Tag: Training Theory
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Weekly Newsletter – The benefits of strides
I don’t think strides are anyone’s favourite thing when it comes to running, there are few things that can give you more bang for your buck from a training and physiology perspective, especially in helping you reach that echelon you have for yourself faster. Here is why strides are so important to long-term development.
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The secrets to feeling like a 10
Anyone who runs knows that running your best requires more skillsets than just being able to run fast. At times, it’s as much a psychological game as a physical one, and you can make, break, or completely sabotage yourself through your mind alone, regardless of your fitness level going into any single day. I’ve been…
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Weekly Newsletter – How much vert do you actually need for mountain races?
This weekend marked the anniversary of one of my favourite races – Sulphur Springs. It’s the fastest and most competitive trail race in Ontario, and with its runnable terrain and modest elevation, provides the opportunity for trail and road runners to intertwine. In Ontario, you don’t get that much high-quality, runnable trails, as they’re either…
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Weekly Newsletter – My fuelling secrets in 2025
Fuelling is one of the three most essential facets to getting better as an athlete (alongside proper training and recovery). And it’s equally essential to aiding the training and recovery process both in the prehab and rehab in between runs. Not to mention all the fuelling that needs to happen during the thing itself. With…
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How I’ve become a better trail runner by running less on trails
I knew I needed to prioritize my “speed” in 2025 to get faster. But I didn’t realize how quickly we could make cosmic changes just from more of an emphasis on one thing: Road running (i.e. running economy and efficiency).
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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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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.
Rhys Desmond 