Fuzhao Xiang has a strong chance of becoming the first Chinese athlete to win one of ultrarunning’s most prestigious races: Western States (WSER) or Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). Her stellar performance at the 2024 WSER was the third-fastest female finish (16:20:03) in history. Athletes endured a hotter race day in 2025, …
All athletes must persist through a series of highs and lows, great performances and serious setbacks. Abby Hall’s journey from a 28-hour first finish at the 2019 Leadville 100 to winning the 2025 Western States Endurance Run in the fourth fastest female finishing time (16:37:16) was anything but linear. Abby Hall’s Troubled Journey to …
By CTS Coaches Jim Rutberg, with information from 10-time Western States Finisher and CTS Ultrarunning Coach Andy Jones-Wilkins Developing fitness is just one component of preparing athletes for the iconic Western States Endurance Run (WSER). Every ultramarathon has unique challenges, course features, weather concerns, and logistical complications. In addition to working with WSER Champions, …
Building upon the success CTS Athletes achieved in the 2024 Western States Endurance Run, including a podium sweep in the women’s race with Katie Schide, Fuzhao Xiang, and Eszter Csillag, CTS is once again heading to WSER to support nearly two dozen athletes in 2025. With fewer than two weeks to go before the …
A lot of the ways athletes train have little to no basis in sports science. They are traditions rather than evidence-based practices. Most are harmless, like a 7-day training cycle or Sunday long runs, but there are a few run training traditions that you should do away with. I’ve been coaching trail and ultramarathon …
Technology continues to profoundly impact training methods across the spectrum of endurance sports. However, a stubbornly low-tech assessment of effort and exercise intensity stands the test of time. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is about as simple as it gets: “On a scale of X to Y, where X is as easy as possible …
Trail running poles are increasingly popular in ultramarathon events. Once largely confined to European races, ultrarunning-specific trekking poles are common in nearly every mountainous ultra in the United States. Advancements in materials and construction have helped to make trail running poles lighter and easier to carry and stow. Used correctly, they can aid propulsion, …
Ultramarathons are challenging, unpredictable, and ultimately rewarding. That’s why we keep coming back for more! No matter how many ultras you’ve run, each race is a unique experience. Training obviously plays a role in ultramarathon success, but that’s just one part of the process. Logistical preparations, adequate fueling and hydration plans, and gear selection all …
Running can be hard on an athlete’s feet and blisters can happen to novice and experienced runners. Many runners rightfully focus on their footwear and making sure they have the right traction and support. However, it is also important to consider how your feet move in the shoes, the surface you’ll be running on, and …
(Written with guidance from CTS Ultrarunning Coach Cliff Pittman) Endurance runners like a challenge, which is why there is a progression of competition distances that starts with five kilometers and goes all the way to multi-day ultramarathons. Runners who conquer the road marathon often look to the trail 50K as the introductory distance for ultrarunning. …