixty minutes and more, in hopes of capturing the optimum time.”

[Brad Alan Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-alan-lewis/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The optimal duration for training pieces is unknown; researchers test various lengths to find the most effective for performance.

**In simple terms:** We don’t know the best training length yet.

Key Takeaway

Experiment with different session lengths.

Themes

training performance research

Mood

inquisitive analytical

Type

advice scientific

When to use this quote

- coaching
- athlete preparation
- track events
- experiment design

Key Concepts

physiology optimal duration

Questions to Reflect On

- How might individual differences affect optimal training time?
- What metrics should define “optimal”?

A Different Perspective

The ideal length may differ by sport and individual, limiting a single answer.

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