How to Build Cyclocross Fitness Without Riding More Hours: A Smarter Cyclocross Training Plan
Cyclocross season is almost here! You’re excited. You’re watching race videos, cleaning your bike, checking tire choices, and thinking about those first muddy starts. Then reality sets in. You don’t suddenly have ten extra hours a week to train. Most masters athletes don’t. Work is busy. Kids are back in school. Family schedules fill up. […]
Will Gravel Fitness Help Your Cyclocross Season? Why You Don’t Have to Start Over
You’ve spent all spring and summer training for gravel. Now cyclocross season is only a few weeks away, and you’re wondering if you’ve been training for the wrong sport. Will all those long endurance rides make you too slow? Will the gravel races leave you tired before the first cyclocross race? Or do you need […]
How to Measure Your Gravel Cycling Training Progress
You have been training consistently. You are riding four or five days each week. You are doing your intervals. You are strength training. You are fueling better. And your FTP hasn’t changed. So, is your gravel cycling training actually working? This is one of the most common questions I hear from the everyday gravel athletes […]
The Power of Cross-Training: Why Winter Is Your Secret Weapon for Gravel Racing Success
Cross-training isn’t just about staying fit when snow hits the ground. It’s about becoming a more complete, resilient athlete. Gravel racing, mountain biking, cyclocross, and trail running demands everything: endurance, technical skills, mental toughness, and the ability to adapt to whatever nature throws at you. Yet most endurance athletes approach winter training like they’re still […]
Time-Efficient HIIT Workouts for Busy People: How to Build Fitness in Less Time
By Coach Paul Warloski Between long workdays, family commitments, and everything else life throws at us, it’s easy to feel like there’s no time for quality training. But even if your schedule doesn’t allow for long endurance sessions, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can help you maintain fitness, boost performance, and stay consistent — all in […]
How GPS and Digital Tools Are Revolutionizing Endurance Training and Exploration
By Coach Anthony James Cycling has evolved into a digitally enhanced experience thanks to innovations that go far beyond traditional helmets and carbon frames. The integration of technology like GPS devices, trail apps, and ride-sharing platforms is fundamentally reshaping how cyclists train, explore, and connect with their community, creating a more connected and data-driven approach […]
Masters Athletes: The Break Your Body Craves (Even If You Hate Taking It)
I hated taking a break after a season. In fact, I rarely took an off-season, maybe a weekend off racing. But this year, I limped into the cross season after a long year of hard gravel racing. So I actually took a two-week break this year from racing and structured training. If you’re like many […]
Hazel Valley Rally: Fighting Heat, Humidity, and 6,000 Feet of Climbing on the ‘Have Mercy On Me’ Route
by Coach Anthony James The Hazel Valley Rally’s Have Mercy On Me route lives up to its name — 62.5 miles of relentless Ozark gravel, more than 6,000 feet of climbing, and a brutal mix of heat and humidity that tested every ounce of grit I had. What began as a calm 5 a.m. start […]
Breathe with Your Feet: Syncing Running Cadence and Breathing for Better Performance
Breathe with Your Feet: What Science Says About Syncing Breaths to Running Cadence (and How to Train It) By Coach Nicole Ford Three Things to Know About Breathing Cadence When You Run What the research says LRC (locomotor–respiratory coupling) is real and common. Runners often coordinate breathing to stepping at integer ratios (e.g., 2:2, 3:2). […]
Why Every Runner Should Do Strides: The Small Habit With Big Payoffs
by Coach Nicole Ford If you’ve been running for a while, you’ve probably heard about strides. They’re short, fast accelerations, usually tacked onto the end of easy runs, that sharpen your mechanics and give your legs a taste of speed. Strides don’t take long, they don’t leave you sore, and they don’t replace harder interval […]
