Endurance training blocks are a great way for cyclists to accumulate a large volume of training hours and miles in a relatively short period. Endurance blocks can be very useful for athletes who are engaged in high-intensity interval training programs, or who compete frequently. During periods of high-intensity training and racing, aerobic endurance can actually …
Weight gain isn’t the only potential downside to out-of-control Holiday eating. After spending most of the year eating pretty well, sudden increases in sugar, salt, fat, and alcohol throw your sleep, workout performance, recovery, and mood all out of whack. I don’t just want you to wake up on New Year’s Day without an extra …
By Chris Carmichael I am a cyclist in my mid-50s and I spend a lot of time riding with athletes up to 30 years younger and 25 years older than me. People ask me about the impact of age on endurance athletes, and here’s what I tell them: Your potential declines, but your ability to maximize …
We live in a 24/7 world with constant demands on our time and pressure to do more and more. The nature of social media and the ever-present smartphone feeds this pressure, whether it’s work emails coming in at 9:30pm or social media updates exalting everyone’s latest achievements. Athletes face the same career, family, and social …
One of the reasons CTS headquarters are in Colorado Springs, Colorado is that there are a ton of smart sports science folks here. And those who don’t live here typically come through here for conferences or events, like the US Olympic Committee’s International Altitude Training Symposium. Because altitude training and performance at high altitudes are …
At a recent Gran Fondo I had a chance to talk with a lot of athletes. I love working one-on-one with the athletes I personally coach, but I also love getting out of Colorado Springs to ride and interact with athletes of all ability levels at events around the country. I talk to a lot …
If progress is important to you then measuring and monitoring your performance is critical. We know, for instance, that in the first six months an athlete works with a CTS Coach, the athlete’s Functional Threshold Power (FTP) typically increases by 10%. Increased power isn’t the only way we measure success, but it is certainly an …
As I’ve gotten older I’ve noted a shift in the way I look at gifts. Sure, I still buy little niceties like a sweater or bottle of wine for people, but these days I’m not buying as many wrappable items for the people who mean the most to me. I want my gifts for these …
(January 27 – Colorado Springs, CO) – Carmichael Training Systems will be rolling into their 15th year as a leader in the personal coaching and training camp industry with new sports nutrition partners. OSMO Nutrition will be supplying CTS Coaches and Athletes with scientifically proven hydration products, and PROBAR will be providing nutrient-dense and delicious …
The past few weeks have been particularly difficult for outdoor training in Colorado – and much of the US. In Colorado Springs there was a stretch of about 7-10 days when the high temperatures never even reached 20 degrees, and the nights hovered around zero. While there were some folks who ventured out in such …