So you want to run an Ultra E-Book

Andy Mouncey

• Herausgeber: Crowood
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

So you want to run an Ultramarathon. It all looks a very long way, doesn't it? It can't be good for you, it can't be fun and surely you have to be some kind of super-athlete to be able to run that far? This book shows that it is a very long way, that it can be good for you, and that you most certainly don't have to be super-human to finish one. It also goes further by inspiring you to get started and by guiding you each step of the way. So, whether you're just curious to know more about this fast-growing global sport or searching for the right answers to your own ultra-running breakthrough, this book will prove as valuable as your favourite running shoes. Includes advice on making the transition from marathon or triathlon; strategies for winning the mental battle; keeping your feet intact; maintaining the right fuel intake; how to build strength and endurance and, finally, how to deal with running in the dark.Andy Mouncey writes from the heart, combining great insight and knowledge with a knack for making the complicated seem simple. Throw in a healthy dose of dry humour and case-study contributions from real people at various stages of their ultra-running journey and you have a book that redefines the 'How To' style of sports training guide. Illustrated with 93 colour photographs.

Leseprobe

SO YOU WANT TO RUN AN

ULTRA

How to prepare for ultimate endurance

Andy Mouncey

CROWOOD

First published in 2014 byThe Crowood Press LtdRamsbury, Marlborough Wiltshire SN8 2HR

www.crowood.com

This e-book first published in 2014

© Andy Mouncey 2014

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978 1 84797 831 8

DedicationFor the pupils, staff and parents of these schools who came with me on my ‘Cracking The Spine Race’ project in the winter of 2013–14:

Edale Primary School Horton-in-Ribblesdale Primary School Cowling Primary School Caton Primary School Grassington Primary School Grindleford Primary School Bamford Primary School Kirkby Malham Primary School Bradwell Junior School Riverside Junior School Hope Valley College Settle College Seaham School of Technology

Contents

About the Author

  1    An Introduction To Ultra Running

  2    Making the Transition

  3    Ultra-running Truths

  4    Getting to the Start Line

  5    Getting to the Finish Line

  6    Are Your Feet Fit for Purpose?

  7    Food and Fuel

  8    Training: How Far is Far Enough?

  9    Strength Training

10    Night Running: Tips and Torches

11    Innovations in Ultra Running

Epilogue

Index

About the Author

In 1983 a seventeen-year-old Andy Mouncey started his first training diary in order to record the results of his first race: a ninety-minute outing over the half-marathon distance in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, UK. He has been writing and racing ever since then, starting on the fells of the north of England as a teenager before progressing to triathlon. He signed off seventeen years in that sport by setting new fastest stage times for the Enduroman Arch To Arc Challenge in 2003: a 300-mile solo triathlon linking London and Paris via an English Channel swim.

Since 2004 he hasn’t swum a stroke in anger, concentrating instead on trail ultra running. He has finished the Lakeland 100 – the UK’s most prestigious trail one-hundred miler – three times, being placed second twice.

He is an accredited athletics coach, personal trainer and conditioning coach who has been coaching, training and mentoring clients from sport, business and education since 2000. He is also an inspirational award-winning professional speaker and a previously published author who has appeared on radio and TV.

In 2013 he designed and launched a ground-breaking learning programme for school pupils based around an ultra-running challenge linked to his own attempt to finish The Spine Race in January 2014 – the UK’s most brutal winter ultra covering the 268 miles of the Pennine Way national trail. Cracking The Spine reached 1,600 pupils across thirteen schools, raised thousands of pounds for the charity Sport Relief, and is very much a project in progress.

He is married and lives with his family in the north of England.

www.bigandscaryrunning.com

Other books by Andy:London To Paris The Hard WayMagic, Madness and Ultramarathon Running

CHAPTER 1

An Introduction To Ultra Running

Can Anyone Run Ultras?

‘So, Andy, do you think anyone can run ultras?’

Such was the final question from my audience at the 2013 Keswick Mountain Festival in the English Lake District. Little did I know that at least one person in the audience was willing me to give a positive response …

‘Well …’ Cue big pause while gathering thoughts, ‘we already know It’s Not About The Distance, don’t we?’

Nods and knowing grins from lovely on-side and on-message audience.

‘The distance just brings the challenge of compound and cumulative, remember? That’s more stuff to deal with more often and for longer. As long as we’re sufficiently motivated it’s gonna be about the other stuff: keeping your contact points intact, (cue overly dramatic elevation of right foot into audience sight-line) ‘controlling your pace – especially in the first third of a race – and managing your mood. The good news is that those are all skills that can be taught.’

More knowing grins and nods are sent my way.

Welcome to our world.

‘I reckon it’s only a matter of time before someone makes a reality TV documentary with just this in mind. Look at the precidents – actor David Walliams swimming the English Channel to raise money for the charity Comic Relief a few years ago – OK it isn’t running, but it is ultra distance and while he was a good swimmer to start with, that was still a huge ask. Likewise comedian Eddie Izzard and his forty-odd marathons in around the same number of days, and comedian John Bishop doing his Paris to London triathlon thing for Sport Relief last year. Now Comic Relief is back next year: anyone want to lay any odds?’

Pause for dramatic effect.

‘So as long as the basic unit and body systems are functioning, my answer to the question is yes, I do. Absolutely.’

REVELATIONS FROM REAL RUNNERS

How I Got Started and Why I Do It