Well we just returned from a week of riding from our base camp in Table Rock State Park which is located in Pickens, SC.  I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great place to get in some early season riding.  Table Rock is located pretty much on the North Carolina/South Carolina border right in the heart […]

The Myth of the ‘Off Season’
If you spend time hanging around many endurance athletes you will find that each one of them have a different idea of what makes up an ‘off season’. Some might advocate extensive periods of no training, or minimal training of up to a month in duration. Others take the exact […]

Yes, yes… For most runners being strapped to a bike is blasphemy. I know. I used to be one. And guess what… I still consider myself one despite spending a lot of time on the bike!!!
I’ve been running competitively since high school and got into duathlons and triathlons at a fairly […]

The Importance of the Taper
The taper is probably one of the most important, and often overlooked, parts of any training program.  However, a well put together and effective taper can make a huge difference on race day. 
The taper is the period of reduced training volume before a major race.  This period allows the body to […]

The past few years has seen my business travel increase and take me to many interesting locations. While training for marathons and now Ironman competitions I need to keep my activity level up on these excursions. To date I have been successful in this regard, especially when it comes to running. My last three marathons […]

Recently, Annette took part in a special training day with the legendary Robyn Benicasa, currently of Team Merrell/Wigwam Adventure. Below are her observations and notes from that day. Although they’re in no particular order you should find them very enlightening! Enjoy! 

Wow, that woman is chiseled out of granite.
Cola syrup. The same stuff that goes into […]

After purchasing my new road bike in the spring I decided that I didn’t need to pay the extra money to get fitted. When I had purchased a Triathlon bike a few years before I was fitted by one of the most respected fitters in the industry. Because I had only ever road […]

Hydration guidelines for endurance athletes have been set at a 1:1 ratio. That is, 1 litre lost through sweating should be replaced with 1 litre of fluids. Runners participating in races or training runs lasting longer than 1 hour, should determine in advance their fluid needs. Using the following procedure during a 1 hour training […]

Over the years I’ve observed a common error made by some people living with diabetes. A large percentage of the general population wears wears their shoes too small. This is of particular importance to diabetics. Improper footwear and poor fit is a major concern because it has the potential to cause serious injury.
Poorly controlled diabetes […]

IMPORTANT: Please consult your physician or pharmacist for dosage requirements, and more information regarding your personal use, before using any of the substances discussed below.
A brief look at pain-killers and their use in endurance sports
Most of us have done it at some time or other. When the agony of hamburger feet is slowing you […]

I, like a lot of other kids ran cross country in elementary school. The elementary school cross country experience was a really good introduction to running for a lot of us; sure we had the track and field days but for serious long distance running it is usually your first experience. Kids join the elementary […]

This isn’t some get-fit-quick scheme. I’m really refering to training for marathons by running only three days a week.
When people find out that I run marathons - I’ve run 14 so far, with my 15th happening next month - they usually ask me how much I run to train. I think that people expect me […]