CTS Ultrarunning Podcast
Whether you're lining up for your first trail 50K or chasing a buckle at the Western States 100, the CTS Ultrarunning Podcast delivers the science-backed, evidence-based training guidance you need to run farther, recover smarter, and race better.
Hosted by Cliff Pittman, Coaching Development Director at CTS, this podcast brings over 25 years of elite coaching expertise directly to your earbuds. Cliff is a UESCA-certified Ultrarunning Coach and Sports Nutritionist, NASM-certified personal trainer, and an accomplished trail and ultra athlete himself, actively competing in his home state of Arkansas. He has guided athletes through some of the most demanding events in the sport, including the Western States 100, Leadville 100, Cocodona 250, UTMB, the Triple Crown of 200s, and the Sky Running World Championships, and has worked with notable athletes including Olympic marathoner Molly Seidel and elite ultrarunners Zoe Rom and Hannah Allgood.
Cliff's coaching philosophy is simple: training can be complex, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. Each episode translates cutting-edge sports science and decades of real-world coaching experience into clear, actionable strategies that athletes at every level can understand and apply. From endurance nutrition and fueling to strength training, periodization, and race-day execution, Cliff distills the collective knowledge of the CTS coaching group to help you improve your performance.
CTS was founded by legendary coach Chris Carmichael and has spent more than 25 years developing champions across endurance sports. The CTS coaching methodology is rooted in individualized, science-driven training: the same approach that has taken athletes to podiums around the world now comes to the trail and ultrarunning community through this podcast.
Tune in for no-hype conversations grounded in research and experience.
CTS Ultrarunning Podcast
Latest Episodes
Running vs. Hiking: The Science of Pacing Steep Climbs
Free Ultrarunning Training AssessmentAt what grade should an ultrarunner stop running and start hiking? 10%? 12%? 15%?The...
Evidence-Based Training, Pseudoscience & the Search for an Edge
Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment!Endurance athletes have access to more performance information than ever before, but that has...
The 10% Rule Reframed
“Never increase your weekly mileage by more than 10%.”It’s one of running’s most repeated rules, but the evidence doesn't support using 10% as a simple weekly-volume ceiling. A randomized trial found no reduction in injuries from a gradu...
How to Actually Use HRV to Guide Your Training
Should a low HRV reading change your workout? Is higher HRV always better? And should you trust the readiness score on your watch?CTS Director of Coaching Cliff Pittman breaks down what HRV actually measures and, more importantly, how en...