Ordinary athletes with
extraordinary goals.
The Ordinary Athlete
An endurance blog for everyday athletes
Welcome to The Ordinary Athlete — a no-BS endurance blog for everyday runners, triathletes, and goal-chasers. Whether you’re training for your first 10K, your next Ironman, or just trying to fuel better, you’ll find practical tips, honest stories, and useful tools to help you go farther, faster and stronger.
Recent Posts
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How Cold Is Too Cold to Run Outside?
If you live somewhere with real winters, you’ve probably wondered how cold is too cold to run outside? Is there an actual safety cutoff — or is it just about how tough you’re willing to be? The short answer is that there is a point where running outside becomes unsafe. But for most runners, cold…
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Not Losing Weight While Running? Here’s Why (and What to Do Instead)
If you’ve been running consistently but the scale refuses to budge, you’re not alone. Not losing weight while running is one of the most common frustrations among runners and endurance athletes — especially when training volume increases and effort feels high. The good news? This doesn’t mean running “isn’t working,” and it doesn’t mean you’re…
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Why Does Treadmill Running Feel Harder Than Running Outside?
Have you ever jumped on the treadmill and struggled to keep your outdoor pace? Even experienced runners often find treadmill running mentally and physically tougher, despite the speed and effort being similar (or even easier) to road running. Fortunately, you’re not imagining it. There are several key reasons why treadmill running can feel harder than…
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What Does Off-Season Mean in Sports? (And What Athletes Should Actually Do)
If you train for running, triathlon, or any endurance sport, you’ve probably heard the term off-season. It gets mentioned a lot around this time of year — usually alongside advice to “rest,” “reset,” or “build strength.” But what does taking an off-season actually mean in sports, and what are athletes supposed to do during it?…
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Ironman Cozumel Race Report 2025 (+ What to Expect)
On November 23rd, 2025, I finished Ironman Cozumel. This was my second full-distance triathlon — and one I only signed up for three weeks in advance. While my preparation was far from perfect (and I faced a few race-day challenges), I ended up doing surprisingly well, learned a lot, and had an incredible time on…
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What Is a Tempo Run? (And Why Runners Should Do Them)
If you’ve ever heard runners talk about “threshold training,” “lactate threshold pace,” or a “comfortably uncomfortable effort,” they’re talking about tempo running. Tempo runs are one of the most effective workouts for building speed and endurance — but what exactly is a tempo run, and why does it matter so much for getting faster? Here’s…
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About Me
Hi, I’m Chanelle — an amateur triathlete, avid runner, and lover of all things endurance.
I created The Ordinary Athlete to share real-life tips, training stories, and fuelling advice from someone who’s in it for the journey, not just the podium.