We all had at least one compelling reason to begin our trail running journey. Perhaps it was the finisher’s belt buckle or t-shirt, the inherent challenge of ultramarathon events, or health benefits. For most people, motivation evolves over time. Some original motivations may become more intense, or initial motives may fade and be replaced with …
Ergogenic aids, or performance-enhancing substances, include any substances that enhance performance or recovery. The term encompasses legal substances like caffeine and prohibited substances like anabolic steroids. Interestingly, the research that determined just how ‘sports enhancing’ they could be, was done in controlled laboratory settings rather than real-world scenarios. While controlled settings leave less room for …
Backyard Ultra Events exploded in popularity over the last few years thanks, in part, to their straightforward setup. The objective is to complete successive 4.167-mile loops, each in under one hour, for as long as you can. A little more than 4 miles in an hour sounds easy, and for the first few hours it …
By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning The scene at the Twin Lakes aid station during the Leadville Trail 100 is interesting. The small town serves as the aid station at Mile 40 (outbound) and again at Mile 60 (inbound). It’s equal parts haven for tired athletes and late night rager for the crews. …
When I had CTS coach and licensed psychotherapist, Neal Palles, on the Trainright Podcast, I thought we were diving into a conversation about mental toughness and psychological considerations for the masters athlete. Instead, I walked away with a mantra I’ve scribbled on a sticky note on the corner of my computer monitor: “Psychological Flexibility > …
The first time trying something new can be exciting and intimidating, or both. Although nerves are probably part of the equation, don’t let those concerns keep you from testing your mettle. Perhaps you’ve never attended an ultrarunning event and are unsure of the details. For those of you considering your first ultramarathon, let’s walk through …
By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning Injuries in ultramarathon training and racing are not going away. That’s a sobering fact, but the numbers don’t lie. On the training side, up to 70% of runners will become injured every year and lose at least one day of training. Racing is just as injurious. For …
By Darcie Murphy, CTS Ultrarunning Senior Coach Goal setting comes naturally to many ultrarunners and endurance athletes, almost like it’s in our DNA. If you’re resistant to setting specific goals, don’t worry. I can absolutely relate. For years I avoided New Year’s resolutions or formal goal setting sessions. I just wanted to ‘have fun’ playing …
By Darcie Murphy, CTS Ultrarunning Senior Coach So, you’ve been running longer miles and hours for a while, and you think you want to toss your hat in the ring and test yourself in a race. Congratulations! The decision to compete is a big step for many athletes. It’s one thing to keep ticking off …
By Jason Koop, Head Coach of CTS Ultrarunning When I originally wrote the first edition of ‘Training Essentials for Ultrarunning’ in 2015, I wanted to create a work that could bridge a gap I perceived in the ultrarunning space. At the time, there was a gap between using anecdotal accounts to drive training and …