Kate Courtney joined us on The Consummate Athlete Podcast to talk about her World Championship win in the Mountain Bike XCO (cross country Olympic) discipline and what went into that huge performance, from how she trained to how she eats… And I had so …
As a podcaster myself, it’s fun jumping on other podcasts as a guest because a) way less pressure and way more fun, and b) it gives me a chance to hear how other people are interviewing and steal some tips! So, I was just …
Over on Outside Mag’s website, I got to talk all about Instant Pots and why they’re basically an awesome athlete training tool. Kind of weird, maybe… but hear me out! You can get home from work, set it up, go on your run/ride/whatever, and …
So, cyclocross is here. (How did that happen so fast?!) … Anyway, the start of the season always brings up a few things that you can do — or shouldn’t do — to make this season great. Some of these are obvious to those …
How long can you go without running before you lose your running fitness, and what does detraining really mean? This article scared the crap out of me to research and write, if I’m being honest. My biggest problem as an athlete, even now, is …
Because I’m gear-obsessed and because who doesn’t love the start of fall (except summer people who don’t understand cyclocross or cross country, obviously), I wanted to kick off what I plan on doing as a seasonal piece on here: A clothing and gear wishlist …
When I started teaching yoga classes a few months ago, I started to realize something: I’d been lucky enough to jump into a few fitness-yoga type classes back in college, just as a ‘well, this seems like a bonus workout’ during the height of …
If you’re in the DC area, come hang out next week! On Wednesday, Sept 12, I’ll be at the Rapha Cycle Club in DC talking all things cycling in a night for just the ladies who love to ride bikes. These nights are always …
I was trying to choose which book I wanted to read this month for the Athletic Bookworms, and I got stuck because there were SO MANY on my to-read list, so I decided to go for a bit of a smorgasbord, and do it …
I’ve been passionate about cyclocross skills for A LONG TIME. I remember learning to remount when I first started on Rutgers Cycling—the guys on the team spent weeks trying to get me to hop onto my bike effortlessly, but most of that just looked …
September always brings up back to school vibes. I love a good stationary set, and my heart beats a little faster when I see all the cool school supplies at Staples when I’m in making copies. As a serial list-maker, I love any excuse …
If you’ve been keeping up with the Athletic Bookworms, then you’re probably already done with “Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory” by by Deena Kastor with Michelle Hamilton. I took the full two months to read this book because …
So, this week on The Consummate Athlete Podcast, I’m a little fangirl-y because marathoner and all-around badass runner (and now author) Kara Goucher was on to talk about mental game, running, confidence and more. I got an early release copy of Strong (and yes, …
I’ve never done an ultra before. I’ve never done a mountain run before. So when I signed up to run a 50K with 3000 meters of climbing in Killington, Vermont (part of the UA Mountain Running Series), I really didn’t know what I was …
You guys know that I love Matt Fitzgerald’s writing. I’ve been reading his stuff for years and years, and I’m super stoked that in the last couple of years, I’ve gotten to interview him often enough that I think I can consider him to …
(Yikes.) So, I have my main race of the season happening tomorrow starting at 7AM, and I’ll be honest, I have no idea how it’s going to go. Last year, we did Ironman, which was nuts, but at least I had context for that. …
I’m going to be talking about the ENCX Quest for A LONG TIME. In case you’ve been wondering why I’ve been pretty absent from this blog for the last week, it’s because I’ve been in Western Massachusetts with 18 amazing young women and my …
When we had Renee Lockey and Claire Geiger come on the podcast to talk BC Bike Race and World Bicycle Relief, I had no idea how much fun the episode would be! First of all, Renee is a former racquetball player, and Claire was on …
Over on Nylon, I wrote about a subject I hold near and dear to my heart, and weirdly write about A LOT: How To Work Out With Your Partner. Peter and I, as many of you know, have spent the last almost five years trying …
Guys. I kind of freaked out about this week’s guest, Christopher McDougall. That’s right, we had the author of Born to Run and Natural Born Heroes (June’s Athletic Bookworm pick!) on the show. It was a big deal for me as a writer and …
I just posted a new morning yoga flow video, and it got me evangelizing a bit about my slightly-obsessive-but-seriously-lifechanging habit of my 10-minute workout every morning. So, I wanted to quickly talk about that concept specifically, because of all of the habits that I’ve …
I wrote about this a while back in Bicycling, but found myself sending it to a few people in the past week as I talked to some apartment dwellers bemoaning their bike-wash abilities. It’s tough to get a bike clean when you don’t have …
For all of you who’ve followed our 7-day (free!) healthy habit guide, or those of you who’ve heard me talk ad nauseam about my morning yoga flow routine that I’ve done Every. Single. Morning. for almost five years now, you know I think that …
I love when we get to do fun Q&A episodes! To be honest, while I love interviewing the awesome people we have on The Consummate Athlete, in some ways, I look forward to recording these more than any other show, because it gives us …
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: One of my all-time favorite things to read when I was getting into magazines as a kid was always the “what’s in your bag” articles. There were the ones in women’s magazines (Jane had THE BEST), …
We just got home from pretty excellent trip — hosting some clinics, Nationals for Peter, meetings for me, and even stopping in for a surprise birthday party in the town where we got married — and then we walked into a bit of chaos. …
Julian Carr is rad. I was a little intimidated talking to the dude: pro skier turned clothing entrepreneur turned environmental advocate turned mountain runner turned racer director, but he’s also a super chill, fun dude despite the insane to-do list he balances. (I think …
UPDATE: Really disappointed with their customer service. After only a couple of weeks, the one shoe developed a small hole in the upper (which does happen, I get it), and trying to get it replaced is like pulling teeth. I’m still waiting to sort …
Over at Gear Junkie, I wrote all about the Essential Swim Gear You Didn’t Know You Needed because, let’s be honest, most of us just assume goggle + suit and good to go. Which isn’t wrong exactly, but there’s a lot of sweet gear …
Jeff Knight is my go to when I need info on running: The man knows pretty much everything, and he has such rad perspectives. He’s been a coach at all levels but prefers recreational runners, and he’s a lead exercise scientist with Under Armour …
As someone who spent 20 years eschewing all things athletic, it’s always interesting to me how you ‘make’ a runner out of a non-runner. Over at MapMyRun, I was super inspired by my younger sister finally, gradually, getting into running and actually keeping it …
Cyclocross season is coming up, and you’re already thinking about skills training, right? RIGHT?! I know after we released the recent Consummate Athlete Podcast with Kaitie Keough, I started getting pretty fired up. Every year that I’ve raced cyclocross, one of my major focuses …
Confession: I don’t have the most even skin tone. I get really red fairly easily, and on the note of turning red, I’m also pretty sunburn-prone, so even in the winter, I try to only use a foundation or moisturizer that has SPF. So …
Leslie Timms is a total badass. (We’ve had a lot of rad women on the Consummate Athlete lately, come to think of it!) Leslie is a good friend of ours, and we love her because our lives are kind of parallel, except instead of …
Hey, we’re all on summer vacation a little bit lately, right? So I figured we’d go with what I’ve heard is a super fun and insightful read, and use it for July & August as our beach / cottage read. So, grab a copy …
I love a big salad for dinner—and on road trips, let’s be honest, often, veggies get ignored in favor of easier on-the-go options. So at least once every day or two, we opt for this big salad option, built out of leftover veggies and …
I love a good running or fitness trend, let’s be real. And I totally admit that I get wrapped up in them—I love new gadgets, new challenges, stuff like that… And in the past, I was TERRIBLE with the “let’s hit this insane workout …
I’ve had a bit of an up-and-down last week in my training. And I wanted to write about it because a lot of the time, I’m talking to people and giving advice on how to train right, but sometimes, you can be doing the …
Kaitie Keough is awesome. I mean, enough said, but seriously—this is one fun podcast to listen to. We talked all things Dirty Kanza (the 200 mile gravel race that she recently won), but we also dive into her insane cyclocross career… And talk about …
June’s Athletic Bookworm read was “Natural Born Heroes: Mastering the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance” by Christopher McDougall, and it was a good one for heading into a summer of adventure! So many people have read McDougall’s earlier book, Born To Run, and …
I admit, I just realized I fell into the bike fit trap that I warn women about when I’m doing one of my Saddle, Sore Ladies Talks! I was racing this weekend and I’ll be honest, I could definitely tell that I just wasn’t …
I’ve talked in the past about some of my major athletic mistakes, from nutrition disasters to serious overtraining… But this week on The Consummate Athlete Podcast, both Peter and I really dove into our major mistakes we’ve both made as athletes, and it got …
We recently hiked the La Cloche 80-kilometer loop in Killarney Provincial Park, and it was our first foray into proper back-country camping, so our gear situation was… mixed. On one hand, we’re both obviously super sporty, so we have a ton of running and …
I have a ton of amazing people in my life, from pro athletes at the top of their game to people who are fantastic all-around athletes crushing it at having a life and a job that isn’t racing. I’m so lucky that in the …
So over on Gear Junkie, they asked me to write about what gear you absolutely need for your first triathlon. And man, do I wish this was an article that I could have read 11 years ago… It was super fun thinking about exactly …
I was at the NICA Coaches Conference a couple weeks ago and one of the most interesting speakers there spent a ton of time really prodding the people in the audience to think about our WHY’s for why we ride, why we coach, why …
I know what you’re thinking: Urban poling seems goofy AF. But seriously, this is an episode worth listening to. It definitely changed my feelings! I’ve been debating whether or not to use poles when I try to run the La Cloche Trail in the …
Whenever I hear the word “etiquette,” I immediately flash to this episode of Frasier: I’m not sorry. OK, now that I have that out of my system… I talked to a bunch of trail runners and got their best advice for how to avoid …
I just turned 31 this week, which means one major thing: When someone asks my age, I can no longer say “I just turned 30,” which is what I’d been saying for the last 365 days. I admit, in some ways, turning 31 is …
I love when projects come together and I get to meet rad athletes like Hanna Muegge. I’ve been working with one of her sponsors, SP2 Life, a fresh/frozen spirulina company (and BTW, really great tasteless, odorless spirulina. If you’re looking for something to power …
After our recent La Cloche speed hike, as I eyed it up to consider running the 80km trail (and contemplated the 50K mountain running race I’m signed up for in August), I realized I need to get a lot stronger at uphill running. Thankfully, …
OK, admission: I’m not always into ‘natural’ options for my skincare/makeup/general life. I sometimes wish I was the kind of person who only opted for natural, organic options all the time, but honestly, I think there are times when we need stuff that’s a …
Even though I work from home—though I have worked in offices in the past!—I still struggle with the ‘staying healthy during long workdays at the office’ conundrum. And if I’m lucky that I have a fairly flexible schedule and still find myself struggling to …
You might have already read my post about our speed hike experience on the 80-kilometer super technical La Cloche Silhouette Trail in Killarney Provincial Park, but this week on The Consummate Athlete Podcast, Peter and I got serious about our experience with backcountry camping …
Most people I know in endurance sport have read Born to Run. But have you checked out author Christopher McDougall’s second book, “Natural Born Heroes: Mastering the Lost Secrets of Strength and Endurance“? Parkour, Greek mythology… What’s not to love? The description: “After running …
Over on Gear Junkie, I wrote the article I’ve been dying to write for a while: building a women’s cycling kit, capsule wardrobe style. I loved being able to put together a roundup of my favorite jerseys and shorts—the ones that have been tried …
“WomanCode” by Alisa Vitti came at the perfect time for me… hopefully it did for some of you as well! In “WomanCode: Perfect Your Cycle, Amplify Your Fertility, Supercharge Your Sex Drive, and Become a Power Source,” holistic health coach Alisa Vitti shows women how …
It’s been a week since I’ve been back from the Killington Stage Race with my BikeReg/Shared Coffee teammates in Vermont. The race marked my first time back in a road race since at least seven years ago, and it was a bit of a …
We just got back from speed-hiking the La Cloche Silhouette Trail in Killarney Provincial Park—and that trail is freaking HARD! It’s nearly 80 kilometers (about that if you walk through the George Lake Campground in order to make it back to your car at the …
Guys. I’m about to head off on what will be roughly 60 hours offline on a backpacking trip. I’m freaking out a little. And at the same time, I am so incredibly excited. The last time I was offline for a day was a …
Last week’s Consummate Athlete Podcast episode was a tough one for me to record—because we were talking all about race day jitters and prep as I was getting ready for my first road race in over seven years! I headed to Killington, Vermont, for …
Confession: I am not really a night runner. In fact, I’ve realized this about myself recently when we were asked to go on an 8PM run. Of course, I’ll also argue that I’m not a 5AM runner, despite my best intentions. I’m more of …
This weekend, I finished my 200 hour yoga teacher training at YogaSpace in Toronto. It’s been a long couple of months, and a ton of work between full weekends in the training plus all the homework, reading and classes. And it’s been awesome. It …
You guys know how much I admire nutrition and fitness expert Stacy Sims. She’s been CRUSHING it in research around women-in-sport-specific issues, from hydration to hormone health and everything in between. Her recent book ROAR was one of the most comprehensive guides to being …
Peter and I are obviously a pretty active couple… But guess how often we train together? During Ironman training last summer, we maxed at 4 times a week, but most of those were in the pool doing our own workouts just at the same …
I re-realized recently that there are still plenty of new and even some veteran cyclists who just don’t get bike shorts. Maybe you started in triathlon where you don’t wear a full chamois to race (or know WTF a chamois is). That was me. …
OK, things are going to get a little deep here. But hey, I haven’t posted in a few days, and I’m feeling chatty. Here in Collingwood, Ontario, the birds are chirping (ugh, at 5:30AM), the sun is shining and the snow has finally all …
If you read my last article where I interviewed sped-skating Olympic medalist and former pro cyclist Mia Manganello, you know that I loved her. Between her awesome personality and cool story, plus the fact that as a speed-skating roadie, she clearly qualifies as a Consummate …
Running injuries. Not my favorite topic, personally—maybe because I really, really, really don’t like being injured. I’ve also personally dealt with a ton of cramping issues that seemed to be more running-related than biking (or just the running brought them out) and right now, …
Since it’s May and a) I’m doing a ton of women’s nights at shops and b) it’s Mother’s Day this month, reading a book like “WomanCode” by Alisa Vitti made perfect sense! In “WomanCode: Perfect Your Cycle, Amplify Your Fertility, Supercharge Your Sex Drive, and …
Obviously, I am currently obsessed with bikepacking. And backpacking, actually, now that I’ve gotten the bug. So, it was super exciting to get REI’s Paul Calandrella on The Consummate Athlete Podcast to chat all things bikepacking, from gear to common mistakes to best tips for …
So, I don’t always write super serious articles. Sometimes, I get to write about goofy gifs, thoughts cyclists have during a century (without going too negative…) and in this case, all about what your running ‘spirit animal’ is. So, it’s a fun story over …
I always considered myself a bit of an environmentalist, and certainly an outdoorsy person. But in recent years, despite spending plenty of time outside training, I slowly turned away from someone who loves the outside and being in nature to someone who simply gets …
I love when I talk to super geeky people about all things fitness-related… and they give me reasonable, practical advice that can apply to everyone, not just (in this case) runners with access to crazy, expensive tech. So when I talked to Jeff Knight, …
Diane from The Outspoken Cyclist was kind enough to have me back on her podcast this weekend to chat all things cycling-apparel-related, from some current trends to some of my favorite $$-saving hacks. We got into the best cheap buys, why bib shorts are …
Sarah Cotton is one of the coolest ultra trail runners I’ve ever gotten to chat with—then again, that’s no shock considering I’ve never met one who wasn’t super rad. She’s not just a racer, she’s also a photographer (so you probably should follow her …
I’m a fan of self-development books, podcasts, blogs—you name it, I’ve read or listened to it. But it wasn’t until I started training in a coaching certification that any of the principles really started to sink in. What the heck? It turns out, when …
If you listened to the latest Consummate Athlete Podcast, you know I’m getting a little obsessed with trail running—and working towards the 50 kilometer Killington mountain running trail race this August. (Eek!) So, the key phrase in that isn’t 50-kilometers, it’s “mountain run.” I …
So, summer is almost here, which means a couple of things. 1) You might be starting race season. 2) You might be thinking about ‘getting in shape for summer.’ (Or even *gasp* working on your ‘bikini body.) And what most people do, as soon …
Over on Nylon, we decided it was time to start talking about not just how to get in an awesome workout, whether you’re into running, riding, yoga-ing, SUPing, CrossFit-ing (all topics I’ve written about for them)… We realized we needed to talk more about …
Hydration is something I speak a ton about when I do shop talks, and most recently at one in NY at Savile Road (awesome shop, especially if you’re looking for a custom build or amazing bike fit!), we got into a serious discussion about …
I’m one of those people who isn’t really a morning person, if she’s being honest, but really wants to be—especially when it comes to being a morning runner. Something about getting your workout in before most people are starting their first French Press is …
I was super stoked to start yoga teacher training at YogaSpace in Toronto back in March, and I’m at the halfway point of the program, so I figured I’d give everyone a bit of an update as to how it’s going. So far, so …
I’ve known cycling coach Frank Overton for a long time—I’d heard a ton about him as an awesome coach, and I’ve seen him race cyclocross on a few occasions, and everything I heard and saw just convinced me he was a real-deal cycling coach …
I really love the idea of ultra-running… I admit, a marathon has been the longest race I’ve done, but there’s a lot I’m working on planning for this summer and fall. And that means, in addition to getting my legs ready to go long …
You know that feeling when you kinda-sorta accidentally join a crit team of rad ladies? Yeah, that happened. So, a few months ago, one of my favorite humans from my old stomping ground of Western MA called me and said she had a crazy …
OK, let’s talk about March’s Athletic Bookworm pick, “Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance” by Alex Hutchinson. About the book: “The capacity to endure is the key trait that underlies great performance in virtually every field—from a 100-meter sprint …
Welcome to April’s Athletic Bookworm pick! This month, we’re all about the brain, and reading Mind Gym: An Athlete’s Guide to Inner Excellence. My teammate Christin (ahem, check out our crit team here!) recommended it and I immediately picked it up. Because honestly, what I need …
In recent years, I’ve been more and more into spending time out running on the trails rather than the road. It’s easier on my legs and feet, and I love that it’s a more full-body workout. I’ve always loved running trails though: it’s contemplative, …
Raise your hand if you love the idea of going dancing but maybe aren’t the most confident on the dance floor. *Raises hand.* I was great in mosh pits in my misspent youth, and once I get going at a wedding now, I freaking …
You know when you start talking with someone as an interview and realize almost immediately that you would love to hang out with them in real life, plus it’s an awesome interview? Yeah, that’s how I felt when I got to talk to speed-skating, …
Welcome to another week of the Habits of Highly Effective Athletes series! This week, I wanted to talk about one of the things I think gets missed a ton by athletes who aren’t working with a coach. So this is most of us, right? Maybe …
You know what’s really annoying? When the foods that we think of as healthy come back to bite you—or at least, wreak havoc on your stomach—during a run. If you’re someone who often has to plan runs around where public washrooms are (*raises hand*), …
Nicole Loher is my spirit animal. She’s an NYC-based triathlete who works a full-time job at Christian Dior (!!) while teaching a class at NYU and keeping up daily training, including a ton of strength training, which I loved. So obviously, I was hella …
I know for a lot of people, marathon runs are kind of a bucket list item. And yes, I’ve definitely been there. But to be honest, part of that for me was because frankly, I’m a little more intimidated by the idea of going …
Welcome to another week of the Habits of Highly Effective Athletes series! This week, I wanted to talk about one of the things I think gets missed a ton by athletes who aren’t working with a coach: collecting data. So this is most of us, …
Peak performance: we all want to get there, across the board, right? Have great race results, crush it at work, meditate on the regular, have a fantastic social life and great relationships with loved ones, journal every day, be at that goal weight and …
Mountain bike season is almost here! (And if we would stop getting snow in Ontario, I’d already be out on the trails. Sigh…) If you’re new to the mountain biking scene, or are curious about getting offroad, I have an article over on Outside …
Swimming has always come pretty naturally to me—I’m not the speediest, but I can stay steady for a looooong time. I’m admittedly nervous about open-water swims (not for drowning concerns, more zombie-related nerves because I’m a weirdo) but the pool is just meditative for me. …
A friend of mine messaged me earlier this week with a conundrum: She’s an avid runner (not currently a competitive or long-distance one, just one who likes her daily workout), and her doctor wanted her to try a low-carb diet in order to test …
Man, I wish I’d had these vegan runners in my life a decade ago! OK, so over at MapMyRun, I was asked to do a post about how vegan runners fuel during, before and after their runs—and I had the best time getting to …
Now that we’re actually living in our condo more frequently (as frequently as I’ll ever live in one spot, anyway) and I finally have it somewhat organized the way I want it, I wanted to do a post about how we’ve set up our …
Welcome to another week of the Habits of Highly Effective Athletes series—this week’s might seem, at first, like a reprise of last week’s discussion of cross-training, but practicing technique and skills is a totally different type of training that I will bet you’re not doing …
I hate that I need to think about staying safe when heading out on solo runs, but it is something that all of us (especially women) have to deal with. So, when Nylon wanted me to pull together some safety tips for working out …
Being an athlete who works a normal day job can be tough—so much of your success is dependent on creating (and sticking to) daily routines outside of training that can set you up for athletic optimization. In this week’s podcast episode, Peter and I …
If you guys listened to this week’s podcast, you know I love a good quick yoga routine in the morning for getting my day (and training, as an athlete) started on the right foot… And since I’m starting yoga teacher training tomorrow (!!!), I …
Intermittent fasting is a hot-button nutrition topic for everyone, but athletes in particular. I know a lot of people—runners and cyclists—who are experimenting with it, and the results for them have been… mixed. So, I asked Stacy Sims, sports nutrition expert and brilliant researcher …
I know the idea of having a training plan when you don’t have a race on the calendar might seem a little weird—but as a cyclist (or any endurance athlete!) there are so many benefits to having structured training, and a specific-to-cycling training plan. …
Think you’ve optimized your working out and racing strategies, but can’t recall the start date of your last period? There might be one crucial element that you’re not considering, and that’s your monthly cycle. Dr. Stacy Sims has made her life’s work proving that …
Welcome to another week of the Habits of Highly Effective Athletes series—this time, we’re all about cross-training for cyclists, runners and other endurance athletes! Hopefully you’ve enjoyed reading about staying in your own lane, fueling properly, and sleeping enough (and right). Today, we’re going to …
You guys know how much work I’ve been doing getting the Shred Girls series written and launched—and I’ve been so freaking excited by how many women have come on board as huge advocates of the concept driving it: get more girls out shredding on …
I LOVE the idea of a run (or ride!) streak—running or doing whatever activity every. single. day. Some of the best-feeling times in my life have been when I would get up and get a couple of miles in every morning, first thing. (That’s …
Talking to Alex Hutchinson about his new book, “Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance“, was definitely a highlight for our February. We had a blast chatting all about the different ways our minds work for (and against) us in our …
A few weeks ago, I did a quick video/written guide to building an awesome meal-worthy salad that would actually leave you feeling full. Nothing in the salad was super expensive, by any stretch, but I know a lot of people—myself included—assume that quality ingredients …
OK, so this is not the most scientific, expert-backed article that I’ve ever written. But you know what? I do love when I get the chance to remember that our training isn’t always the most serious of endeavors. So, when MapMyRun asked me to …
I know the holidays are over, so social situations and parties are likely a little less insane right now. But weirdly, for me, I find it’s easier to start getting lax about food choices now, because I’m not being bombarded by holiday wellness tips …
Hey guys! Hopefully you’ve been digging the Athletic Bookworms. (If you are, let me know on the social medias or in the comments here, especially about which books you really enjoyed and what you learned!) But let’s talk about March. This month’s Athletic Bookworm …
This was a weird weekend for me and I’m still kind of processing everything about it! On Friday, we headed back to Joyride150 so Peter could coach some sessions while I worked on the jumplines, and then we’d work together for a while trying …
Hey bookworms! Hope a bunch of you got the chance to dig into Robb Wolf’s “Wired to Eat: Turn Off Cravings, Rewire Your Appetite for Weight Loss, and Determine the Foods That Work for You” this month. Many of you likely recognized Robb Wolf, …
Ready for the third installment of Habits for Highly Effective Athletes? (If you didn’t read the first about Staying In Your Lane, head back to that post to catch up.) Last week, we talked about the biggest non-workout habit to work on during the …
OK, so if you’re already a longtime runner, you probably don’t need this basic guide to the three types of runs that every semi-serious runner should be including in their workout schedule… But as someone who’s a pretty avid runner herself, I can safely …
We made it to 100 episodes of The Consummate Athlete Podcast! What started as a fun project for Peter and I to play with audio recording, interview technique, and editing—plus a chance to try to glean some words of wisdom and tips from athletes and …
How are those New Year’s resolutions, goals, or intentions going? Hopefully, you’re crushing it. Maybe you’re struggling a little. Maybe you’ve completely gone back to your old habits—habit change is freaking hard, and sometimes, those sweeping changes that make us feel like Beyonce when …
We are a little nut butter obsessed in this house. (Not as obsessed as the Aspire Racing team—during the season, that crew was putting away INSANE amounts of almond butter). But still… Peter uses it in smoothies and on sweet potatoes, I go old-school …
It’s not a major secret that I’m a massive introvert. I was shy my whole life, and even now, I deal with pretty major social anxiety despite leading a pretty outwardly extroverted lifestyle. I find that for me, I struggle the most with casual …
Ready for the second installment of Habits for Highly Effective Athletes? (If you didn’t read the first about Staying In Your Lane, head back to last week’s post to catch up.) This week, I wanted to hit a topic that’s hugely important to me: …
Talking about the 80-20, periodization, and principles of threshold or polarized training can be both confusing and up for debate. We’ve had a lot of experts on talking about these training options, but what it boils down to is that what will work for …
You all may remember our discussion of all things pelvic floor health for athletes over on The Consummate Athlete Podcast a couple months ago… PT Abby Bales (of Reform PT, now open in NYC!) was a hugely popular guest and the episode brought forth …
Looking to take your endurance training to the next level, but not sure where to start? Have a nagging saddle sore or chafing issue that just won’t go away? Can’t get your gut on the right track, and wrecking workouts because of stomach pain …
Six weeks into 2018, the weather is slushy, gray and cold… and trainer riding is getting really old. I don’t know about you guys, but even during my 15 minutes of morning core/yoga flow, I’m finding motivation a little lacking. Which leads me to …
It’s Valentine’s Day, so I figured I would tackle a topic that’s both romantic and practical: what to do when you and your partner both work from home. Obviously, for us, ‘home’ is relative—we haven’t been in the same place for more than 3 …
This past weekend, we headed to Joyride150 near Toronto, Ontario, for their seventh annual Women’s Weekend. For two days, women rule the park, and while it’s not an official “clinic” per se, there are coaches at different stations on Saturday morning for women of …
Traveling with a lot of athletes at all different levels in the last decade, and being one in a lot of different scenarios and styles of racing, interviewing hundreds of pro racers and coaches, living with pros (including my husband, a pro MTBer and …
I just finished reading Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder by Arianna Huffington, and I can’t believe I *just* read it! Honestly. THIS is why I’m so stoked to be in one place for …
Running outside in crappy weather…Sigh. It’s been sort of the story of my life these last few weeks in Ontario, and I admit, to get around it, I’ve started cross-country skiing a lot more. But if you do want to get out and actually …
You guys are probably not golfers… At least, most of you aren’t. But while this episode of the Consummate Athlete Podcast focuses on the idea of strength training for golfers, it hits on two huge points: You can vastly improve your sport performance by …
I was never a huge salad fan, if I’m going to be honest. Even in my vegan days, it was rare that I would actually dig into a salad as a meal. (Granted, I was a serious junk food vegan.) Anyway, in the last …
$50 for dry, warm shoes all winter? SIGN ME UP. Since we live in a wet, snowy spot, there are pretty much constantly wet shoes in our condo. And wet shoes on the road are the bane of my existence. So boot dryers for …
Lazy, not in the mood, or legit fatigued? Serious questions for athletes—and one that led to Dr. Mike Ross giving me some of the best advice I’ve ever heard. “Just because you’re not training like a pro doesn’t mean you CAN’T be overtraining,” he …
I’ll start with the disclaimer. No one should ever feel like wearing makeup in general, let alone during a workout, is a necessity. If you don’t—and often, that’s the case for me—great. If you do, also great. It’s your call, and whatever floats your …
A year ago, I started taking stealth pictures in airports and in cities, whenever I saw an outfit that I really loved. I realized that almost every single time, there were certain key elements: a long wool coat, almost always in gray; a moto …
It might come as a surprise to some of you (not anyone who’s met me in real life, but those of you more used to me writing things on the internet), I’m a serious introvert. Seriously: I once cried when my mom tried to …
On this week’s Q&A episode of The Consummate Athlete Podcast, Peter and I dove into endurance and why you still need it when racing short, intense efforts; Stacy Sims joins us with her best tip from ROAR (our January Athletic Bookworm pick!) for female …
I’m mildly obsessed with pullups. Being a naturally strong kid (though I was a lot less stoked on being muscular when I was 10, believe me), pull-ups were basically the only thing I could crush at in the presidential physical fitness exam in gym …
Hope everyone is enjoying the Athletic Bookworms’ monthly reads—I’m digging this format! For February, we’re diving into “Wired to Eat: Turn Off Cravings, Rewire Your Appetite for Weight Loss, and Determine the Foods That Work for You” by Robb Wolf, author of The Paleo …
Winter skincare… The worst at the best of times. In the last few months, I’ve been bouncing between time zones, and climates, and it’s been hell, to be honest. My skin, which is problematic on the best of days, is fighting with itself to …
Obviously, I can talk about women’s cycling all day, every day. So last week, it was particularly exciting when CJSR Bike Bits asked me to hop on the phone and chat all things women’s cycling, from issues in racing to what makes riding so great, …
Raincoats are a very personal thing for athletes. I’m ridiculously pick about mine, which is part of the reason it’s taken me two years to do a full writeup on here on the 7mesh Revelation women’s rain jacket. Not because it wasn’t amazing. It …
“Tomorrow, I will be better.” “New Year, New Me.” The same reason we go HAM on New Year’s Eve thinking resolutions will start in 12 hours is the same thing that keeps us from establishing daily habits that will actually make change. Instead, we—and …
After Ironman, my feet were freaking WRECKED. I’ll get into the gross details here, because, honestly, this is what happens when you run / train a lot. I lost both of my big toenails, my feet were so blistered that I could barely walk …
Talking to author, running coach, and lifetime runner Jonathan Beverly is always fun for Peter and me on The Consummate Athlete Podcast. That’s why, when he came out with his latest book, Run Strong, Stay Hungry, we knew we had to get him back …
Last Christmas, I was lucky enough to get the Apple Watch, Series 2. This is the iteration that could go swimming, and was fully waterproof—and the GPS worked independent of the phone. Cool. I was also working with the Aspire Racing team at the …
I am bag-obsessed. There, I said it. So, since I’m doing more gear pieces with Bicycling these days, it seemed appropriate that I end up writing a list of the best commuter bags for cyclists. Whether you ride to work in a full suit, …
This month’s Athletic Bookworm pick was ROAR, and it was a great read to start 2018! “ROAR: How to Match Your Food and Fitness to Your Female Physiology for Optimum Performance, Great Health, and a Strong, Lean Body for Life” was written by Stacy …
Mid-2017, we started officially moving to our new condo. Now, I admit, I still keep a decent amount of stuff back in NJ, because I’m here pretty regularly. So moving to a small place wasn’t *too* painful. But at the same time as our …
This article I wrote for Nylon has been extremely timely for me… Workout myths, leading with those we have around exercising with a cold. Earlier in January, I had THE WORST cold, and it couldn’t have come at a crappier time (except, maybe, if …
I admit, I wasn’t sure that a podcast about running track would be that interesting to me… and then we got Ian Warner on the phone and it turned into one of the coolest episodes I think we’ve done! The former track Olympian has …
This is a bit of a long time coming, post-wise, but the holidays, Nationals, etc, have been a whirlwind and frankly, there was more pressing info I wanted to bring to you guys, like what to put in your carry-on for every single flight, …
I’ve been VivoBarefoot-obsessed for a few years now. Ever since I switched to barefoot shoes for running (and for most of my day-to-day life), Vivo has been my go-to, because a) they fit like a dream, and b) they have offerings for everyday life, …
So, it’s winter and it sucks out in most places. It’s basically the worst. And that means I’ve had to revisit my grudging relationship with the trainer. (I hate the trainer.) But if you a) don’t have a trainer or b) are bored to …
When I started working on the update to ‘Saddle, Sore‘ in 2015, I stumbled across the realm of pelvic floor health. And then, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard about it before. But, of course, it’s in that ‘awkward’ category that just doesn’t get …
Not every run is a great one. Let’s just get that out of the way now. Sometimes, it’s just not going to be the best day ever. But often, stuff like headaches, stomach pain, sore legs and—yes—even exhaustion can be avoided or easily mitigated …
I got into Reno last night for cyclocross nationals… but my Osprey duffel with most of my gear didn’t. That reminded me just how important it is to have a carry-on with the absolute essentials. Luckily, this trip, I did this somewhat accidentally, but …
It’s funny, I’m just now coming to a pretty major realization that, despite the fact that my life does revolve around athletics—writing about them, doing them, supporting them, being around almost exclusively athletes—I don’t need to always have the athlete identity at the top …
I loved writing about ways to “trick yourself, treat yourself, and force yourself to get to the gym” because, frankly, the weather currently is COLD AF, and that means it’s really tempting to put resolutions about getting fit on hold and stay huddled inside. …
This week had two episodes of the Consummate Athlete Podcast, because with the New Year kicking off, we wanted to give you guys a bonus episode that focused on some of the healthy habits that are either part of your resolutions, or will help …
I decided to repost this article I did last year on Dry January today because, well, when I published it last year, it was after I’d already made it through the month. But for some of you who are contemplating starting it for this …
So you’re going away for a few days for fun or work, and want to keep all your gear in a carry-on? First of all, smart thinking. If I’m going anywhere for under two weeks, I really do try to keep my packing as …
Hey everyone! I’ve decided that for 2018, the way we’re going to roll the Athletic Bookworms is going to be book-of-the-month style. I’ll do two posts: one announcing the book and posing a few questions, and that’s where we’ll collect comments throughout the month. …
As most of you know, I started as a triathlete before I got into cycling (sorrynotsorry). So, when Bicycling wanted me to talk about tips for your first triathlon as a cyclist, I had a whole lot of tips of my own… But I …
It’s 2018, and that means a bunch of us have a lot of resolutions, goals, or intentions that we really, really want to keep… But maybe haven’t exactly put systems in place for just yet. That’s why Peter—head coach at SmartAthlete—and I created the …
OK, it’s January. Let’s get those resolutions rolling… Over at MapMyRun.com, I wrote out a fun day-by-day set of small things you can do to reset and improve your running in the new year, from actual workouts to suggestions about cleaning out your running …
I’m a big fan of the one-word resolution: in 2017, it was COLLECTED. For 2018, I want to focus on COMMUNITY. I like the one word resolution because rather than listing a bunch of things that will mostly fall off the radar by February …
Back in October, I did 30 straight days of yoga—in addition to the 15 minutes that I do every damn morning (and have for almost 3 years!). And I admit, it was a major challenge when things got busy. But it was 110 percent worth it, because …
We’re on the road a lot, and that means we often don’t have gym access. Now, I freaking love a good agility course run loop for a strength/cardio workout, but honestly, they can be pretty hard to find. But playgrounds? All over the place. …
I know, I know. Another resolution article! I know everyone is inundated with these this time of year, but a) I do think they have value and b) I love thinking about this stuff. I wanted to put together a list of things I’ve …
I love talking resolutions and healthy holiday habits. Maybe it’s because we travel so much, so I consider healthy holidays right in my wheelhouse… And when you’re always traveling and seeing new places and meeting new people, the healthy habits we talk about for …
Over on The Consummate Athlete Podcast, we’ve challenged listeners and those of you who follow The Outdoor Edit and SmartAthlete to set a goal of 500 minutes of movement. Why? A couple reasons: Holiday challenges around specific sports are awesome, like Rapha’s Festive 500, …
Everyone writes about being healthy for the holidays. Heck, I did it about healthy travel over Thanksgiving! But with holiday season upon us, it’s never a bad thing to refresh your memory on how to stay active, healthy and happy over the course of …
Raise your hand if you ever rolled your eyes at the idea of seeking out a coach or working off of a training plan while getting ready for a goal race. (*Raises hand.*) Yeah, training plans can be sort of a P in the …
Dr. Kevin Jardine—founder of Feel Pretty Remarkable and chiropractor extraordinaire—is one of my favorite people that we’ve had on the podcast. He also is easily the best chiro that I know: I was having some minor issues–OK, less “issues” and more “a thing I …
Everyone knows by now that I am walking obsessed, whether I’m doing a grocery trip at home or exploring a new place. In London, we walked 20 miles in one day in order to do a super-fast ‘take in everything’ tour of the city, …
You know when you find a random company as you’re down a hashtag spiral, and fall completely in love with their whole vibe/aesthetic/story/everything? Yep, I love Redfrog, a women’s cycling apparel company founded by Jaimee Erikson with the mission statement: “Redfrog Athletics was founded …
You guys know I’ve been doing yoga every. single. morning. for three years now—but in October, I decided to 100X that for the month and see what happened. I’ve been tossing around the idea of doing yoga teacher training for a couple of years …
All right, Athletic Bookworms! I want to wrap up our reading of Mindful Running with a couple of last thoughts on the book. Overall, this has been one of the better athletic books I’ve read in the last year, and made me change a …
As athletes, it can be tough to walk between enjoying the holidays, hygge and the season while still being…. fast and in shape. Last night, I was talking to Ellen Noble, the pro cyclocrosser who’s been my housemate for the last month, about the …
You all know that I freaking love resolutions… back to school, new years, any of those cliched times to set new goals and reflect on the year are my favorites. But I also know that those times are actually kind of the worst times …
In case you missed it, adventure racer, MTBer and general bada$$ Amanda Batty was the most recent in the Real Life Shred Girls series over on Shred-Girls.com. And some of her advice was so amazing — and so ageless — that I wanted to …
Maja Tesch has opened my eyes to the craziest new sport that I now desperately want to do: SWIM RUN. It’s crazier than a triathlon because the races can be any distance and can involve more than 30 transitions from water to land. You …
I looked at the schedule and it’s travel madness through next freaking June…. Actually, when I started the draft for this article a fe months ago, that read April. I am bad at calming things down. Sure, there’s some mini-down time broken into that—like …
No time? No problem. I talked to a bunch of coaches for an article over on MapMyRun about what to do when you only have 30 minutes to train. That’s actually why I love running—because even with half an hour, you can do a …
When we read “The Brave Athlete: Calm the F*ck Down and Rise to the Occasion” as the first book for the Athletic Bookworms Book Club, it was a huge hit. It really helped me personally figure out what was going on with my identity …
Last week, Diane Jenks of The Outspoken Cyclist Podcast was kind enough to have me on to talk all things Shred Girls, women’s cycling and generally what I’ve been up to in the bike industry for the last decade—and what’s coming next! It was …
Talking to nutrition expert Matt Fitzgerald is always a highlight for me, thanks to his simple and no-nonsense approach to sports (and life) nutrition. He’s the author of one of my favorite books, Racing Weight, and he has tons of practical advice for athletes …
Starting to get the off-season blues? Except for the pros, cyclocross in the US (with the exception of Nationals) has tapered off, and there are plenty of people who’ve been in the off-season for a couple months already, but are finally starting to feel …
It’s holiday season, which means it’s time for The Outdoor Edit’s gift guide. This year, I tried to split it into a few fun categories with two picks per person. The combination of gifts would be great, but either one (usually one higher and …
You know I love talking about chafing when it comes to cycling and nether regions. (I have a book about it, if you didn’t know that!) But I also know that it can be a huge issue for runners, whether we’re talking about the …
Heading home for the holidays, but want to make sure you stay somewhat healthy (and sane) while you’re there? I got you. Pack for Your Activity Goals Last year, I wrote for Literally Darling about “9 Simple, Easy Ways To Pack Efficiently For Your …
Katerina Nash might be the person I’ve interviewed most frequently at podium presentations over the ten years I’ve been a cycling journalist. That’s because she’s been racing for over two decades now, and she’s won—a lot. Most recently, you guys might remember that she …
Instead of posting questions like I did for our Brave Athlete book club read last month, I’m just going to start a discussion on a couple of points in this month’s book, Mindful Running by Mackenzie Havey. I’d love it if you guys jump …
Over on Nylon, I got to write about a topic I’m HUGELY passionate about: when eating ‘healthy’ is messing with you. I’ve seen a ton of serious cyclists and runners suffer because of fad diets that are touted as the great new way to …
After finishing Ironman this summer, I wasn’t as wrecked as I was afraid I’d be. And honestly, the first time I did one, I shoved myself back into cyclocross practice two days later (OK, that was a mistake). But I’ve also done races—weirdly, shorter …
I’m a total sucker for a story that forces me to adopt new habits and see how they go. It’s built-in accountability and, for me, it’s one of the few types of accountability that really, really work. Deadlines… Anyway, last month, I started using …
This week’s episode was hella exciting for Peter and for me—noted chiropractor and (what I’ll call) movement expert Greg Lehman (BKIN, MSC, DC, MSCPT) has been on our short list of ‘people we really, really, really want on the podcast.’ He’s been an amazing …
This weekend, as I was helping tear down the team tents in Louisville after the Derby City Cup, my dad called me. He had just gotten home from AppleCross, a local cyclocross race in NJ at an apple farm, and he wanted to tell …
I love a good study—especially when it backs up something I already believe to be true. Remember that Friends episode where Phoebe goes running with Rachel and Rachel is horrified because Phoebe looks ridiculous? (Watch it here.) I always loved that because her point …
I rarely just walk around making happy noises, but when Mountain Life, the magazine for our part of Ontario, featured me in their Fall issue, I was so excited. Usually, I’m the one doing the interviewing, so it was super surreal to be on …
MacKenzie Havey just released her first book, Mindful Running, and when I spotted it on Twitter, I knew I had to get my hands on it.. and that we needed her to come on the podcast. MacKenzie is a blast to interview—she’s a longtime …
When we’re on the road, we try really, really, really hard to eat real food and real meals. But, to be honest, it’s not always possible. Between food deserts on long drives and the occasional late-to-airport debacle that means we’re rushing for the plane, …
Let’s Talk Cyclocross …Or at least, let’s talk about 5 things you can do to make this season amazing. Some of these are obvious to those of us who’ve been racing for a while, but for some newcomers, this is excellent stuff to keep …
Anyone who sees me for more than a day at a time realizes something pretty quick: 95 percent of my wardrobe is BLACK. Maybe some gray and white (and occasional burgundy) mixed in, but for the most part, I wear a lot of black. …
Not every race goes the way you hope it will… To be honest, what’s the point of racing if it does? Bad days happen to all of us, regardless of how well we prepare. So I was stoked to write this piece for MapMyRun.com …
This Q&A episode of the Consummate Athlete Podcast was an absolute blast because a) we were actually in the same place, and that place was our condo with our full recording setup; and b) we’d just come off off a ‘free’ weekend where we …
Last minute Halloween party, or trick-or-treating with the kids coming up? Over at MapMyRun.com, I went through a few easy runner-friendly costumes that you can make with your pre-existing running wardrobe and a few props. Obviously, I will be going as The Flash, as …
We make time for fitting in our workouts, runs or rides or strength training… but what about simple self-care? For me, I can almost always manage to get my actual workout in, but the extra things—taking care of my skin, getting enough sleep, even …
If you’re waiting on the Kindle edition of Mindful Running to come out before you dig in, I’m going to add an alternative read to the Athletic Bookworm’s bookshelf. I had to read “The Urban Monk: Eastern Wisdom and Modern Hacks to Stop Time …
I’m going to make this the standing page for all the books that we’re reading as a club, and a few that really are serious favorites of mine that we haven’t read as a group, but I think are worth picking up. (I’ll update …
I was really excited to get Brandon Olin from Movility onto the Consummate Athlete Podcast last week. I’m a fan of stuff like the blue light-blocking glasses, we have a standing desk (that I built!) and we walk a ton, like I talked about …
Of everything that I’ve done for myself in the last few years, whether it’s yoga in the morning, strength training, shifting to a healthier diet… I’ve tried a lot of ‘good for me’ things. I regularly train, whether for an event or for the …
When Bicycling asked me to tackle the topic of ‘how to find the right group ride for you,’ I was super stoked. That’s sort of why I started the Shred Girls series, after all! I think cycling is the coolest way to meet people, …
Fatigued? A little overwhelmed? A little underwhelmed? Feeling “off”? Yep. “Do you ever think maybe we’re rushing too much?” I asked Peter as I tried not to grump at him from the passenger seat of our van, as we ran a few minutes behind …
Confession: I am bad at recovering, especially from working out, but honestly, from life in general. (Ask Peter—he could tell you that there’s been maybe 2 days this year where I wasn’t using a weekend day or holiday to ‘catch up on a couple …
I’ve known Becca Schepps for most of my cycling life—nearly a decade now!—so it was rad to have her on the Consummate Athlete Podcast to talk about her trajectory in bike racing, how she’s learned to race and train smart, and all about her …
Ever start a run and feel a little… less than motivated? (Of course you have. Everyone does.) You may need a running mantra. So, while podcasts and kick-ass playlists are awesome, they won’t do you much good when it comes to race day, and …
In the last few years, I’ve stayed in probably near 100 hotels in several countries and most states, and done short stints and long stays at VRBOs and AirBNBs all over the US. There was plenty of host housing, van camping and actual camping …
Bookworms! know we didn’t have a ton of engagement in the comments for the first book club where we read The Brave Athlete, but that isn’t a reason to stop! (Also, I read a lot anyway, so I’m just stoked to have a venue …
If you’re a cyclist, runner or triathlete who ever travels for racing or training, or honestly, even on vacation or business in general, you know that recovering from a plane ride can be brutal, and recovering post-race when you have a flight the next …
I’ve interviewed Danelle Kabush a lot over the years, for good reason: she’s a badass cyclist and Xterra triathlete and pro racer in her own right, she’s a PhD-holding expert on sports psychology, and as a busy mom, she knows what it’s like to …
Running can be scary, especially as a woman. It’s not something I love admitting, but it is the truth. Sometimes, when I’m running in a city or town early in the morning, or in the woods mid-afternoon, I freak myself out and get a …
We’re huge fans of using whatever is around you for a strength workout—as regular travelers, finding gym time can be difficult, so while I love to lift heavy weights when I can, most of my workouts are done with body weight and maybe a …
Over at Bicycling magazine, we spend A LOT of time in the office debating various new electronics (in addition to every other type of bike gear, of course). So, when my editor asked me to do a roundup of which smartwatch would work best …
We’re back again with another Q&A episode of the Consummate Athlete Podcast! This week, we talked about how to deal with a weight loss and training plateau—both mentally and physically—and we dig into what the F a ‘max effort’ actually is when you see …
Running is a romantic sport, similar to cycling. When I say that, I mean that we tend to romanticize it in our heads. I know for me, the most aspirational thing I can imagine a lot of the time involves me effortlessly running for …
Ever get home from a business trip or vacation and just feel… off? I just got home from two World Cup races managing a cyclocross team and all the logistics of that, plus CrossVegas PLUS Interbike as part of the Bicycling crew. Add to …
Marco Altini, creator of the HRV4Training app, has become one of my main resources as someone who knows when an athlete needs recovery and when he or she can go hard. He was one of the first guests on our podcast, and since then, …
Looking for some inspiration to put in long miles or explore new places on your bike? When I was assigned a piece rounding up rad female cyclists for Bicycling, I was super stoked: it offered me a chance to spend some time trolling Instagram, …
I never run without my phone. (OK, the one exception is on the beach, but when it comes to running on trails or roads, I want to listen to podcasts, I want to feel safer, and I want to be able to use Strava …
We always love chatting with Ryan Leech, trials legend turned yogi turned online video entrepreneur. He’s super rad. (Which is true of all of our guests, of course.) He was also the first guest we had on the show when we started it, but …
As a couple who just had to turn around and drive 30 min because Peter forgot his helmet AND shoes yesterday, I really needed to write—and follow—this story on your go-to ride bag. I’ve been good about having a “go bag” that’s sort of …
So, I was packing for a 12 day trip that goes from 40 to 100 degree weather, all different climates and things I’m doing (running, working at races, going to fancy dinners, attending a trade show, hanging out… the list is insane.). And OK, …
Even if you’re not a super serious runner, you can always benefit from having a squad behind you. That might be a crew of running buddies, but in this article, I talked about the five people who can help up-level your running like it’s …
You may remember our episode with Jacques Devore on strength for cyclists and his book, Maximum Overload. The book—and Jacques—are all about increasing your cycling and endurance power by strength training (something Peter and I have both been SUPER into lately. Ask me about my bench …
This post for MapMyRun was super fun to research because to be honest, it’s something I haven’t thought a ton about, but really really should given my family’s propensity towards skin cancer, the amount of time I spend outside, the breakouts I get from …
You guys know I’m a huge fan of resolutions. I make them a couple times a year: New Years, birthdays occasionally, and always, always, always, for Back to School. My fondest summer memories involve floating in the ocean at the beach with my sister …
This article for Outside mag on sports info video channels was super fun to research, because who doesn’t love watching a bunch of how-to videos and getting amazing tips and advice as part of a day’s work? I looked at a bunch of video …
We had a great episode this week talking about post-race recovery and the potential problems with getting back to training. We tackled it from a nutritional, training and mental perspective, so that was super fun to explore all the angles! We also get into …
For years, I’ve been seeing Pinterest-y craft projects that involved spray-painting animal/dinosaur figurines, and I always thought they looked super cool. I also figured that in real life, they would not come out as actually cool. But, over last weekend, I went on a …
Over at MapMyRun.com, I talked with some amazing doctors about the best tests for runners and other athletes. And to be honest, I also talked a lot about what tests were kind of bull$hit. So it was a real eye-opener for me! For the …
I already chatted about Ironman nutrition over here a couple weeks ago, but I’m working on some new video content and wanted to share my fueling story, but in a different way. So if you’re more of a video watcher/listener, check this out to …
So, you’re triathlon-curious but terrified of the swim? Turns out, you’re in the same boat as pretty much every other triathlete ever, including the ones with a swim background. Most of us grew up swimming in pools or playing in lakes and oceans, but …
August is almost over but I know plenty of people who have blow-out long weekends and vacations planned for this last burst of summer and Labor Day weekend. I also know plenty of people—myself included—who are about to hit the busy season for work …
I know I say every Consummate Athlete Podcast episode is my favorite, but this one really was a total blast. Jax Mariash—aka Wonder Woman—is an accomplished ultra-runner, but also an entrepreneur who started her own coffee roasting company. So not only do we dive …
Last year, my nutrition book, Fuel Your Ride: Complete Performance Nutrition for Cyclists, came out with Rodale Press. It was a huge undertaking to research and write, and man, did I learn a ton! Now, the ebook version is on a massive sale on …
It’s been a huge adventure writing for Outside magazine lately, and this article was super fun for me to put together. I pitched as “the rise of duh science in athletics,” and I was so happy with how it turned out. Basically, the premise …
While most of the time when on the road, we’re in spandex of some variety or cutoff shorts and tshirts, occasionally, there are times when we need to be a little bit dressier mid-adventure. Maybe there’s a work meeting that comes up, or a …
A year ago yesterday, Peter and I got married in Ellicottville in upstate New York. Two of our best friends performed the ceremony, and since it was at this grouping of three ski chalet houses (not as fancy as it sounds), all of our …
If you’re anything like me, the last month of summer gets hectic: family vacations, friends hosting parties/barbecues/weddings, ice cream, margaritas… The list goes on. And for me this August in particular, staying motivated to stay healthy/active/training has been a little tougher since we already …
Jacques DeVore is a strength coach, a cyclist, and—along with Roy Wallack—the author of the new strength training for cyclists manual, Maximum Overload. The book is awesome, guys. A really easy read, tons of info, and some really great suggestions for how to improve …
What often gets missed when we talk about Ironman training is the week after the race. Your body is beat up and you’re exhausted. But now what? You want to recover, but you’re not a pro. You have a life to get back to. …
I know most of you have seen me talk about lady part issues over on SaddleSoreWomen.com a million times, but this piece was super cool because it gave me a totally different way of looking at the issue of saddle sores and discomfort on …
This was a fun one to record, even if it was done roadside while we crossed back to the East Coast. But here it is, the Consummate Athlete Ironman Post-Mortem episode where Peter and I break down how the training for the big race …
This piece on Ironman was so much fun to write for Bicycling, because it let me think about the whole year of training—and race day! A lot of practical stuff in here, like what to wear and choosing the right gear, but also some …
PSA for those of you going on summer vacations and cramming all your belongings into cars, leaving them outside all day as you stop in various locations. Give you gear a break (and avoid ruining your sick paint job on your frame) with this …
I interviewed Tara Mayo on MapMyRun to talk about being a vegan ultrarunner, but as soon as I had her on the phone, I knew we wanted her to be a podcast guest to talk about her rad life. She’s a yoga teacher with …
Writing this article was hella helpful in the last couple months of training for Ironman… It’s not always easy to practice what I preach with this stuff, but I knew that the run and staying hydrated was going to be a limiter for me …
Obviously, you guys know I’m HUGE on running. But I definitely wasn’t a runner my whole life. And when I started at 20, running a mile was basically the worst. But over the years, I’ve gotten more competent and grown to really, really love …
Who doesn’t LOVE a good packing article? I have to admit, when Outside asked me to write something about what was in pro’s bags for race day, I was basically beside myself because all I ever wanted to write as a young fashion journalist …
Another month, another long drive: this one was a 4 day excursion from Ontario to Alberta, crossing through the Badlands. It wasn’t a leisurely drive, it was a race to get out to Canmore as soon as possible while staying reasonably healthy. We had …
Deep water running, WTF? I saw a sign for this at the pool in Collingwood a few weeks ago and was intrigued: I remember deep water running in college when my legs were super cramped and I couldn’t run, but the idea of doing …
I can’t count how many places Peter and I have slept in the last year, or how many travel days we’ve had. So, you guys know we’re getting pretty adept at packing and traveling. (You’d hope, anyway.) The biggest thing I’ve realized is that …
This was a really fun episode because there is pretty much nothing that Paul hasn’t done in the world of extreme sports, and the journalist in me was so excited to hear about the TV show, Boundless, that he was part of until it …
This was a super fun article to do for Nylon, a deep dive into what the deal with collagen is. I’m a big fan, and it’s been making the rounds in the ‘wellness’ community the last few months. Personally, I dig it because it’s …
Huge thanks to everyone who expressed interest in being part of this first Athletic Bookworm Bookclub. The first book we’re going to tackle is The Brave Athlete, which was the clear winner out of the three options I put out to the group. I’m excited …
Monday morning seemed like an appropriate time to link to this article I recently wrote over at Nylon, packed with the morning routines and rituals of fitness and wellness ‘gurus.’ I am morning-routine obsessed, and I love hearing about what other people do every …
It feels like I’ve been interviewing MTBer Geoff Kabush for forever—actually, he was probably the first Canadian athlete I ever met! (Funny thinking about that now that I’m married to a guy who’s been racing him for half his life.) Having him on The …
A couple weeks ago, I joked on Twitter about starting a book club for athletic bookworms, and somehow, it got a ton of traction. Apparently, I’m not the only bookworm-turned-jock out there! So, I thought, why the hell not? I love to read, and …
I love writing about cycling nutrition (I mean, I wrote an entire book on it!) so obviously, when Bicycling wanted a piece on how and what riders in the Tour were eating in a day, I was super stoked. I got to chat with …
Last week’s podcast (sorry this is a little late, holiday weekend and TONS of stuff to talk about in later posts going on) with Emily Allan-Dakin was a major favorite of mine, partially because we geek out hard about our similar journeys through triathlon …
Laundry. Seems ultra-simple, right? Wash, rinse, repeat. Umm… Turns out with cycling kit, it can be a little more complicated. In addition to skin irritation—more on that in a sec—I was out on a ride yesterday and got caught in the rain. A guy …
The Consummate Athlete philosophy (i.e what we preach in our podcast) is that being prepared to crush pretty much any sport at any time is an excellent goal to have. It’s one we’ve been working on… and over at Nylon, I’m talking all about …
Resident comic nerd Molly here! So, I went to see Wonder Woman last night, and naturally, as someone who loves the whole Consummate Athlete lifestyle, it got me super motivated to train. And that led to thinking about how to train like Wonder Woman. …
“I’m hitting a major milestone: 30, or as I like to call it, the Cut the Bullsh-t and Go Be Awesome stage.” —Actress Olivia Wilde I don’t even care that that quote isn’t from someone more renowned for his or her literary prowess, or …
Recently, I turned 30. This alone is not shocking. What was a shock to my system though, was the morning after celebrating at my favorite pizza spot in Collingwood, Ontario—Pie. Full-on admission: I had a massive meal. The pizzas aren’t tiny, but are technically …
Summer is officially here, and that means SUMMER VACATION! (Cue cheering noises here, and a countdown calendar for us to be done with Ironman so I can truly embrace the doing-whatever-I-want-for-training lifestyle again…) Anyway, for most of us, summer is a great time to …