Training, events and observations
This is a collection of a few of the things I have been up to, from epic training runs to awesome events peppered with a few random thoughts on trail running and the kit I use. I hope you find some of it useful, maybe even inspiring because at the end of the day there is nothing better than getting out there, exploring and pushing yourself.
A broken body, frazzled mind, utter exhaustion and perished feet. All that pain washed away with a complete feeling of euphoria as I crossed the line in 5th place, having just completed the Spine Challenger 2018 in 31 hours.
How many times have you made goals for a race only for them to fall away right at the start line? I was determined to make sure that wouldn't happen on my first attempt of the Brecon Beacons Ultra in November 2017.
Training for the Brecon Beacons Ultra, setting the right goals and getting my hydration and nutrition right for race day.
Up until last year the high Alps have only ever been a bit of a dream for me. Ever since I was a kid I have flirted with places like Grindelwald and the Eiger, Valais and the Matterhorn, Chamonix and Mont Blanc only through images in climbing magazines or the pages of books like the White Spider.
My first ‘Did Not Finish’ was a little unexpected. Unexpected in that it had never even entered my mind in the lead up to the Ben Nevis Ultra on September 16th, that I would pull out at the 80k mark, still with 40ks to go.
Extreme mountain racing? Running over knife edge ridges? Trashing your quads over thousands of meters of ascent and decent? All up inside the artic circle in Norway? Who wouldn’t want that?
The Laugavegur trail in Iceland is an epic route for a run. The 55k track wides its way through an active volcanic landscape, barren lava fields and mind blowing gorges carved out by glacial melt waters. Just make sure you pack for all weathers!
Take a look at some of the food strategies I have stumbled upon through various online searches or worked out on my own while trail running. Have fun trying to establish what works for you and then stick to whatever works.
The Saucony Kinvara 8 was released Q1 2017. I got a pair straightaway as i'd put a few miles into my Kinvara 7's and, although I definitely could have got more out of them, it was time for an upgrade. Here are my thoughts so far.
While on the Montane Spine Challenger a friend of mine encouraged me to take some video footage of the pre race prep and some snippets during the race. The clips in this post capture a look through my kit and then updates through the event to the finish in Hawes.
Over the weekend of 21st, 22nd and 23rd of April 2017, a few friends and I went out to Port de Pollenca in Mallorca for a few days of cycling in the sunshine. The weather was amazing, the vibe was friendly and the cycling was just brilliant.
Bruised, battered and shattered. Thats how I felt when I crossed the line of the Montane Spine Challenger at just after 4pm on Sunday 14th Jan 2018 after running non stop in a 110 mile foot race. Those debilitating feelings quickly subsided as the wave of post race euphoria washed over me.