The best cyclists in the world don’t always have the highest power outputs or VO2 max values. A big aerobic engine is a prerequisite for reaching the top level of competition, but champions perform beyond their test numbers because they are inspired by the belief their best performances are still ahead of them. No …
By Mara Abbott, Olympian and CTS Contributing Editor I know, I’ve been there: You fell off your bike, slid down the road and left an awful lot of your skin behind. Nothing is broken, and the only structural rips are in your formerly brand-new kit, but a whole lot of things are red, raw, and …
By Andy Jones-Wilkins CTS Ultramarathon Coach For most ultra runners the arrival of autumn signals the end of a long season. Perhaps the season has been culminated by a triumphant race finish or the end of an exhausting training cycle. Whatever the cause, the end of season means the sensible runner looks back and forward …
The belief you can improve your performance through consistent, deliberate effort is central to being a cyclist. You wouldn’t bother training if you didn’t believe your efforts would improve your performance, right? But while you likely have an inherent tendency toward a growth mindset, many athletes are stymied by stubbornly fixed ideas. The concept …
By Andy Jones-Wilkins CTS Ultramarathon Coach Runners who are thinking of making the jump to ultramarathon distances frequently ask me what they should do to prepare for that jump in mileage and how they will know they are ready. While it is, like many things in this sport, often a matter of individual circumstances, I …
For many years I – and especially my “Time-Crunched Cyclist” co-author, Jim Rutberg – have railed against the concept of “aerobic base training” for time-crunched athletes (here and here, for instance). So, naturally, today’s headline might come as a surprise to some of you. Is this a reversal? A flip-flop on the issues? Hardly. For …
By Jason Koop CTS Coaching Director Author, “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” Three new CTS Ultramarathon Coaches will start taking athletes this week. To get them ready, I have been taking them through the paces of education and development so I’m confident they have the tools to help their athletes succeed. I have always taken this …
I get thank you notes from cyclists’ spouses and significant others. They typically containing some variation of, “Thank you for returning my husband/wife to me. The happy and vibrant person I fell in love with is back!” I have no doubt helping athletes train consistently, rediscover their fitness, and have fun on the bike …
By John Fitzgerald Ultrarunning Coach Some people love running at night and others find it intimidating, but if you’re going to be an ultrarunner you at least have to get comfortable with running in the dark. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced ultramarathon veteran, here are some tips for making the most of the …
By Mara Abbott, Olympian and CTS Contributing Editor I waited two years for an interval workout. To be fair, those years were full: retiring from one sport, attempting to start a new one, injuring myself, and most of all, working on the perennial challenge of developing a mindset in which it didn’t matter if I …