Nitty Gritty Training

This week we deep dive into an athlete's most essential piece of gear- footwear! There are A LOT of shoe options out there and we nerd out and break them down for you. Learn all about different types of footwear , what to look for when buying shoes, the best footwear for OCR races, and the newest super shoes hitting the market! This re-released episode is hosted by Jessica O'Connell, MSc, CSEP-CEP...

Hyrox is a fitness competition that's been popular in Europe for a while and is now taking North America by storm. Hyrox involves eight standardized fitness stations alternated with 1000m of running. The 8km of total running in the event makes it appealing to OCR athletes and runners alike! (though the strength stations are no joke!) A few years ago, Faye decided to train for and compete in Hyrox....

If you're a female athlete, or you know a female athlete, this episode is for you!  We chat about range of topics pertinent to active women including: fueling, RED-S, birth control, pregnancy, training and aging, and how to keep young girls engaged in sport. Though many of these topics aren't exclusive to women, we talk about them through a female physiology lense Let's go girls!    This rerelease...

The allure of the marathon has captured countless runners, but what does it really take to prepare? On this episode, we break down the essentials of marathon training and detail the most essential pieces of training. We completely understand that not everyone has endless time to train at their disposal, and we deep dive in to how to maximize training for a great marathon experience.   This podcast...

In races longer than an hour or two, nailing fueling is absolutely critical for success. You can't run on an empty tank, after all! Fueling can make or break a performance, but it can be daunting for novice and experienced athletes alike. This week we are joined by Arielle Fitzgerald - OCR Dream Team athlete, Ultrarunner, and holistic nutritionist. We figured that she is the perfect person to inte...

Very few people have had as many podium finishes at OCR events as Faye Stenning. This episode, she shares many of her BEST hacks on how to perform your best at an OCR race. Whether you're training for your first race or your 100th, you're sure to pick up a game-changing tip or two curtesy of Faye's immense experience.   This podcast is a rerelease originally recorded in Spring 2021 and is hosted b...

It's a hill, get over it! Hill running is mechanically and metabolically different than flat running and requires a combination of fitness and skill to thrive. Luckily, uphill and downhill running ability is trainable. We drop tips on how to properly train for and run up and downhill, even if you don't necessarily have incline readily available. It's a hill, and we'll help you get over it!  This i...

We're on the cusp of summer and hot weather is BACK! Every spring, athletes worldwide find themselves questioning their fitness and wondering why it's suddenly so challenging to hit training paces. The answer: t's hot outside, and heat must be respected! In this episode, we detail how to adjust training to the heat, how heat adaptation works, and how to adjust training and racing plans to have suc...

Dr. Emmi Aguillard, PT, DPT, FAFS is a NYC-based physical therapist who specializes in treating and training runners. She also has advanced training in pelvic health and works with women to safely maintain their optimal fitness and performance both during pregnancy and as they return to running after giving birth. Emmi has even co-authored a book on running injury prevention called Run Healthy and...

Move over, fancy recovery hacks! Consistent, good-quality sleep is the #1 way to recover from training and improve athletic performance. Unfortunately, athletes are more prone to sleep disorders than the general population. This re-released episode dives into why sleep is important, how to improve your sleep, and how sleep affects training and racing. We promise this episode won't be a snooze-fest...

Sports nutrition is one of the most important, yet most confusing, parts of training. Between fad diets, charismatic influencers, and the inherent emotion surrounding eating, it can be hard to find good, solid infomation. This episode, we provide science-backed, evidence based advice on fueling pre- and post-workout, around races, during long runs, and more! Nutrition doesn't have to be complicate...

In fitness, the term "coaching" can feel a bit convoluted - from online, to personal, to group, to sports teams, there is a lot going on. Over the last year, our Grit Coaching endurance coach, Jess, has begun coaching a university team. This week, she'll share what she's learned and brought to Grit ONLINE coaching and what to think about when considering different coaching options. The Nitty Gritt...

Heart Rate Variability has gained a lot of attention over the past few years thanks to fun monitoring toys like Whoop and Aura ring. This episode, we dive into what HRV is, and, more importantly, how to best use it as a training readiness tool. The Nitty Gritty Training Podcast is a bi-weekly show with OCR Pro Faye Stenning and Canadian Olympian Jess O'Connell. Faye Jess Coaching Website Listen to...

Heart rate zone training is all the rage - it's simple, clear, and accessible on your watch! That said - before you dictate ALL your training by zones, you better be sure you understand them. Tune in to learn how they work and what you should look out for!  The Nitty Gritty Training Podcast is a bi-weekly show with OCR Pro Faye Stenning and Canadian Olympian Jess O'Connell. Faye Jess Coaching Webs...

Many people raced for the first time this season last weekend - the 2023 OCR season has begun!  We spend the first part of the episode helping you debrief what went well and what definitely needs to be sorted before you toe the line again. Then, we chat in detail about the rest of the USNS venues and what key things you can place in your training in order to dominate each unique course and distanc...

Kris is a 26 yr old resident of Colorado who loves to run far, preferably in the mountains. Having seen success in anything from 3-mile obstacle course races to 100-mile mountain trail ultras (only a few weeks apart(!), she's always down for an adventure and a chance to push her limits. She lives by the principle of asking not what you can do for your body but what your body can do for you. Kris s...

The Nitty Gritty Training Podcast is a bi-weekly show with OCR Pro Faye Stenning and Canadian Olympian Jess O'Connell. We are joined by the legend himself - Matt B Davis! The voice behind and face of Obstacle Racing Media shares a bit about how he got into obstacle racing and shares lots of his hot takes on the history and future of the sport. Faye Jess Coaching Website Listen to this and all  Nit...

This week we give you the nitty gritty on EIGHT of the hottest fitness fads, including CrossFit, pilates, HITT training, hybrid racing, and more. We break down what each fad is, what we love about each one, and what you should be cautious of. The Nitty Gritty Training Podcast is a bi-weekly show with OCR Pro Faye Stenning and Canadian Olympian Jess O'Connell. Faye Jess Coaching Website Listen to t...

The Nitty Gritty Training Podcast is a bi-weekly show with OCR Pro Faye Stenning and Canadian Olympian Jess O'Connell. Resolutions are just a fancy word for "goals", and athletes are no strangers to goals! However, resolutions are notorious for being quickly forgotten. This week, we share some effective tips on how to make your new year's goals attainable, realistic, and much more likely to be rea...

The Nitty Gritty Training Podcast is a bi-weekly show with OCR Pro Faye Stenning and Canadian Olympian Jess O'Connell. We're celebrating TWO years of the Nitty Gritty Training Podcast with a walk down memory lane! In this episode, we share some of our hottest takes and the most helpful or interesting facts we've learned over the past 70+ episodes.  Faye Jess Coaching Website Listen to this and all...

Hold my protein shake...An interview with the ageless Shari Boyle The Nitty Gritty Training Podcast is a bi-weekly show with OCR Pro Faye Stenning and Canadian Olympian Jess O'Connell. Shari is a lifelong athlete with a range of accomplishments including racing at the 2005 World Cross Country Championships, being a member of the 4x800m Master's World Record team, and finishing 4th at the Spartan R...

The Nitty Gritty Training Podcast is a bi-weekly show with OCR Pro Faye Stenning and Canadian Olympian Jess O'Connell. Nothing beats the convenience and customizability of a home gym. That said, it can be hard to know where to start!  What equipment is essential, and what just takes up space? How can you create a home gym on a budget?  We break down where to spend your money and what to hold off o...

The Nitty Gritty Training Podcast is a bi-weekly show with OCR Pro Faye Stenning and Canadian Olympian Jess O'Connell. Does your training or racing feel stale? Not sure how to get your mojo back? We take you through ten important (and often overlooked) things to consider when trying to break through a plateau and continue to get stronger, faster, and perform better.  Faye Jess Coaching Website Lis...

The Prehab Guys are a group of physios who deliver some of the best injury prevention content - their 900k +++ Instagram subscribers know what's up! Today we are joined by Prehab Guy Craig who takes us through his best tips on injury prevention and performance improvement for runners and active individuals. He also shares his rehab philosophy and talks about how he and his friends built their Preh...

Tyler was recently crowned the OCRWC 15 km champion, running away from an accomplished field. Any world championship win is noteworthy, but what makes this even more impressive is that Tyler was preparing to race at the Spartan 24-hour Ultra World Championships, and pivoted his sights to the 15km (an event that is much much shorter) only a week before after the Ultra was canceled! Tyler tells us a...