By Andy Jones-Wilkins, CTS Ultrarunning Pro Coach, host of “Crack a Brew with AJW Podcast” I recently had the opportunity to provide race support for four athletes I coach at the Rocky Raccoon 100 in Huntsville, TX. Rocky is an early season ultra with a reputation of being one of the “easier” 100-mile …
By Darcie Murphy, CTS Ultrarunning Senior Coach As you begin race day planning for ultrarunning events, you must consider aid station strategies. Where are the aid stations located? How can you best utilize them to manage the course and the race most effectively? CTS Coaches support athletes – from champions like Katie Schide to …
A popular song in the early 2000’s told us that the “Hips Don’t Lie”. For runners with tight or sore hips, this takes on an entirely new – and relatable – meaning. Hip mobility stretches are an essential component to a runner or ultrarunner’s routine. Several muscles make up the hip complex. You have your …
By Andy Jones-Wilkins, CTS Ultrarunning Pro Coach When I was coming of age in ultrarunning in the 1990s, I was fortunate to have very good mentors. Four, in particular – John Medinger, Tim Twietmeyer, Ann Trason, and Tommy Nielsen — all took me under their collective wings and fed me with knowledge and wisdom. …
By Cliff Pittman, CTS Senior Coach & CTS Coaching Development Director Technology continues to profoundly impact training methods across the spectrum of endurance sports. However, a stubbornly low-tech assessment of effort and exercise intensity stands the test of time. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is about as simple as it gets: “On a scale …
By Sarah Scozzaro, CTS Ultrarunning Pro Coach In my nearly 20 years of coaching, including more than a decade coaching ultramarathon runners, I have evolved as a professional. There are many ways to work as a coach, and I’ve made certain decisions to align my practice with my values and my approach to athlete …
By Darcie Murphy, CTS Ultrarunning Pro Coach Here’s my unpopular response to the “New Year, New You” voices: It’s okay to not be a goal-setter. If you have been living under a boulder, then maybe you’re unaware we’re expected to have goals for the New Year. And not just for athletic objectives, but also …
This past week I completed my 45th trip around the sun. As usual, I ran my age in miles, which becomes more of an ordeal with each passing year. It also gives me a lot of time to think about what categorically has worked with athletes over 2-plus decades as a professional coach. Below are …
Many marathon runners are making the leap to ultramarathon distances. If you are considering your first 50k, 50-miler, 100k, or even 100-mile ultramarathon, you’re not alone. The most important thing to understand is that an ultramarathon is not simply a longer marathon. As distance and duration increase, the challenges and demands shift so significantly that …
By Darcie Murphy, CTS Ultrarunning Senior Coach The holiday season is upon us! Whether that conjures panic or glee, apathy or excitement, or perhaps a combination, the season will happen with or without you. And it’s probably going to affect your training, too. It is possible to keep your training intact while handling the …