Very few people have had as many podium finishes at OCR events as Faye Stenning. This episode, she shares many of her BEST hacks on how to perform your best at an OCR race. Whether you're training for your first race or your 100th, you're sure to pick up a game-changing tip or two curtesy of Faye's immense experience.   This podcast is a rerelease originally recorded in Spring 2021 and is hosted by Jessica O'Connell (MSc, CSEP-CEP, OLY) and Faye Stenning (BKin). Jess and Faye bring grad school education in Sports Science and Olympic-level athletism in their personal run, strength, and OCR coaching. Check out www.gritcoaching.net for more info! 

Explore the art of uphill and downhill running with insights on mastering techniques for each. Discover effective strategies for conserving energy on steep inclines and the importance of foot placement and body position while descending. Learn how hill workouts can enhance performance, prevent injuries, and improve fitness, even for those without easy access to inclines. Personal stories from cross-country racing and obstacle course experiences highlight the mental toughness required for varied terrains.

We're on the cusp of summer and hot weather is BACK! Every spring, athletes worldwide find themselves questioning their fitness and wondering why it's suddenly so challenging to hit training paces. The answer: t's hot outside, and heat must be respected! In this episode, we detail how to adjust training to the heat, how heat adaptation works, and how to adjust training and racing plans to have success in high temperatures.   This episode is hosted by Jessica O'Connell, MSc, CSEP-CEP, OLY, and Faye Stenning, BKin, and coaches at Grit Coaching ! 

Dr. Emmi Aguillard, PT, DPT, FAFS is a NYC-based physical therapist who specializes in treating and training runners. She also has advanced training in pelvic health and works with women to safely maintain their optimal fitness and performance both during pregnancy and as they return to running after giving birth. Emmi has even co-authored a book on running injury prevention called Run Healthy and is an expert in the field. The pelvic floor is a bit of a mysterious body part and we take the opportunity to GRILL Emmi with questions about who should be attuned to their pelvic floor, how pelvic floor physio can help runners, and special considerations for pre- and post-partum women.  PS Men - you have a pelvic floor too!  This episode is hosted by Jessica O'Connell, MSc, CSEP-CEP, OLY, and Faye Stenning, BKin, and coaches at Grit Coaching! 

Move over, fancy recovery hacks! Consistent, good-quality sleep is the #1 way to recover from training and improve athletic performance. Unfortunately, athletes are more prone to sleep disorders than the general population. This re-released episode dives into why sleep is important, how to improve your sleep, and how sleep affects training and racing. We promise this episode won't be a snooze-fest!  This episode is hosted by Jessica O'Connell, MSc, CSEP-CEP, OLY, and Faye Stenning, BKin, and coaches at Grit Coaching! 

Sports nutrition is one of the most important, yet most confusing, parts of training. Between fad diets, charismatic influencers, and the inherent emotion surrounding eating, it can be hard to find good, solid infomation. This episode, we provide science-backed, evidence based advice on fueling pre- and post-workout, around races, during long runs, and more! Nutrition doesn't have to be complicated, but it's important to understand how to properly fuel your body for wellness, training, and recovery!  This episode is hosted by Jessica O'Connell, MSc, CSEP-CEP, OLY, and Faye Stenning, BKin, and coaches at Grit Coaching!   

In fitness, the term “coaching” can feel a bit convoluted - from online, to personal, to group, to sports teams, there is a lot going on. Over the last year, our Grit Coaching endurance coach, Jess, has begun coaching a university team. This week, she’ll share what she’s learned and brought to Grit ONLINE coaching and what to think about when considering different coaching options. The Nitty Gritty Training Podcast is a bi-weekly show with OCR Pro Faye Stenning and Canadian Olympian Jess O'Connell. Faye Jess Coaching Website Listen to this and all Nitty Gritty episodes

Heart Rate Variability has gained a lot of attention over the past few years thanks to fun monitoring toys like Whoop and Aura ring. This episode, we dive into what HRV is, and, more importantly, how to best use it as a training readiness tool. The Nitty Gritty Training Podcast is a bi-weekly show with OCR Pro Faye Stenning and Canadian Olympian Jess O'Connell. Faye Jess Coaching Website Listen to this and all Nitty Gritty episodes

Heart rate zone training is all the rage - it's simple, clear, and accessible on your watch! That said - before you dictate ALL your training by zones, you better be sure you understand them. Tune in to learn how they work and what you should look out for!  The Nitty Gritty Training Podcast is a bi-weekly show with OCR Pro Faye Stenning and Canadian Olympian Jess O'Connell. Faye Jess Coaching Website Listen to this and all Nitty Gritty episodes

Many people raced for the first time this season last weekend - the 2023 OCR season has begun!  We spend the first part of the episode helping you debrief what went well and what definitely needs to be sorted before you toe the line again. Then, we chat in detail about the rest of the USNS venues and what key things you can place in your training in order to dominate each unique course and distance. The Nitty Gritty Training Podcast is a bi-weekly show with OCR Pro Faye Stenning and Canadian Olympian Jess O'Connell. Faye Jess Coaching Website Listen to this and all Nitty Gritty episodes