CTS Ultrarunning Podcast

CTS
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Running

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.

  1. 5d ago

    Running vs. Hiking: The Science of Pacing Steep Climbs

    ​​Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment At what grade should an ultrarunner stop running and start hiking? 10%? 12%? 15%? There isn't a universal answer. CTS Director of Coaching Cliff Pittman examines the physiology behind running versus hiking on steep terrain. He explains how cost of transport changes with grade and speed, why walking becomes more economical under certain conditions, and why running economy is only part of the equation once muscular fatigue accumulates deep into an ultramarathon. Then Cliff turns the science into a practical race-day framework: deliberately train your hiking, use RPE instead of a fixed grade cutoff, consider the length of the climb, and use running and hiking strategically to manage muscular load over the entire race. HOST Cliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching. Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/ Resources: https://trainright.com/the-science-behind-when-to-run-vs-when-to-hike/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12183501/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294873908_Characteristics_of_Preferred_Gait_Patterns_Considerations_for_Exercise_Prescritionhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28695271/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26607247/

  2. Sep 30

    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 hasn't necessarily made it easier to separate good science from a convincing sales pitch. In this video, CTS Director of Coaching Cliff Pittman breaks down what evidence-based training actually means and why it isn't as simple as finding a study that supports your argument. Cliff examines how pseudoscience gains credibility, why elite athletes aren't proof that a training method works, and how legitimate coaching innovation can sometimes happen before formal research catches up. Most importantly, he gives athletes a practical framework for evaluating the next big training claim: Consider the source. Look for consensus. Examine the quality of the evidence. Watch for logical traps. HOST Cliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching. Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/

  3. Sep 23

    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 gradual program based on the 10% rule, and newer research following more than 5,000 runners found no relationship between week-to-week percentage changes and injury rates. Cliff Pittman breaks down where the 10% number does show up in the research, why different systems in the body adapt on different timelines, and why progressing while healthy is fundamentally different from rebuilding after an injury. HOST Cliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching. ​​Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/ Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/ Resources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12421110/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0363546507307505

  4. Sep 16

    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 endurance athletes should use it. He explains why your individual baseline matters more than the absolute number, why HRV can naturally decline during productive training, and when a sustained change actually deserves your attention. HOST Cliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching. ​​Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/ Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/

  5. Sep 9

    The 50K Training Hierarchy

    There are hundreds of things you could optimize before your first 50K. Very few of them will determine whether you have a successful race. CTS Director of Coaching Cliff Pittman breaks 50K preparation into three tiers: the basics that can make or break race day, the refinements worth getting right, and the marginal gains you can probably stop stressing about. From training volume and event specificity to recovery, nutrition, strength training, gear, supplements, and race-day pacing, this episode gives first-time ultrarunners a hierarchy for deciding where their limited time and energy actually belong. HOST Cliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching. ​​Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/ Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/

  6. Sep 2

    Why Downhills Wreck Ultrarunners And How To Train For It

    Downhill running creates a strange mismatch: it can feel relatively easy aerobically while placing enormous mechanical stress on your legs. Coach Cliff Pittman explains what's happening inside the muscle during a descent, why technical terrain increases the cost, and how the repeated bout effect allows your body to become more resistant to downhill-induced damage. He also covers how to train when you don't have mountains outside your door, where strength training fits, when to schedule race-specific downhill work, and why he never programs downhill running faster than steady-state effort. HOST Cliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching. ​​CTS Ultrarunning Camps: https://trainright.com/camps/ ​​Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/ Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/

  7. Aug 26

    Optimize Volume For Ultra Success

    There are two fears Cliff Pittman sees repeatedly: athletes hold onto speed work because they don't feel fit without it, or they avoid increasing volume because they're afraid more running will eventually break them down. In this episode, Cliff explains why both miss the point. He breaks down what aerobic volume actually changes physiologically, why those adaptations take time, how intensity should shift as race day approaches, and how training architecture allows athletes to increase volume without simply piling on fatigue. HOST Cliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching. CTS Ultrarunning Camps: https://trainright.com/camps/ ​​Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/ Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/ Resources: https://www.academia.edu/14353632/Energy_system_contribution_during_200_to_1500_m_running_in_highly_trained_athletes

  8. Aug 19

    Carbs, Fluid & Sodium: Building Your Ultrarunning Fueling Plan

    Elite athletes don't just pick a carbohydrate target and hope for the best. Their fueling strategies are built, tested, practiced, and adjusted around three key levers: carbohydrates, fluid, and sodium. Precision Fuel & Hydration Sports Scientist Emily Arrell joins Cliff Pittman to explain how those plans come together—from sweat testing and gut training to making real-time decisions when things go wrong on race day. HOST Cliff Pittman is the Coaching Development Director at CTS, leading the Ultrarunning and Cycling Coaching staff with a specialty in guiding athletes from first-time ultrarunners to elite competitors at races like Western States 100, Leadville 100, and the Triple Crown of 200s. A competitive trail and ultra athlete himself, Cliff brings firsthand experience and a rare ability to turn complex training science into simple, actionable coaching. ​​Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/ Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/ultrarunning/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    CTS
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 CTS Ultrarunning Podcast
  • Show Website
    CTS Ultrarunning Podcast

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