By Bri Boley, CTS Ultrarunning Expert Coach “How do I become a better runner?” In the days of the internet and social media influencers, that question has a million answers, many of which contradict each other. Filtering information down to what’s supported by science and experience is one of the leading reasons athletes cite …
By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning, Author of “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” When I give training talks, I can inevitably count on being asked, “How long should my longest run be?” When I get this question, I usually retort with, “Why do you need a long run?” Silence ensues. The silence stems from …
By Patrick McGlade, CTS Ultrarunning Coach and Physical Therapist Ultrarunning is an exercise in controlled excess. Athletes enjoy pushing themselves beyond what they previously thought possible. We can train for the time on our feet, for elevation changes, the heat and cold, but at a certain point our bodies will wave the white flag …
By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning, Author of “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” I’ve written before about how heavy strength training is superior to light weight/high repetition strength training for runners. In response, runners have asked about how, why, and when to implement a strength training program. I’ve also received a number of …
By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning Many runners would like to lose a few pounds. Whether they need to, would benefit from, or should lose weight is another question. Generally, I prefer to focus on fitness and adequate nutritional support for training and let body weight adapt naturally. However, some athletes still …
By Jason Koop, CTS Head Ultrarunning Coach I am going to take you through how I plan out a season for athletes using a format that I refer to as the Long-Range Plan (LRP). Below you’ll also find a link to a free ultrarunning long-range plan template you can use to create your own. …
By Darcie Murphy, CTS Ultrarunning Pro Coach It is lottery season and an impending New Year. This means the sky is the limit for ultramarathoners when it comes to dreaming and scheming plans for the year ahead. Although planning is becoming more complex with the increasingly competitive lotteries, there are also more new events than …
By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning, Author of “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning When I was 30 I bemoaned getting slower and weaker. I thought I was old and I would never be as good as I was in my 20’s. Not true. By any performance measure I can think of, I am …
By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning, Author of “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” The Western States Endurance Run is one of the most prestigious ultramarathons on the calendar, and entries are so coveted it can take years to earn a place on the start line. As a result, runners who get into the race …
By Andy Jones-Wilkins CTS Ultramarathon Coach Runners who are thinking of making the jump to ultramarathon distances frequently ask me what they should do to prepare for the increase in mileage and how they will know they are ready. As with many things in this sport, that’s often a matter of individual circumstances. However, …