By Jason Koop CTS Coaching Director Author, “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” As the year draws to a close the ultrarunning coaches and I have been reviewing our year, just as we do with our athletes and we hope you’re doing for yourself. This year has been all about growth, not necessarily in terms of …
Normally I reserve this column for some sort of training topic devoted to making readers more prepared for their ultramarathon goals. However, there are times when I feel I should use this platform for a bigger purpose, like now. We need more women in ultrarunning, period. The current gender inequality in the sport is bad …
Some parts of the country are blanketed in snow and the thermometer hasn’t ventured above freezing in more than a week. For some of you, there will be snow on all the trails until April! Yet, snow and cold don’t have to hinder your training. Here are some winter running tips to help you thrive …
By David Henry, CTS Ultrarunning Coach I ran the 2017 Quad Dipsea ultramarathon and it provided the perfect illustration for some simple lessons in race pacing. The Quad is a “fun” ultra spin on the traditional Dipsea Trail that runs the route from Old Mill Park in Mill Valley, CA to Stinson Beach and …
By Adam St. Pierre CTS Running Coach and Biomechanist There are many factors involved in running biomechanics, including body weight, limb length, muscle strength, joint range of motion… and everybody is different in these respects. That’s why there is no singular ideal that defines perfect body mechanics. Rather, each individual must find their own ideal …
By Corrine Malcolm, CTS Ultrarunning Coach As an endurance athlete it’s likely that you’ve had blood work done sometime in the past. Terms like “CBC” (complete blood count), serum ferritin, hemoglobin, and hematocrit might ring a bell. If you are a female athlete you are likely all too familiar with iron deficiency (ID), or anemia. …
By Jason Koop CTS Coaching Director Author, “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” I’ve been to a ton of ultrarunning events over the past two years, but none as a competitor. I crewed, paced, volunteered, cheered, and supported; I just didn’t race. Earlier this year my wife signed up for a mid-October 50k, and I thought …
By David Henry, CTS Ultrarunning Coach I’ve been thinking a lot about assets and, in particular, what asset is most valuable for an ultrarunner. Is it a super-high V02 max, superior pace at lactate threshold, incredible running economy or some other metric? Those are nice, but in the end, really nothing holds quite the …
By Jason Koop, CTS Coaching Director and author of “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” Winter is coming… at least to the northern hemisphere. While it’s not the end of the competitive season for everyone, it is for the majority of the athletes my coaches and I work with. And that brings the inevitable discussion of what …
By Jim Rutberg, co-author “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” Race-day anxiety is normal and both novice and experienced athletes are likely to experience it before and during a challenging 50-kilometer, 50-mile, or 100-mile ultramarathon. Learning to manage it is essential to having a successful and positive experience at your next big event. Step 1: Get …