Tag: Training Theory
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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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Letting the body heal
When you’re in the thrust of the season, injuries quickly become a stressful part of the training process. This can lead to not only more stress, but trying to push the body past the point of pain either through continued running or cross-training. This is what I did for months in order to try and…
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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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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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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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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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Tips for running on technical terrain
Technical trail running is my favourite style of all. I’ve thrown myself into the wolves with some of the most technical races I can find, and the bulk of my training is spent on some of the most technical trails around. I hope that these tips can help you to become a confident technical trail…
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Coaching myself to the Quebec Mega Trail 50K
Like Lil’ Wayne, I’ve spent the past few weeks listening to myself. Listening to my body. Listening to what I know works for me. Listening to what I know I enjoy.
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How to train for a mountain race without any mountains
I don’t have any mountains. I move mountains. But I don’t have any to train on. Often times, I feel like I want to escape. To train in the mountains so that I can match the mountain goats stride for stride. But in reality, you can train for mountainous terrain without mountains.
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Merging repetition & race-practice together
There’s often a conflict between the old-school coaches who design “drills” focused on repetition, and the new-school coaches who provide actual education toward what players will encounter in a game. But in reality, the two can easily be merged together. You see, game-realistic activities around a specific session topic naturally allow for repetition toward the…
Rhys Desmond 