Chicago Endurance Sports

What valuable race-day lesson could a runner possibly learn from a gastropod mollusk AKA snail?  On this mini episode we share the tale of a determined little snail with big dreams of finishing a marathon. After months of training, doubt clouds the snail's mind on the eve of the race. The moral of this slimy yet uplifting tale will resonate with anyone struggling to stay the course.  The jour...

On this episode, we explore a topic often underestimated but vital for endurance sports – sleep.  In a world where nutrition and exercise usually claim the spotlight, we're here to shed light on the underrated role that sleep plays in optimizing health and fitness.  But why focus on sleep?  Have you ever considered that sleep might be more influential than both food and exercise combined? The...

As an endurance athlete nutrition is a crucial aspect of our preparation as it provides the energy we need for running, triathlons, and other endurance sports. In this episode, we'll be focusing on nutrition for long-distance running, but fear not, the insights we share can be applied to various endurance sports like triathlon, swimming, and cycling. We are delighted to have an exceptional gr...

The one thing that has always made the Chicago Endurance Sports training experience stand out is its diverse and experienced team of coaches. Individually our coaches bring unique experiences and expertise, and as a team are able to relate and assist to every type of athlete.  On this mini episode of the Chicago Endurance Sports podcast you'll get to meet several of our 2023 Summer running co...

Summer Marathon/ Half Marathon is our biggest and longest train program of the year, and with it come some of the biggest excitement and anticipation. To get thing off to an energetic start we have assembled this episode to introduce you to this season lead coaches as well as go over some of the basics that we believe will be useful as we kick-off the 2023 summer running season. If you are new to...

Coach Violet is here to pump you up for marathon day with her valuable insights, experience, and positive spirit in this bonus mini-episode .

Marathon Race Week can be full of excitement and anticipation, but also can be a source of worry and stress. On this episode of the Chicago Endurance Sports Podcast Coach Cynthia, Coach Lori, and Coach Michael do their best to help navigate you safely through the final week leading up to your race. Their conversation covers the dos and don’ts of your activity and nutrition on the days leading up t...

While we tend to accept that being able to perfect most athletic skills requires investing time into practicing and performing drills, most of us give little thought into how we run. This might be due to the fact that running is a skill we don’t even remember learning, and is an activity we can do passively. The purpose of talking about Good Form Running ( GFR) is to make you conscious of how you...

Attempting anything for the first time can elicit many emotions ranging from apprehension to  giddy excitement to cold-sweat terror. On this episode we are talking about the journey to your first marathon. No matter your background or experience, taking on the challenge of running a marathon is a daunting undertaking, especially for first-timers. We thought it would be beneficial to have a convers...

So you registered to train with Chicago Endurance Sports, and now you are thinking “What have I gotten myself into”.  It is understandable to feel a little anxious when taking on a new challenge, but relax we have got you covered. On this episode of the Chicago Endurance Sports podcast we will try to answer many of the questions you may have as you begin your CES journey. We’ll discuss how CES doe...

On this episode Coach Emily, Coach Michael, and Coach Ryan discuss the role of Spring Training and how you might leverage it to assist you in your short and long term running goals. Whether you have been training through the winter or taking some time off of running, Spring  Training offer many unique opportunities runners of all levels. What makes Spring Training unique? What special opportunitie...

On this episode, Coach Michael walks you through twenty race day strategies, ten on-course and ten mental, to assist you in your Marathon journey. You've done all the training and your bodies are well prepared to cover the distance, now its time to equip yourself with strategies to assist in having the best raceday possible. 

Being well prepared can not only make your marathon experience more enjoyable, it can also assist in achieving a better finish time. This episode features an edited version of our 2021 Marathon Race Prep Webinar. Coach Lori, Coach Cynthia, and Coach Allison cover a vast array of topics related to race day preparation ranging from event logistics to race day strategies to dietary considerations. Ch...

On this episode you'll learn how both a Tylenol commercial and Bruce Lee can inspire someone  living an unhealthy lifestyle into becoming a world-class runner. Dave Zimmer, owner of Fleet Feet Chicago, sits down with Hoka One One athlete Rajpaul Pannu to discuss his  journey to successful marathoner/ ultra- marathoner. Note from editor: Some training practices discussed may not appropriate to...

CES prides itself on having a diverse coaching team, staffed with friendly approachable personalities. While they all share a passion for promoting a healthy lifestyle and helping people achieve their fitness goals, each member of our 2021 Summer coaching staff brings a set of unique experiences and skills. Combined, our coaches make for a cornucopia of running knowledge and an endless supply of i...

Whether it is during training or in races, as endurance athletes we are always challenging ourselves to achieve more. But what happens when we fail to meet our expectations? It’s been said that you can’t be brave without being vulnerable. You can’t achieve great things without failing. On this episode Coach Michael and Coach Kristina, address the topic of Failure and Success. Coach Kristina, a lic...

In this episode CES Coaches Cynthia, Lori, and Michael discuss how to get the most out of your training on race day. They start off by walking you through race week, addressing the many things you should and should not be doing the days leading up to your goal race. From there, the discussion switches to Race Day,  starting with race morning, taking you through your race, and post race recovery. G...

Get ready for a fun and spirited discussion with the Purple team from the South Loop. While they are back of the packers and like to have a good time, as you will learn, this does not take away from the fact they they are serious and dedicated athletes. Their spirit to motivate and support each other exemplifies so much of what Chicago Endurance Sports is all about. While this conversation is cert...

In this episode of Coaches Corner, Coach Lori speaks with fellow CES coach and Board-Certified Sports Dietitian Allison Koch about how the way you fuel your body effects you as a runner.  Coach Allison provides tangible, practical advice on how you should be filling your plate throughout your training and how being smart about your nutrition can positively impact your running performance. Allison,...

When people enter into training for an endurance event, often the central focus immediately goes to The Long Run. In this episode of Coaches Corner coaches Lori, Cynthia, and Michael take a deep dive look into all aspects of The Long Run.  They talk about the purpose The Long Run serves in race prep, how to build a solid weekly routine so you are prepared for every long run, and good practices and...

For this installment of Location Journeys, Coach Lori talks with Coach Katie, lead Coach for the CES Elmhurst location.  In this episode,  we get the opportunity to learn what it is like to train with the Elmhurst crew, as Coach Katie shares some of the many characteristics that make the Elmhurst location a unique place to train.  You'll get to know a bit about the Elmhurst staff, pacers, and...

Your training schedule provides detailed information on how to get yourself physically prepared for race day, but what about the mental side? In this episode we talk with CES coach and clinical psychologist Dr. Kristina Pecora about ways to avoid mental traps associated with running and taking on big personal challenges. Coach Kristina talks about how to set S.M.A.R.T. goals, provides tools for de...

From Snowflakes to Vampires, in this episode Coach Lori and Coach Cynthia address many of the common questions they tend to get at the start of a training season. Lori and Cynthia discuss topics such as the best shoe to run in, which timing device to get, and why and how to choose a hydration system. They also explain a bit more about Training Peaks, and how to make your training plan work for you...

In this episode, members of the CES coaching staff introduce themselves, share what drives them as coaches, and provide some tips for a successful training season. Everyone of our coaches brings their own unique journey, experiences, and specialties to training. Together this team possesses an infectious energy and a wealth of knowledge they are eager to share. Throughout the season you can expect...

Coach Lori and Coach Cynthia kick-off the season by covering an important aspects of the training program. They discuss the training schedules; how they are assigned and what the different colors mean. They  go over many of the different workouts you'll find on your schedule, their purpose and how to perform them. And finally they break down the phases of training season, which will help you...