.svg){kind=icon}
Off the Beaten Path
Lessons from the UK Trail Running Championships
.jpeg)
In 2015 I entered the UK Trail Running Championships. I was told only idiots could get lost running the 137km National Trust 5 star maintained trail. It's famous for being the oldest road in Britain (although no cars allowed on it now).
At the 46km in with around 6hrs of running under my belt, I put myself firmly into the idiot category. I didn't have a route map with me, being so sure the trails were so well marked and as the light was fading I took a left instead of a right in a town called Nuffield.
For 1 hour I ran, completely unaware I was running south instead of the correct direction of West. It was only when I needed a water refill and the aid station that was 8 miles ahead wasn't showing up did I start to think I had gone wrong.
I don't know who owns the pub in Stoke Row but I can tell you they are doing well! At 7 pm on a Saturday, I walked in, in full trail gear, to ask for directions. It was a full house and it seemed like everyone stopped drinking or eating and looked straight at me. It turns out I had run 16km off route, which was far enough for the bar staff to have no clue where the 'famous' ridgeway trail even was. I left incredibly depleted and wishing I had a route map to attempt to get myself back on track.
I didn't and I couldn't, so I called my support crew. After confirming I was an idiot they made a plan to come to find me. I was adamant not to quit so once they did find me I ran behind the car to get back on route jumping in for the last 1km so the marshals wouldn't see me running into the checkpoint the wrong way.
At 86km, with 11 hours done my feet fell to bits and I DNF'd. If I had stayed on the route I would have hit two other checkpoints which I missed on my custom route. Those checkpoints would have been a chance to check my feet and change socks/shoes.
Never leave a route map behind if you have the chance to take it! And if you haven't seen another competitor or marshall for a while, don't think it's because you are too fast or too slow, stop and double-check your location!
.jpeg)
ENGINE
We are going to mix things up a bit this week, varying modalities, time frames and distances designed to push your aerobic capacity.
GYMNASTICS
To kick things off, we will spend some time on Pull-ups and chest-to-bar pull-ups before we move off the rig and onto the floor as we look to break down and develop the Handstand Walk.
HYROX
Working on compromised running this week. Running consistently strong when there is nothing left in your legs is a key skill in Hyrox.
MOBILITY
Improving your overhead mobility will show you how to improve not only flexibility but also stability using a few key exercises that you can do in your own time.
PURE STRENGTH
In Pure Strength this week, we will kick the week off with a mixture of paused and unpaused back squats, followed by some heavy single-leg work. Wednesday sees us continue our progression on the strict press and the stationary dips.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting we focus on the power snatch and hang power snatch with a series of complexes followed by some EMOM percentage work
.jpeg)
Track Tuesday
The purpose of this workout is to develop threshold speed. To do this we’re running through 3X800m into 2X400m finishing with a final best effort over 800m, then repeating the whole set again!
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: InnerFight
Wednesday Ride
This Wednesday we’re going to put your legs through some climbing efforts and then finish with some maximum power sprints.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Bottom of the stick
Friday, The Coffee Run
The ‘in’ word within endurance is fatigue resistance; and today we look to benchmark it. With 2 maximum efforts at the start and end of the set with a steadier middle section, we’ll be able to track your drop-off. A great set for anyone wanting to get better this winter!
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: Common Grounds, Jumeirah Beach Track
Friday, Sea Swim
With Salalah and T100 just around the corner, we again take to the seas to practice race-specific skills for open-water swimming.
Start time: 06:19 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: Common Grounds, Jumeirah Beach Track
Saturday Ride
This week we take on the second extension, with some 3-minute and 1-minute turns as a group. We’ll cover around 85km or fun riding. Come along to start your weekend right!
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 3 hour
Location: Bottom of the stick
Please note that there is no Monday and Wednesday session this week. LRC Unlimited Clients, your TrainingPeaks are still programmed.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: InnerFight
Session: Track Tuesday
This week we have a selection of 800s and 400s for you. Come ready to run fast with InnerFight Endurance community and coaching team.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Kite Beach
Session: The Coffee Run
Today we are looking at your durability. The session is book ended with hard efforts, to see how your duratlity is at the end of a middle block of easy running. This is a great session to test as the weather gets better and then test again in the coming month, after stacking some more consistency in your training.
.jpeg)
Monday:
Strength:
Pull Ups and Dumbell Bench Press
Conditioning:
Amrap 20
Car Park sandbag bear hug carry
10 hand-release push-ups
10 pull-ups
Half park run
Tuesday:
Strength:
Front Squats
Conditioning:
In a 3 minute window
10 Dual KB front squats (2x 20/16)
30/25/20 cal Row
AMRAP wall balls
Rest 2 mins x 5
Wednesday:
Strength:
A) Power Clean + Hang Power Clean
B) Clean Complex + Wall Walks
Conditioning:
FOR TIME
3-6-9 Power clean
2-4-6 wall walks
into
9-12-15 Power Clean
9-12-15 Burpee over bar
Thursday:
Strength:
KB Single Leg Deadlifts + Arch Holds
Conditioning:
EMOM 16
Min 1 - 20 alt DB hang snatch (50/35)
Min 2 - 20/15 box jump over
Min 3 -18/15/12/9 Cal assault bike
Min 4 - Rest
Friday:
Conditioning:
Another spicy Friday to end the week, and then we finish together with a Durante Special!
In 2015 I entered the UK Trail Running Championships. I was told only idiots could get lost running the 137km National Trust 5 star maintained trail. It's famous for being the oldest road in Britain (although no cars allowed on it now).
At the 46km in with around 6hrs of running under my belt, I put myself firmly into the idiot category. I didn't have a route map with me, being so sure the trails were so well marked and as the light was fading I took a left instead of a right in a town called Nuffield.
For 1 hour I ran, completely unaware I was running south instead of the correct direction of West. It was only when I needed a water refill and the aid station that was 8 miles ahead wasn't showing up did I start to think I had gone wrong.
I don't know who owns the pub in Stoke Row but I can tell you they are doing well! At 7 pm on a Saturday, I walked in, in full trail gear, to ask for directions. It was a full house and it seemed like everyone stopped drinking or eating and looked straight at me. It turns out I had run 16km off route, which was far enough for the bar staff to have no clue where the 'famous' ridgeway trail even was. I left incredibly depleted and wishing I had a route map to attempt to get myself back on track.
I didn't and I couldn't, so I called my support crew. After confirming I was an idiot they made a plan to come to find me. I was adamant not to quit so once they did find me I ran behind the car to get back on route jumping in for the last 1km so the marshals wouldn't see me running into the checkpoint the wrong way.
At 86km, with 11 hours done my feet fell to bits and I DNF'd. If I had stayed on the route I would have hit two other checkpoints which I missed on my custom route. Those checkpoints would have been a chance to check my feet and change socks/shoes.
Never leave a route map behind if you have the chance to take it! And if you haven't seen another competitor or marshall for a while, don't think it's because you are too fast or too slow, stop and double-check your location!
Track Tuesday
The purpose of this workout is to develop threshold speed. To do this we’re running through 3X800m into 2X400m finishing with a final best effort over 800m, then repeating the whole set again!
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: InnerFight
Wednesday Ride
This Wednesday we’re going to put your legs through some climbing efforts and then finish with some maximum power sprints.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Bottom of the stick
Friday, The Coffee Run
The ‘in’ word within endurance is fatigue resistance; and today we look to benchmark it. With 2 maximum efforts at the start and end of the set with a steadier middle section, we’ll be able to track your drop-off. A great set for anyone wanting to get better this winter!
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: Common Grounds, Jumeirah Beach Track
Friday, Sea Swim
With Salalah and T100 just around the corner, we again take to the seas to practice race-specific skills for open-water swimming.
Start time: 06:19 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: Common Grounds, Jumeirah Beach Track
Saturday Ride
This week we take on the second extension, with some 3-minute and 1-minute turns as a group. We’ll cover around 85km or fun riding. Come along to start your weekend right!
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 3 hour
Location: Bottom of the stick
Please note that there is no Monday and Wednesday session this week. LRC Unlimited Clients, your TrainingPeaks are still programmed.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: InnerFight
Session: Track Tuesday
This week we have a selection of 800s and 400s for you. Come ready to run fast with InnerFight Endurance community and coaching team.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Kite Beach
Session: The Coffee Run
Today we are looking at your durability. The session is book ended with hard efforts, to see how your duratlity is at the end of a middle block of easy running. This is a great session to test as the weather gets better and then test again in the coming month, after stacking some more consistency in your training.
Monday:
Strength:
Pull Ups and Dumbell Bench Press
Conditioning:
Amrap 20
Car Park sandbag bear hug carry
10 hand-release push-ups
10 pull-ups
Half park run
Tuesday:
Strength:
Front Squats
Conditioning:
In a 3 minute window
10 Dual KB front squats (2x 20/16)
30/25/20 cal Row
AMRAP wall balls
Rest 2 mins x 5
Wednesday:
Strength:
A) Power Clean + Hang Power Clean
B) Clean Complex + Wall Walks
Conditioning:
FOR TIME
3-6-9 Power clean
2-4-6 wall walks
into
9-12-15 Power Clean
9-12-15 Burpee over bar
Thursday:
Strength:
KB Single Leg Deadlifts + Arch Holds
Conditioning:
EMOM 16
Min 1 - 20 alt DB hang snatch (50/35)
Min 2 - 20/15 box jump over
Min 3 -18/15/12/9 Cal assault bike
Min 4 - Rest
Friday:
Conditioning:
Another spicy Friday to end the week, and then we finish together with a Durante Special!
ENGINE
We are going to mix things up a bit this week, varying modalities, time frames and distances designed to push your aerobic capacity.
GYMNASTICS
To kick things off, we will spend some time on Pull-ups and chest-to-bar pull-ups before we move off the rig and onto the floor as we look to break down and develop the Handstand Walk.
HYROX
Working on compromised running this week. Running consistently strong when there is nothing left in your legs is a key skill in Hyrox.
MOBILITY
Improving your overhead mobility will show you how to improve not only flexibility but also stability using a few key exercises that you can do in your own time.
PURE STRENGTH
In Pure Strength this week, we will kick the week off with a mixture of paused and unpaused back squats, followed by some heavy single-leg work. Wednesday sees us continue our progression on the strict press and the stationary dips.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting we focus on the power snatch and hang power snatch with a series of complexes followed by some EMOM percentage work
In 2015 I entered the UK Trail Running Championships. I was told only idiots could get lost running the 137km National Trust 5 star maintained trail. It's famous for being the oldest road in Britain (although no cars allowed on it now).
At the 46km in with around 6hrs of running under my belt, I put myself firmly into the idiot category. I didn't have a route map with me, being so sure the trails were so well marked and as the light was fading I took a left instead of a right in a town called Nuffield.
For 1 hour I ran, completely unaware I was running south instead of the correct direction of West. It was only when I needed a water refill and the aid station that was 8 miles ahead wasn't showing up did I start to think I had gone wrong.
I don't know who owns the pub in Stoke Row but I can tell you they are doing well! At 7 pm on a Saturday, I walked in, in full trail gear, to ask for directions. It was a full house and it seemed like everyone stopped drinking or eating and looked straight at me. It turns out I had run 16km off route, which was far enough for the bar staff to have no clue where the 'famous' ridgeway trail even was. I left incredibly depleted and wishing I had a route map to attempt to get myself back on track.
I didn't and I couldn't, so I called my support crew. After confirming I was an idiot they made a plan to come to find me. I was adamant not to quit so once they did find me I ran behind the car to get back on route jumping in for the last 1km so the marshals wouldn't see me running into the checkpoint the wrong way.
At 86km, with 11 hours done my feet fell to bits and I DNF'd. If I had stayed on the route I would have hit two other checkpoints which I missed on my custom route. Those checkpoints would have been a chance to check my feet and change socks/shoes.
Never leave a route map behind if you have the chance to take it! And if you haven't seen another competitor or marshall for a while, don't think it's because you are too fast or too slow, stop and double-check your location!
Please note that there is no Monday and Wednesday session this week. LRC Unlimited Clients, your TrainingPeaks are still programmed.
Tuesday
Time: 5:59am
Location: InnerFight
Session: Track Tuesday
This week we have a selection of 800s and 400s for you. Come ready to run fast with InnerFight Endurance community and coaching team.
Friday
Time: 5:59am
Location: Kite Beach
Session: The Coffee Run
Today we are looking at your durability. The session is book ended with hard efforts, to see how your duratlity is at the end of a middle block of easy running. This is a great session to test as the weather gets better and then test again in the coming month, after stacking some more consistency in your training.
Monday:
Strength:
Pull Ups and Dumbell Bench Press
Conditioning:
Amrap 20
Car Park sandbag bear hug carry
10 hand-release push-ups
10 pull-ups
Half park run
Tuesday:
Strength:
Front Squats
Conditioning:
In a 3 minute window
10 Dual KB front squats (2x 20/16)
30/25/20 cal Row
AMRAP wall balls
Rest 2 mins x 5
Wednesday:
Strength:
A) Power Clean + Hang Power Clean
B) Clean Complex + Wall Walks
Conditioning:
FOR TIME
3-6-9 Power clean
2-4-6 wall walks
into
9-12-15 Power Clean
9-12-15 Burpee over bar
Thursday:
Strength:
KB Single Leg Deadlifts + Arch Holds
Conditioning:
EMOM 16
Min 1 - 20 alt DB hang snatch (50/35)
Min 2 - 20/15 box jump over
Min 3 -18/15/12/9 Cal assault bike
Min 4 - Rest
Friday:
Conditioning:
Another spicy Friday to end the week, and then we finish together with a Durante Special!
ENGINE
We are going to mix things up a bit this week, varying modalities, time frames and distances designed to push your aerobic capacity.
GYMNASTICS
To kick things off, we will spend some time on Pull-ups and chest-to-bar pull-ups before we move off the rig and onto the floor as we look to break down and develop the Handstand Walk.
HYROX
Working on compromised running this week. Running consistently strong when there is nothing left in your legs is a key skill in Hyrox.
MOBILITY
Improving your overhead mobility will show you how to improve not only flexibility but also stability using a few key exercises that you can do in your own time.
PURE STRENGTH
In Pure Strength this week, we will kick the week off with a mixture of paused and unpaused back squats, followed by some heavy single-leg work. Wednesday sees us continue our progression on the strict press and the stationary dips.
WEIGHTLIFTING
This week in weightlifting we focus on the power snatch and hang power snatch with a series of complexes followed by some EMOM percentage work
Track Tuesday
The purpose of this workout is to develop threshold speed. To do this we’re running through 3X800m into 2X400m finishing with a final best effort over 800m, then repeating the whole set again!
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: InnerFight
Wednesday Ride
This Wednesday we’re going to put your legs through some climbing efforts and then finish with some maximum power sprints.
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1.5 hour
Location: Bottom of the stick
Friday, The Coffee Run
The ‘in’ word within endurance is fatigue resistance; and today we look to benchmark it. With 2 maximum efforts at the start and end of the set with a steadier middle section, we’ll be able to track your drop-off. A great set for anyone wanting to get better this winter!
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: Common Grounds, Jumeirah Beach Track
Friday, Sea Swim
With Salalah and T100 just around the corner, we again take to the seas to practice race-specific skills for open-water swimming.
Start time: 06:19 am
Session Length: 1 hour
Location: Common Grounds, Jumeirah Beach Track
Saturday Ride
This week we take on the second extension, with some 3-minute and 1-minute turns as a group. We’ll cover around 85km or fun riding. Come along to start your weekend right!
Start time: 05:59 am
Session Length: 3 hour
Location: Bottom of the stick
In 2015 I entered the UK Trail Running Championships. I was told only idiots could get lost running the 137km National Trust 5 star maintained trail. It's famous for being the oldest road in Britain (although no cars allowed on it now).
At the 46km in with around 6hrs of running under my belt, I put myself firmly into the idiot category. I didn't have a route map with me, being so sure the trails were so well marked and as the light was fading I took a left instead of a right in a town called Nuffield.
For 1 hour I ran, completely unaware I was running south instead of the correct direction of West. It was only when I needed a water refill and the aid station that was 8 miles ahead wasn't showing up did I start to think I had gone wrong.
I don't know who owns the pub in Stoke Row but I can tell you they are doing well! At 7 pm on a Saturday, I walked in, in full trail gear, to ask for directions. It was a full house and it seemed like everyone stopped drinking or eating and looked straight at me. It turns out I had run 16km off route, which was far enough for the bar staff to have no clue where the 'famous' ridgeway trail even was. I left incredibly depleted and wishing I had a route map to attempt to get myself back on track.
I didn't and I couldn't, so I called my support crew. After confirming I was an idiot they made a plan to come to find me. I was adamant not to quit so once they did find me I ran behind the car to get back on route jumping in for the last 1km so the marshals wouldn't see me running into the checkpoint the wrong way.
At 86km, with 11 hours done my feet fell to bits and I DNF'd. If I had stayed on the route I would have hit two other checkpoints which I missed on my custom route. Those checkpoints would have been a chance to check my feet and change socks/shoes.
Never leave a route map behind if you have the chance to take it! And if you haven't seen another competitor or marshall for a while, don't think it's because you are too fast or too slow, stop and double-check your location!
In 2015 I entered the UK Trail Running Championships. I was told only idiots could get lost running the 137km National Trust 5 star maintained trail. It's famous for being the oldest road in Britain (although no cars allowed on it now).
At the 46km in with around 6hrs of running under my belt, I put myself firmly into the idiot category. I didn't have a route map with me, being so sure the trails were so well marked and as the light was fading I took a left instead of a right in a town called Nuffield.
For 1 hour I ran, completely unaware I was running south instead of the correct direction of West. It was only when I needed a water refill and the aid station that was 8 miles ahead wasn't showing up did I start to think I had gone wrong.
I don't know who owns the pub in Stoke Row but I can tell you they are doing well! At 7 pm on a Saturday, I walked in, in full trail gear, to ask for directions. It was a full house and it seemed like everyone stopped drinking or eating and looked straight at me. It turns out I had run 16km off route, which was far enough for the bar staff to have no clue where the 'famous' ridgeway trail even was. I left incredibly depleted and wishing I had a route map to attempt to get myself back on track.
I didn't and I couldn't, so I called my support crew. After confirming I was an idiot they made a plan to come to find me. I was adamant not to quit so once they did find me I ran behind the car to get back on route jumping in for the last 1km so the marshals wouldn't see me running into the checkpoint the wrong way.
At 86km, with 11 hours done my feet fell to bits and I DNF'd. If I had stayed on the route I would have hit two other checkpoints which I missed on my custom route. Those checkpoints would have been a chance to check my feet and change socks/shoes.
Never leave a route map behind if you have the chance to take it! And if you haven't seen another competitor or marshall for a while, don't think it's because you are too fast or too slow, stop and double-check your location!
One-Hour Workout: Revving Your Swim Engine
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
