By Darcie Murphy, CTS Ultrarunning Pro Coach We get two versions of this question. Middle-distance and marathon runners looking to tackle their first ultra ask, “How long will it take to be well prepared for my first ultramarathon?” Then there are the athletes who have attempted one or more ultras and struggled. Soon after …
By Chris Carmichael, CTS Founder and Chief Endurance Officer There are a lot of things you can know about cycling training, but here are the 10 truths you need to know. The past several years has witnessed a surge in the number of devices, products, apps, and supplements promising to improve the effectiveness or …
By Darcie Murphy, CTS Ultrarunning Pro Coach I must admit, I was unfamiliar with Ecuadorian ultrarunner Joaquin Lopez when Jason Koop (Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning) reached out to me in December 2023 about the opportunity to work with him. From our first conversation I was impressed with Joaquin’s obvious dedication to performance and …
By Jim Rutberg, CTS Pro Coach, co-author of “Ride Inside“ and “The Time-Crunched Cyclist” Sports science and coaching professionals read and report on many of the same research papers, sometimes with different interpretations. A scientist and writer I respect a great deal, Alex Hutchinson (author of “Endure” and the Sweat Science column for Outside …
By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning Author, “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” Some of the most rewarding parts of my role as Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning are training and mentoring new ultramarathon coaches when they join the team. One of the exercises I use is called “THE ONE” and the premise is …
By Jim Rutberg, CTS Pro Coach, co-author of “Ride Inside“ and “The Time-Crunched Cyclist” Fall is a tenuous time for summer-oriented endurance athletes. You know it’s unrealistic to maintain peak summer fitness year round. And you likely need and want a physical and mental break from highly-regimented, event-focused training. At the same time, you’re apprehensive …
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 …
By Jim Rutberg, CTS Pro Coach, co-author of “Ride Inside“ and “The Time-Crunched Cyclist” As the summer cycling season winds down, cyclists face several options. With your biggest event goals in the rearview mirror, the next few months are full of opportunities! Rather than sitting on the couch and watching football, use this time to …
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 …
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 …