Training through the coronavirus pandemic – how to stay motivated and come out a mentally stronger runner
Saying things are a little crazy right now is an understatement, with more than half the world either in lockdown or just coming out of it and the vast majority of the other half under some restrictions, life as we know it has been turned upside down. Some runners have found that remaining motivated to […]
How to achieve stretch running goals
Early in 2019, I was approached by an athlete (let’s call her Lucy ) who wanted to run the length of New Zealand and set an FKT in doing so. She had some decent results in some shorter 50ish km ultras but no experience in running anything longer. Yet she was serious in wanting help […]
How to pace an ultra
There are a few different strategies people use when pacing an ultra , which do you think is the best ? Go hard from the start and get as many miles covered before the legs force you to shuffle to the finish. Go easy at the start and aim to pick it up in last […]
Power meters for trail runners
What do you use to determine the intensity or pace in races or training on trails? For road runners pace is a good a metric as any to work from but pace on trails varies too much for it to be of any value. What about heart rate? Heart rate training has been around for […]
Post Race Recovery – the do’s and don’ts
Crossing the finish line of an ultra is an amazing experience and once you cross that line the next phase of your training starts — recovery. Ultras take a big toll on your body and whilst lying on the couch drinking beer and eating pizza might sound like a good idea there are better ways […]
How to choose an online running coach
As an online running coach I’m obviously a big believer that a coach is a good investment in your running. It’s not just for the elite, in fact many of my clients make up the back half of the field. If you want to take away the uncertainty of what type of training you should […]
The A, B & Cs of racing
Welcome to the blog, our newest coach, Mile 27’s Ben Duffus. Here Ben gives his thoughts on how he plans his minor and major races throughout the year to optimise his performances One of the attractions of ultramarathon running is the opportunity to explore the limits of both our body and mind. But as the […]
Are you a fair weather trail runner?
Do you look out the window watching the rain pour down and start to dread your run? Clients often ask me what to do if the weather is “bad” for a particular training session. I’m not exactly sure what “bad” weather is. If you are looking for a sport that’s only played in “good” weather […]
Is using a GPS watch in training and racing beneficial or detrimental?
The latest GPS watches can give you an amazing amount of information – from current speed, distance and heart rate to altitude, VO2max and calories burnt – but are they really helping you run faster or train more effectively? Or would you be better of without one?
Does dehydration impair endurance performance?
For many years we have been lead to believe that a dehydration level of more than 2% will negatively affect performance and therefore we should drink to limit dehydration to this level. This advice has even been given out by coaches and trainers for years and was the official recommendation of the American College of […]