Episode 212 - Which is Best: SweetSpot vs. Polarized Training for Cyclists?

OVERVIEWOverview: Zone 2 training is all the rage, but there's a point at which more Zone 2 or exclusively training at low intensity is no longer productive. Time-Crunched Cyclists reach this point sooner than time-rich athletes because you don't have the training volume to continue creating a training stimulus. Coach Adam Pulford shares his solutions for developing aerobic fitness using a mixed-intensity training method for Time-Crunched Cyclists. TOPICS COVEREDWhen is it appropriate to do mostly Zone 2 training?Why NOT to do just Zone 2 trainingProgression at Zone 2Aerobic decouplingHow to increase Zone 2 power outputIndoor vs outdoor for Zone 2 ridesASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTHOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEW: Sports Dietitian Kristen Arnold MS, RDN, CSSD is back to discuss exactly how sodium bicarbonate can improve cycling performance, how much to consume, when to take it, and what workouts or races it works best for. Coach Adam Pulford and Kristen also discuss new research showing that using sodium bicarbonate during an 8-week training program improves training adaptations.Key topics in this episode:What sodium bicarbonate does in the bodyWhat's the problem with sodium bicarbonate?What athlete types benefit from sodium bicarbonate?Is sodium bicarbonate safe?How much sodium bicarbonate should you take?Multi-day loading with sodium bicarbonateSodium bicarbonate in long-term training planGuestKristen Arnold MS, RDN, CSSD is a registered dietitian (RDN), retired professional cyclist and Women's Development Road Director for USA Cycling. She is a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics (CSSD) and is a Level 1 USA Cycling coach. Her private practice nutrition counseling business focuses on sports nutrition for women athletes.LinksKristin's WebsiteKristin's InstagramReferences:2020 Study on Individualization of Sodium Bicarb Ingestion: Meta Analysis:Extracellular Buffering Supplements to Improve Exercise Capacity and Performance: A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-analysis | Sports MedicineAsker Jeukedrup Summary: Sodium bicarbonate, cheap and effective?Why Top Olympic Athletes Use Baking Soda to Boost Performance The effect of sodium bicarbonate mini-tablets ingested in a carbohydrate hydrogel system on 40 km cycling time trial performance and metabolism in trained male cyclists - PubMed Knowledge is Watt articleHostAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for more nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEWOverview: Let's say you have cycling event coming up that requires both steady, sustained power and short, punchy accelerations or climbs? How do you train to optimize both? Coach Adam Pulford describes the structure of a 16-week training plan he would use for this scenario.TOPICS COVEREDDemands of training for long efforts vs. short effortsTraining blocks to use across a 16-week programWorkout details and weekly training structurePeak phase training with an effective taperASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTHOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

Cycling champion Caroline Manning joins us for an inspiring conversation about her journey from teenage cyclocross star to an incredible professional career marked by five French National Championships and a silver medal at World Championships. Caroline opens up about the personal battles she faced during her peak years, including the trials of an abusive marriage, and how she managed to leverage these challenges into a competitive edge, and the personal and professional prices she paid later.Host Adam Pulford and Caroline discuss the burnout and pressure of maintaining high performance, compounded by age's inevitable effects on drive and passion. As she shifts focus from racing victories to personal growth and coaching, Caroline shares invaluable insights on longevity in sports. The concept of chronic adaptation allows seasoned athletes to maintain their edge with reduced training loads, emphasizing the power of consistency and self-awareness in training preferences. Caroline highlights the need for moderation, challenging the “all or nothing” mentality that often leads to burnout. Her story is a beacon for those seeking to redefine success and find fulfillment as we mature in sport.Key topics in this episode:Caroline's early progression to elite cyclingPros and cons of fueling athletic performance with personal painRedefining the role of training and competition in lifeRedefining what "success" looks like GuestCaroline Mani began competing at age 6, started as a competitive cyclist at 15, and has been racing every since. She won the French Cyclocross National Championships five times and earned a silver medal at the 2016 UCI Cyclocross World Championships. After a period of personal and professional hardship, Caroline rediscovered her joy for competition, cycling, and coaching and she is now a CTS Cycling Coach, manager of the Groove Offroad Racing Team, and founder of the race support company Velomafia. LinksCaroline's SocialsIG: https://www.instagram.com/carolinemani1987/X: https://x.com/carolinemaniFB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084694856253Resources:Groove Auto: https://www.grooveauto.com/VeloMafia: https://www.instagram.com/velomafiallc/CTS: https://trainright.com/coaches/caroline-mani/HostAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for more nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEW: Sports Dietitian Kristen Arnold MS, RDN, CSSD works with busy amateur and elite athletes who sometimes struggle to optimally fuel for performance and recovery. In this episode, Kristen and Coach Adam Pulford break down practical, easy, quick, and effective tips and tricks you can use to fuel and perform at your best. Key topics in this episode:Fueling for early morning trainingFueling for longer ridesFueling morning workouts without pre-workout mealFueling for people who don't like breakfastTiming of fluid intake for hydration and fuelingThe post ride mealsTips for daily nutrition intake Food delivery service tipsGuestKristen Arnold MS, RDN, CSSD is a registered dietitian (RDN), retired professional cyclist and Women's Development Road Director for USA Cycling. She is a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics (CSSD), received her master’s in human nutrition (MS) from the Ohio State University and is a Level 1 USA Cycling coach. Her private practice nutrition counseling business focuses on sports nutrition for women athletes.LinksKristin's Website Kristin's InstagramReferences from the episodeDC Sustainable Meals: Vegetable & the Butcher  The Rounds sustainable mealsHostAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for more nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEW: In the second of two podcast episodes, Coach Adam Pulford talks with Lindsay Golich, a senior sport physiologist at the US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, about specific heat acclimatization protocols athletes can use without complicated equipment. They also discuss whether heat acclimatization protocols can or should be used year round to improve training and racing performances.TOPICSWhy and How to increase plasma volumeNative Heat protocolSauna protocolHot bath/hot tub protocolShould you use heat acclimatization year round?LINKSLindsay’s Socials:IG: https://www.instagram.com/sportsciencelindz/FB: https://www.facebook.com/lindsay.hyman.7X: https://x.com/SportsSciLindzHeat Training Resources:Image discussed in the podcastKoop’s: Ultrarunners' Heat Acclimation Cheat Sheet - Jason Koop Asker’s: Beat the Heat – a hot bath after exercise boosts performance in the heat Stacy’s: Heat Regulation For Women | Dr. Stacy Sims ASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTGUESTLindsay Golich is a senior exercise physiologist for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. She has also been a CTS Coach since 2003. Currently, she manages the USOC's Athlete Performance Lab and the High Altitude & Environmental Training Center at the Olympic Training Center. Lindsay has developed protocols for laboratory and field testing, and has coached more than 15-National Champions and multiple Olympic and World Championships medalists.HOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

Can heat training be the secret weapon in unlocking peak athletic performance? Coach Adam Pulford talks with Lindsay Golich, a senior sport physiologist at the US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. Lindsay reveals the preparations undertaken by Team USA for the Paris Olympics, detailing how they managed heat stress in extreme conditions. From sustainable designs in the Olympic Village to using core temperature pills for gathering data, learn how innovations help athletes excel on the world stage.For everyday athletes, Lindsay and Adam discuss practical aspects of heat training, how athletes should balance heat exposure with other training priorities, how long it takes to acclimate to the heat, and when to start your heat training prior to important events. LINKSLindsay’s Socials:IG: https://www.instagram.com/sportsciencelindz/FB: https://www.facebook.com/lindsay.hyman.7X: https://x.com/SportsSciLindzHeat Training Resources:Image discussed in the podcastKoop’s: Ultrarunners' Heat Acclimation Cheat Sheet - Jason Koop Asker’s: Beat the Heat – a hot bath after exercise boosts performance in the heat Stacy’s: Heat Regulation For Women | Dr. Stacy Sims ASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTGUESTLindsay Golich is a senior exercise physiologist for the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. She has also been a CTS Coach since 2003. Currently, she manages the USOC's Athlete Performance Lab and the High Altitude & Environmental Training Center at the Olympic Training Center. Lindsay has developed protocols for laboratory and field testing, and has coached more than 15-National Champions and multiple Olympic and World Championships medalists. HOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEWOverview: 'Cross is coming! Coach Adam Pulford talks with Chris Merriam, Team Manager of CXD Trek Bikes, about all things cyclocross, from mistakes 'crossers make to equipment recommendations, key workouts, and race day strategies.TOPICS COVEREDCommon pre-season training mistakes Skill and technique mistakes in trainingWhat to look for in a cyclocross training groupWork/life balance with cyclocross racingMistakes in equipment selectionRace day strategiesCyclocross-specific interval trainingASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTLINKSSocial media:CXD IG: https://www.instagram.com/cxdtrekbikes/CXHairs IG = https://www.instagram.com/cxhairs/Resources:CXHairs Bulletin on Substack: https://cxhairs.substack.com/DCCX: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057314694024 HOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEWOverview: The sports science debate between training methodologies seems to pit Polarized training (e.g., hard days hard, easy days easy) against Tempo/Sweetspot training (e.g., high aerobic training, often derided as "the middle ground"). For real athletes, all intensities matter and how you use them depends on your available time and your goals. Here's how to figure it out.TOPICS COVEREDPolarized vs. SweetSpot definitionsSweetSpot pros and consPolarized training pros and consPractical recommendations for Time-Crunched CyclistsASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTLINKSComplete Guide to Polarized TrainingSweet Spot Training In The Winter/Base Phase: Yes Or No? Zone 2, Sweetspot, and Polarized Training HOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEWOverview: Big goal events take a lot of you, both physically and mentally. A couple days off won't cut it. Here's how to structure an effective post-goal event recovery.TOPICS COVEREDHow to start post-event recoveryWeek 2 of post-event recoveryWeek 3 of post-event recoveryHow you know you're ready againQuestion 2: Key Metrics to Track for Training?3 broad areas to focus onSpecific metrics to trackASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTHOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete