Rhys Desmond

Training Theory & Coaching

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  • The importance of mobility work for trail runners & injury-prone athletes

    As I’ve continued to endure injuries even despite the diligent attention to this piece of the puzzle, I’ve reflected on how I can make sure my mobility is properly attended to as much as my runs. Here are my best tips for prioritizing mobility, and why it’s so essential for trail runners and injury-prone athletes…

  • The best performances from Canadian trail runners in the first third of 2025 – Women

    Canadians have been on poutine fire at the start of the 2025 trail running season, posting up some of the most impressive performances of the season so far in some of the biggest North American races. Here are my picks for the best of the bunch so far this season (Jan-Apr. 2025).

  • Weekly Newsletter – Le Fun vs. Le Duh

    It’s so hard to tell ourselves to stop in the moment, especially because humans are very, very bad at changing their own minds once they’ve set their mind to something. Now imagine how bad RUNNERS are at changing their own minds. You have to prioritize Le Fun. There’s no other way. But it must always…

  • The changes to my training in 2025

    2025 has been a year of growth so far as I recover from an injury. It’s also been a year of newness, as I train in new trails in a new province under the guidance of a new coach. We’ve focused more on running efficiency – touching more roads already in April than all of…

  • Gorge Waterfalls 30K Race Recap – Penguins 🐧

    I wasn’t meant to be in this race. I mean, to the extent where my bib still said ’50K’ on the day. While 30K might not ever be my race distance of choice, I felt fortunate to even make it to the start-line. Seven months of dealing with this injury on and off has taught…

  • Maybe I do like to run 🤷

    I always proclaimed myself to be nothing more than a shuffler, since I knew my skill and strength as a ‘runner’ leaned more toward the skill and strength-based aspects of the sport. Things like technical terrain, tough conditions, downhills, and sustained climbs. I prided myself on being able to dance around roots and rocks, and…

  • Injured again: But life’s not about the short term, anyway

    My injury has come back! But any kind of catastrophizing any more isn’t going to help. Instead I have to channel all my anger over the situation into genuine smiles and laughter, and hope for better in the long-term future, even if not the short-term. Life’s not about the short-term anyway.

  • Things aren’t nice in paradise

    If we could turn the hands of time, I would do it. We had everything, but we never knew it. Things aren’t nice out here in paradise, so baby leave the light on. – Robinson New Zealand-born singer Robinson is one of my favourite musical talents on the planet, largely for creating lyrics with actual…

  • 28

    I can remember when birthdays felt like the biggest deal in the world. When for that entire day, my normal veins had been replaced by ones bursting with invincibility. When East Side Mario’s’ all you can eat salad and bread still hit so hard. This year, no one even knew! If it hadn’t been for…

  • ITRA Rankings are so silly silly

    I woke up to an email this morning. A ‘congratulations!!’ email. Not one where I won a trip. In fact, not one where I won anything at all. But it WAS a congratulations email. A congratulations email where I was ranked 16th in Canada for 2024 based on ITRA’s metrics. That is to say, via…