I’m going to preface this by saying I don’t like beets. I know they are packed with nutrients (including nitrates), may improve cardiovascular health, and may even increase athletic performance by boosting nitric oxide levels, but I’ve never enjoyed eating beets. So when I reached out to CTS Athlete and renowned chef Matthew Accarrino, from …
Introduction: Heat is the enemy of endurance performance and an underlying cause for diminished performance, dehydration, heat stress, gastrointestinal distress, and impaired recovery. In this 3-part series we will provide you with the tools and information you need to PREPARE for training and events, PERFORM at your best, and RECOVER optimally when temperatures soar. Quick …
[iframe id=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/VKDG2_Usc1Q?rel=0″ align=”center” autoplay=”yes”] One of the greatest truths about sports nutrition is that even the best foods are useless if they stay in your pocket. You have to put those calories, electrolytes, and fluids into your body for them to do you any good. That means you have to like how they taste, how …
Recently a journalist asked me what has had the greatest impact on performance in professional cycling in the 30 years since I was a pro. A lot has changed in sports science, training, equipment, and technology since the 80s, but I think the advances that have had the greatest impact on improving athletic performance …
It’s Saturday morning and it’s going to be 85 degrees by 9:00AM, or maybe you have a workout or race scheduled for the afternoon when it will be really hot. It’s nice to say things like “exercise when it’s cooler”, but sometimes busy athletes have to get out there when they can, even if that …
At the start of training ride or an event, all things are possible. You could have a ride that puts a smile on your face or a performance that exceeds your expectations. But you can also screw it up, and a lot of cyclists do that on a regular basis. Here are four ways I …
I’m happy to be spending this weekend riding in beautiful Napa Valley, California at the Bottega Gran Fondo. It’s a great event unlike any other that brings together world-class culinary leaders and cyclists for a weekend of stunning rides, farm fresh food, and some of the finest Napa Valley wines. Even though many of you …
In the continuum of training and recovery methods that ranges from “absolutely beneficial” to “definitely harmful”, ice baths and antioxidants fall squarely in the middle. There’s not much evidence to back up claims of substantial benefits, but little evidence showing them to be harmful, either. That doesn’t mean they’re useless; it just means you need …
By CTS Coaching Staff We spend a lot of time counseling athletes on their nutrition choices during training and competition, especially as part of the “Race Day Nutrition Planning” service offered by CTS. After doing several hundred of these planning sessions with athletes, common threads have emerged. Some of the most common nutrition mistakes we see …