CTS Ultrarunning Podcast

by CTS

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.

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Position in the Running chart (US), last 90 days.

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all-time peak

days in the top 50 since Mar 2026

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

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

Sep 2
15 min

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

Aug 26
13 min

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 lev

Aug 19
17 min

Race High When You Live Low

Racing at altitude can feel intimidating, especially if you live at sea level. Should you buy an altitude tent? Sleep in a hypoxic chamber? Wear an altitude mask? In th

Aug 12
11 min

The Gym Should Build What Running Cannot

Strength training should support your running, not compete with it. In this episode, Cliff Pittman explains how ultrarunners should approach the weight room, why most st

Aug 5
20 min

Why Heart Rate And Pace Fail On Trails

Heart rate or pace? For years, runners have debated which is better, but both measure different parts of the same effort. In this episode, CTS Director of Coaching Clif

Jul 29
14 min

How to Build the Perfect Taper

In the last episode, we explained why tapering works. This week, Cliff Pittman shows you how to actually build one. Learn how much to reduce training, what to keep in yo

Jul 22
6 min

How Science-Based Tapering Unlocks Race-Day Performance

Many athletes worry they'll lose fitness during a taper, but the research says otherwise! In Part 1 of this two-part series, CTS Coaching Director Cliff Pittman bre

Jul 15
10 min

Elite Coaching Without The Secret Sauce

CTS athletes captured nine Top 10 finishes at the 2026 Western States 100, including a course record and the overall women's victory. In this episode, Cliff Pittman

Jul 8
8 min

The Minimum Maximum Training Plan For Your First 100-Miler

How much training does it really take to finish a 100-mile ultramarathon? In this episode, Cliff Pittman breaks down Jason Koop's Minimum-Maximum framework, explain

Jul 1
7 min

Most Recovery Methods Are a Waste of Money

The recovery industry has convinced athletes that better recovery requires more products, more technology, and more spending. But the evidence tells a different story. I

Jun 24
18 min

How Elite Western States Ultrarunners Train Without Gimmicks

When people look at elite Western States athletes, they often assume they're doing something fundamentally different. The reality is much simpler. In this episode,

Jun 17
8 min

Most Ultrarunners Aren't Eating Enough

The biggest nutritional challenge facing ultrarunners is not carbohydrates, supplements, hydration, or meal timing. It's eating enough. In this episode, CTS Coachin

Jun 10
10 min

The Smarter Way to Heat Train for Western States

Heat acclimation can be a powerful tool for ultrarunners, but more isn't always better. In this episode, CTS Coach Cliff Pittman breaks down what the research actual

Jun 3
10 min

What Marathoners Get Wrong About Ultramarathons

The transition from marathon to ultramarathon is more nuanced than simply running longer. In this episode, CTS Coach Cliff Pittman breaks down the biggest differences bet

May 27
12 min

How to Know If Your Endurance Is Actually Improving

Fitness progress is often hard to recognize and frustrating to “track”. In this episode, CTS Coach Cliff Pittman breaks down the most reliable ways to measure endurance i

May 20
7 min

Why Easy Running Is the Foundation of Endurance Performance

Easy running is often misunderstood, underappreciated, or done too hard. In this episode, CTS Coach Cliff Pittman breaks down what easy running actually does physiologica

May 13
11 min

Three Zones vs Five Zones: What Ultrarunners Actually Need to Know

Training zones are often presented as precise and complex, but the underlying physiology is far simpler. In this episode, CTS Coach Cliff Pittman explains the origin of t

May 6
10 min

DIY Training Camps: The Missing Piece in Your Ultra Prep

Training fresh is the easy part. What happens under fatigue is everything. In this episode, CTS Coach Cliff Pittman explains how DIY training camps can bridge that gap by

Apr 29
11 min

Weighted Vests, Circuits, and the Truth About Muscular Endurance

Shortcuts disguised as ways to build muscular endurance, like weighted vest hikes and fatigue circuits, often add stress without meaningful adaptation. In this video, CTS

Apr 22
10 min