Menu for Endurance & Marathon Fat Loading Nutrition Plan

Five years ago, I wrote a post on Fat and THEN carbs, latest in Pre-Race Nutrition for Marathon and Ultra. It’s been a very popular post and based on research suggesting that a low-carb diet may actually be optimal for endurance athletes as it trains muscles to be better fat burners. Today I’m sharing my newest Menu for Endurance & Marathon Fat Loading!Fat Loading for Endurance Sports Performance 1

Read on to learn a little more about this type of training diet and get my NEW meal ideas/recipe to help you hit the macros on this diet without overdosing on bacon and avocados (although, nothing wrong with that).  Continue reading

Partner POW Workout for OCR Training & Functional Fitness

Grab your beast bestie and put some extra POW into y’alls next workout. A sure-fire way to kick up heart rate and up the onus on already challenging exercises – at least the suffering in this full-body Partner POW Workout is more fun with a friend! It’s ideal for Spartan training, as a alternative to lifting traditional weights, or just to up your overall functional fitness. 

Read on to see the workout video and get all the details on this WOD which is scalable to any level. Continue reading

Procrastinator’s Guide to OCR & Spartan Training

Save 20% on spartan race code: UBST24-TK88D27

Soooo, you signed up for a Spartan race — or other obstacle event like Warrior Dash or Tough Mudder — and now race day is looming near. Your date with destiny is coming up as quick as those breakfast tacos scarfed down before running to the gym in a last-minute panic.  Whether you’ve put off training as a passive-aggressive act, life just got in the way, or you’re a newbie who’s now just been “filled in” by so-called friends, the down and dirty news about your procrastination isn’t so discouraging. While you might not win the race, there is still time to lock in some mental and physical training that will get you to the finish strong and having fun! The Procrastinator's Guide to Spartan Training

Check out The Procrastinator’s Guide to OCR & Spartan Training, for all my 11th hour advice and also use my Spartan coupon code FFRAN to save 10% on any race.

Continue reading

How to Make a Morning Workout Work Out!

Are you going to bed at night with the best-ever intentions to wake early for a run or workout, yet when the alarm goes off, hitting the snooze button, cursing, and throwing a pillow over your head? Or, do you get in a vertical position, but just stumble around and never make it out the door? It can definitely be a challenge to make a morning workout work out, especially if you haven’t taken steps the night before to streamline the process. (Hint, Alert Gum is involved)How to Make a Morning Workout Workout

But, morning workouts are ideal in so many ways from the fact that important hormones are working to your benefit and there are fewer work interferences, family obligations and recreational distractions in the early hours. Read on to find learn 8 strategies that make it easier to rise and grind and get your butt moving for a morning workout. Continue reading

DIY Mocha Honey Race Fuel for Marathon, OCR and Ultra Running

You can’t rev your engine and keep the proverbial pedal to the metal in a race without some quality fuel in the tank. Okay, that’s a lot of metaphor to chew on in one sentence. So, in straight forward English let me say, that for optimal performance, you need quality carbs before and during your marathon, obstacle course race, triathlon, ultra or other endurance sport. Mocha Honey Race Fuel

Far too many times, I’ve gone without much fuel on the course, I’ve attempted the alternative approach of “fat-loading,” or in a pre-bonk induced panic I’ve eaten whatever product was being handed out on the course.  I’ve found that my best chance for success is to toe the start line with a strong sports nutrition plan in hand, and this includes one of my many homemade race fuels. Today I’m sharing my recipe for Mocha Honey Protein Sticks. Read on to get the instructions: Continue reading