Let’s be frank: Anyone who loves extreme endurance sports is probably a type A overachiever. But when we move to ultra-endurance events, you can delete the “probably.” People who relish the challenge of running 100 miles are out there on the far end of the bell curve. The reality is that it’s only a short step from “training” to satisfying an unhealthy compulsion. We feel that there needs to be an open and honest discussion in our community about overtraining syndrome (OTS)—the elephant in the ultrarunning room—and the damage it imposes on individuals and ultimately on the sport as a…
Author: Uphill Athlete
Uphill Athlete co-founder Scott Johnston presents the theory and practice driving endurance performance in the mountains. His 2-hour talk, filmed during a November 2017 workshop, is dense with coaching history, training techniques and tips, athlete stories, and information on the physiology of training. This presentation was generously hosted by Run Wenatchee, Inner Circle Gym Wenatchee, and the Wenatchee Public Library. This was recorded as a Facebook Live event. Volume, resolution, and production are not top quality—but the information is! The entirety of the recorded presentation is in two parts. PART 1 https://www.facebook.com/uphillathlete/videos/1207164636050638/ PART 2 https://www.facebook.com/uphillathlete/videos/1207243652709403/
I got my only view of Mount Baker on my drive to the race start in Concrete, Washington. I saw the alpenglow on the mountain. It was so clear. I wish the weather had stayed like that the whole race, but it didn’t work out that way.The Mount Baker Marathon would be my first ultra—my first organized race of any sort, really. I’ve been climbing and mountaineering for 31 years, and I trail run when I can’t climb, just to get outside, but I don’t consider myself a runner. Even so, to improve my overall fitness for an upcoming six-month summer climbing trip, during which I plan…
I love The Matrix. In my favorite scene, Neo straps himself to an archaic dentist’s chair. He’s learning martial arts by downloading them into his brain. Once they’re installed, he can use them in the digital world. To make the downloads, Neo’s colleague plugs a thick cable into the back of Neo’s skull. He taps a button on his screen, and Neo’s "training" begins.Wouldn’t that be amazing? Instead of dedicating a slow, tedious decade to one martial art, we could plug in, download it, and be awesome.But life isn’t like that, is it? To master something, a slow, tedious decade…
Given the recent proliferation of high-intensity, strength-based fitness programs with names like boot camp and SEALFIT, it would be easy to assume that all members of the military train this way: with heavy doses of strength and a token nod to aerobic training. It’s often true that the service branches pump up the importance of strength at the expense of large-volume, low-intensity base building—that essential foundation of any durable athlete. But not every tactical athlete bends to that one-track line of thinking.There’s a shift happening, small but powerful, with individuals like a recent graduate of the US Army Ranger School…
When I first started skimo racing, I started races way too fast. The gun would go off, and I’d bolt forward. I’d feel great for about 60 seconds, and then as if I was running through molasses I’d have to slow way down. With that kind of start, the rest of the race felt horrible.When dug into why this was happening the answer I found ws: "You have insufficient aerobic base." Said another way; the capacity of my aerobic metabolic system to produce energy to propel me was too low so I was having to rely on the other metabolic pathway,…
If the internet is to be believed, the best way to build endurance is to train hard, collapse in a pool of sweat, and really feel like you’ve given your all. Ultimately, this must be "real" training, right? Putting it all out there every time? Not exactly. When we reference the 100-plus-year history of endurance training, we see a different story. The use of high intensity exercise is actually rather limited in a properly structured endurance training plan. So when (and how) do wise coaches and smart athletes add high-intensity training to their programs?High-intensity aerobic training (Zone 3 and above)…
Have you seen a lightning storm form underneath you? Have you seen satellites at night, not above you but at eye level? Have you seen the sun rise on the vast landscape on your left, but total darkness on your right as that part of the world sleeps away? Have you seen the curve of the earth because you are so high up? I have, from the summits of Everest and Lhotse. I like to set bold physical goals for myself. I feel that a person should create a worthy goal for him- or herself every year, something to keep…
Do you have a trip planned in the middle of an upcoming training block? In the following video tutorial, Uphill Athlete co-founder Steve House takes you through how to find places to train while you’re traveling. His go-to tools include Gaia GPS and Strava’s Global Heatmap. Enjoy exploring your new surroundings! You Might Also Be Interested In: No Gear Strength Workout High-Altitude Climbing: 14 Tips for a Successful Expedition
Perhaps you’ve read our articles on fat adaptation—Train to Burn Fat , Burn Fat to Go Fast, and What Enables Endurance—or the “Getting Tested” series (Part 1, Getting Tested and Part 2, Interpreting Your Results). If so, you may feel inspired to take the plunge with a lab test of your own. It’d be a great way to start a new training block—by getting some actual personalized data showing your metabolic response to exercise. But where do you go? How do you choose which metabolic testing lab to visit? Besides an internet search of available places, what information should you arm…