Rest
40' Easy Run
30-40' AeT
Rest (Core)
Rest
1h45 Easy Long Run
1h Fatigued Run (Easy)
Starting your plan with a rest day may seem counter intuitive, but this is time for you to focus and ensure you are ready to go!
Mondays are also a good day to begin introducing some Strength & Conditioning to your training.
The aim is in the name! Not only should this run be helping you to recover, but we’re subtly telling your body that it needs to run on tired legs – deal with it! Pace is important here though, the effort should be very very easy (HR zone 1)
15′ jog warm up with mobilisation drills.
30-40 minute tempo at the pace you can sustain for about 2 hours. If you have recently completed a half-marathon, you could use this as your gauge for pace. If not start out using a calculated Tempo HR. This should be comfortably hard!
On completion of this your HR trace should be constant with a slight drop in pace (5 or 10″ per km)
15′ jog cool down – aiming for Zone 1 HR.
You are going to record some simple data after this run as part of your first benchmark. Why benchmark on this kind of run? Because it’s where we are aiming for most physical progression and development. Building your aerobic engine will allow you to travel further, quicker and for less effort…honest!
Our training plans offer a benchmark testing system that allows you to submit progress reports at predetermined points throughout your plan, so you can monitor your own performance and we can help tailor the plan to your personal requirements.
To learn more, sign up now!
Sign UpAnother rest day – concentrate on good nutrition and hydration.
Also a good day to introduce some yoga and/or core strength work.
Another rest day – concentrate on good nutrition and hydration.
Prepare your gear, and prepare mentally for a challenging weekend ahead.
Your first long run!
Nice and easy, no checking your watch! Switch off, and notice the world around you. It’s likely this is going to be the effort you’ll be building for event-day.
Add in as much off-road running as you can. If you have a pack (even if its not your event pack) wear it for this long run with a little bit of gear/weight (a couple of kilos is enough)
Aim for an out and back run, 50 minutes out and 55 back, concentrate on a steady pace that feels like you could keep going..!
This is the first fatigued run; aim to leave 24 hours from your long run yesterday (we will compress time later).
Aim to keep this run nice and easy, feeling how your body reacts to the fatigue and how your movement changes through the hour.
Again if possible throw in some non-road running and wear a light pack.
Finally, post run, think about what went well and what didn’t, whether it was hot spots on your feet that could lead to blisters, struggling with the pace, hydration…. think mind, body and kit if you need some prompts. What went well and where did you need to improve? By telling us you will embed the learnings in your own mind for your training journey, and also help us to tailor our help for you as we go…
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This week we want you to focus on two things mentally – the first is the most important, but shouldn’t take long. Tell us why you are doing this – why are you taking on this ultra? Understanding your motivation is important for yourself – it will help you to remind yourself of your motivation at the times when the going gets tough, and keep you going. We will use what you tell us to remind you of your motivation every once in a while – your little virtual support network. Think carefully about it, tell us as much as you like – but the first driver that pops into your head is the most important. So just to be clear, the exam question is – why do you want to run the ultra? What does the challenge mean to you? Tell us your why below.
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The second focus this week is on learning about your chosen ultra. Find out about the terrain and key challenges from runners who have previously done it (try facebook groups etc) or from the organisers. This will begin to prepare you mentally for what is ahead AND help you tailor your programme effectively in coming weeks. Importantly, it will also help you with your next important task for the week – see kit prep below.
Stretch target – book accommodation and travel. Committing to these will make the upcoming event much more real for you. Researching local accommodation and travel will also give you a feel for the area and terrain.
If you don’t have your pack and shoes for race day now is the time to begin selecting – informed by your research on your chosen event – so that you can train in the shoes and pack in coming weeks. You need to leave yourself time to get it wrong completely if needs be, and test and adjust. Don’t wait.
If you are transitioning from road running to trail, shoes and pack are likely to be your biggest changes.
See our pieces on trail shoe selection and choosing a pack.