This week I worked with my long-time co-author, Jim Rutberg, to review and update this article on keeping athletes healthy during cold and flu season. Every year I encounter athletes who have a false sense of invincibility because exercise=health. And while being an athlete and consuming an athlete’s diet does generally improve your health, training …
By Mara Abbott, Olympian and CTS Contributing Editor “Most of what I do, I don’t consider to be a ‘workout’, but more like the fun of the day,” my dad told me last week as we discussed his post-retirement athletic adventures. As an incurably goal-oriented competitor, and also his daughter, this carefree quip was both …
By Jason Koop CTS Coaching Director Author “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” All athletes would be well served to take at least a four-year view of their training and goals. Sure, athletes will have goals and events within the coming 12, 9 or 6 months, and it is necessary to get ready for those events. …
By Jason Koop, CTS Coaching Director Author, “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” Some of the most rewarding parts of my role as Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning are recruiting, 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 simple: distill …
By Mara Abbott Olympian, CTS Contributing Editor Last week, a friend sent out a distress cry on Facebook. She had been scheduled to do a long run, but her body wasn’t having it. “I did not expect to feel like I wasn’t going to make it through the run. I did not expect …
By Jason Koop, CTS Coaching Director Author, “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” This is an exciting time in ultramarathon running. Sports have periods of rapid change and progress, and then there are periods when performances, events, and technologies seem to plateau. With the influx of sponsor money, the professionalization of race organizations, and the continued …
I have always been a morning person, up with the sunrise or before and raring to go. My friend and longtime co-author, Jim Rutberg, is a night owl. He does his best work in the afternoon and at night, and we work best together when we honor each other’s chronotypes. Recent research suggests there could …
By Mara Abbott, Olympian and CTS Contributing Editor Beginning of a New Year? Goal setting time. This year, however, my goal stretches far beyond 2019. My goal is to be in it for the long haul. I’ve realized that I’m on the downward slope of performance in my athletic career. I may be younger than …
I’m not a “New Year, New You” kind of guy. I absolutely think the New Year is a great opportunity to evaluate what you’re doing well and what needs to be changed, but progress is perpetual. The New Year is a merely a mile marker on a long journey to the best version of …
As 2018 draws to a close, I encourage everyone to pause and look back over the accomplishments and challenges you’ve experienced in the past 12 months. What are you grateful for? Who – or what – made you happy? What do you want to do differently in 2019? When I reflect on this year, the …