sprint

Cycling Sprint Workouts for Non-Sprinters

  By Jim Rutberg, CTS Pro Coach, co-author of “The Time-Crunched Cyclist”, “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning”, and “Ride Inside“ Amateur and masters cyclists will swear up and down that “I’m not a sprinter” because they don’t have a finishing kick like Jasper Philipsen, Wout van Aert, or Mark Cavendish. But sharp, hard accelerations (aka: sprinting!) are a …

perfectionism

How to Keep Perfectionism from Ruining Your Training

  By Darcie Murphy, CTS Ultrarunning Pro Coach As a coach, a consistent conflict I encounter with athletes is a desire to achieve perfection while training for sports that reward adaptability. Some of this stems from the desire to exert control over a portion of their lives (e.g. training) when other aspects of life are …

mid-season slump

Here’s How to Revive Your Cycling Season After a Slump

By Maddison Russell, CTS Pro Coach At some point, all athletes lose focus and motivation. By the middle of summer, many athletes have been training consistently for months, and been competing in several goal events. Whether it’s oppressive heat, vacations, or a lack of direction for the second half of the season, athletes can lose …

racing ultramarathons underprepared

How to Race Ultramarathons When You are Underprepared

By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning Despite best intentions, many ultramarathon runners reach the final month before race day feeling wholly unprepared. Maybe life got in the way or you overestimated the amount of training you could commit to. Or you suffered an injury that cost you valuable training time. My CTS Coaching …

Tour de France training

Time-Crunched Cyclist Training Lessons from This Year’s Tour France

  By Jim Rutberg, CTS Pro Coach, co-author of “The Time-Crunched Cyclist”, “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning”, and “Ride Inside“ The 2023 Tour de France was one of the most riveting editions in recent memory. Amateur and Time-Crunched Cyclists rightly marvel at the power, resilience, and speed of top pros, but typically find their training and racing exploits …

masters takeaways

Tour de France Takeaways for Masters and Grand Masters Cyclists

  By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Chief Endurance Officer The 2023 Tour de France has been one of the most thrilling editions in my memory. The performances, rivalry, and respect between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogacar were great to watch. Jasper Phillipsen’s power in the sprint stages has been remarkable. And it’s been exciting to …

improve cycling fitness

The 10 Simple Ways to Improve Cycling Fitness

  Cycling is one of the most adaptable and easily accessible forms of exercise on the planet. Pedaling is a low-impact, joint-friendly activity. Expansive gear ranges and electric assist bicycles make steep hills and longer distances accessible for more people. Engaging indoor options make cycling accessible and social for people in busy cities and far-flung …

training through menopause

Trail and Ultramarathon Training Through Perimenopause and Menopause

Trail and ultrarunners are not immune to the countless changes that occur with the aging process. The following discussion highlights the hormonal changes that occur as female athletes age. More specifically, we’ll cover how hormonal changes through perimenopause and menopause impact widespread physiological changes and ultrarunning performance for women. Roles of key female hormones First, …

exercise in hot weather

Trainright Guide to Exercise and Performance in Hot Weather

Table of Contents PART 1: Preparing for Exercise in Hot Weather PART 2: Optimizing Performance During Hot Weather PART 3: Recovery Strategies After Exercise in Hot Weather Introduction: Heat is the enemy of endurance performance and an underlying cause for diminished performance, dehydration, heat stress, gastrointestinal distress, and impaired recovery. This guide will provide you …