top of page




Mental Toughness Training in Harsh Weather: Cold Heat and Rain
Training in cold, heat, or rain builds the kind of mental toughness that a climate controlled gym cannot. Learn how to train safely in harsh conditions, why short exposure to discomfort builds discipline, and how contrast therapy supports resilience from the inside out. Embrace the suck and become unshakable.

Justin Biays
4 days ago8 min read


Breathwork for Stress Relief: How to Switch Off Fight or Flight
Learn how to use breathwork techniques like box breathing, nasal breathing, and the physiological sigh to calm your nervous system, lower cortisol, and improve sleep. This guide breaks down simple, effective ways to switch off fight or flight mode and take control of stress naturally — no apps or equipment needed.

Justin Biays
Jan 238 min read


Contrast Therapy for Recovery: Are Cold Plunges and Saunas Worth It?
Curious about cold plunges and saunas? Learn the real science behind contrast therapy, when it helps recovery, and when it can actually slow down muscle growth. This blog breaks down how to use cold and heat exposure the right way, based on your fitness goals. Avoid common mistakes and start using these tools with strategy, not guesswork.

Justin Biays
Jan 156 min read


How to Fight Seasonal Depression Naturally by Lifting Weights
Struggling with low energy, mood swings, or motivation in the winter months? You’re not alone. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects millions — but lifting weights may be one of the most powerful, natural ways to fight back. In this post, we break down how strength training boosts dopamine, supports hormonal balance, and provides the structure your mind and body need to thrive through the darkest season. It’s time to lift your mood — literally.
darkhorseathlete36
Jan 97 min read


Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail (and Systems Succeed)
Most New Year’s fitness resolutions fail by February. Why? Because they rely on motivation, not systems. In this post, you’ll learn how to build a consistent training habit, avoid common beginner mistakes, and create a sustainable fitness plan that delivers real results—all without burning out. Whether you’re new to working out or starting fresh, this guide will help you train smarter, not harder.
darkhorseathlete36
Dec 19, 20258 min read


From Active Duty to Civilian Life: Rebuilding a Training Routine Post-Military
You spent years operating inside a system where structure was non-negotiable. Wake up at 0500. PT at 0530. Uniform inspection. Ruck....

Justin Biays
Jun 20, 20255 min read


How to Train for Enlistment: Preparing for Basic Training the Right Way (A Comprehensive Guide)
If you're serious about joining the United States Army—especially in a combat role like Infantry—your training starts long before you...

Justin Biays
Jun 14, 202519 min read


How to Prevent and Come Back from Burnout in Training - Your 3-Step Gameplan
Even the most disciplined, driven athletes can—and will—burn out at some point in their life. It’s a warning system, not a weakness. But Here's what we can do to recognize it, prevent it, and get through burnout faster - without the guilt.

Justin Biays
Jun 6, 20258 min read


How to Balance Training with a Demanding Life, Career, Kids, and Competing Goals
Most people don’t fail because they’re lazy. They fail because they try to force someone else’s perfect plan into a life full of chaos,...

Justin Biays
May 29, 20257 min read


How to Build Mental Toughness for Long Distance and Extreme Endurance Events
You can have the perfect training plan, ideal weather, flawless pacing… but when the wheels fall off (and they will), all that matters is...

Justin Biays
May 22, 20258 min read


Race Week for Your First 50K: Final Prep, Fuel, and Gear to Finish Strong
This is it. Race week is where everything comes together — or everything falls apart. Not because of how fit you are, but because of how...

Justin Biays
May 15, 20259 min read


Choosing Your First 50K: How to Pick a Race You Can Actually Crush
If you want to actually finish your first ultra strong — and not just survive it with your body and pride barely intact — you need to pick the right race.
This isn’t about taking the easy way out. It’s about setting yourself up to win the long game. Read on for guidance on cutoff times, aid stations, terrain types, and more.

Justin Biays
May 2, 20259 min read


Fueling the Mission: How to Eat While Training for Your First 50K
Most first-time ultrarunners are under-fueled — not under-trained. Their performance flatlines, their recovery tanks, and their energy crashes. Why?Because they’re trying to train for a 50K on leftover fuel.

Justin Biays
Apr 24, 202511 min read


Stronger = Farther: Why Strength Training Makes You a Better Ultrarunner
If you think training for a 50K (or any ultra, for that matter) means stacking endless junk miles, running six days a week, and sacrificing your strength training, you’ve already lost. If your foundational programming principle is lower running volume, higher strength volume, you can build durable, powerful, injury-resistant runners who can take a beating and keep moving for the long haul.

Justin Biays
Apr 17, 202510 min read


How to Prepare for Your First 50K Ultramarathon: From Registration to Race Day
So you signed up for your first 50K. Maybe it’s been on your bucket list. Maybe it’s a dare. Or maybe you just wanted something hard to...

Justin Biays
Apr 10, 20259 min read


Active Recovery Days: The Most Underrated Tool in Your Training Arsenal
Everywhere you look, the fitness industry glorifies going harder. Grind. Hustle. No days off. While that mindset might fuel short-term...

Justin Biays
Mar 28, 20255 min read


Strength Training for Tactical Athletes: Maximal vs. Functional Strength
Strength training is a non-negotiable for military personnel, law enforcement officers, and firefighters. Yet, there’s a massive...

Justin Biays
Mar 14, 20258 min read


How to Build Elite-Level Rucking Strength and Endurance: A Beginner’s Guide
Rucking—walking or marching with a weighted backpack—has long been a cornerstone of military training, but it has recently gained...

Justin Biays
Mar 7, 20258 min read


How to Eat for Performance: A Guide to Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition
Your training doesn’t start and end with the workout itself—what you eat before and after plays a massive role in how you perform,...

Justin Biays
Feb 20, 20255 min read


Turning Setbacks into Strength: How Athletes Can Rebuild After Physical Adversity
Setbacks are inevitable in an athlete’s journey. Injuries, poor performance, or unexpected obstacles can derail progress and shake...
darkhorseathlete36
Feb 7, 20258 min read
bottom of page