For runners, cyclists, open-water swimmers, triathletes, sailors, and many outdoor athletes, there is more to summer than the cottage and sunshine – it’s race season! Regardless of how many seasons’ experience we have, we can always use a little more tips, tricks and insights to help reach our racing goals.

 

Molly Hurford, is an impressive human being and competitor. A writer, coach, cyclist, endurance athlete, is also the founder of the website Consummate Athlete and host of the podcast The Consummate Athlete. Using her podcast and website to share her message, Molly’s mission is “to share advice and inspiration to get girls and women inspired to embrace wellness and adventure!” The insightful content below was curated from The Consummate Athlete website and The Consummate Athlete Podcast with Molly Hurford’s permission.

 

READ: “Movement is medicine” is a term that is gaining popularity for the simple fact that it is true. While we don’t need to be running tens of kilometers everyday to reap the benefits of physical activity, keeping our bodies active does wonders for both mental and physical wellness. In “Here’s How Movement (Actually) Helps Your Body,” Molly explains the science-backed benefits an active lifestyle.

 

 

 

LISTEN: We’ve all heard “you are what you eat” since we were kids but this rings especially true during training and competition. In this Q&A-style episode of her podcast, Molly Hurford breaks down how to fuel your body in the heat and after training, the concept of decreasing your training load during race season, in-season strength options among other racing season considerations.  Check out “Fuelling in Heat, Race Season Chronic Training Load and Fading in Intervals”  to fine-tune how you fuel your training.

 

 

READ: Not every workout is great. Some are even downright bad. But it happens and in her article “How to Cope With (and Turn Around) a Bad Workout” Molly shares her useful suggestions on how to make the best of that workout you’d rather forget. You’ll have that lethargic run turned into a great lesson in no time at all!

 

 

LISTEN: Have you ever suddenly felt like you don’t have it all together like you previously thought you did? Maybe you feel like you got lucky or your success was a fluke, discounting all the hours of training and preparation you put in. Sounds like it was a case of Imposter Syndrome – an unenjoyable but common enough feeling experienced by many, even professionals in their respective fields. But don’t let it consume you – give “Imposter Syndrome and Training in Race Season” a listen and kick those negative feelings to the curb. This episode also discusses how you may want to program your training during the week if you are racing every weekend – a conversation that is helpful to avoid burnout.

 

 

LISTEN: You did it! You completed that big race! But now you may be wondering what to do with yourself afterwards. Or perhaps you’re new to the racing circuit and aren’t sure how to maximize your post-race experience. Whether you’re feeling lost now that the race is over or you’re wondering what happens after you cross the finish line, “Post-Race and Managing Goals, Expectations, and the Next Steps” will provide all the insight you need to have you feeling prepared, confident, and ready to take your next step.

 

 

About Molly

 

Molly Hurford is a journalist in love with all things cycling, running, nutrition and movement-related. When not outside, she’s writing about being outside, travel, and athletic style on the ConsummateAthlete.com, or interviewing world-class athletes and scientists for The Consummate Athlete Podcast, which she co-hosts with her equally-active husband, Smart Athlete coach Peter Glassford. She’s the author of multiple books and her most recent project, Shred Girls, is a young adult fiction series (and website!) focused on getting girls excited about bikes.

 

(Molly meets one happy fan of her Shred Girls novels at a Fast & Female event hosted by Hardwood Ski & Bike. Photo by Caroline Wiley, SWSCD.)

 

Lots more cycling coverage to inspire you from SWSCD:

A Re-imagined 2020 Pulse Racing Fall Epic 8-Hour Relay

Pulse Racing's 2019 Women's 4-Hour MTB Relay: "It's like riding with 150 of your besties!" 

Mountain bike racing: From the perspective of a newbie

SWSCD Athlete Gallery: 2018 Trek Store Canada Cup/Ontario Cup XC Mountain Bike Event

SWSCD Photo Blog: Joyride 150. Build her biking skills and watch her fly

Cycling: Clip in and enjoy the ride

 

SeeWhatSheCanDo

 

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