Category: Trail Running
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The rebound effect
There’s something powerful in the post-injury experience. In the immediacy of the weeks and months following an injury. You’re still weary. You’re still hot dogging every downhill, expecting for every step to hurt. But over time, when you learn those steps no longer hurt like they used to, you gain confidence. Over time, you realize…
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How I fuel for training and races with XACT Nutrition
In the puzzle to become the best trail runner that I can be, I’m often running through the numbers and experimenting with nutrition to identify what works best for my body. High-carb fuelling has been something I’ve experimented with through diligent practice across the past two years, and essential to both my training and recovery…
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Why I use XACT Nutrition
I have now been an ambassador for the brand for almost two years, and write this article as a way of shining the light on the brand that has most rapidly helped to accelerate my own development in the sport. This is partially a love letter, and partially an explanation as to why I use…
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You are not the imposter
For the past two years, I’ve existed in my sport as a professional athlete. The term is loosely defined in a sport like mine. For one, because there’s no clear-cut definition. For another, you can so clearly compare your results to others, thus never feeling good enough. For a double ‘nother, because of Imposter Syndrome.…
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Lessons from my latest injury
I know how difficult it can be to cope with both the physical and mental pain of an injury, and how difficult it can be to avoid the mistakes that make everything worse. Here are the lessons I’ve learned through this injury block, and how you can avoid falling into the same traps.
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How to maximize your potential as a trail runner in Ontario
After two years of trail running in Ontario, I have officially joined the club of people that have moved away from the province to gain greater access to mountains and competition at the highest end of the sport. But after going through the trials and tribulations of gaming the system in the province, I wanted…
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The smartest runner always wins
In trail running, it’s not always the fastest, fittest runner that wins. Quite often, it’s the smartest runner. The one that knows how to use a course to serve their own strengths. Here is why Elhousine Elazzaoui remains the front runner to win the Golden Trail World Series this year, and why smarts often outwit…
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Ending my year in September
I’ve long been an advocate that the year should start in September. But this time around, I am ending my year in September. No Bromont for me and no Defi des Couleurs for me.
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Race day preparation
My experiment in La Malbaie served as one of the most useful experiences I’ve had on the trails. Primarily, as a reminder of how critical race day preparation can be to putting together a performance. I knew everything I wanted to do on race day, at each different stage of the race or section of…
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What I need from a coach
It’s been over a year, and Doja Cat’s Paint The Town Red still hits so hard. Unequivocally, the part that hits the hardest is the part where she goes: “B, I said what I said.” Doja Cat’s words are utterly inspiring, even if coming with severe angry girl energy.
Rhys Desmond 