Western States 100: A Decade To A Day
My journey to the Western States 100 took 10 years of training, setbacks, and growth. Here’s what it takes to reach the start line — and the finish — of ultrarunning’s most iconic 100-mile race.
Feeling Bloated?
Here’s Why & How To Fix It By Coach Lindsay Leigh If you’ve been training and racing endurance sports for long enough, you’ve likely experienced bloating or swelling. There are many causes of bloating, so figuring out the problem isn’t always black and white. In this article, I’ll review the causes of bloating or swelling,[…]
Beyond Water & Carbs
The Role of Electrolytes in Athletic Performance By Coach Maria Simone You begin your run on a hot day, as the sun feels like it’s peeling layers of skin from your body. You’ve barely even made it through the warm-up, and you are already sweating through your clothes. By the time you are halfway through[…]
Satan’s Trifecta: Heat, Humidity & Dew Point
How much do they really impact performance? By Coach Maria Simone TLDR – a lot. If you want more information than this basic answer, then read on. Okay, maybe calling heat, humidity, and dew point the “Satan’s Trifecta” is a bit dramatic. But we’ve all been out there on rough days when it feels like[…]
Altitude Acclimation for Endurance Athletes
By Coach Maria Simone Above (L to R): Melina Grudzinski, Clarissa Ramos, Maria Simone & Sally Kado atop Mt. Elbert, the highest peak in Colorado at 14,439 feet. __________________________________ I went to high altitude for the first time when I ran the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim in the Grand Canyon in 2015. The rims themselves sit at 7500-7700[…]
Where the Waiting Ends: My Western States 100 Begins
Where the Waiting Ends: My Western States 100 Begins By Coach Maria Simone We wait so long for a thing to happen. But, before we know it, the time has come to begin. And now, it’s my turn to start. It’s the eve of my first – and likely only – running of the Western[…]
Open Water Swimming Tips
By Coach Lindsay Zemba Leigh ‘Tis the season when triathletes can branch out from pool swimming and get into the open water. To be ready for our best race day, learning how to maximize both safety and performance in open water is crucial. For many triathletes, the open water is the most anxiety-producing aspect of[…]
How Much Fitness Do I Lose When I Miss Training?
By Coach Maria Simone What should we do when we have to miss training? First, recognize that all of us will miss at least some aspect of our training across a season due to illness, injury, work, competing priorities, and so on. So, you aren’t alone! Realize, as well, that some limited misses in[…]
Break the Fast for (Fast) Performance
By Coach Lindsay Zemba Leigh We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But is there truth to it? Absolutely…and especially for athletes! Having a healthy, balanced breakfast full of nutrient-dense carbs and protein replenishes your stored glycogen after a nighttime fast, revs up your metabolism so you burn[…]
16 Weeks to Ironman World Championship Nice: Here’s our tips to be successful
By Coach Lindsay Zemba Leigh Ironman World Champs in Nice lived up to its hype – beautiful and epicly challenging! I hope this review helps you plan your training and travel for racing there – a once in a lifetime trip and race! Weather: After last year’s event, I expected heat and humidity[…]