As a female athlete, have you ever wondered how you smash a track session this week but just a few weeks ago felt flat in the same session, given nutrition, sleep, and recovery remain the same? Or do you have days when you can’t keep your hands out of the cookie jar and others when a sugary snack doesn’t cross your mind? Or why men lose weight so much faster than women following the same diet? The good news is you aren’t going crazy; these scenarios occur, and the menstrual cycle’s fluctuation of hormones triggers it all.
[Read more…]Training During COVID-19
Athletes around the globe, share one universal concern, “will my race be canceled?” Universally, training serves as the vehicle in which we gain fitness and become race-ready. So how does that change training during COVID-19?
[Read more…]Running on Empty — Fasted Training for Endurance Athletes
Fasted training sessions and intermittent fasting are creating quite the buzz with the promise of weight loss and performance benefits. And, seemingly everyone is doing it, so what could be the harm? If you’ve ever jumped out of bed for an early morning workout without eating and didn’t grab a banana or bar, then you’ve done a fasted workout. Some athletes consciously forgo eating since they feel better training on an empty stomach, while others claim pre-fueling isn’t high on their priority list.
[Read more…]Three Treadmill Workouts to Outsmart Old Man Winter
If you are like most runners, the cool crisp winter air is a welcomed break from the triple digits we suffered in over the summer. And, not only do we feel better, but cooler temperatures enhance run performance since it’s physiologically easier to run when the body doesn’t have to work hard to maintain its core temperature. But when it comes to running, winter isn’t all a bed of roses. The shorter days, frigid temps and Jack Frost’s ice-covered roads – all wreak havoc on our training schedules and outdoor runs. Luckily these treadmill workouts will let you train indoors.
[Read more…]Stress and Athletic Performance
Unless you are a professional athlete whose daily schedule is simplified around a train, sleep, eat, and repeat cycle, then you along with most athletes walk a fine line between balancing life stress with training stress. Amateur athletes should view their training loads as one part of a healthy, productive, and engaged life. It’s critical to take inventory of your life both in and outside sport to recognize your overall stress environment as it relates to fitness and performance.
The word stress oozes negativity. It’s definition: “A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.” Athletes incur two types of stress: non-training and training stress. Both affect our body, energy, hormones, performance, mood, etc. Let’s break down the origin of our stress and learn how to mitigate its negative effect on our lives.
[Read more…]The Secret Recipe to Performance Enhancement
The other day I overheard a conversation between two runners discussing training plans and weekly mileage as it related to their performance in an upcoming race. I’m not one to eavesdrop, but the conversation was eerily similar to a discussion I had recently with one of my coached athletes. Both conversations circled around “cutting-edge run workouts alongside becoming leaner to reach optimal race weight.”
Goodness… where do I start debunking? I’ll begin with the foundation–where I started with my athlete. This is a jam-packed topic that seems complicated but is actually quite simple. I’m cutting to the chase, so listen up.
[Read more…]How to Eat, Train, and Stay Sane in the Last 2 Weeks Before Your First Half or Full Marathon
With the long months of training behind you, it can be hard to manage the emotional roller coaster before your first marathon. You’ve made it this far so hang tough since navigating this part is critical to your race day performance. Let’s dive into the details of your training, nutrition, and mental tactics so you are ready to toe the starting line with confidence and ease.
Lessons from Triathlon Camp
It’s ironic but the word, “camp” is a bit misleading here. Camp implies, sailing boats, riding zip lines and making smores by the camp fire. This camp included none of that. We swam, rode our bikes (180 miles with a total of 17,000 ft elevation gain) and ran off the bike, on hills, and at the track. This camp was a deep dive immersion into the art of triathlon. The focus was not on how to get faster but how to swim, bike and ride —- WELL. If you don’t know how to do something well, then how will you have the skills to go fast? So the intent on the 4.5-day full immersion – was [Read more…]