Week four is done with a little bit of a mixture this week. Having done some longer tempo runs along with some walking to rest the legs in between these key runs. The last run of the week was the toughest being only 10.7km in distance but had just under 700m of elevation gain. This was a good test to see where the legs were at. After the last climb on this run my legs were cooked, especially as I…
Runcation: Run + Vacation Trail running vacations – or “runcations” have become increasingly popular in the last few years and for good reason. But do we actually need to book a runcation or can we just be spontaneous and throw the shoes in before we leave? While the idea of a “runcation” is very appealing, it has also occurred to me that pretty much every holiday I’ve ever been on has included at least some running. As I like…
Below we have gathered together a comprehensive list of terms you may encounter in the trail and running world. We had a lot of fun putting the A to Z Glossary of Trail Running Terms together, even learning a couple of new ones ourselves (plogging?! love it!). If there are any we have missed please leave a comment below! A Aid Station: Areas set up on the running course that have hydration and nutrition ready for competitors. How many aid…
Feeling Good Week three is done and dusted with the targets accomplished. The muscle soreness from the week before was not a factor this week. The muscles have adapted to the new/extra workload that I have put on them and are now noticeably a little stronger. I will look at increasing the elevation over the oncoming weeks along with the leg and buttock strength exercises. The week went as follows: DAY TRAINING DISTANCE ELEVATION Monday AM Easy run Ocean swim…
Blisters are those annoying little discomforts that can put a dampener on our running enjoyment. While generally not big enough of a problem to require our full attention, if not treated correctly they have the ability to side-line us altogether. The following article covers causes, treatment and blister prevention for running. CAUSES Blisters occur for three main reasons: Friction Heat Moisture This can be further exacerbated by foot abnormalities such as bunions, heel spurs and hammertoes. Heat and moisture contribute…
Is It Too Late to Start? It is generally recognised that after forty years of age we start to see the initial signs of ageing or slowing down. If you have never run before, or if you haven’t run for years, you might be asking yourself if running after forty is the most advisable thing to take up. Can my body withstand the demands of this activity, is it even safe to do so? Am I too old to start…
Building a Strong Foundation Week two of my training for trail running races has been banked with steady progressions. I am happy with how my body feels. My leg and buttock muscles have been sore from the extra work load with bigger elevation gains and also the leg exercises I’ve been performing regularly through the week. For me, feeling this soreness is a good thing. It is a good indication that I’m doing the right work to strengthen the areas…
Let’s face it, the biggest factor in preventing us from reaching our fitness goals all comes down to motivation, which is ultimately a mindset thing. At times it can feel impossible to balance everything going on in our lives and getting out there on a training run can be the easiest thing to drop first. If we can figure out how to stay motivated for exercise the main battle is already won. Below are my tips on how to stay…
What is Trail Running? Want to know how to get started in trail running? We look at what this amazing sport entails and how to get you out there enjoying the trails with the least fuss. Trail running involves running on anything that is unpaved and/or natural. It can take place on anything from softer, more cushioned surfaces like dirt paths and grass to quite aggressive and technical rocky and irregular terrain. It is an awesome way to achieve your…
As a newcomer to either running or trail running the question over what type of shoe you need to invest in and whether there really is much difference between them often comes up. The debate over trail running shoes vs running shoes does bring in several good arguments with many factors to consider. Where to Start? When starting out, a good supportive running shoe will be fine for smooth, relatively easy trails but when the trails get more technical there…