Are time goals for races a help or a hinderance ?
Is setting a goal time and then working out splits to achieve along the way the best way to approach a race? Is time the best means of measuring your success? A goal can be defined as “the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result”. Is the finishing time really […]
Sodium – do we need it?
The ability to measure our sodium losses in sweat during exercise has led some to thinking that we need to replace at least some of what we lose in sweat to ensure our blood sodium levels don’t fall to levels that effect performance or health. The thinking goes that somewhere between 230-1700mg of sodium can […]
Blood, sweat and lava dust on Mt Rinjani
One day after Catherine and I had decided to spend a month or two in Bali between relocating within Australia Catherine stumbled upon a photo on Instagram that mentioned the Mt Rinjani Ultra. A check of dates confirmed we would be in Bali when the race was on and I quickly decided that if there […]
Mind over matter?
Does your body or your mind limit your race day performance? We all know that dead feeling in our legs, the feeling of complete physical exhaustion. Mentally we could keep going but our body is saying no more. Or is it? The latest thinking is that the mind controls fatigue much more than the body.
Observations of an Ultra Coach
What is the difference between the elite runner and the back of pack runner? Is it fitness, training, genetics, mental or some other factor? How can the rest of the field improve without putting in the miles the elite do?
The long run – how long is long enough?
The long run is obviously the most important training session of the week for an ultra runner but how long should it be? I was initially of the opinion that longer was better but after building up to a long run of 75km before my first ultra and dying big time in the race I […]
Tempo running for ultrarunners
As you may have guessed from a previous blog on speed training for ultrarunners you’ll know I’m a big fan of speed training and tempo running is a great speed workout. But what is a tempo run?
Why Runners shouldn’t do the plank
The plank is seen as a fundamental core exercise that every runner should include in their training routine. But could it be making your core less suited to the demands of running? If you have read any of my other blogs on the topic you’ll know that there is no research that shows that traditional […]
Walking in Ultras: How to train to walk faster.
Walking is typically seen as the soft option in running races, however in an ultra its often the smart option. In a hilly race even the elites walk, the difference between them and the back of the pack runners is the amount of walking and the speed at which they walk. When training for my […]
Mental Strength – Have you got it?
Mental strength is a term bandied about by many runners. It is essential part of performing to the best of your ability but what is it and how can you improve it? Whilst it is hard to define and many people will have a differing ideas, my definition is that mental strength is the ability […]