One of the first goals any athlete mentions to me is to improve lactate threshold (LT), although they might use a proxy for it – Functional Threshold Power (FTP). Those terms are often used interchangeably because power at LT and FTP are typically very close. Both indicate maximal sustainable power. Specifically, that means the effort …
Topics Covered In This Episode: What is FASTR? Early identification and interventions to prevent injury and identify ways to optimize performance in female athletes How the research from the FASTR program will apply to athletes, coaches, and parents of young athletes Guests: Our guests today are Dr. Megan Roche and Dr. Emily Kraus. Dr. Roche …
By Scott Mercier, CTS Contributing Editor, US Olympian, Retired pro cyclist I was watching Nordic skiing on the Olympics and they showed a section of the Great Wall of China. The section was at the top of a mountain and had an enormous arched gate. I immediately flashed back to the 1995 Tour of China. …
Trail running may not be the most dangerous outdoor sport, it is important to know the risks and how to take care of yourself. Many issues can be mitigated with proper planning and a few items that are easily carried in a running vest. So, let’s discuss first aid for trail runners and how to …
Some workouts just don’t go like you planned. Maybe you visualized pushing the pace at the front of the group ride, or crushing that set of intervals, or spinning along smoothly for hours on end. Instead, you felt sluggish, like you were pedaling squares, or like you couldn’t get out of your own way. Crappy …
By Alison Tetrick, Pro cyclist, Entrepreneur, CTS Contributing Editor Your sights are honed. You have your target in mind. You’re laser focused. You start dialing in your objective. I just hope it isn’t on Bambi. (Whoever put their sights on that baby deer traumatized an entire generation.) As another cycling season gets rolling, there are …
Topics Covered In This Episode: Thinking outside the box when it comes to training phases Load vs. stress vs. strain How to build fatigue resistance Why consistency is so important The limitations of training stress score Athlete gap analysis Using strength training to build durability Guest Bio: Mikael Eriksson is the Founder and Head Coach …
By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning The scene at the Twin Lakes aid station during the Leadville Trail 100 is interesting. The small town serves as the aid station at Mile 40 (outbound) and again at Mile 60 (inbound). It’s equal parts haven for tired athletes and late night rager for the crews. …
Topics Covered In This Episode: Developing risk tolerance, vulnerability, and patience The relationship between outcomes and your process Getting through the plateaus in progress Returning to failures Reframing success and failure Abby’s John Muir Trail FKT attempts Guest Bio: Abby Hall is a CTS Athlete and professional trail and ultrarunner for the Adidas Terrex team. …
When I had CTS coach and licensed psychotherapist, Neal Palles, on the Trainright Podcast, I thought we were diving into a conversation about mental toughness and psychological considerations for the masters athlete. Instead, I walked away with a mantra I’ve scribbled on a sticky note on the corner of my computer monitor: “Psychological Flexibility > …