Rhys Desmond

Training Theory & Coaching

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  • Kalie McCrystal

    It’s been almost two weeks since Kalie went missing on the Matterhorn. By now, we would have all hoped to have some form of an answer. Like Hillary Gerardi said this week in City News, Kalie is symbolic for what so many trail runners aspire to be and dream of doing. The dream of spending…

  • Squamish 23K – Race Recap

    This year, I made an intentional decision to go down in distance on the trails, working on fundamental speed and efficiency over total vertical gain, long training weekends, and all the extra layers that go into ultras. Along the way, I’ve relearned what I’ve always known: I’m much better when races get longer. This would…

  • Newsletter – Three things I do before and AFTER every run

    The hallmark of a good runner lies within the ability to not only have good routines around the run itself, but within everything that surrounds it. Growing as an endurance athlete does not only happen within the repeated movement patterns of the activity itself, but within the adaptations that happen when the body stops moving.…

  • Whistler Half Marathon – Race Recap

    The Whistler Half Marathon had the makings of something special. I’d been on course enough in the month leading into the race, and had the experience of running fast along several key sections. But I just couldn’t execute on race day. In the end it was back in my usual spot, with another fourth place…

  • The training behind Laurence Laplante’s 3-hour marathon

    Laurence’s consistency in training has been down to her own dedication to recovery and looking after herself; and three training tweaks within the last year. Here are the training approaches that helped Laurence to execute a 2:58 marathon PB, and a 3:02 day in Ottawa.

  • Inside Rachel Bolognone’s silver medal at Sulphur Springs 50K 🥈

    Rachel just ran 4:58 for the Sulphur Springs 50K, landing on the podium! Here are the training approaches and self-belief strategies we adopted close to race day; and the lessons other runners can take away!

  • Trail des Collines 16K Recap

    Normally when I finish a race, I’m jumping for joy (or limping through the airport with joy), excited to write a post-race recap of my experience. But truth be told, I’ve never wanted to pretend a race didn’t exist more.

  • 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…