Intrepid Performance Training

Intrepid Performance Training Pursue - Perform - Be Limitless

Performance training for everyday athletes who need help overcoming plateaus in their physical pursuits.

06/17/2026

The biggest mistake endurance athletes make during a race taper? They stop lifting entirely.

Here is why that’s a massive problem: Detraining happens fast. When you completely cut out resistance training 3–4 weeks before a race, your muscle tissue and tendons begin to lose their crispness, stiffness, and ability to handle load. By the time you get to the start line, you are actually structurally weaker than you were at peak volume.

With Chelsea just 4 weeks out from Hardrock, we have shifted her strength routine to Maintenance Phase. But she still needs to be strong enough to endure the +10,000m of elevation and descending that the course demands.

We’ve dropped her gym frequency down to just once a week and significantly cut back the volume (sets and reps). But notice what we didn't do: we didn't drop the intensity.

Her current routine is a mix of:

Tissue Maintenance & Isometrics: Keeping the tendon health pristine and maintaining maximum neural drive through the system.

Controlled Plyometrics: Preparing the lower limbs for the relentless pounding of the descents.

Heavy, Short-Range Lifting: Keeping her raw strength locked in without creating excess systemic fatigue.

Don't let your hard-earned gym gains rot in the final weeks before your target event. Keep the intensity high, drop the volume, and protect the chassis.

Isometrics InjuryPrevention IntrepidPerformance

"Training with Intrepid has pushed me to perform PR‘s in my racing and in my life. "Could there be a better feeling as a...
06/07/2026

"Training with Intrepid has pushed me to perform PR‘s in my racing and in my life. "
Could there be a better feeling as a coach? Working with athletes who have skin in the game and passion for their craft truly lights us up. As a team, we are chasing peak performance IN LIFE, as for many of us, our sport is a huge part of our life and our expression of who we are. Is everyone going to the Olympics? Nah, but does that mean training should take a back seat, and we shouldn't push ourselves to see how much we can improve under the hood (and between the ears)?
Cheers mate, here's to a good off season and even bigger competition season next year!

06/01/2026

Tendons don’t complain the second you overwork them! They are master procrastinators until they hit breaking point, and then you’re cooked.

Here is how to spot the smoke before the fire:

1) Post-Rest Stiffness (Rusty Hinge Effect)
Early-stage tendon stress can cause a fluid buildup inside the tendon matrix when you’re still. It disappears when warm, but that stiffness is a direct warning shot that the tissue is struggling to recover.

Vibe check: First thing in the morning, or right after sitting at your desk, the joint feels stiff and locked up. Taking those first 5 steps feels rough but it warms up and feels totally fine after a few minutes of moving.

2) Too Much, Too Soon
Cardiovascular System and Metabolic System adapt quickly. Tendons take up to 3 times longer to build actual tissue capacity. If your acute workload (this week) vastly outweighs your chronic baseline (the last month), then you are playing in the danger zone.

Vibe check: Look at your training and aim to spike volume/intensity/repetition by no more than 10–15% compared to your average over the last month will keep you in the sweet spot. *Are you even monitoring any of this**

3) The Loss of Snap
You’ve lost your springiness on a run, even though nothing explicitly hurts yet. Healthy tendons act like giant rubber bands that store and return energy. When a tendon is structurally overloaded, it loses its elastic efficiency.

Vibe check: Your nervous system will actively dampen your power output to protect the compromised tissue. If you feel like gravity is wild, this is a sign!

Your body is always communicating. If you notice any of these signs after a big training week, back off the volume slightly and prioritize heavy, slow loading to help that tendon remodel.

If you wait for actual tendon pain whether it’s in your Achilles, knee, elbow, or shoulder then you are behind the 8 ball.

Need help? We got you!

Not every athlete fits into a template program, we get it. (ICYM I have an arthritic shoulder, I get the infuriating "s...
05/30/2026

Not every athlete fits into a template program, we get it. (ICYM I have an arthritic shoulder, I get the infuriating "sub in a movement" struggle, TRUST ME).

Whether you’re training for a race, returning from injury, managing a recurring issue, or just trying to train smarter around your biomechanics and schedule (aka managing those training volumes so you don't blow up) sometimes you need a program that’s actually built around YOU.

At Intrepid, we offer 3 tiers of customized strength programming for athletes in the Bow Valley and beyond. Each option is tailored to your goals, training history, injury considerations, and the realities of your sport and lifestyle. We also take into account what type of equipment you have access to. (Full disclosure, you will need more than a b***y band...)

From self-managed structure to high-touch coaching support, there’s an option depending on how much guidance and accountability you need.

⚡️ Tier 1 — Intrepid Foundations
A 6-week tailored training block for independent athletes who want professional structure without ongoing coaching oversight.

⚡️ Tier 2 — Advanced Strength Coaching
Monthly individualized programming with coach support for athletes navigating performance goals, rehab milestones, or more complex training variables.

⚡️ Tier 3 — Pro Strength Programming
Our most hands-on option with monthly calls, extensive programming adjustments, ongoing communication, and high-level individualization for complex cases or performance-focused athletes.

If you’ve been waiting for the “perfect” time to start… this is probably it. The best time to start was yesterday. The next best time is today.

Reach out via email or book a discovery call and we can chat about which coaching option makes the most sense for you.

05/28/2026

30,000 meters of climbing vs. one pissed-off knee

Here Tyler is 2 weeks out from the Trans Balkan Race, a self-supported 1400km off-road bike race.

The problem? A few months ago, severe patellar tendinopathy had his knee so flared up he couldn't even log the saddle time needed to train for it.
We did what tendons actually thrive on: We loaded it and as a result we were able to avoid PRP injections and any major down time off the bike.

So what was the formula:
- Heavy Slow Resistance: we had Tyler working at the heaviest tolerable load across his knee at slow tempo and low reps with lots of rest between sets.

- Strategic Isometrics: low-to-high stimulus isometric holds helped dampen the pain inhibition feedback loop and calming the nerve signals.

- Fixing the Upstream Issues. We dialled in his supplementary work to really focus on cleaning up some asymmetries evident across his hips.

This was enough to help remodel the tendon and get it structurally denser.

No needles, no invasive treatments, and he’s heading to the start line with a chassis that is measurably stronger and more robust than it was last year.

Good luck out there, Tyler. Go crush it.

05/25/2026

When can I start running again after surgery? 🤷

If you’re rehabbing from an ACL or a related knee surgery, this is the number one question.

Feeling good on a casual walk isn’t the green light to clear yourself for the trails. When running, your joints experience forces equal to 3–5x your body weight. You don’t guess your way back from that. You test.

To safely get back on the ones and twos, your main goal is structural symmetry:

-No or Trace Swelling
-Full Extension, 95% of Flexion of the knee
-Thigh Muscle Mass Asymmetry of

Working with Connie has been an honour. She is dedicated, passionate, and is an absolute weapon. Thanks for the kind w...
05/20/2026

Working with Connie has been an honour. She is dedicated, passionate, and is an absolute weapon. Thanks for the kind words, you continue to inspire us!

"From day one, Intrepid took the time to understand my goals, my sport-specific needs, and the injuries I was working through. Every session is thoughtfully designed, combining strength, balance, and power work that’s directly relevant to my performance outdoors.Thanks to Intrepid Performance expertise and guidance, I’ve not only overcome previous injuries but also built a stronger, more resilient body. My performance on the mountain, trail, and bike has improved noticeably and I feel more balanced and confident than ever."
C Gaspar. Mountain Athlete - ski, mountaineering, runner + triathlete

Sarah is the perfect example of what happens when you respect the process. From 100km race prep to navigating a signific...
01/30/2026

Sarah is the perfect example of what happens when you respect the process. From 100km race prep to navigating a significant ankle rehab, she’s been moving dirt with a shovel every single week.

We didn't look for quick fixes. We focused on:
- Consistent load management.
- Targeted strength blocks.
- Better timing, not just 'more' volume.

She’s one of the most fun athletes I have the pleasure of coaching, do yourself a favour and give her a follow. Seeing her go from the sidelines back to the start line for 2026 is exactly why we do this.

01/25/2026

Don’t skip (lower) leg day!

A well-executed calf raise can mitigate a host of problems that arise from the connective tissues that cross the ankle and foot. And to build real resilience, you’ll need exposure to variety:

✅ Full ROM (with Supination & Pronation)
✅ Barefoot loading
✅ Bent knee variations (Soleus focus)
✅ Isometric challenges

Watch the full reel to see how to build a bulletproof lower body from the ground up.

Questions? Here for it! Happy to chat more about how to integrate this into your current game plan.

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Canmore, AB
T1W3C6

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