CTS Ultrarunning Podcast

Training zones are often presented as precise and complex, but the underlying physiology is far simpler. In this episode, CTS Coach Cliff Pittman explains the origin of training zones, why three zones reflect the true physiological model, and how five zones are used as a practical tool for structuring training.We also cover how to determine your own zones, why labels differ across platforms, and how to apply this framework to real-world ultrarunning. The takeaway is clear: it’s not about how many zones you use, it’s about how you distribute your effort.​​Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/HOSTCliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching.Running Pace and Heart Rate Training Zones Calculator: https://trainright.com/running-pace-and-heart-rate-zone-calculator/Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/

Training fresh is the easy part. What happens under fatigue is everything. In this episode, CTS Coach Cliff Pittman explains how DIY training camps can bridge that gap by simulating the physical and psychological demands of late-race conditions.We cover how to structure a 2-3 day training block, when to schedule it, and how to balance stimulus with recovery so you gain meaningful adaptation without unnecessary risk.​​Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/HOSTCliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching.Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/

Shortcuts disguised as ways to build muscular endurance, like weighted vest hikes and fatigue circuits, often add stress without meaningful adaptation. In this video, CTS Coach Cliff Pittman breaks down what muscular endurance actually is in ultrarunning and why imitation is not the same as specificity. We cover what the research supports and what does not transfer.The takeaway is simple: focus on the work that actually drives adaptation, because these so-called shortcuts do not just fall short, they add fatigue, increase injury risk, and take time away from what matters most.​​Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/HOSTCliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching.Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/Resources:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39330706/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38165636/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21615190/

For decades, endurance performance has been defined by VO₂max, lactate threshold, and efficiency, but there’s a fourth variable that often gets overlooked called durability. This episode breaks down what durability actually is, why athletes with similar fitness can perform very differently late in races, and how to measure it through real-world data like heart rate drift. We also cover how to build durability through training, so you can maintain your performance when fatigue starts to take over.​​Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/HOSTCliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching.Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/Resources:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejsc.70073

Most ultrarunners spend months building fitness, logging miles, and dialing in pacing, but never train the one system that causes more DNFs than anything else. In this episode, Coach Cliff Pittman breaks down the science behind GI distress in ultramarathons, explains why so many athletes accidentally cause their own stomach problems, and walks through exactly how to train your gut so it holds up when it matters most.Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/HOSTCliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching.Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/

Most ultrarunners train almost entirely at easy intensity — and eventually stop improving because of it. In this episode, Coach Cliff Pittman breaks down the 12 running workouts he uses with his athletes to develop VO2 max, lactate threshold, and aerobic durability, and explains exactly what each one does so you can train with purpose and build the fitness that holds up late in a race.CTS Article: https://trainright.com/12-running-workouts-for-ultramarathon-success/Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/HOSTCliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching.Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/

Most ultrarunners obsess over how long their longest run should be, but it might be the wrong question entirely. Coach Cliff Pittman breaks down how CTS Coaches actually determine long run length, and why one big run matters far less than most runners think.Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/HOSTCliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching.Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/CONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_ultrarunningYouTube:@CTSultrarunning

Zone 2 training is the foundation of ultramarathon performance, but if it's all you're doing, it's also why you've stopped improving. Coach Cliff Pittman breaks down exactly how CTS Coaches strategically add intensity to raise your aerobic ceiling and make your easy running faster.Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/HOSTCliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching.Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/CONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_ultrarunningYouTube:@CTSultrarunning