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CTS Ultrarunning Podcast

CTS Ultrarunning Podcast

By: CTS
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Summary

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.

© 2026 CTS Ultrarunning Podcast Running & Jogging
Episodes
  • Why Easy Running Is the Foundation of Endurance Performance

    Why Easy Running Is the Foundation of Endurance Performance
    May 13 2026

    Easy running is often misunderstood, underappreciated, or done too hard. In this episode, CTS Coach Cliff Pittman breaks down what easy running actually does physiologically and why it forms the foundation of endurance performance.


    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/
    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
  • Three Zones vs Five Zones: What Ultrarunners Actually Need to Know

    Three Zones vs Five Zones: What Ultrarunners Actually Need to Know
    May 6 2026

    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 training zones, why three zones reflect the true physiological model, and how five zones are used as a practical tool for structuring training.

    We also cover how to determine your own zones, why labels differ across platforms, and how to apply this framework to real-world ultrarunning. The takeaway is clear: it’s not about how many zones you use, it’s about how you distribute your effort.


    ​​Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/


    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.


    Running Pace and Heart Rate Training Zones Calculator: https://trainright.com/running-pace-and-heart-rate-zone-calculator/

    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/
    Show More Show Less
    11 mins
  • DIY Training Camps: The Missing Piece in Your Ultra Prep

    DIY Training Camps: The Missing Piece in Your Ultra Prep
    Apr 29 2026

    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 simulating the physical and psychological demands of late-race conditions.

    We cover how to structure a 2-3 day training block, when to schedule it, and how to balance stimulus with recovery so you gain meaningful adaptation without unnecessary risk.


    ​​Free Ultrarunning Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/ultrarunning-training-assessment-welcome/


    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/
    Show More Show Less
    11 mins
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