View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Gabe Baida is a 15 year anti-doping professional. He was previously at USADA, where he served as the director of UFC and Premiere Sport. He is now the Executive Director of InnoVero. Episode highlights: (25:52) No fault period: a period with no consequence, athletes need to have the opportunity to learn the rules, six months of no fault for education (37:25) Solving anti-doping in ultrarunning: putting aside...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Corrine Malcolm is a coach, podcaster, on-air personality, and the head of the Pro Trail Runners Association anti-doping working group. Episode highlights: (14:34) Anti-doping goals in ultra-trail: an internationally recognized governing body, WADA compliance, moving past guerilla education, clarity and common rules (39:50) Managing cost: a federation, race organization, or other relevant entity could serve...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Tammy Hanson currently serves as the Elite Education Director at the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). In this position, she oversees the day-to-day operations of USADA’s education and engagement initiatives, drives strategic planning, and develops effective, data-driven programs that focus on clean sport education. Tammy is recognized for her commitment to supporting global anti-doping partners and ongoing...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: In this first of four episodes on drugs in ultramarathon running, Eve Pannone joins the podcast to discuss NSAIDs in endurance sport. The widespread use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) in ultramarathon running is alarming due to the health risks associated with kidney disease, electrolyte imbalance, and other factors. NSAIDs exacerbate some of the stresses of endurance sport to dangerous...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Lloyd completed a BA (hons) in Business Administration at Staffordshire University and an MSc in Marketing Management at Aston University. He then proceeded to work in the advertising industry for several years before embarking on a career change in 2016. Lloyd returned to academia after a thirteen-year break and completed a Postgraduate Diploma (conversion degree) in Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London....

​​View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Dan Owens is an associate professor in cellular and molecular exercise physiology at Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool (UK). His research sits at the crossroads between nutrition, muscle metabolism, and muscle adaptation. In parallel to his academic career, Dan brings his passion for sports science to practice and has provided nutrition and physiology support for amateur and elite athletes across...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Floris Wardenaar is an assistant professor at the College of Health Solutions since September 2017 with expertise in Performance Nutrition. Floris's education: PhD Dietary exposure assessment in athletes, Wageningen University 2017MS Nutritional Physiology, Wageningen University 2005Internship, the University of Texas at Austin, Department of Kinesiology, 2005BS Nutrition and Dietetics, Amsterdam University of...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Frederic Sabater Pastor is a CTS ultrarunning coach with a PH.D. in Exercise Physiology and experiences coaching athletes for a variety of challenges. He is also a Postdoctoral researcher at the Inter-university Lab of Human Movement. His areas of focus are  running, trail, performance, physiology, and fatigue. Episode highlights: (32:02) Training differences: road runners 20 hrs/week, trail runners 10 hrs/week,...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Dr. Scott H. Frey is an internationally renowned neuroscientist, psychologist, accomplished endurance athlete, author, and teacher. Scott helps individuals and groups identify and realize their aspirations. He can be reached at: [email protected] Episode highlights: (29:00) Data and compromising effort levels: example of readiness scores harming mental preparation pre-race (39:04) Feedback...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Dr. Nicolas Berger is a Senior Lecturer in Sport & Exercise at Teeside University’s Centre for Rehabilitation. In this episode, we discuss the emerging topic of durability in endurance sports and how it applies to ultrarunning. Topics discussed:   1- Why examining physiological variables matter and why determining what variables matter more is important for training design 2- How physiological testing is...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: CTS Coaches Sarah Scozzaro and Nicole Rasmussen go over how to set up a strength program for ultrarunners. We discuss strength training for injury resiliency, performance goals, and health, and discuss tools that you can use to set up your season. Episode highlights: (32:01) Programming for performance goals: experience in the gym, addressing weaknesses in strength and power, utilizing gym time while running...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Stephanie Howe, Ph.D. is a CTS Pro Coach and nutritionist. She has a Ph.D. in Nutrition & Exercise Science from Oregon State University and a Sports Nutrition Diploma from the International Olympic Committee. She is also the 2014 Western States Endurance run champion. Episode highlights: (25:43) Weight loss for performance: nutrition for performance and nutrition for weight loss are at odds, keep training...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: If you are not planning out your season by now you should be! CTS coaches Cliff Pittman and AJW discuss how to set up your season with the right anchor points, how to schedule a B race and how to keep the focus on the things that are the most important. Episode highlights: (9:02) Western States classic buildup: Way Too Cool 50k, American River 50, Miwok 100k, Memorial Day training camp (17:02) Koop’s framework:...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Neal Palles is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Mental Performance Coach, and CTS Ultrarunning coach based in Longmont, Colorado. Have you ever felt the weight of failure pressing down on you after a season of unmet athletic goals? Join Coach Jason Koop and CTS coach Neal Palles as we dissect the emotional journey of resilience in the face of athletic disappointment. In our heart-to-heart, Neil shares his...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: CTS Coaches John Fitzgerald and Stephanie Howe discuss how to navigate winter training for Ultramarathon. Episode highlights: (14:39) Structuring the winter season around races: athletes who peak at different times of the year, longer recovery for athletes with longer race seasons, 4-8 weeks of fun or unstructured training, recognize when you need a break (37:58) Work on weakness at a time: athletes try to...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Nidia Rodriguez-Sanchez, Ph.D., has spent her career in the field of sports nutrition and physiology. She earned her BSc in Dietetics / Clinical Nutrition and later pursued postgraduate studies in Anthropometry and Nutrition applied to Sports, which gave her a better understanding of the unique nutritional needs of athletes and physically active individuals. Dr Rodriguez-Sanchez has worked as a sports dietitian...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Nick Tiller, PhD is an exercise scientist at Harbor-UCLA. He is also the author of The Skeptics Guide to Sports Science, a columnist for Ultrarunning Magazine and the Skeptical Inquirer. Episode highlights: (9:09) Science communication: academics fighting back against media claims, Don't Be Such A Scientist, the importance of science communication, examples (44:48) Identifying bad science: 28% increase in...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Luc van Loon is a Professor of Physiology of Exercise and Nutrition and Head of the M3-research group at the Department of Human Biology at Maastricht University. Luc has an international research standing in the area of skeletal muscle metabolism and has published well over 475 peer-reviewed articles. Current research in his laboratory focuses on the skeletal muscle adaptive response to physical activity, and the...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Jeff Rothschild is a registered dietician, PhD, and research associate at Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand. Ever been curious about the science behind fueling your athletic performance? Look no further, as we are joined by Jeff Rothschild, a registered dietitian and researcher, who is here to break down the complex concept of carbohydrate periodization for trail and ultra runners. We dissect the...

View all show notes and timestamps on the KoopCast website. Episode overview: Jim Rutberg is the Content Director for CTS. He has co-authored ten books on training and sports nutrition, including “The Time-Crunched Cyclist” and “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning,” and produced more than 20 full-length indoor cycling videos. He is also the primary author for the Research Essentials for Ultrarunning Newsletter. Episode highlights: (31:32) Finding coaching mentors: the best way to...

Coaching industry veteran and Training Peaks’ co-founder Dirk Friel takes over the KoopCast to discuss the business of ultramarathon coaching. The panel of coaches and coaching business owners includes Jason Koop, Heather Hart, owner/founder of Hart Strength and Endurance Coaching, and Jeff Browning, who owns his own coaching company. Heather’s coaching website Jeff’s coaching website SUBSCRIBE to Research Essentials for Ultrarunning Become a certified ultramarathon coach Buy Training...

Diego Jaén-Carrillo, Ph.D., is a post-doctoral researcher at Universität Innsbruck. Ever wondered how weighted vests can level up your trail running? Get set to explore the intriguing world of biomechanics as it collides with ultrarunning. Join me, your humble host, Coach Jason Koop, as I engage in a riveting discussion with Diego Jaén-Carrillo from the University of Innsbruck. Fresh from unveiling his research on the impact of weight vests on runners, we're getting the insights straight from...

Didn't we all, at some point, feel that prick of regret at a mistake made or a lesson learned the hard way? As your devoted trail and ultra running coaches, we've had our share of missteps over the past year. From seemingly minor issues like failing to thoroughly educate athletes about the World Anti-Doping Agency's rule on IV fluids to more significant ones, we've seen it all. And today, we're pulling back the curtain on our successes and missteps alike to help you avoid the same...

Brace yourselves as we embark on an exhilarating journey to the frontiers of human endurance with our esteemed guest, Dr. Nicholas Berger. Dr. Berger's insights provide us with a cutting-edge understanding of the unique factors that drive ultra-endurance athletes to push beyond their limits. His co-authored paper serves as our roadmap, guiding us through the intricate facets of ultramarathon performance. Have you ever wondered why some people have an insatiable desire to conquer the...