Recovery Strategies For Endurance Athletes: Balancing Training Plans With Daily Readiness
In endurance sports, recovery is a non-negotiable component of the training process. It’s what allows athletes to adapt to the stress of training, repair muscle damage, and prepare for future workouts. However, the way recovery is scheduled can vary significantly. Two main approaches dominate the discussion: the structured training plan with scheduled rest weeks and […]
Adopting a Pro Athlete Mindset: How Making Key Lifestyle Changes Can Bring Success for Everyday Endurance Athletes
One of my junior clients texted me from St. Louis after one of the Gateway Cup crits didn’t go very well. “I’m actually so done. I’ll do anything to get better. I will not complain, I will do everything this winter.” The junior had done well in Cat. 4s in the Chicago Grit series, but […]
The Truth About Protein: Debunking Misconceptions and Maximizing Benefits for Endurance Athletes
Very few supplements on the market actually work for everyday endurance athletes. Protein is one of them. However, there are many misconceptions around getting enough protein. Jose Antonio is a nutrition scientist who has done a series of reviews into supplements that work (protein, caffeine, and creatine). We will go through his review and summarize […]
Elevate Your Trail Running Endurance: Proven Strategies for Lasting Performance
by Coach Nicole Ford Trail running offers a unique and exhilarating challenge for runners, combining the beauty of nature with the physical demands of uneven terrain. To truly excel in trail running, building endurance is essential. This post will explore effective strategies to enhance your endurance, ensuring you can tackle any trail with confidence. Understanding […]
Master Your Endurance Workout Intensity and Breathing with the Simple Talk Test
The Talk Test is a simple yet powerful tool for cyclists, runners, and triathletes to monitor exercise intensity and improve breathing during endurance training. Research suggests that it’s an effective method for gauging how hard you’re working based on your ability to speak during physical activity. Understanding the Talk Test The Talk Test categorizes exercise […]
Get Race-Ready: A Six-Week Cyclocross Training Plan for Peak Performance
Cyclocross training requires a unique blend of skills, speed work, endurance, and recovery. The cyclocross season is almost upon us, and managing your training load right before and during the season is crucial. The first race in Wisconsin and the national cyclocross series is on Sept. 7 and 8 at the Englewood CX in Fall […]
Something is Always Better Than Nothing in Your Endurance Sports Training
As everyday endurance athletes, our sports are not our primary job. And sometimes life gets in the way of training. So what do you do if you have a two-hour workout scheduled but there’s no way you’ll be able to complete the whole thing? Adapt and do part of it. Something is always better than […]
Optimize Your Cycling Potential: Balancing Endurance and Intensity Workouts
I’ve been having discussions with one of my newer cycling athletes about endurance riding. They consistently ride sort of hard all the time, and often add extra rides in at similar pacing. And while there’s a place for riding sort of hard, like in group rides or focused tempo intervals, this rider is slowly starting […]
Six Words That Can Change How You View Failure As An Everyday Athlete
We’ve all been there at one point or another: Feeling like we failed when a race or event didn’t go as planned, hoped for, or expected. Usually this feeling, at least for me, is a very negative emotion that derails all enjoyment of the event. But what if failure was an opportunity? It’s not the […]
Mastering midlife nutrition: a guide for the over-50 endurance athlete to lose weight, gain energy
Navigating nutrition after 50 can be tricky at best, especially as an endurance athlete. I had a long discussion with several older male athletes about nutrition recently and decided to share my current understanding. (I have a nutrition certification, and I’m not a nutritionist or dietician.) Some endurance athletes over 50 tend to not eat […]
