Join Couch to the Summit's James Stewart on his solo adventure on the Elfin Lakes Winter Trail, Garibaldi Provincial Park, Squamish, British Columbia, Canada.
In the summer of 2018, I made a decision to spend three months in Europe car camping budget style so I could affordably see as many places in the mountains as I could, and not have to worry about the costs and logistics of finding hotel accomodation or camping.
In my 12-part training science article series I explain in detail how the best endurance training results come when there is highly skewed balance toward low-intensity "capacity" training versus high-intensity training. This approach has stood the test of time in endurance sports...
Many endurance events are dominated by hardworking, high-achieving type “A” personalities possessing enormous work ethic, mental toughness, and willpower as positive traits, but also stubbornness as a negative one. Such perseverance and mental fortitude can be an athlete’s greatest strength.
Overtraining syndrome (OTS) is a very complicated and poorly understood form of fatigue that doesn’t respond well to just typical levels of sleep and minor reductions in training. OTS is very common because most athletes are not able to recognise overtraining until it is too late.
For many decades, a battle has raged in endurance sports about how much Capacity versus Utilization training is optimal for endurance performance. The debate surrounds how much of each form of training is appropriate when considering the high-level performance – and longevity – of an athlete.
It is sad when the world faces a pandemic situation, because many people will suffer and some of those people will die. It is important to be concerned and vigilant, but becoming panic stricken is going a step too far. The mainstream media is notorious for fear mongering and fanning the flames of worry, whether it is to increase revenue, or to influence people to act and behave in a certain way.
Exercise. It is a word that strikes fear into many individuals, but it doesn't have to be that way. If you dread the thought of exercising, then reframe how you look it and strive to find more adventure in your life instead.
In this busy world, how does one break free from overwhelm that prevents getting started or taking action on dreams and goals? How does one find time and started with exercise, keeping healthy, or any other needed change?
Many endurance events are dominated by hardworking, high-achieving type “A” personalities possessing enormous work ethic, mental toughness, and willpower as positive traits, but also stubbornness as a negative one. Such perseverance and mental fortitude can be an athlete’s greatest strength.
Kilian Jornet had never officially run a Vertical KM under 30 minutes before -- despite a handful of other European athletes having accomplished the feat – but he finally did so on September 17 2020 (the day prior to his 2020 Sierre Zinal victory), when he ran 29'51" on the Fully VK course.
As a race director what do you do when you’re running a multi-stage race, and the athlete who has dominated the opening three days with a healthy overall lead, misses a turn along with several other runners, running off course just two short km’s from the finish? This was the dilemma faced by Sean Greenhill of Mountain Sports during last weekend’s 40th running of the Bright Alpine Four Peaks
Photography and Film
Join Couch to the Summit's James Stewart on his solo adventure on the Elfin Lakes Winter Trail, Garibaldi Provincial Park, Squamish, British Columbia, Canada.
I am happy to premiere Couch to the Summit's new trail running live-action film "EC Manning - Skyline" featuring myself and my friend Brian Clements, as we team up to showcase the beautiful fall colours and the fantastic views along the Skyline Trail in the EC Manning Provincial Park, BC, Canada.
Couch to the Summit Performance Coaching client Cameron York had his races cancelled for 2020. Instead, Cameron and I decided he would participate in a solo race across the mountain trails of North Vancouver - from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove.
Tackling the Grouse Grind once is enough for most people. The Grind is a 2.9km trail ascending 810 vertical meters along the steep forest of North Vancouver’s Grouse Mountain. The Grind is a challenging workout not a scenic hike. Learn how I trained to accomplish 18 grinds in 19 hours over a ten-week training block.
Safety
Many outdoor enthusiasts know the responsibility of planning for an outdoor adventure - and sadly there are still some people who don't even think to do that.
Fall (Autumn) is an amazing time to be in the mountains. The colours are gorgeous, the temperatures are cooler and soft light makes for exceptional photography. However, the shoulder season is an incredibly dangerous time of year for tourists.
