Training Guides
Alp Fitness Training Guides
Check out these self-paced online courses to help you train smart!…
Nordic Skiing
How Body Position Works in V2 Skate Skiing
Nordic Ski Lab explains body position and how the body moves in V2 skate skiing (One Skate technique in Canada, or Skate 2 in the UK). Understanding how the body works in V2 skate skiing is the key to effortless skiing because the core of the body powers both the pole push and the leg push.…
Cross-Country Skate Skiing Techniques Explained
Nordic Ski Lab provides an overview of the five skate skiing techniques, including demos of each technique, along with tips for skiers just getting started in skate skiing.
Cross-Country Skate Skiing for Beginners
Cross-Country skate skiing offers something for everyone, from great exercise to beautiful winter scenery. REI partnered with Greg Rhodes of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) to give you all the basics for your first day on the trail so you’ll be flying down the trail with ease in no time.
Classic Cross-Country Skiing for Beginners
Classic Cross-Country skiing offers something for everyone, from exercise to beautiful winter scenery. REI partnered with Greg Rhodes of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) to give you all the basics for your first day on the trail so you’ll be gliding over the snow with ease in no time.
Training Tools
Why Is Logging Post-Workout Comments Important and What Should You Include?
Leaving post-workout comments in your training log may feel unnecessary when your training device auto-uploads your workout directly into TrainingPeaks. Isn’t the data from your training device enough for you and your coach to work with?
Although your training device data is crucial, it only tells part of your training story. Data from your workout device outlines the plot and supplies important details and facts. But your post-workout comments help set the scene, establish the context, and provide personal details that bring the full training story to life.
How Do You Create a Custom Training Plan?
To excel in your athletic goals, you need to train with a purpose. Training with a purpose means knowing why you are doing a particular workout and how that workout fits into your overall progression toward your goals. But to train with a purpose, you need a plan.
How Do You Set Your Training Zones?
A key element of any training plan is the use of training zones to help you achieve the right training effects as you progress through your program. But how do you set your training zones?
Mental Skills Training
How Do You Integrate Mental Skills into Your Training?
Mental skills training isn’t just for elite athletes. It’s for anyone interested in optimizing performance. If you’re an endurance athlete looking to perform at your best — regardless of experience or competitive level — mental skills training is just as important as the physical training you do. But how do you get started?
How Do You Use Self-Talk to Improve Performance?
Self-talk has been widely examined in sport psychology. Self-talk can be positive or negative, spoken aloud/externally or silently/internally, and be instructional or motivational. But does the grammatical form of self-talk influence its effectiveness?
Can Self-Compassion Make You a Better Athlete?
A growing body of research in psychology has demonstrated that self-compassion — not self-criticism — is the key to developing resilience and improving athletic performance while also enhancing your overall well-being. So what is self-compassion and how can you develop this skill to positively impact your own athletic performance and overall well-being?
Fueling & Hydration
How Much Caffeine is Safe to Ingest During an Ultramarathon?
When developing your fueling and hydration plan for an ultramarathon, you also need to take into account how much caffeine you’re ingesting — and in what stages of the race. So how much caffeine is the right amount?
How Much Should You Be Eating and Drinking During an Ultramarathon?
Ultramarathons have sometimes been called an eating contest while running, given the need for consistent fueling throughout the events. So how can you optimize your fueling and hydration strategy during ultramarathon events?
Do Ultrarunners Benefit from Fasted or Glycogen-Depletion Runs?
Endurance training in and of itself results in an increased ability to better metabolize fat and spare glycogen as a long duration energy source. But can training in a fasted or glycogen-depleted state lead to further beneficial adaptations and performance gains in trained ultrarunners?
Ski Mountaineering
When To Use Ski Crampons
AMGA instructor guides Margaret Wheeler and Jeff Ward explain when to use ski crampons and two common ways to put them on.
How To Prepare The Skin Track Corners For Kick Turning
AMGA Guide Instructor Margaret Wheeler shows four techniques for prepping corners on the skin track to improve kick turns, especially for beginners.
When To Use A Ski Touring Binding’s Heel Lifter
AMGA certified mountain guides Margaret Wheeler and Jeff Ward talk through the pros and cons of when to use each heel lifter setting on a ski touring binding.
How to Care for Your Climbing Skins While Backcountry Skiing
Learn how to care for your climbing skins with instruction from the American Mountain Guides Association.