minimum amount of training needed

What’s The Minimum Amount Of Training Needed For Cycling Fitness?

  Fall is a tenuous time for summer-focused cyclists. You know it’s unrealistic to maintain peak summer fitness year round but you’re apprehensive about losing too much of it. So, the question is: What’s the minimum amount of training needed to maintain most of your current fitness? Or, put another way, what is the best …

ultrarunning coach neal palles finding mastery

Mastery: The Ultimate Pursuit For Ultrarunners

  By Neal Palles, CTS Ultrarunning Expert Coach, MA in Applied Sports Psychology Colorado Psychotherapy and Sport Performance What happens when you focus on mastery instead of focusing on a specific goal? Michael Gervais, a leading Sport Psychologist, presented this concept in one of his podcasts: “The masters aren’t focused on goals. They are focused …

Katie Schide wins 2024 UTMB

How Katie Schide Won UTMB After Winning Western States 

  By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning, Author of “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” What a wild ride! The 2024 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc was probably the most exciting of all my visits to UTMB, culminating in Katie Schide’s incredible win and record-setting victory. As has been the case in previous years, I was joined …

pedal stroke

Improve Your Cycling Pedal Stroke for High Power at High Cadence

  By Jim Rutberg, CTS Pro Coach, co-author of “Ride Inside“ and “The Time-Crunched Cyclist” Cyclists tend to associate work on pedal stroke with winter training, but it is much better to focus on your pedal mechanics now, in the fall. This is a unique time of year. You have a season’s worth of fitness and …

running cadence

What is a good running cadence for trail and ultrarunners?

  By Darcie Murphy, CTS Ultrarunning Senior Coach Running cadence – or step frequency – is one of the fundamental components of running form. Many runners choose to focus on altering their running cadence to optimize form and mechanical efficiency. In some cases, training your run cadence may increase running speed, decrease injury risk, and …

key traits of 65+ athletes

Key Traits for Success from 7 Masters and Grand Masters Champions

    By Tracey Drews, CTS Coach specializing in Grand Masters Athletes Winning medals never gets old. As an athlete in the 65+ age category and a coach who specializes in working with athletes around my age and older, I can assure you that Grand Masters, Super Agers, Senior Athletes – or whatever name resonates …

hip mobility

5-Minute Foot and Hip Mobility Routine for Trail Runners and Ultrarunners

  By Sarah Scozzaro, CTS Ultrarunning Coach, RRCA, NSCA-PT, NASM-PES Many runners experience tightness or soreness in their feet and hips at some point. Although self-care for runners can seem complicated, I want to give you a simple foot and hip mobility routine you can do at home –  with minimal equipment – to help …

Fred Schmid, Tracey Drews, and Camilla Buchanan 2024 Masters National Championships

What We Know About Coaching Athletes After 50

    By Jim Rutberg, CTS Pro Coach, co-author of “Ride Inside“, “The Time-Crunched Cyclist”, and “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” Athletes over 50 years old know they face different physical challenges compared to younger athletes. As perhaps the largest endurance coaching company that works one-on-one with athletes, CTS has extensive experience coaching athletes between the ages …

weighted vest

Should Runners Train with Weighted Vests?

    By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning with CTS Pro Coach Jim Rutberg During almost any run or hike these days you’re bound to encounter someone doing the same activity wearing a weighted vest. Popularized by Crossfit boxes, mixed martial arts gyms, and boot camp-style exercise programs, “rucking” is a new name …

SBT - Leadville - mistakes

5 Things Cyclists Shouldn’t Do During Long Races and Events

Obviously, there are a lot of things you do need to do in order to be successful in long distance cycling events. You have to train effectively, put in the miles and hours, incorporate structure and progression, fuel your training, and allow for adequate recovery. But, assuming you have done all of that and you …