With Ultra England fast approaching, I sit down for a solo episode to share where my head is at following my recent trip to Malta and how I'm approaching the final phase of race preparation.

I talk about why races can sometimes feel like they're getting in the way of training, the importance of trusting the work that's already been done, and how I prepare for an ultra long before I reach the start line.

From course recces and pacing strategy to nutrition, fuelling and kit choices, I take you behind the scenes of the decisions I'm making ahead of race day and explain the thinking behind them.

Whether you're preparing for your first ultra or your next big challenge, I hope there's something in this episode that helps you approach your training and racing with a little more confidence.

If you'd like support with your own running goals, coaching enquiries are always welcome.

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With just one week to go until Ultra England, I wanted to record a solo episode reflecting on the training, races and lessons that have shaped my preparation over the last few months - and when this comes out I am going to be on holiday.

In this episode, I look back at the Ochils 50k and the River Ayr Way Race, two events that taught me valuable lessons about durability, climbing strength, pacing and the importance of race-specific preparation. I talk about how those experiences led me to adapt my training, spending more time in the Fairlie Hills and getting invaluable recce days in the Lake District.

This week's Word of the Week is Specificity, one of the most important principles in endurance training. We often focus on volume, pace and weekly mileage, but how closely does our training actually resemble the demands of the event we're preparing for?

I also share some thoughts on where all of this is leading. Whilst Ultra England is the immediate focus, I talk about a longer-term ambition that genuinely excites and scares me in equal measure: the Bob Graham Round. A challenge that sits right at the edge of what I currently believe may be possible and one that is already influencing how I train and think about the mountains.

In this episode I cover:

• Lessons learned from the Ochils 50k

• Reflections from the River Ayr Way Race

• How and why I've adapted my training

• Fairlie Hills hill sessions and Lake District recces

• Word of the Week: Specificity

• Looking ahead to Ultra England

• My longer-term goal of attempting the Bob Graham Round

• Good luck to everyone who's entered the West Highland Way Race ballot

As always, thank you for listening, supporting the podcast and being part of this incredible running community

Keep showing up. Keep moving forward. And I'll see you on the trails and if you want some coaching then reach out by DMs or at: https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-glasgow-running-coach/

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From hockey goalkeeper to 100-mile ultra-runner.

This week, Nats joins the podcast to talk about her journey into running, the role fitness has played in shaping her life, and how the support and community found through Curves helped build the confidence to tackle some huge endurance goals.

We dive into her experience at Glenmore 24, the realities of running through the night, dealing with the inevitable low points, race hallucinations, nutrition challenges and why having a clear sense of purpose is essential when things get tough.

A brilliant conversation about discipline, community, stubbornness and discovering what you're truly capable of.

In this episode:

• From hockey to ultra-running

• Life and coaching at Curves

• Training for Glenmore 24

• Surviving the night shift

• The mental battle of 100 miles

• Hallucinations, caffeine and race nutrition

• Why purpose matters

Words of the week:

Strength and Purpose

Coaching:

If you're looking to improve your ultra running, trail running or race performance, I offer personalised coaching for runners of all abilities.

To find out more about coaching with me, connect via:

Instagram: @davidultrarunner or find me at https://teamrunrun.com/coach/david-taylor-glasgow-running-coach/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.