Coach E here with the latest issue of The Weekly Stride! This week, Coach Nick helps you adjust your training for summer heat while keeping you on track for your fall goals, we continue to be in awe of the backyard ultra, listen to a new episode on running form, check out the new blog post on if you should run or lift first (what the research says), and don't forget, today is the LAST DAY to purchase a masterclass (50% off!) before they're retired forever!

 

Ready to take your stride to the next level? Let’s dive in!

 

Founder, Running Explained

Ah, summer. It comes with weather many of us enjoy—more time outside, more sunlight—but it also brings plenty of mental and physical barriers to our running fitness. As we come out of a winter/spring season where the temps are often ideal for running fast (without all the humidity and high dew points), we enter summer and get smacked with oppressive conditions that can make us question all our fitness and feel like our goals are slipping further away.

 

It happens fast, especially at the start of the season, because we’re not heat-acclimated yet. And for some people, genetics also play a role in how heat affects performance. But there’s a reason summer is called the “Poor Man’s Altitude”: if you can train smart through these tough conditions, it can lead to huge breakthroughs in the fall when the weather improves. So let’s talk about how to make that happen.

 

One of the trickiest things to understand is that while altitude training has been well-studied and clearly shows benefits when returning to sea level, the benefits of training in heat and humidity aren’t always as clear-cut. Plus, when you live at altitude, you’re dealing with those effects every day—heat and humidity? Not so consistent. There are ways to speed up heat acclimation (like sauna use), but for now, let’s just talk about how to adjust so you can stay on track for your fall goals.

First and most importantly: be willing to adjust your paces and lean into effort-based running. A good dew point calculator can help—I use this one—but I rely more on effort than a number. That calculator can be a helpful reality check: on really harsh days, your pace may need to slow by 5–8%, which often translates to a 30–60 second adjustment per mile for easy runs or workouts. That’s significant—and validating. You should slow down in these conditions.

 

Try to run earlier in the day to beat the worst of the heat when possible (though I know that’s not always an option). And don’t forget: bring hydration and fuel for all your efforts. Your body burns more carbs in the heat, you dehydrate faster, and you lose a lot more sodium. Training will feel harder if you’re not replacing what you’re losing.

 

So as summer rolls in, instead of thinking, “Why am I so much slower?” or “Why does this feel so hard?”—think about adjusting your expectations, running by effort, and staying on top of carbs and fluids. Think of summer as your opportunity to build fitness in tougher conditions—and remember, that fitness will show up when the crisp fall race mornings arrive. Summer training = FALL PRs. Show up, adapt, and know it’s all going to pay off.
 

-Coach Nick

Feeling like you could use more support navigating summer training—or just want a coach in your corner to help you hit your goals? Learn more about our 1:1 coaching!

There are two flavors of ultramarathon: go from A to B (or A to B to A again), or “repeat this short loop as many times as you possibly can before you lose your mind/collapse". The latter is known as a “backyard ultra”, where you run a fixed distance loop (like 2.3 miles, or 5.1 miles, etc) on the hour every hour for as many hours as you can keep going. 

This year’s Go One More (G.1.M.) Ultra in Texas was the kind of chaos ultrarunners live for. After 56 grueling loops (that’s 378.5 kilometers for those keeping score), Australia’s Kendall Picado Fallas and Germany’s Kim Gottwald were the last two still grinding it out—until Mother Nature called the race with a thunderstorm. The two shared the win and set a new course record (because of course they did!). These runners are on another level of tough.

Ever wonder how much your running form really matters? In this episode, ultra runner and coach Sam Stow joins me for a deep, honest, and slightly nerdy conversation about the underrated importance of movement efficiency, body awareness, and technique. We dig into why how you move matters just as much as how far or how fast you go—and how the right tweaks to your movement patterns can unlock more enjoyable, injury-resistant, and sustainable running.

👉LISTEN ON SPOTIFY

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If you’re a runner who also does strength training (*ahem*, meaning all of us), you’ve probably wondered: should I run first or lift first? Maybe you like hitting the weights after their run so your legs are fresh for your run, while others prefer to lift first and then run on tired legs. Many of us juggle busy schedules and end up shifting workouts out of necessity. But does the order actually impact your endurance performance in the long run? Let's find out!

 

 

We're retiring public access to our current lineup of Running Explained Masterclasses—and this is your last chance to grab them before they're gone!

 

💥 Now through the end of May, you can purchase any masterclass for 50% off—and once you buy, it's yours forever with lifetime access.

 

⛔ After May 31, these courses will no longer be available for individual purchase.
✅ They will still be included as part of our 1:1 Run Coaching program, just like they are now.

 

This is your final opportunity to snag expert-led education on topics like heart rate zones, planning your training year, lactate threshold, and more—at half the price.

 

🚨 Don't miss it!
⚡ 50% off all masterclasses
📆 Offer ends May 31
📚 Lifetime access when you enroll now

👉 Grab your courses before they’re retired from the shop!

Whether you’re training for your first race, working on your next PR, or coming back from a break, we’ve got the tools and support to help you along the way.

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