Pursuit of the Impossible
Tag: Training Tips
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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…
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This week on Ultra Insights, I sit down with one of the UK’s most accomplished ultra runners, Damian Hall. With a win at the 2023 Spine Race, two appearances at the legendary Barkley Marathons, and multiple Fastest Known Time records to his name, Damian Hall is not only a fierce competitor but also a coach…
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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…
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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…
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They talk about it like a myth. The pain cave. A dark place where time slows, the body screams at you, and your mind starts whispering and telling you to stop. But if you’ve ever run far enough, you will know it’s real. And strangely, it’s where the magic happens. What Is the Pain Cave,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…