So we’ve gone through the classic format of looking at different types of training that people tend to do and come to the conclusion that although there are some things that are more important than others on the training continuum for runners, a balance needs to be struck in order for progression and improvement to manifest itself. There is one thing that hasn’t been talked about, and that is Bounce, or the stretch-shorten-cycle. Essentially, it is the load response of a tendon, its brief amortization phase – when the tendon is no longer lengthening, and is not shortening, and then … Continue reading →

Yes, I know. This is perhaps the most obvious one of the lot. Fell running takes a fair amount of Endurance. Arguably its the thing that people concentrate on most. Getting out for longer runs in evenings. Getting out on the weekends and pushing the distance. As Julian Goater says in his book, people find it easier to improve on distance than on speed, hence why “progression” as a runner so often appears to go down the lines of 5k, 10k, half mara, mara, 50k, 50 miles etc as opposed to necessarily getting faster at short distances. I don’t really … Continue reading →

As mentioned previously. A good runner will have a combination of attributes, but compromises will be made in different areas; being good at one end of the spectrum simply means that you cannot excel to the same extent at the other. The general idea is that you need to have a big engine and a light frame, a high power to weight ratio. The engine needs to be Strong – strong enough to get you up and down everything in a race, but that Strength needs to be able to be channeled quickly. Each foot strike is not a long … Continue reading →

Last time I set out a stall saying that runners need a combination of different attributes in order to be faster, better and more efficient at what they do. There was a brief discussion about Strength, and how if you are stronger, then, within reason, you should be able to run faster. However, as mentioned, if you have monstrous strength but weigh a huge amount, that does not translate into speed. I’ll say it again, you need strength relative to weight. In answer to the un-asked question, Yes, you can become stronger without adding on slabs of muscle. This is … Continue reading →

When I’m running, sometimes my head switches into screensaver… amongst the blank spaces, a lot of my time is spent thinking about how to get faster, why the fast guys are indeed so fast and what are the limiting factors preventing me from getting faster and how to overcome them. There are a number of factors that come together in terms of being fast and efficient. Perhaps the overarching principle is the same as that of Ski Touring and Ski Mountaineering- Power to Weight ratio. If you are Light, brilliant. You are easier to propel uphill. However, if you lack … Continue reading →