This race is part of the UK and Ireland Skyrunner series, so I expected some climbs. The race stats are 25km and 1750+m of gain. (I ended up with 1805m). This was spread out over 3 climbs, the third of which almost, but not quite, reached the summit of Snowdon. Having previous run the Chamonix …
Author Archives: julierayfield
Getting over “Failure”
A well below par performance and crumbling under pressure does not have to be the end of all your running dreams. It is possible to bounce back even better and turn failure into a learning experience to help you grow. There are 4 steps to follow to come back stronger: 1. Anger and Disappointment A …
Yoga or Running
The quote below was read out in my yoga class and I was immediately struck by how it could apply to running as well, so I adapted it by changing the yoga specific words to words for running. I think it works well. What do you think? “Each run is a journey. Endeavour to move …
What Runners don’t do enough of
This is my top 8 things that most runners don’t do nearly enough of, or avoid all together. We all like to get out there and run, so we want to spend as much time as we can doing that, but if you skip these activities you could end up injured or not reach your …
Keeping a Running Journal
A link in a running email today reminded me how important it is to keep a running diary, not just a log of distance and times, but a record of how it felt, what you want to improve and what you have learnt. I stopped keeping one during lockdown, when there were few goals and …
The MudCrew South West Coastal Traverse
At 44 miles, my longest race so far (and I’m not sure that I need to go any longer). The race started at Lizard Point and followed the Cornish Coast line all the way along to Lands End. I had signed up to this in the middle of lockdown when all my races had been …
Do Runners Need to stretch?
Runners require enough flexibility to run with an efficient stride, but there have been several research studies recently that have shown it may not be as beneficial as many think for injury prevention and improved performance. A recent review published in 2020 suggests that there was no difference to overall injury rate related to including …
8 Hill Running sessions
It may be obvious to include hills in your training if your race is hilly, but there are many other ways that hills can help you run better; they can improve run technique, leg strength, speed, power and endurance. Along with adding interest to your training. Top hill running sessions Long run with plenty of …
Preparing to jump back into training
With group training set to resume in the UK next week, you may be keen to jump straight back into hard training, or you may be worrying that you are not ready for it. Here are a few tips to make sure you get the most out of training and don’t over do it and …
Mental training tips
The longer your race is the more and more important the mental side of training becomes, but even in shorter races you can see examples of athletes who “choke” from the pressure and end up underperforming. Alex Hutchinson’s brilliant book ‘Endure’ makes it very clear just how important the mind is when it comes to …
Running Tips by Coach Julie 