Join Evoke coach Leif Whittaker for a conversation with Brian Oestrike. As CEO of Hypoxico Altitude Training Systems, and life-long athlete, Brian provides a wealth of knowledge on the history, protocols, and best practices of simulated altitude training (SAT). The topics covered in the conversation are listed below.

For more information on Hypoxico’s products, visit:
https://hypoxico.com/

0:00:00 Introduction
0:01:46 Brian’s athletic background
0:05:00 Brian’s shifts in athletic goals over his endurance career
0:09:48 The shifts in user groups utilizing simulated altitude training (SAT)
0:15:39 The basics of how SAT works
0:18:38 Differences between simulated altitude, and real altitude
0:22:58 Adaptations to a high-altitude, low-pressure environment
0:28:04 Risks and side effects of SAT
0:33:09 Application and use of Hypoxico Systems
0:37:25 Standard protocols for simulated altitude progression?
0:40:40 Six days to the summit and down on Everest using SAT
0:45:29 Monitoring progression & recovery
0:58:33 Age and gender differences in acclimatization protocols
1:02:59 General health improvements with SAT
1:03:25 Training respiratory muscles for altitude
1:07:05 Sleeping best practices in an altitude tent
1:10:00 How Brian has personally used SAT for his athletic goals
1:12:43 Where to find more information about Hypoxico

Join Evoke coach Scott Johnston for a conversation with Ruth Croft. Coached by Scott, Ruth secured a second-place finish at UTMB 2024, a race that attracts the best-of-the-best in the ultra running world. Learn about Ruth’s rest and recovery strategies post-UTMB, and approaches used by Ruth and Scott for Ruth’s long-term athletic development. 

More info on Ruth:
https://www.instagram.com/ruthcrofty/

0:00:00 Introduction
0:00:37 Ruth’s Post-UTMB break form training
0:03:00 Training break strategies of other professional racers
0:05:07 Does focusing on training, and racing less, lead to better outcomes?
0:11:14 Racing often and it’s effects on the body
0:15:11 Ruth’s strength training strategies
0:24:24 Ruth’s plans for training and racing in the coming year
0:27:07 Working on training basics versus exotic training methods
0:28:40 Most important methods for recovery
0:30:33 Ruth’s ambitions to become a Naturopathic Doctor
0:34:21 Serum ferritin levels in high level athletes
0:43:53 Ruth’s go-to recovery methods
0:46:10 Ruth’s nutritional strategies
0:50:59 Scott’s experiences coaching mountain runners
0:53:24 Personality types attracted to various mountain sports
0:57:22 Outro

Join coaches Scott Johnston and Kylee Toth for our November installment of Ask Evoke, where they answer training questions submitted by members of the Evoke Endurance community.

To submit your own training questions for our coaches, send us a direct message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evokeendurance/

Or email your questions to [email protected]

0:00 Introduction
0:01:16 Heart rate considerations for Vertical Kilometer Anaerobic Threshold Test
0:03:51 Will muscular endurance training improve anaerobic endurance?
0:07:53 How local muscular fatigue effects maximum heart rate
0:15:49 Does breath-holding during sprint training have a positive endurance training effect?
0:20:23 Is training at race altitude beneficial if performed only once per week?
0:27:17 Does living at altitude for 3-4 weeks prior to a high altitude race affect performance?
0:28:23 Minimum effective dose for aerobic base training; running vs. weighted carries?
0:33:08 Does VO2 max training benefit mountaineering performance?
0:36:45 Tips for gaining strength without increasing muscle mass?
0:39:06 Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic dominance in overtraining?
0:44:24 Thoughts on gas-exchange metabolic trackers like Lumen?
0:50:55 High heart rate for 25k race. Is this damaging?
0:55:55 Maintaining ultra running performance training XC skiing in winter?
0:58:43 Why does training above zone 2 negatively effect aerobic capacity?
1:03:22 Benefits of shorter versus longer training blocks?
1:04:49 Will rucking training negatively effect ultra marathon performance?
1:06:19 Does low intensity running aid in the capacity to run faster?
1:08:29 Can I get back to my fitness high-point with a drastically reduced weekly volume?

Join Evoke coach Kylee Toth for a chat with Erika Flavelle. Coached by Kylee, Erika secured a 4th place finish of 2024 Tor Des Glaciers 450 km race, and placed 6th in the Tor Des Geants 330 km race in 2023. Listen to Kylee and Erika reflect on the training and preparation for these races, and the lessons learned from the effort.

0:00 Introduction
0:01:21 Erika’s experience competing in the Tor Des Geants 
0:03:07 Erika’s racing distance progression leading up to the Tor Des Geants
0:07:53 Erika’s strategies for racing the Tor Des Geants
0:11:43 Logistics of the Tor Des Geants
0:14:09 Differences between Tor Des Geants and Tor Des Glaciers
0:24:24 Preparation and ‘Training Camps’ to simulate race distances
0:28:20 Erika’s fueling strategies
0:36:05 The mountaineering skill components of Tor Des Glaciers
0:38:40 Qualification process for Tor Des Geants
0:41:14 Erika’s future objectives and race plans
0:44:22 Post-race recovery and monitoring
0:48:13 Erika’s thoughts for people considering participating in ultra races

Join Evoke coach Nikki LaRochelle for a discussion with Brent Herring. In summer 2024, Brent achieved the fastest known time on Colorado Trail West Bound, Collegiate West with no outside support. He did so in a time of 10 days 17 hours 38 minutes. Learn about Brent’s training and preparation, and his experiences during this successful FTK attempt. 

Details on Brent’s journey:
https://fastestknowntime.com/fkt/brent-herring-colorado-trail-co-2024-08-22

0:00 Introduction
0:01:08 Brent’s athletic background
0:02:07 Fastest Known Time categories
0:04:17 Brent’s inspiration 
0:07:47 Brent’s training approaches
0:11:10 Brent’s training year of training leading up to his FKT attempt
0:14:43 Brent’s fueling, food caching, and hydration strategy
0:19:37 Day-by-day recap of Brent’s experience
1:04:23 Brent’s last day and the emotion of finishing
1:06:25 Brent’s recovery post-FKT
1:08:37 Brent’s take-aways

Join coaches Scott Johnston and Kylee Toth for our October installment of Ask Evoke, where they answer training questions submitted by members of the Evoke Endurance community.

To submit your own training questions for our coaches, send us a direct message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evokeendurance/

Or email your questions to [email protected]

0:00 Introduction
0:01:05 How to train aerobic capacity with arthritis
0:04:00 Gauging intensity levels for general and max-strength 
0:07:40 Methods for delaying age-related muscle loss while training endurance
0:13:41 How often should an athlete conduct an aerobic threshold test?
0:23:43 Making individual adjustments to an off-the-shelf training plan
0:25:39 Recommended reading 
0:26:14 Balance between size/strength vs. speed/endurance
0:35:06 How many hours per week of training is necessary for improving aerobic threshold
0:36:58 How does long endurance training soon after strength training effect strength adaptations?
0:40:45 Running training for a ski-tour guide
0:44:46 Does tendon elasticity play a role in uphill running and how to train it?
0:51:09 How much zone 2 is too much?
0:58:23 Preventing illness and recover training after illness
1:02:20 Nasal breathing during running training
1:06:11 Blending ski-tour training with lift-served ski days
1:11:06 Adding training on top of an easy day of rock climbing
1:14:41 The effect of tapering on heart rate
1:17:07 Programming strength and endurance training in the same day while time constrained 

Join Evoke coach Seth Keena for a conversation with Art Muir. Art, at 78 years old, is an anomaly in the mountaineering world – having summited Mt. Everest at 75 years old along with tackling many other difficult mountain objectives around the globe. Learn about Art’s training, his quest for the Seven-Summits, and he and Seth’s approach to training and personal development through their six-year athlete-coach training relationship.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
5:22 Art and Seth’s athlete/coach relationship
10:10 Art’s beginnings of learning to train
13:26 Learning to train for mountain objectives
16:25 Art’s first ambitions to climb Mt. Everest
21:42 Does my fitness trajectory match my goals?
25:40 Continuity vs. variability in training
30:50 Respecting day-to-day energy availability for training
34:06 All training is exercise, but not all exercise is training
36:50 Athletic training and longevity
45:27 Short-term and long-term planning of training
46:31 Don’t get too fixated on training metrics.
48:31 Incremental increasing of aerobic threshold
55:49 Training and goals when life-chapters change
58:32 Art’s Social Media project
1:03:33 Climbing Mt. Everest and visiting the South Pole at 75+ years old
1:08:02 Technical skills in the mountains
1:10:49 Guide Wisdom and Principles of Life
1:15:01 Balancing training with life obligations
1:16:50 A short talk of Art’s climbing resume and future goals

Join coaches Scott Johnston and Kylee Toth for our September installment of Ask Evoke, where they answer training questions submitted by members of the Evoke Endurance community.

To submit your own training questions for our coaches, send us a direct message on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evokeendurance/

Or email your questions to [email protected]

0:00 Introduction
0:33 Success story: 200 mile ultra race
3:31 Success story: Endurance training for a fast-twitch dominant athlete
8:13 Killian Jornet’s data collection metrics and training
16:04 Efficient running/walking stride and economy of motion
24:26 Does increasing Aerobic Threshold help with weight-loss?
35:18 Can using a stationary bike help make gains in performance for mountaineering goals?
40:51 Common errors of self-coached athletes
47:21 Do multi-week hikes provide training benefit for mountaineering goals?
50:14 Is there benefit for supplementing with electrolytes for mountaineering training?
51:57 Best ways to train muscular endurance for back country hunters?
55:37 How to alter training plans with a highly constrained shift-work schedule
1:00:50 Does fueling effect the results of an aerobic threshold test?
1:06:17 How to ensure getting enough volume for building aerobic capacity?
1:11:21 Switching specific training from ultra running to Nordic skiing as winter approaches
1:15:13 Utilizing high-intensity workouts during a taper phase shortly before a race 
1:20:15 Tips for reducing stomach and gastrointestinal upset for races at altitude
1:23:44 Tips for how to plan paces for an ultra race
1:36:29 Outro

Join Evoke coaches Kylee Toth, and Andy Reed as they discuss Andy’s experiences training for and competing in the 2024 Hard Rock Hundred Mile Endurance Run.

Follow Andy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/canmoremd/

0:00 Introduction
1:15 Andy’s path to competing in ultra running
6:08 The evolution of Andy’s training approach to ultra races
8:47 Favorable physiological adaptations to aerobic base training for ultras 
10:38 The unique terrain of the Hard Rock route
12:50 Andy’s approach to training for Hard Rock
18:17 Andy’s thoughts about his results at Hard Rock
19:38 Thoughts on Andy’s unconventional training build
22:00 Acclimatization for Hard Rock
31:02 Andy’s experience of the race
33:44 Andy’s approach to pacing for Hard Rock
40:33 Analyzing Andy’s heart rate during the race
44:15 Pacing of top finishers at Hard Rock
47:55 Nutrition approaches for Hard Rock
53:19 What gets you through a hundred mile race?
58:26 Andy’s plans for the future

Join Evoke coaches Kylee Toth, and Jesse Rich for a discussion about nutrition and fueling for athletes. They cover common mistakes in general nutrition as well as fueling for training, nutrient monitoring, and current thoughts on carbohydrate intake for endurance athletes.

Learn more about Jesse here:
Nutrition Rundown: https://www.nutritionrundown.com
Follow Jesse's Instagram: @jessetrich

0:00 Introduction
0:51 Using the duration of an event to guide nutritional approaches
11:09 Do elite athletes have extraordinary fat burning metabolism?
17:03 Common reasons endurance athletes get G.I. issues during training and races
20:10 The importance of water intake and staying hydrated
24:30 Nutrient monitoring during training
30:03 How common is iron deficiency?
30:53 Three most common mistakes athletes make with their general nutrition
36:25 Three most common mistakes athletes make with nutrition during training
43:05 The effects of caffeine on performance
48:08 Jesse’s personal experiences in optimizing his own and his athletes’ nutrition
52:52 Jesse’s impressions of the 2024 Olympic Athletes