By Chris Carmichael, CTS Founder and Chief Endurance Officer The week between Christmas and New Year’s is often an opportunity for cyclists to pile on miles and hours. The Rapha Festive 500 (riding 500 kilometers between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve) is one of the original and still popular versions for ending the …
By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning, Author of “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning When I was 30 I bemoaned getting slower and weaker. I thought I was old and I would never be as good as I was in my 20’s. Not true. By any performance measure I can think of, I am …
By Noah Niwinski, CTS Senior Coach You would think setting goals would be one of the simpler components of being an athlete. What do you want to do? Why do you want to do it? What does success look like if you accomplish it? But the truth is that many athletes are much better …
By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning, Author of “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” The Western States Endurance Run is one of the most prestigious ultramarathons on the calendar, and entries are so coveted it can take years to earn a place on the start line. As a result, runners who get into the race …
By Jim Rutberg, Coach and co-author of “Ride Inside” and “The Time-Crunched Cyclist” Although I co-authored a training book for indoor cycling, I prefer to ride outside if I can. Winter cycling takes a bit more planning and thought compared to throwing on a pair of bibs and a jersey in the summer, but once …
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 the increase in mileage and how they will know they are ready. As with many things in this sport, that’s often a matter of individual circumstances. However, …
For cyclists using smart trainers and internet-enabled cycling apps, one of a smart trainer’s core capabilities is to externally control and adjust the resistance a cyclist experiences. Of the multiple ways this can be applied, ERG Mode is one of the most important. Here’s how it works, when you should use it, and when you …
By Darcie Murphy, CTS Ultrarunning Pro Coach The longer you are engaged in ultramarathon training and racing, the more likely you are to suffer an injury. Research indicates 65% of runners report at least one training-related injuries per year. On average, these injuries lead to 14 lost training days (PMID: 24416176). Well planned training, …
By Jim Rutberg, CTS Pro Coach, co-author of “The Time-Crunched Cyclist” December presents many training and nutrition challenges for athletes, but with some planning you can hit January strong, fit, and ready to ramp up your performance. You don’t have to live like a monk for the six weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. We …
By Ryne Anderson, CTS Ultrarunning Coach “All you need is a pair of shoes.” This phrase is often used to highlight the simplicity of running. Of course, once you add a hydration vest, GPS watch, apparel, poles, and race entry fees, the sport seems a lot less simple. At the center of it …