Category: Training Theory
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My method for optimal recovery: POSSM
In my own recovery journey and subsequent battles through injury, I’ve developed my own acronym for how I want to recover in time for the next effort. I call it ‘POSSM’.
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My theory on race stimulation: 2x race practices
For every short distance run I’ve done over the years, I’ve always held onto a critical rule of thumb. Sometime in training, usually with three and then two weeks to go until race day, I practice my race distance at tempo pace. The point of these runs is not to actually test the intended race…
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High ambition, high caution: my new running motto
As I enter a new phase in my running career and take on a cautious approach to dedicated training, I find myself balancing the line between all of these crazy ambitions I have within my running career, and accomplishing those ambitions in the most cautious ways possible.
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Around the Bay & the quest for intentional training
Since March has rolled in, it’s been all the more imperative me to slightly adapt my approach to what’s coming at the end of March – Around the Bay 30k. Around the Bay is one of Canada’s most famous races, and is often stacked with a deep field of runners from a variety of categories…
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How to run faster downhill
From high school running experiences, I’ve long known the secrets to not only successful uphill running, but successful downhill running from watching my friend. The secret sauce is this: lose control. Like Eminem, you just have to lose yourself in the movement. Ben would stop at the end of the downhills and wait for the…
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Bandera, Black Canyon, and the future of ultra-trail running
Golden Ticket races have kicked off with a bang this year, with both Black Canyon and Bandera reaching the two largest audiences Aravaipa Running has ever produced. As far as live streaming of running goes, both events also hit some serious highs (even despite some patchy footage at Bandera), with much in the way of…
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Busting the 10% rule in endurance sports
It’s long been hypothesized that athletes like runners should increase their training volume by no more than 10% a week. This is generally considered to be one of the golden rules to injury prevention. But as I’ve constantly revised my own return from injury training plan, and religiously studied the training of elite athletes on…
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How to run on icy terrain
running on ice and snow can be worthwhile if taken with caution. For one, it’s more of a strength-based exercise. For another, you can often get some technical terrain training prep in large forests at times when no one else will be out on the trails! Here is how to run on ice safely -…
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Why it’s okay to run slow on technical terrain
After a few months out with plantar fasciitis, today was my first day running on “technical terrain”. One thing that stood out was just how much slower I ran on the trails than on the roads, whilst exerting the exact same amount of energy. This is completely okay in so many ways.
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Why you need a training plan
Throughout my life, I’ve done my best training for running with the help of fantastic running coaches, who helped to dictate a lot of the intense workouts and running efforts I conducted. But since leaving university, I’ve failed to get coaching advice from others, and I’ve failed to follow a distinct plan. Instead, I’ve followed…
Rhys Desmond 