Strength training is an established and recommended component of trail and ultramarathon training, but athletes still have questions about whether they should lift heavy, with relatively low numbers of repetitions, or lift lighter weights for higher rep counts? High-load, low-rep training develops strength, durability, bone density, and tendon resilience. Proponents of low-load, high-rep strength circuits …
We all hear it: “You need to lift heavy.” And while lifting heavy has big benefits for cyclists, there’s a piece missing in many riders’ programs, and that’s control. Single-leg strength training is how to get it. If you can’t do a single-leg squat without wobbling around like a Weeble Wobble, heavy squats aren’t the …
When it comes to endurance training, time can be your nemesis or your greatest ally. Instead of focusing on get-fit-quick or lose-weight-quick schemes, it’s important to recognize that meaningful and measurable adaptations to training require diligence and patience. Total training time is the most powerful factor for achieving results from endurance training. Monthly and …
Running is not typically considered a gear-intensive sport, but the remote nature of trail and ultrarunning means there are some gear essentials that improve comfort and performance as well as increase a runner’s safety. Here is an essential gear list meant to ensure new trail and ultrarunners have the basic equipment to train effectively and …
All athletes face days when they just don’t feel like training. That’s normal. Figuring out what to do about it can be trickier. Should you ‘suck it up’ and force yourself out the door? Should you acknowledge the feeling and take a day off? Or is what you’re feeling a sign of something more …
Fuzhao Xiang has a strong chance of becoming the first Chinese athlete to win one of ultrarunning’s most prestigious races: Western States (WSER) or Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). Her stellar performance at the 2024 WSER was the third-fastest female finish (16:20:03) in history. Athletes endured a hotter race day in 2025, …
Cyclists and runners and just about everyone else likes to put their feet up after a workout or a hard day at work. A common belief is that elevating your feet above the level of your heart for anywhere from several minutes to an hour or more will “drain lactic acid” from your legs, improve …
By Renee Eastman, CTS Premier Coach & Performance Lab Director Blood lactate plays a key role in exercise and fitness, offering valuable insights into how our bodies produce energy, build endurance, and perform. Part 1 of this series covered the basics of blood lactate’s role in exercise and setting training zones. In Part 2, we’ll …
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 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 …