Pursuit of the Impossible
Tag: Training
-
Training for your first ultra feels like stepping into the unknown. You read plans, watch YouTube, scroll Strava, and still feel wildly underprepared as you approach race day. Looking back now, after multiple ultras, long nights, failed race plans and hard-earned lessons, there are a few things I’d absolutely do differently if I were starting…
-
I’ve been running in the 361 Taroko 5 for the last few weeks on everything from muddy technical singletrack to tarmac and a couple of faster tempo efforts on the trails. It’s the kind of shoe that makes you rethink what “do-everything” trail shoes can actually do, comfortable and quietly capable. Here’s the full breakdown.…
-
There’s something weirdly intimate about an ultra runners pack. But it’s full of ultra essentials. It’s like a survival kit, a comfort blanket, a mini kitchen, a pharmacy, and sometimes… a crime scene of crushed snacks, sticky gel packs and damp layers. People always ask, “What do you actually carry for these distances?” So here…
-
People love to talk about big mileage, the latest flashy running gear, heroic long runs… but the truth is, the unbreakable runner who goes the distance isn’t just built out on the trails. They’re built in the quiet, repetitive, slightly boring little bits of everyday life. The unbreakable runner doesn’t rely on talent or hype.…
-
Now my racing season is over, I’ve had time to look back and reflect. To look at the positives and the negatives and the lessons I’ve learned. I arrived at the start line of my first race of the 2025 season, the Chester 100 Mile Ultra fresh and with ambitions high after a solid block…
-
In every ultra I’ve run, Chester 100, The Bacons Way 100, Race Across Scotland (RAS) 215, among others, there have been many things that tested me. The miles, the heat, the elevation, the night, injury. But if I had to pick one common thing that carried me through more than any other, a place that…
-
There’s always a moment in every ultramarathon I run, Beacons Way 100 Mile, Ultra Scotland, Ultra Trail Snowdonia, The Race Across Scotland, when the sun drops behind the mountains, and the world in front of me reduces to the small globe of my headlamp and the deafening silence with nothing but the sound of my…
-
I still remember the moment I passed the marathon mark in my first 100 mile ultra. My watch clocked over at 42.2km, and for a split second I felt that familiar satisfaction of finishing a marathon. Then reality hit me, I still had another 120km to go. The legs were fine, but the voice inside…
-
I arrived Friday at lunchtime, checked into my hotel, and dropped off my bags. After helping the GB Ultras team set up the race HQ, I grabbed a pizza, then returned to my room to organise my race kit and drop bags. Registration started at 5:30pm, so I picked up my race number, caught up…
-
Running an ultramarathon isn’t just a longer version of a marathon, it’s a completely different challenge. Distances of 50K, 100K, 100 miles, or even multi-day stage races push your body, mind, and gear to their limits. Having the right equipment isn’t optional; it’s a survival strategy; it’s the difference between failure and success. In this…
-
That’s race 3 out of 4 races completed for the GB Ultras 2025 100-mile Grand Slam series. The Race Across Bannau Brycheiniog, the Brecon Beacons National Park! The Beacons Way 100 mile ultra is just over 100 miles starting from the ruins of Abergavenny Castle and following the Beacons Way National Trail all the way…
-
A full ten years ago, the Clifton arrived as Hoka’s first everyday road shoe to disrupt the market. Its oversized midsoles, pillowy softness, and curved geometry felt alien but worked so well that competitors soon adopted the innovations. Today, Hoka refines rather than reinvents, focusing on perfecting comfort, protection, and guided transitions rather than raw…
-
Master your recovery. Whether you’re finishing a 50km ultra or grinding through mile 90 of a 100-miler, recovery isn’t just what happens after the race, it’s what prepares you for the next one. Yet most people treat recovery like an afterthought…until burnout, injury, or total mental fatigue forces them to stop. With this guide, I…
-
I have now added the Beacons Way Ultra 100 miler to my 2025 race calendar. This will by leg 3 of 4 of my attempt at the GB ULTRAS 100 mile 2025 grand slam. The race takes place on Saturday 26th July 2025, has over 6,000m of elevation gain and has a 40 hour cut…
-
I’ve been testing out the recently released (official UK release date 15th February 2025), 361 Futura 2 for about 8 weeks now and have been impressed with their performance so far. After testing out the Lynx model from 361° previously and absolutely loving them, I expected a lot from the Futura 2. The Futura 2…
-
It’s been a while since I’ve done some mountain training with some real elevation gain, since I completed the Race Across Scotland 215 in fact, back in August 2024. So about time I got some serious climbing into the legs in preparation for this years events! Enter – Yorkshire 3 Peaks. If you’re a trail…
-
Keeping your heart rate in Zone 2 (about 60–75% of your max heart rate) during an easy run is key for building endurance and aerobic efficiency. A rough guide to workout your max Heart Rate to get you started is 220 minus your age. For example, for a 40-year-old, take this away from 220, this…
-
Listen to your body! Quality miles beats Quantity every day. There is no set amount of weekly training miles you need to hit when in training for your ultramarathon. It will depend on your physical fitness levels, your experience, your daily commitments, the distance you are training for and so on… I’ve had training blocks…
-
An ultramarathon pacing strategy depends on a variety of variables, such as the terrain, the distance, personal endurance and the weather to name a few. So here are some different strategies I’ve used either in races or long training runs, that may help you decide. Even Pacing – Easy, just target to maintain a steady…
-
So, if you’re reading this, then you’re probably thinking about dipping your toe into the world of ultra-running and signing up for your first 50 miler and now need a 12 Week Training Plan. Or maybe you’ve already taken the plunge, and now you’re wondering how in the world you’re going to actually make it…
-
When the temperature drops and the days get shorter, the temptation to skip a run can be strong. But with the right preparation and mindset, winter running can be just as rewarding as any other season. Here are some tips to help you embrace the cold and stay on track with your training: Dress in…
-
When reciting ultra running tales with others, one common question I get asked is; How do you find time to train for an ultramarathon? The simple answer, if you want something enough you will make time to fit it into your schedule. For context, I’m a family man and enjoy spending time at home with…