Marathon to ultra – is it all about distance training?

With spring and summer marathons cancelled, it’s given us all more time to reflect on training for distance races – so here’s what I’ve learnt from running marathons (and beyond into ultras). My first marathon was the Marathon du Mont St Michel some 20 years ago. At the time, I would have described myself as […]

Beyond the medal

Like many of you, I have had to refocus my running goals as summer races are postponed or cancelled. It’s got me thinking: how do we keep the momentum going on training when goal events go out the window? Rewind to the last time things didn’t go to plan Let’s go back to 19th December […]

How to plan a monthly ultra training schedule you can stick to

Late in February, I spent half an hour over a coffee mapping out when I could run this month. It’s an approach I also take with my coaching clients. It doesn’t take long; we’re talking broad brush stuff. It should form a rough plan that can then flex slightly when other things need to take […]

Winter training: Vitamin D and ultra-running

One in five people in the UK has low vitamin D levels, according to the NHS. It’s essentially a national condition during the winter, when a lot of us aren’t getting enough of the vital vitamin from sunlight. It’s something I’ve only become aware of through regular blood tests as part of measuring my training […]

Dealing with a recurring historic injury

Niggling injuries are not a runner’s best friend, but they can be your constant companion. And, with age comes the greater risk of injuries rearing their heads. It can be a headache in training, as I found out just before Christmas… A trip too far Let’s go back a few weeks to mid-December. It was […]

Summer races to add to your list

Ready to step up from a marathon to an ultra this year, or looking to build on your ultra experiences? Now’s the time to book events for later this year. I like to have goals that give me a reason to get up each morning even when I’m not ‘feeling the love’, and to structure […]

Best tech for new ultra-runners

New to ultra-running? The array of tech – watches, straps, torches, and more – can feel almost as daunting as stepping up to that start line. I remember being overawed by the massive choice of potential tech you can buy, combined with the fear of investing serious money in something that might not deliver when […]

Super Fit at 50: SAD, running and the changing seasons

When I first met my wife, she noticed that my mood fell with the autumnal shorter days, only picking up for Christmas and as the seasons turned to spring. That seemed to change when I started running in my mid-thirties. I’m now someone who has consistently ‘high’ mood and energy levels, all year round. Here […]

Using Strava Summit stats to measure autumn training progress

I use Strava Summit to keep me focused on training. I particularly love the new ‘fitness’ score. An unexpected silver lining after DNFing the Cotswold Century has been a steady improvement in that ‘fitness’ score – by some 83% in the last year. Science without the spreadsheets Strava’s Fitness score is a calculation that combines […]

Super Fit at 50: an autumn training update

Training has been going well, albeit pretty light on running this past week. I have to adapt my training around work commitments – something I’m sure most runners can relate to. Running for life, not living to run I love running, but it’s not the whole story. It has to fit around my other responsibilities. […]