I’ve always been fascinated by the role of genetics in sport. Obviously, there’s the heredity aspect that sometimes helps children of great athletes become great athletes themselves. More practically for those who don’t win the DNA lottery, genes affect the way individuals respond to stimuli, potentially opening the door to even greater customization of …
By Mara Abbott, Olympian and CTS Contributing Editor My junior year of college, I spent a semester enrolled at a university in Mérida, Mexico. In part, I considered it an experiment in what would happen if I went out in the Real World where sports (forever and always swimming and at the time only recently, …
If endurance events were easy, would they be as much fun? For our tribe the answer is: No. We get excited by challenges that push us beyond our comfort zones. Our tribe is drawn to events other people consider insane, including running 100 miles above 10,000 feet in Leadville, CO; riding a road bike …
By Syd Schulz CTS Athlete and Pro MTB Racer When I first started mountain biking, it used to make me miserable, like, somewhat frequently. This was because mountain biking is hard and starting new things is hard and also because I wasn’t very confident in my own abilities. As a result, perceived failures (OMG …
(March 20, 2018 – Colorado Springs, CO) Cyclists can now register for the 2nd edition of the CTS Figueroa Mountain Gran Fondo, presented by Figueroa Mountain Brewing. The event, scheduled for November 10, 2018, in Santa Ynez, California, features beautiful routes through the Santa Ynez Valley and an ascent of the iconic Figueroa Mountain climb. Early …
I was listening to the radio on my way to work earlier this week and a story on National Public Radio caught my attention. A retired scientist who also happens to be a life-long cyclist noticed he and his friends didn’t seem to be aging the same way their non-cyclist peers were. Not in the …
By Mara Abbott Olympian, CTS Contributing Editor Want to get somewhere? Devote yourself to the process. Destinations are highly unreliable. As the PyeongChang Olympics end and the Paralympics come into full swing, many spectators wonder about the origins of the motivation that keeps these athletes working so hard for so long. This dedication is particularly striking for …
As the popularity of ultramarathoning has soared in recent years and hundreds of new athletes have flocked to the sport, the issue of cutoffs has become a more and more common topic of discussion. Particularly with older runners, many of whom have come to the sport for camaraderie and community, the seemingly arbitrary and occasionally …
Fluid Recovery Partners With CTS To Offer Athletes Better Recovery Nutrition (February 28, 2018) Fluid Sports Nutrition and Carmichael Training Systems have announced a partnership beginning immediately that will give CTS coaches, athletes, and camp participants an opportunity to recover better with Fluid’s award-winning post-workout Recovery drink mix. Partnering with CTS helps Fluid reach a …
By Mara Abbott Olympian, CTS Athlete, and CTS Contributing Editor I’m sure you all saw them – the tongue-in-cheek tweets, the self-deprecating Facebook comments highlighting the irony of watching the astonishing physical feats at the Winter Olympics while ensconced in a couch eating Doritos. (With a side of mint chip ice cream. And beer.) Clearly, …