Chris Case

Chris Case

Cofounder and Content Director of Fast Talk Labs, Founder of Alter Exploration
Chris is a lifelong endurance athlete, journalist, editor, explorer, and photographer. He cofounded Fast Talk Laboratories and founded Alter Exploration.

Chris is a lifelong endurance athlete with a diverse academic and professional background. He has degrees and experience in neuroscience, clinical psychology, art, documentary photography, and journalism, and has decades of professional experience in the cycling and travel industries. Most recently, he founded Alter Exploration, which crafts challenging, transformative cycling journeys in some of the world’s most stunning destinations.

Chris was born and raised in southeastern Connecticut. He took up running in elementary school, and it quickly became his sole competitive outlet. Ultimately, he won multiple state championships in cross-country and track.

Chris attended Colgate University and graduated with degrees in neuroscience and art. He spent the next three years at the National Institute of Mental Health conducting research on patients with schizophrenia. After another year researching a stem cell treatment for Parkinson’s disease, he decided to pursue his second passion. This led him to the graduate journalism program at the University of Texas at Austin, where he concentrated in documentary photography. This is where Chris rediscovered his love of cycling, joining the collegiate team before expanding into categorized racing.

In 2012, Chris became the managing editor of VeloNews magazine, a position he held for nearly eight years. It was during that time that he became co-host of Fast Talk.

His cycling pursuits took him around the world to race on the road, mountain, and in cyclocross, to places like Taiwan, Costa Rica, Israel, and throughout Europe. He has stood on the podium at several cyclocross national championships, and is a silver medalist at master’s cyclocross worlds.

Chris is the author of The Haywire Heart, a groundbreaking and critically important guide to heart care for athletes, and the first book to delve into the relationship between long-term endurance athletics and heart health.

He is a cofounder of Fast Talk Labs, with Trevor Connor, and was the COO of Fast Talk Labs and The Paleo Diet until January 2022.

Latest: Page 3

Cyclists using the polarized training method or 80/30 training

Polarized Training Pathway

In collaboration with Dr. Stephen Seiler, the “father of polarized training,” we have curated everything you need to know about the 80/20 training method.

Alan Couzens, MSc, Chris Case, et. al.
Sports Psychology for Cyclists Pathway from Fast Talk Laboratories

Sport Psychology Pathway

The very best athletes are as strong mentally as they are physically. In the Sport Psychology Pathway from Fast Talk Labs, we explore how to build mental skills with experts like Dr. Simon Marshall, Julie Emmerman, Grant Holicky, Lesley Paterson, and Julie Young.

Chris Case, Colby Pearce, et. al.

Ideal Racing Weight Is a Delicate Balance

Seeking an “ideal racing weight” is a tactic many endurance athletes use to improve performance. Here’s how to find your fastest race weight—while avoid being too heavy or too light.

Chris Case and Rob Pickels
Advanced Performance Data Analysis

Advanced Performance Data Analysis Pathway

Learn advanced data analysis for cycling, triathlon, and running workouts and races. With new data analysis tools, you can make better decisions about your training.

Chris Case, Dr. Andy Pruitt, EdD, et. al.

Fast Talk Bids Our Heart-Felt Farewell to Chris Case

Chris Case is leaving Fast Talk! For his final episode, we gather some of his close cycling friends to discuss Chris and his epic rides, his parting wisdom, and what has made him a special part of Fast Talk.

Fast Talk Podcast Episode 204
The History of Endurance Coaching with Joe Friel

The History of Endurance Sports Coaching with Joe Friel

Legendary coach and endurance sports author Joe Friel sits down with us to discuss the history of coaching and his role in that history, from being one of the first freelance coaches to publishing his ground-breaking book The Cyclist’s Training Bible.

Coaching Episode 202
A USA Cycling mountain biking coach works with a Team USA athlete cyclist at the 2018 UCI MTB World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.

2 // The How and Why of Coaching

Coaches often focus on methodology over philosophy. Your own path to coaching shapes both, and Joe Friel shows why it matters.

Chris Case, Joe Friel, et. al.
USA Cycling coach celebrates with cyclocross athlete

1 // Building a Foundation for Success in Coaching

Coach Joe Friel details what it takes to be a good, happy, and successful coach, then shares how coaches can build the eight most important skills an effective coach must have.

Chris Case, Joe Friel, et. al.
Complete Guide to Indoor Cycling, Zwift, and Smart Trainers for Cycling and Spinning

Indoor Cycling Pathway

Used strategically, riding inside can be a beneficial way to keep motivation high, effectively add intensity, and stave off winter training doldrums. With the help of Joe Friel, Dr. Stephen Seiler, and others, we explore all aspects of indoor cycling.

Chris Case, Dr. Stephen Cheung, et. al.