Category: Races
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It’s more fun if you sing along
I can’t quite pinpoint it, but I just know that I’ve not been having fun so far with my races. I’ve been having fun in training. But maybe because training’s been going so well, I’ve started to put more pressure on myself to punch above my old belief systems. So in the second half of…
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Weekly Newsletter – Making races more fun!
So as we all build toward our next races together, I encourage you to think of ways that you can make racing more fun!
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Quebec Mega Trail 50K – 2025 – We survived…
It seemed like everything conspired against me to hit me like a muddy brick wall when I went to Duchesnay, and I wanted to do everything in my power to make sure I had a more pleasant experience the second time around in Quebec this year – at the National Championships for 50K. But it ended…
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Weekly Newsletter – Avoiding RED-S with a pre-race checklist
This article is for athletes that work with me and subscribers to the site! If you aren’t one of those but still want to read the article, simply reach out to me!
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The 15 questions every trail runner should be asking themselves before their next race
There are many reasons why I love trail running over any other type of running. The main one is because of its varying levels of complexity. The puzzle that must come together. The sheer amount of things that you need to get right to have a successful race and accomplish what you want. So with…
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Pre-race checklist #4 – Mental preparation
Preparation goes beyond just looking at a map! Here are all the things you should prepare in the lead-up to your next ultra or trail race!
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Pre-race checklist #3 – Recovery from training
What signs has your body given you in the past few weeks that you haven’t paid enough attention to? What areas of the body are most likely to take a hit on race day? Is there still time to work on making sure those areas are ready to go on race day? (e.g. strength work,…
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Pre-race checklist #2 – Race-Day Specifics
This is one of the most important facets to training, especially in the three to six weeks before an event. Making it more race-specific is usually best, especially in a couple of key training sessions per week. This goes with practicing your nutrition at race pace/effort, getting on terrain that is similar enough (or maybe…
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Pre-race checklist #1 – Fuelling & Nutrition
A – Have you figured out what fuelling options work best for you in training? Have you tested your carb and sodium levels to see what works best for your body? And at similar enough lengths to your event? I ask every question you need to consider about fuelling and nutrition prior to your next…
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Squamish 50K – Training Plan
The Squamish 50K is one of the biggest and best events in any calendar year inside Canada’s trail and ultra running scene. It’s a demanding course with varying terrain, significant elevation change, and a steep history rooted in competition. So with that, I’m releasing a trail 50K training plan for intermediate / advanced runners to…
Rhys Desmond 