Articles by Nick Tiller, PhD

How Low Is Too Low? How Much Carbohydrate Do We Need?

How low is too low for resting heart rate?" -@ultrarunnertom via email Doctors plying their trade in ancient Egypt could feel the body’s pulse “speaking out of every limb.” (1) They knew that pulse rate had s...

Are Women Closing the Gap?

Women made up 52% of the entrants at the Baker Ultra 50-mile last year Phil Light | Rachel Carson Trails Conservancy Before the female ultrarunning superstars of today had muddied their sneakers on the...

Does Caffeine Increase Fat Burning? Should I Get Screened? How Much is Too Much Racing?

I like to race quite often, maybe 6-8 times a year. How much is too much? - Katie Greene I have a friend David who’s been smoking since his early 20s (he’s now in his late 30s and, no, he’s not an ultrarunner). He’s a...

Occasional Rhabdo, Breathlessness & the Value of Bloodscreening

After returning from the inaugural UESCA Ultrarunning Coaching Conference in Colorado Springs, I felt inspired by the rolling trails and sandstone monoliths, the knowledge and experience of my co-presenters and the passi...

Predicting Performance in Ultras, Mental Motivation & Micro-Dosing

I had an unorthodox but interesting mix of questions this month, so I’ll start by indulging one reader’s request for speculation on the one factor most predictive of ultrarunning performance. I then will give some pointe...

Strength Training, Training Volume & Anemia

If you could get runners to do one strength/conditioning routine what would it be? @moorendurance With two competing goals in ultrarunning and weightlifting, how would you optimize we...

GI Distress, Weight Management and Miles or Muscles?

What training is better for getting into ultra distances: muscles or miles? –@kerriwbrady Endurance sports like ultrarunning, adventure racing and obstacle course racing place considerabl...

Running in the Cold, Respiratory Heath & Raynaud's

Many of us contend with training in cold weather, some of us even in polar climates. In these regions, where very cold temperatures (-22 degrees), snowstorms and strong winds are commonplace, just setting foot out the do...

The Ultra Lean, Retro Running & Treadmill Training

What causes the ultramarathon “side lean” and what can be done to prevent and/or correct it? – Beth M. Lateral trunk lean—when a runner leans to one side while running—is often observed during ultramaratho...

Training Intensity, Train for Altitude & Does Beer Help?

I try to build endurance during the winter by increasing my mileage and then running ultras in the spring. How much slow running should I do, and how do I determine training intensity? @talehorunner This training sched...

Ice Baths, Walking 50K and Treadmill Training

Can you clarify whether ice baths are worth the trouble and whether they help with recovery from training? I have heard mixed reports. @royjonesruns Ice baths have been popular with athletes for...

50k After Your First Marathon, K-Tape & How Short Should Your Longest Run Be?

After my first marathon, would it be right to continue with a 50k ultra in three months? @asafmiller It wouldn’t be wrong. But whether you should run a 50k just three months after your fir...

Heart Recovery, Hyponatremia and Too Big to Run Ultras?

How long does it take for the heart to recover after a 100-miler? @droliviaaffuso This is an important and timely question, but it’s a very difficult one to answer directly. It depends how we define “recover” and w...

Calories, Counterpace System & Strength Training

How do I ensure I eat sufficient calories for my needs? (@jmbarbit) There are numerous challenges to overcome as an ultrarunner and one of the greatest, at least from a nutritional perspective, is consuming enough calor...

Cramps and DOMS, NSAID Use and Exercise Physiology

We asked readers to send us questions for an exercise physiologist. Here are a few of the questions and the answers that follow. When cramps and DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) come knocking at the door after an...