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How to avoid cramp – training, tapering and pickle juice

Andy DuBois — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:19:50 +0000

Cramp. It’s a runner’s worst nightmare. One minute you are running along feeling great, next minute you are clutching your leg trying to find a way to relieve the cramp that has taken hold of your calf or hamstring. If this happened at the finish line it wouldn’t be such a problem, but when it [...]

The long run – how long is long enough?

Andy DuBois — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 02:28:20 +0000

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 [...]

Kilian Jornet – A Fine Line

Andy DuBois — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 03:28:37 +0000

If you are an ultra runner you will have heard of Kilian Jornet. If you arent then Kilian is to ultra running what Usain Bolt is to sprinting; one of the greatest talents ever seen in the sport. Recently Kilian has decided to race less and focus on some other goals of his that are [...]

Tempo running for ultrarunners

Andy DuBois — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 02:21:27 +0000

The Great North Walk 2012

Andy DuBois — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 10:16:43 +0000

Running 100 miles (actually 108 in this case) is never easy no matter how well prepared you are. In this case I knew I wasn’t as prepared as I would have liked to be. Sometimes there are more important things in life than running and the last 3 months has been one of those times. [...]

Why Runners shouldn’t do the plank

Andy DuBois — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 22:28:32 +0000

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.

Andy DuBois — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 06:43:13 +0000

img style=”border: 5pt solid white; float:right; padding-left:0px; padding-bottom:0px” img src=”http://www.mile27.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Andy-at-ultratrail-200×300.jpg” alt=”" />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 [...]

Blown Quads – how to avoid them.

Andy DuBois — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 23:20:17 +0000

img style=”border: 5pt solid white; float:right; padding-left:0px; padding-bottom:0px” img src=”http://www.mile27.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/quads-e1345723999151.jpg” alt=”" />In my first Ultramarathon – the West Highland Way Race (WHW) in the Scottish Highlands, I got to the 45 mile mark and my quads were so sore that running downhill became agonising and almost impossible and even running on the flat was reduced [...]

Are you listening to what your body is telling you?

Andy DuBois — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:18:37 +0000

Like most of us I have ignored my body many times and paid the price. Early in my triathlon days I ignored shin pain until it got so bad that I could barely walk the day after a run. I stopped ignoring it when someone told me I was limping whilst running. I should have [...]

Mental Strength – Have you got it?

Andy DuBois — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 10:52:51 +0000

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 [...]