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I often get asked, “What’s the best thing I can do for recovery? What should I be doing to recover better? What do I need to buy for recovery?” Recovery has become more of an activity or task than a state of being. Don’t get me wrong, I use a few tools and tricks myself, but I’ve come to realize we are getting a bit lost in the trees and not seeing the whole forest.
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Reframing Hard Things to Work for You
While rereading a personal Top 10 book, Do Hard Things, the theme of “choice” keeps coming up as a key part of overcoming challenges. Steve Magness, the author, references multiple studies run with either mice or dogs or social experiments with people where they were faced with an issue and given a choice to deal with it…or not. Apparently, when given the ability to choose –to make something happen by our own free will– it rewires how we view challenge, approach it, and ultimately deal with it. Feed time and it will feed you.
This concept has slowly wiggled its way into my life and philosophy over the past few months. I’ve read a lot of productivity, self-development, and performance books over the year and one thing seems to stand as the linchpin in improvement: consistency. The off-season. It’s a sliver of time in most athletes’ calendars that is either dreaded or eagerly looked forward to. Regardless of your relationship to it, this 2-3 time is vital to your training, health, and growth as an athlete.
As many years as I’ve done this, I understand how it can be a daunting time. For 48+ weeks you’ve been on the bike and had a training goal. Now you’re forced to step off of it and recalibrate. Do not view it as a step in the wrong direction, view it as making room for the growth to come. The Advantage of Being a Jack of All TradesThis month’s article blends a debrief on recent racing adventures and some lessons I took from those experiences. In one week late September, I competed in the USA Marathon Nationals Champs as well as Marathon + Cross-country World Cups in Snowshoe. This got me thinking about what it means to be a jack of all trades…
The quote that gets tossed around doesn’t do the full adage justice. The full version says, “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” That has a bit different implication than the Hallmark version, it means that having versatility and being adept in many things can actually lead to better performance overall. Whatever your goal is, having many tools in the toolbox to work with is better than specializing in one. As we anticipate the season kick-off this Spring, it is important that we prepare ourselves, not just physically, but mentally as well. This is my three-part mini-series entitled “Coaches Corner” for my race program Dirt Camp Racing.
What is your Why? What is it that drives you forward in the sport? Why do you want to succeed? I hate to break your heart, but your pursuit of excellence in this sport should not be based on results but on what your WHY is. I’ve struggled with finding my ‘place’ and where I ‘should’ be in recent years – worrying about what others think about the things I do. Where you’re supposed to be is right here: at this point in the pursuit. I’m excited to bring you some of my top tips regarding how we approach fueling during winter training. The impact of cold weather, on top of changes in training activities, can influence how our body uses energy and performs. Here is what to keep in mind this winter
This piece touches on the practical application of Fasted Training (FT), its downfalls, and the potential performance-enhancing benefits. It's not a "how-to" guide, but rather a briefing for making your own decisions!
Let's dig in. A stage race can be one of the most telling events of an athlete’s total energy awareness; this is a culmination of fitness, fueling, and planning. For one, it requires multiple days in a row of race efforts…whether it be 3 days or 3 weeks. If you’ve got the depth to finish and/or perform for multiple days in a row then you’ve got a step up. However, if you haven’t got the diligence and preparation in store to keep up with the fueling demands then it can drag your performance down.
I was fortunate enough to get my hands on the elusive Supersapiens CGM & software for two months. During this time, I trained heavily, raced across the county, and analyzed my daily responses to diet. The whole process was extremely simple and user-friendly, where I received minute-by-minute updates at my fingertips.
This product, in my opinion, is going to be a true game changer at every level; for the amateur athlete looking to improve their diet to the world tour pro aiming to optimize their fueling. After nearly 60 days with a CGM, I’m still learning about my glucose from both a health and performance perspective. Here are my biggest takeaways from this experience. |
AuthorCarson Beckett | Coach, Pro, and Co-Founder of Dirt Camp Racing | Beckett Performance Collective, LLC. CategoriesArchives
September 2025
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