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, …
By Darcie Murphy, CTS Ultrarunning Pro Coach The longer you are engaged in ultramarathon training and racing, the more likely you are to suffer an injury. Research indicates 65% of runners report at least one training-related injuries per year. On average, these injuries lead to 14 lost training days (PMID: 24416176). Well planned training, …
By Ryne Anderson, CTS Ultrarunning Coach “All you need is a pair of shoes.” This phrase is often used to highlight the simplicity of running. Of course, once you add a hydration vest, GPS watch, apparel, poles, and race entry fees, the sport seems a lot less simple. At the center of it …
By Darcie Murphy, CTS Pro Ultramarathon Coach Running in the dark is a big part of being an ultramarathon runner. Either during events or during training runs that begin before sunrise and/or end after sunset, you’re going to find yourself on a trail in the dark. Carrying a light with the right combination of …
By Andy Jones-Wilkins, CTS Ultrarunning Pro Coach At the 2024 Hennepin 100 in Illinois, 70-year-old ultrarunner Henry Bickerstaff from Alva, Oklahoma ran the fastest 100-mile trail race for a 70+ age group runner in North America this year. Henry achieved his finishing time of 25:12:17 through a combination of carefully designed training, near-perfect race …
By Sarah Scozzaro, CTS Pro Coach, NSCA-PT, NASM PES If you have decided you want to include some strength training into your training plan, but either don’t want to join a gym or would like to transition to home training, you might be wondering what home equipment you should focus on. You can set up …
By Darcie Murphy, CTS Ultrarunning Pro Coach We get two versions of this question. Middle-distance and marathon runners looking to tackle their first ultra ask, “How long will it take to be well prepared for my first ultramarathon?” Then there are the athletes who have attempted one or more ultras and struggled. Soon after …
By Darcie Murphy, CTS Ultrarunning Pro Coach I must admit, I was unfamiliar with Ecuadorian ultrarunner Joaquin Lopez when Jason Koop (Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning) reached out to me in December 2023 about the opportunity to work with him. From our first conversation I was impressed with Joaquin’s obvious dedication to performance and …