training

One of the most common pieces of advice that I hear newbie runners tell each other is to “zone out” while on a run. Be it through music or simply letting go of your thoughts, as long as you’re not thinking about the fact that you're running, they say, then you’re better off.That’s bad advice. Our brain uses two operating systems to manage running—the ancient, subconscious part (a.k.a. the reflex brain, located in the brain stem), and our much smaller, conscious section (the prefrontal cortex, housed in the frontal lobe). When we run zoned out, the reflex brain takes over, and stress builds from exertion, heat, even starting too fast. That stress can trigger a surge in cortisol, which lowers motivation to keep going. The higher the stress, the more miserable you’re likely to feel. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below The point isn’t to obsessively focus on running. Simply thinking of fire-up phrases or keeping a specific game plan in … [Read more...] about Train Your Brain to Get Through Difficult Runs

You might recognize Matt Wilpers. After all, he's one of only 12 instructors for the wildly popular indoor training program Peloton. That company started up six years ago, offering spin bikes and interactive virtual cycling classes that brought workouts to users' homes, on their schedules. Now, there are more than a million users. We talked with Matt about his favorite kind of class, how he gets motivated, and what cycling means to him. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Bicycling: How did you start cycling?Matt Wilpers: I grew up bike riding. My mom actually took my sister and me out mountain biking in Georgia down the Chattahoochee River to get us fit to go skiing. My mom was a big skier, and we used to go with her out west when we were little. After college, I moved to New York City. With my first bonus from work as a CPA, I got a road bike and I joined a road cycling team. Now I'm into triathlon—I've been doing that for about ten years.Tell me a little bit about your … [Read more...] about This Peloton Instructor Wants You to Ride Outside, Too

As cyclists, we know all about pushing our bodies to the limit (and sometimes beyond). What we sometimes forget: Helping our bodies recover well. But recovery is just as important as the work because the more effectively your muscles can restock fuel stores, repair wear and tear, clear out inflammation, and bounce back from draining efforts, the better you can train, ride, and race. I’ve done lots of big cycling events over the past 10 years: two Ironman triathlons, nine major mountain bike stage races, the Leadville Trail 100, Dirty Kanza 200, countless centuries, 24-hour solo races, the whole Tour of California route, a 120-mile fat bike race, and tons of other stuff I’m sure I’m forgetting. In that time, I’ve experimented with a boatload of products that promise to hasten recovery. These 10 are the products I swear by when I know I need to perform my best over the long haul (or days of long hauls). I don’t use everything on this list all the time, but … [Read more...] about 10 Recovery Products That Help You Ride Harder and Bounce Back Faster

At hometown races, you know exactly what to do: where to park, how long it’ll take to reach the starting line, the best place to grab a beer afterward. In a new place? All of that gets filed under “unknown.” Couple this with, well, travel, and everything from an out-of-town 5K to a full marathon has the potential to become stressful for both body and mind. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below “Traveling is hard,” says Jason Koop, director of coaching for Carmichael Training Systems. “A lot of people view it as rest because you’re sitting in planes, trains, or automobiles—but it’s still stressful on your body.” Fortunately, taking care of yourself in an active fashion—a little bit of pre-trip research, some well-planned outings—can help you acclimate fast, enjoy your trip, and ace your race. Follow this guide and you’ll arrive at that starting line stress-free.Reset Your Body Clock Maybe you live in … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Prep for Your First Destination Race

It didn’t take me long to figure out how I sabotaged my Boston Marathon qualifying race. In fact, I figured it out as I was walking in the last six miles of the race because I had decided to jump up to a pace group that was faster than my target plan.We’ve all been there. You finish a race and think, “What was I thinking? I know better than that!” Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Race day nerves can cause the mind to wander and encourage us to destroy our race in many ways. But to get ahead of those negative vibes that are problematic on race day, it helps to identify some of the classic mistakes I still see runners make at every distance.Don’t let these issues sidetrack all of your hard work and dedication to run your best.You drink a new and never before tested smoothie prerace because you heard someone at the expo talking about how it helped them run a personal record. Mixed with your nerves, you end up in the porta-potty several times leading up … [Read more...] about 7 Ways to Sabotage Your Race an Hour Before It Even Starts