Having a bad race?  Is there such a thing?  Thoughts on how to make that day a little better out there.

So many runners are worried about their safety on the trails.  Some is warranted and some is not.  We dive in to the things we can usually control and some that we can't out on the trails we love.

Thanks for listening.

How nice would it be if we never had a negative thought on a really difficult physical effort?  Amazing right?  Well, it may not happen.  Now that we now this, how do we take care of the negativity from now on? 

That's what we try to answer in a pretty short take on the subject.

Thanks for listening.

Trekking poles can be an amazing training tool for ultra runners. Listen to the show to learn about some ways that you can use them within your training!

This episode is sponsored by Health IQ, an insurance company that helps health conscious people get special life insurance rates.  Go to healthiq.com/ultra to support the show and learn more.

Hills.  When should you push?  What can we learn by watching different levels of runners attack the same uphill? What are a few drills you can do to tap into your efforts on training efforts? 

All of these questions and more answered on the show today!

Enjoy the show!

Susan might have a stress fracture.  Her orthopoedic doc ordered up the dreaded boot to take precautions.  It is healing up but until then, some changes in the training.  This is a common issue that we are trying to nip early in the training cycle!  

Enjoy the show and Susan's optimism!

Balance.  It may be unattainable but taking a closer look at how you spend your time is a really good place to start.  We share an exercise that let's you figure out how many reasonable hours for running you really do have on a weekly basis!

Enjoy the show.

Nutrition is such a big part of our lives whether we run or not.  Framing that perspective is somewhat a guiding principle. As is common sense and our relationship with food.  Simply, there is not just one way to look at how we eat whether for performance or otherwise. We hope this gets you to thinking a bit about nutrition in a different way.

Thanks for listening.

This one got a little crazy.  Old school answering machines, upset little people, and the fastest typing hands you've ever heard. Oh, we also talked about Heath's training and options for hydration on his runs!

Enjoy the show!

We all know strength training is important.  What are some things we should think about when adding running volume to a strength problem?

Enjoy the show!

Red had a great time in Michigan and made the haul back to Texas to start what will be her biggest week of the training so far.  Listen to this most recent coaching session!

Thanks for listening!

Motivation is a great freaking resource but it is overstated.  Get disciplined and figure out why you want this as bad as you say you do, then act on that.  A little tough love is still love.  Let us know how you liked the show! Thanks for listening.

Cross training. What in the heck does that even mean?  To keep from going all over the place this short episode covers three types of cross training workouts that should be on your schedule!

Enjoy the show.

Grief happens to everyone eventually.  The questions for our listeners is, how do we run after we lose someone close?  Who knows?  Listen to what I did and maybe it can help.

Thanks for listening!

Running while hurting sucks, but it is going to happen some day.  Today's show is a collection of thoughts on deciding when to run through the pain and when to run another day.

Enjoy the show!

A good baseline run test can be a great way to retest your fitness every couple months to make sure you are improving.  There are also a few other benefits that go without saying.  Especially for the all out 5k test.

You can look at and improve:

• Biomechanics (form)-  The faster we run the less wasted movement there is.  Running faster sometimes helps us identify those inefficiencies.
• It's fairly accurate in predicting longer efforts.  Use this calculator to find out what your 5k time predict for other distances up to the marathon. 
• It's an aerobic test.  Important for the type of running ultra runners are doing.
• It's easy to retest.  Just logging the time it took and your HR gives you the data you need.
• Mental toughness. It ain't fun for most, but it'll make you tougher.  That is measurable too!

On matters of the literal and figurative heart, we dive in to offer some inspiration and education.

How to find a max HR you can use to train yourself more efficiently.

Then, how to use the numbers with two of our favorite HR training workouts on the trails!

Thanks for listening and be sure to pick up our free test download on the site!

There are many considerations in choosing an ultra to go and race.  The time of year, schedule, your budget.  Do you feel comfortable traveling?  What are your stress factors?  How is the weather?  Do you have time to train? And, should you even sign up for one at all?  

This short episode considers many of those questions and more!

Hope you enjoy.

Eli missed her longest week with a minor knee issue but is positive and back at it. We talk about running through some of that pain and other considerations with pain on runs. Also, how do you figure grade on hills?  Should you even care?

Enjoy the show.

On this short episode we give you insight to what all is going on with Becoming Ultra in the coming month.  A recording schedule to keep you motivated and learning and some good news about your chance to run in the Rocky Mountains!

Susan is ramping up the miles and focusing on base building in Florida.  We dive into a bit of the mindset to add unique terrain in her runs and where exactly we are going to find elevation gain in the flat state!  It's a good call that many should learn at least something from! Thanks for listening.

Eli really enjoyed her down cycle week. Maybe too much from the sound of it but she is refreshed and ready to dive into what her coach, Zach, has planned.  She has a new work schedule we talk about how to work around best and some questions on hill pacing and the stress she is feeling from the Distance Of Choice days on her schedule.

Enjoy the show!

Liza comes back from her Band Of Runners Trail Camp and Heath continues his ramp up for his base.  We talk about communities a lot in the episode.

Enjoy!

Every once in awhile a show at Athlete On Fire is too good to pass up for the Becoming Ultra audience.  This was one of the best conversations I've had in awhile, and it was pretty much all about running shoes.  We go some places that you may never have considered when regarding your purchases.  Let's leave it at that. 

Enjoy the show!

The temps are dropping in Wisconsin as they do this time of year and James had to put on some layers for the first time this year.  Besides that, he learned a little about himself on a 50/50 effort out and back training run. We also trouble shoot a little knee pain.  He is coming along and we hope you enjoy the show!