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Hidden Gem #4 – Be where you are
I’ve done a bit of a 180 lately (famously my favourite move to do off the diving board). I’ve lived life in the slow lane, and by proxy of doing so in a foreign language, it’s been very much not in the comfort of normalcy. For the past two weeks, I’ve just really embodied this…
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Why perceived skill on uphills & downhills is all in your head
You are probably capable of being amazing at both uphills and downhills, and it’s probably your confidence holding you back more than anything. The binary that exists in the sport to create storylines is so fun, but less true than it’s made out to be. Most professional trail runners are professional trail runners for a…
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Hidden Gem #3 – UTMB Indexes are so freaking weird
Out of all the ranking and scoring systems in our sport, UTMB’s somehow happens to be the best. I say somehow, as there is so much that still doesn’t make sense about it. Not to mention the fact that UTMB is fraught with controversy. But for all intents and purposes, it’s the best. What a…
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How I dress to impress myself & the coyotes on the trails
Running in something snazzy and looking fly, will help you legitimately fly. These days, there are so many accessories that trail runners can customize to handle long days on the trails, and look good in the process. After all, fashion is one of the three most important things when it comes to trail running. Here…
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How I trained for Squamish & Quebec Mega Trail without any mountains
Two weeks ago, I finished as the top Ontario athlete at the Canadian National Championships – Squamish 50K, behind a host of names from Quebec, BC and Alberta. Of the top twenty-one finishers, Steph and I are the only Ontario outliers. One of the reasons why it’s such a rarity to see any athletes outside…
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Lessons from the 2024 Squamish 50K
According to Strava, I’ve never raced harder. Racing toward a near top-ten finish at a National Championship through injury, I shouldn’t be surprised. But with so many positives to take away from the race, I wanted to detail a dossier of what worked and what didn’t. It’s a library of information for myself, that hopefully…
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How to win The Bad Thing 50K
A year ago, in the midst of my Zombie mode recovery from Falling Water, I started training for my final trail race of the year – The Bad Thing 50K. The race fascinated me in so many ways, and entered the frame as the first ultra to catch my eye when starting my journey into…
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The keys to recovery & celebrating the present
Training is so much more than the actual act of training. My hypothesis is that it’s about 70% recovery from training, and 30% actual training. If you don’t get the right… 1. Sleep 2. Hydration 3. Nutrition 4. Positive vibes You will not be recovering (and therefore training) to your full potential. These are the…
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Squamish 50K Recap – Front row seat
For the past two weeks, I had two main concerns: Not starting. Not finishing. I just did both. & had the most fun I’ve ever managed to do when racing on the trails. Here is my recap of the Squamish 50K – including my front row seat to the battle for first in the women’s…
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Squamish 50K Preview
Next weekend, I will compete on the grandest stage of Canadian trail running. It will be not only the most competitive trail race I’ve ever done, but what I’m proclaiming to be the most competitive trail race in Canadian history.
Rhys Desmond
Training Theory & Coaching
