Pursuit of the Impossible
Tag: Training Tips
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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If 2024 was the warm-up, 2025 is the full send. The Backyard Ultra, those deceptively simple, soul-crushing endurance events, have exploded across the globe this year, and it’s not just the elites chasing glory. From scout huts in Manchester to sun-scorched loops in Madeira, runners of all levels are toeing the line for a race…
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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…
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When I reflect on my own recent first DNF at the UTS 100km, the reality of post-race depression hit me with a force I never anticipated. I’d always kind of dismissed the idea, how could not finishing a race possibly leave such a mark? But after succumbing to heat exhaustion 20 hours deep into a…
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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…
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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…
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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…