On the fence about beginning your endurance sport journey? Are you a veteran runner or cyclist and need a reminder about WHY you do this day in and day out. Read on for my top 8 reasons that get me up and on the road/treadmill/lane. 1. Be a role model: despite what NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said in that famous Nike ad in the '90's (anybody remember that??), we are role models. Our next generation will do what they see, not what they're told...so do it! You may be un

It is my pleasure to introduce you to one of GRIT Performance's athletes, Erin! It was such an awesome experience coaching her this past year. Not only was she uber-positive ALL of the time, she worked really hard, and was committed to her goal. A big THANK YOU to her for guest posting today... My road to the New York Marathon began pretty much a year ago. My husband came home from work one day and said “we should enter the lottery for the New York Marathon”. I think I laug

Here we are. It's the beginning of a new year and everyone is looking forward to the new race season, new goals, new adventures. Gung HO!... right? If you're taking the endurance sport plunge for the first time, may I be the first to say "WELCOME to the family"! It is within the context of training and competition that many discover how strong they are and how much they're able to grow. May I also give you a few words of advice? Many have also entered the waters of enduran

Now that most of us have had time to look back on last season, have a mental/physical break & eat treats that we wouldn't otherwise touch during the race season (ok, during MOST of the season), the question you begin to ask yourself is this: when should my training begin in earnest? Answer: NOW!! Not next week, or for your New Year's resolution, or when things "slow down." Start. Right. Now. It's easy to look at your upcoming season with ambitious goals. In fact, most of u

Alright, the 3rd installment of the off-season talk. We've already discussed what the purpose of the off-season is, as well as the fact that there really is no off-season (that is, if your goal is improvement!). This next blog answers the question: what should you be doing to help get better for next year? Last week I ended by informing you I'd let you in on a little secret that most endurance athletes don't prioritize...but they should. The answer: STRENGTH. For more spe

Last week I went over some of the objectives you should accomplish while enjoying your off-season break from racing. I followed that up by telling you that there really isn't an off-season. Confusing? Let me explain. First of all, ask yourself the question: why am I doing this sport? It could be anything from personal satisfaction to fitness to lifestyle to taking on a bet from a buddy. Inevitably it can be traced back to one recurring theme: I want to improve, whatever

Here we are in late November, our racing season complete, the off-season has begun. Finally. A time to sit back, put the feet up, watch every second of every Oilers game, completely relax. Or is it? The off-season means different things to different people, as it should. But what is the goal of it anyway? Why not keep pushing forward in hopes of making further cardiovascular & strength gains? In no particular order of importance, here are the 4 main objectives of your p

As many of you know I'm just over 2 weeks away from my "A" race event of the year, the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. As I get closer & closer to race day I have the urge to be the same as everybody else: train longer & harder & more frequently than you ever have before! It never fails, all competitors get these same thoughts in their heads as well. So what should you do? Well, I'll start off by saying what you shouldn't do. As many people ask me about my ra

Alright... here's the thing. The question I undoubtedly get asked the most when people find out that I race the Ironman triathlon distance is "How do you have the time to do THAT?!!" Training to excel and to race top in my age group, while parenting, husbanding (not a real word, I know), volunteering at school, farming, and working... ?!? Well, it's not easy, but it is certainly doable. Here's some insight into how I/we (Nicole's ironwife insight will be in italics) attempt t

When training for an endurance sport such as triathlon, are you best to join a group for your training sessions, or would you be better off doing the majority of your training alone? That's actually a difficult question with a lot of variables. Group training provides a lot of benefits: camaraderie; people pushing you when motivation is low; the social aspect. On the other hand, when taking part in a group setting you're likely not doing what you specifically need to do...