So, the big half marathon you’ve been focussing on is here. How do you prepare this week? How is a half marathon different from other races? What should you eat in the build up? March and April brings a host of great half marathon races to the UK running calendar, Bath Half, Reading Half, Fleet Half to name a few. …
Combatting Fears and Fixing Mistakes – Brecon Beacons Ultra 2016
I have battled a lot with my head the last few months, after training so hard for the SVP100km, starting so well in the lead, only to lose the race through a single simple error. What do you do after an event like that? How do you get over it? How do you fix those demons telling you to quit? …
How to Fit in Training: An Ironman, Three Kids, an Ultra-wife, Coaching and a Full Time Job!
I’m often asked how I manage to train for triathlon, alongside everything else our family gets up to, (3 very active children, an ultra-running wife, my day job and coaching!). Even more so this year, when I decided to give Ironman another go, this time Wales! The simple answer is – learn to love early mornings, and be creative! The …
Ironman Bolton 2016 – “Alex Ralton – You are an IronMan”
After nearly a year’s worth of training the 17th July 2016, the IronMan UK event at Bolton, rushed over the horizon to meet my fellow Chippenham Tri entrants Mike Bright and Jim Hutchenson with open arms to them and what felt to me to be a kick in my solar plexus. For almost all of the 48 hours until …
The Jurassic Quarter Ultra Marathon – Power Tears and Steps!
Its May 20th 2016 and I’m sat in my car with Chris at Portland Bill lighthouse, Weymouth. The rain is coming down so hard that the wind screen wipers can’t keep up and we can feel the strength of the wind against the side of the car in the exposed car park. Yes, it’s another ultra-marathon day on the Dorset …
Taper Madness! The art of Carb-Loading and Keeping Sane!
Yeah, the training is basically over, this 2-3 weeks to go till marathon period usually starts with huge elation, mixed with relief that you have made it this far. Then, the reality hits, especially in the final week, with less training, and anxiety about the race, you become a very difficult person to live with or even to be around!! …
Significant Gains – Part 2 – Fitness Testing & Training Smart
This is the second part of my “significant gains” blog. Building on the bike set-up aspects discussed in part one, we now focus on training at the right intensity. While the first part was focussed on the bike, this topic is equally applicable to running, and indeed swimming. As amateur triathletes we all want to maximise the training benefits from …
I’m marathon training! Why do I need to do speed-work?
So the question I’m asked so often, especially this time of the year. Do I need to do speedwork, I’m training for a marathon? The simple answer is, no, of course you don’t need to, if you’ve run some 20 milers, you will get round. However, if you want to hit that start line in top form, most importantly knowing …
Battling Desmond! How to race in a hurricane! – Dorset CTS Ultra Plus 2015
My last race of the year and my season, later than usual due to having a 4 month lay-off March-July from a car induced open knee injury! As I missed Race to the Stones and the Endurance Life CTS Fleet Ultra, I wanted to try to claim my year back by running the Gower 50 and finishing the season with …
When should I begin training again post marathon? My legs feel fine…
So we’ve all been there…just run a marathon, sore for a couple of days but then the nagging in the back of our head, ‘You will lose fitness’, ‘You will put on weight’, so you put on your trainers after just a few days rest, and it feels OK… but then. Two weeks later you feel awful, you get ill …
You must be logged in to post a comment.