How to Train Through the Holidays Without Losing Fitness (or Your Sanity)
Everyday Ultra
Don't 'earn' holiday food
Joe and Alyssa encourage enjoying holiday meals without guilt and avoiding extreme compensatory workouts.
The holidays are one of the most challenging times of the year for runners — not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and logistically. With travel, family dynamics, colder weather, stress, big meals, busy schedules, shifting routines, and social expectations… your training can feel like it’s getting pulled in ten different directions.
In this episode, Everyday Ultra Coach and On-sponsored professional athlete Alyssa Clark, fresh off her incredible finish at Ultra Trail Cape Town 100K, joins me to break down exactly how runners can navigate the holiday season without derailing progress — and without losing their minds.
Inside the episode, you’ll learn:
• The most common hidden holiday traps runners fall into
• How to adjust your training when your routine gets blown up
• Why “all or nothing” thinking crushes holiday consistency
• How to train when you’re traveling, hosting guests, or juggling family events
• The smart way to handle Turkey Trots so you don’t start December injured
• How lack of sunlight, poor sleep, and stress impact your workouts — and what to do about it
• Why communication with your partner/family is critical (and how to do it well)
• How to use creative solutions, micro-workouts & flexible planning to stay on track
• When to turn holiday chaos into a perfectly timed “life deload week”
• Why you don’t need to “earn” your holiday meals — and how to avoid guilt spirals
• How to stay consistent without being rigid… and disciplined without being miserable
This episode is packed with actionable tips, mindset reframes, and real-world strategies to help you stay consistent, stay healthy, and actually enjoy the holidays — while still moving toward your endurance goals.
A must-listen for anyone training for winter or spring races, or anyone who struggles with routine during the holiday season.
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Want to work with Alyssa as your coach to help you crush your ultramarathon goals? Book a call with her here - if you do not see any times open, email akamos13@gmail.com and we will book a time!
Register for our race, The Desert Peak Ultra 100K + 50K at desertpeakultra.com
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