Tales from the Trails
Collection of our blogs
Beyond the Unknown. Annie's journey to her first 100km ultramarathon
The aim isn't simply to create an athlete who can follow a training plan. It's to develop an athlete who understands their training, trusts their preparation and can make informed decisions independently.
Finding the Balance. Jennie’s first 100 miler
“Know your why.”
And prepare for things to go wrong. Thinking through possible problems beforehand, she says, makes them easier to deal with when you’re tired and your brain isn’t working quite as well.
Rolling with the punches: TRANS GRAN CANARIA
After months of training specifically for a race that was hot, dry and fast you can imagine my dismay when conditions were more akin to an early spring day up on the Peaks than to an island best known for tourists baking by the pool!
The Science of suffering: 4X4 vs 30:30 vs 15:15 intervals
“VO₂max is for road runners. It isn’t. If anything, VO₂max, your maximal aerobic power, matters more off-road.”
Mud, Miles and Man’s best Teammate: My first Canicross Race
I went in curious, I came out muddy, smiling, and already planning the next few.
Tom Doherty vs The Pennine Way.
“There was no way I was not gonna finish that… medal or no medal.”
The Extraordinary Within: Finding Your Inner Superhero on the Trails
You might think you’re just lacing up your trainers for a run.
Your kids see a parent chasing a dream.
Your friends see resilience.
Your colleagues see commitment.
“WE’RE NOT IN THE SHIRE ANY MORE, FRODO”, OR, WHY I LOVE A SELF SUPPORTED ADVENTURE” by Leah Atherton
On an adventure there are no medals. No finisher’s arch with a sound system. No bragging rights for having done X event.
But there are also no cut offs. No pressure. No Strav-assholes scrutinising your stats.
Ras Yr Wyddfa – Snowdon Fell Race 2025
Ras Yr Wyddfa is more than a race. It’s history, community, and atmosphere rolled into one. It takes something from you, your legs, your lungs, maybe a bit of your soul
Fell in Your 40s: The Realities of a Mid-Life Fell Runner
Running in your 40s is about resilience, adaptability, and purpose. It’s about embracing the mud, the miles, and the moments when you feel alive
Snowdon Twilight – A Race Into the Elements
Gale‑force winds lash raindrops horizontally around me and 57 other hardy souls. With conditions deteriorating, organisers have cut the route short
Relentless determination: Kim Collison and the Montane spine race
Kim Collison’s triumph at the Montane Winter Spine Race is a testament to relentless determination, meticulous preparation, and the power of learning from setbacks.
Conquering The Lap Ultra: A Coach-Athlete Journey
Training for an ultra marathon is often a solitary endeavor, but the sense of community can be a powerful motivator.
Earning the Right to Progress: A Coach’s Guide to Enjoying the Journey
As much as this sounds like serious talk, it’s really about enjoying the process. There’s something incredibly satisfying about feeling your body get stronger, more capable, and better equipped to tackle your goals
The Psychological Edge: Indicators of Success in Ultra Running
Preparing for an ultra marathon involves optimising decisions
Conquering the Shropshire Way 80K: A Reflection on Perseverance
From the outset, the race conditions were gruelling. Muddy trails slowed progress significantly with at times knee high mud, dashing hopes of a sub-12-hour finish.
Pushing Boundaries:
We shuffled the last 100m to the finish together, and 11hrs and 55 minutes after starting I was finished.
I left my soul on the Mynd
"Yearlet," a merciless incline that pushes runners to their limits, testing their resolve with each painstaking step.
THE VIEW FROM THE CREW
How many times have you eyed up a new distance, or a course that looks incredible and then held back from trying it because of some fear holding you back?