Rhys Desmond

Training Theory & Coaching

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  • Vancouver Sun Run 10K – Race Recap – Mario Kart Vancouver

    Around 8K, I told myself “this is the moment to get that 10K best. It’s now or never.” I got a little more mushroom power-up in my legs but unfortunately no coins or star power. This managed to bridge the gap between the other dudes fighting in that Yellow bib wave as we continued to…

  • Controversy over start-line access continues at Gorge Waterfalls 50K

    Race organizers of the Gorge Waterfalls 30K granted special start-line access to Nike ACG athletes, raising questions about fairness and consistency in rule enforcement at one of North America’s premier trail events.

  • How different trail races handle shuttle buses to avoid rule-breaking

    Gorge Waterfalls has kicked off with controversy to start their 2026 event, after ACG sent their athletes to the start-line early, ahead of the mandatory race shuttle buses. What initially seemed like a cheating scandal outside of the race organization’s control has quickly turned into one more about transparency and fairness, as Freetrail admitted on…

  • Nike ACG athletes granted alternate start-line access at Gorge Waterfalls 30K

    Race organizers of the Gorge Waterfalls 30K granted special start-line access to Nike ACG athletes, raising questions about fairness and consistency in rule enforcement at one of North America’s premier trail events.

  • How to pass in a trail race

    One of the best parts about racing is the chance to see where you stack up against other people. While the focus always needs to be on you and your race, the dynamics of racing against other people is often what can make racing memorable and fun. But it can sometimes be difficult to pass…

  • Newsletter – Do down weeks negatively affect fitness?

    While we’d all love to have a consistent string of weeks where everything comes together perfectly and everything clicks into place; it’s never that easy to hold onto that success for months on end. It’s natural for a dip to occur. It’s good for a dip to occur. Those super good weeks are only possible…

  • Newsletter: How much trail time do you really need for trail races?

    In any sport, I’ve long been a proponent of “game-realistic training”. The notion is that you need to prepare for the specific demands of what the game actually looks like. When it comes to endurance sports, this becomes more complex. What we need to develop as athletes is a well-rounded skillset.

  • Run Ridge Run 25K – Recap

    I’ve never been so close to not starting a race. Had it been the day earlier, or the two or three prior, I might not have. But I’m so glad I started this race, as it was one of my best in years.

  • Newsletter – Making the treadmill more fun!

    The treadmill simply can’t compare to the thrill of running outdoors, enjoying nature, and the fun challenge of varying terrain. I enjoy treadmill workouts, but I don’t think I’d be alone in saying that I enjoy an outdoor workout ten times more in ideal conditions. With that, here are some of my top tips to…

  • Weekly Newsletter – Adapting your training in the winter

    As you approach the Christmas season and the year comes to a close, it’s normal to fall into a bit of a slump with training. Here is how to adapt your training and stay motivated over the holidays and winter season!