Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2020 - January 2021 i Trail Running

WHAT I REALLY LOVE about trail running is that it never fails to surprise and inspire. Given that I started running in the 1970s, I occasionally think there’s nothing I haven’t done, only to discover something new! Obviously, I knew about bagging a Wainwright but had never experienced the passion and, more importantly, stunning views it provides first hand. The feature on page 34 is all about how Emily and Lee are at different stages of their Wainwrights adventure, while the very next story is a fabulous interview with Sabrina Verjee who did the whole lot in less than a week! By way of comparison, it took Lee 10 years – and he’s pretty dedicated. Wow, it even took all morning – and a fair few coffees – just to…

The UK-based American athlete recently completed ‘The Grand Round’, running the Bob Graham, the Charlie Ramsay, and Paddy Buckley Rounds consecutively, and cycling between each...! What an adventure! How was the experience? The Grand Round was more than five days, with beautiful landscapes, epic climbs, iconic locations and amazing people. It aligned my passions into an adventure that explored some of the highest places in the UK, and some of the deepest places within myself. How and why did you come up with the ‘Grand Round’ concept? In researching running in the UK before moving here, I became fascinated with the rich history of fell running and the creative licence it provides in imagining entirely new challenges. The big three Rounds stood out to me as being at the intersection…

WATCH IT Feature-length documentary Transamericana follows Rickey Gates on his crossing of the USA back in 2014. The whole film is available to stream on YouTube. READ IT Gangster On  The Run by Puja Changoiwala tells the story of a high-profile criminal in India and how running became his way to a reformed life. Available at bookshops. HEAR IT Hosts Tommy and Josh sit down with fellow runners and comedians, including Mike Wardian and David Kilgore on the Laugh and Run Podcast.podcasts.apple.com WATCH IT The documentary Finding My Feet charts Jon Albon’s rise to the top of the world of trail, obstacle racing and Skyrunning. It’s available to stream at watch. endurancesports.tv READ IT Broken by Ally Beaven is a great read. 2020 is the year of the FKT, and…

0.3% Hills 35% Litter 6.5% Cyclists 6.2% Pedestrians 1% My own dog 1.3% Fly-tipping 7.5% Inconsiderate drivers 0.7% Busy roads 3.6% Nothing - don't be negative 2.6% My pitiful post-lock-down aerobic capacity 16% Poo bags hanging from branches 0.7% Weather 0.3% Kit/tech issues 0.3% Potholes 16% Dogs/ owners 1.6% Windy conditions 0.3% Other runners /trailrunningmag @trailrunningmag @trailrunningmag Get in touch tr@bauermedia.co.uk GET OUR DIGITAL MAG Get Trail Running magazine on your Apple or Android device, for a great read on the go. Visit www.great magazines.co.uk/tr…

MONTANE Innovative, lightweight, breathable clothing for endurance sports and activities in extreme environments. montane.co.uk SILVA Best known among runners for its headtorches, Silva has designed and produced gear for over 85 years. silva.se ORDNANCE SURVEY OS creates, maintains and distributes detailed location information for Great Britain. Its app is a must-have. ordnancesurvey.co.uk SPORTSSHOES.COM The UK’s No1 online retailer for running, trail and hiking kit. It stocks the widest trail range the UK has to offer. sportsshoes.com LA SPORTIVA Renowned for its mountain footwear, in fact La Sportiva is equally successful as a running shoe brand. lasportiva.com FORESTRY ENGLAND Looks after more land and more trees than any other organisation in the country, shaping landscapes for people. forestryengland.uk Join our 2020 campaign and visit: www.run1000miles.co.uk…

For runners like Lee and Emily, Wainwright bagging is almost accidental – a bit like you and I jogging to Tesco. “Over the years, I’ve probably done all the Wainwrights at least twice and many of them I have done 20+ times. Some close to Kendal and Keswick I’ll have done 50+ times. And as for Latrigg (the closest Wainwright to my Keswick home), if I had a quid for every time I’d been to the top of there...” laughs Lee But even for good old Mr Wainwright, that first one tends to take a bit of planning, and for Alf that was a day trip to Orrest Head on June 7, 1930, five hours on the bus from his home in Blackburn. Of course, he had an inkling of…

The Wainwrights is a circuit of 214 peaks in the Lake District, covering 320 miles with 118,000ft of ascent. The first continuous circumnavigation was by Alan Heaton in 1960 – in nine days, 16 hours. Joss Naylor did it in seven days, one hour in 1987. Then Steve Birkinshaw took the record to six days, 13 hours in 2014. In 2019, Paul Tierney became the quickest, with six days, six hours. In July, Sabrina Verjee became the third quickest out of the five people known to have achieved the feat, clocking a time of six days, 17 hours, 51 minutes.…

With our #Run1000Miles challenge for 2020 drawing to a close – but revving up for a whole new year in 2021 – here’s a few challenges for you to tackle in December to either get in those final miles or to kickstart the next 12 months. We have 20 suggestions for you. Or you can use them as an idea for your very own adventure. And finally, don’t forget to tell us about which you’ve completed on Facebook, we love to hear about your amazing achievements. TO WARM YOU UP 1 Take a picture of a cloud shaped like an animal Spotted a giraffe or a dog, or your long departed faithful friend in the clouds? Take a snap on your run and post it to the #Run1000Miles community on…

JUST BRIGHT ENOUGH... “I definitely prefer just bright enough. In dim light my eyes become acclimatised after a few minutes. I find the if the light is bright I lose all peripheral vision.” Janette Gledhill “Battery life over brightness – as long as it is bright enough. I like to have flexible power options: Rechargeable AND AAAs. If you’re out on a multi-day or multi-stage race, the ability to whack in a pack of AAAs from a 24-hour petrol station shop is a lifesaver.” James Bassett “Just right enough is good enough for me as long as there’s a button to press to get a stronger beam on occasion. I don’t go fast enough to worry about not seeing much.” Sarah Barnett SUPER BRIGHT... “I like super bright. I’ve done…

Meglio band kit, £29.99 When it comes to trail running, there are a lot more considerations to make than for road running. You need stability and balance to navigate obstacles and uneven terrain, you need strong legs for those steep inclines, and you need good coordination to stay on your feet. Enhance your strength training days and improve your trail running with these three simple resistance band exercises put together by the experts at Meglio, who sell a variety of bands in different lengths and sizes. mymeglio.com 1 RESISTED KICKBACKS For trail runners especially, having strong glutes is key to powering up inclines and keeping good running form throughout a tough run. Activate lazy glutes and isolate each side with these resisted kickbacks. This exercise can be done to activate…

SALEWA SESVENNA 2 POLARTEC ALPHA 380g (size 10) salewa.com £180 Designed for speed-hiking and ski-touring, this versatile, packable jacket is ideal for year-round pre/post run, general wear and snowy trails. Recycled Polartec Alpha insulation with a Pertex Quantum outer creates a lightweight, warm, windproof layer. Features include targetted insulation, snug hood and zipped chest pockets. VERDICT Warm, light, packable for year-round wear and winter running. PATAGONIA R1 AIR FULL-ZIP HOODY 250g (S) eu.patagonia.com £130 New to Patagonia’s R1 series, the Air range uses a zigzag-textured hollow-core fabric for lightweight, quick-drying, breathable warmth. This super-soft and cosy fleece top with a handy zipped chest pocket is an ideal companion to high-energy winter adventures. Fair Trade Certified sewn from 100% recycled polyester. VERDICT Huggable, sustainably made, for cold runs or everyday use.…

Editor Paul Larkins introduces faithful Benji the dog to the enduring appeal of the Wainwrights. (It wasn’t as leisurely a trip as this makes it appear!) Sabrina Verjee takes the most well earned rest she’ll ever enjoy, after blazing a record-breaking trail across the Pennine Way Liam Dee squints into the sun of South Wales on a family trip to the most punishing dunes you’ll ever run... Merthyr Mawr’s ‘Big dipper’ Online editor Paul Halford, before and after running three marathons in three days on the Atlantic Coast Challenge. Spot the difference... Sim Benson is given a run for his money by pedal-powered offspring on a jaunt through the stunning scenery of Devon’s Haldon Forest Park…

MUESLI A great high-fibre and protein-rich breakfast option, muesli can leave you feeling fuller for longer. It’s a rich source of vitamins and minerals and a portion with milk has the ideal ratios of carbs and protein for exercise recovery. Just make sure you look for the no-added sugar varieties; add sliced fruit as a healthy replacement for a sweet tooth. GRANOLA Although often cited as a health food, it can often more resemble a biscuit than a cereal. It’s the high added sugar content you have to look out for on the packaging and you will be amazed how a ‘recommended’ portion size barely covers the bottom of the bowl! But, for active individuals and as part of a balanced diet, it has its merits and is high in…

What? PHD3, as it is known, is an enzyme in our bodies that prevents fat unnecessarily being used as an energy source. Why? Intriguingly, scientists at Harvard found that mice which had their production of this enzyme blocked ran for 40% more time and 50% further than those who did not. Scientists publishing their findings in Cell Metabolism in August 2020 noted, however, that it was not clear whether there would be any adverse side-effects. How? Whether it could eventually lead one day to a new form of doping or even a legal performance-enhancer also remains to be seen. “We hope that our findings will encourage more thorough and routine screening in women runners for bone density and strength.” Dr Therese Johnston of Jefferson University, the lead author of a…

Scottish fell running champ Finlay Wild has shattered the Charlie Ramsay Round record. Running solo and unsupported, he completed the lap in 14hrs 42min 49secs, taking nearly 90 minutes off Es Tresidder’s 2019 best. Beginning near Fort William, the Ramsay Round summits 23 Munros. “It had basically gone exactly to plan” said Finlay. “Descending Ben Nevis was a great way to finish; the sun came out and I took the paths I know so well from years of training and racing on this hill… I lay in the grass at the hostel feeling deeply satisfied!”…

Who said trail running had to be in the wilderness? Not Alison Walker! The Malaysian ultra runner recently became the first person to complete the ‘Smog Graham Round’ – a 300km route tackling the highest points in all 32 boroughs of London. “My favourite sections were the North Downs Way, sunrise on Hampstead, and Primrose Hill”, said Alison. “Other interesting events included witnessing raves in central London at 5am, being chased by horses and cows... and trying to navigate around closed golf courses!” Previously, the route had only been completed in stages or as a relay, but Alison completed her solo effort in 54hrs 33mins. It included 3200m of ascent – the highest point being 262m, just south of Biggin Hill. She estimated it was about a 50/50 split between…

Experts say it takes 91 days to make exercise become a habit. So, since the beginning of lockdown, are we still in love with running? The results of independent research by Asics amongst people who started or restarted running during lockdown says ‘yes’, showing that 90% of lockdown runners plan to keep running or to run more in the future. The research found that 67% of people said mental wellbeing was the main reason Brits headed out for a run during lockdown, as well as to de-stress (51%). The results also revealed further personal benefits of running, including over half (56%) who admitted it gave them an escape and headspace, 34% who said it helped their sleep and a third (31%) stating it made them happier. But the research also…

It’s been a tough year but that doesn’t appear to have stopped our amazing group of #Run1000Milers from achieving their goals. Hitting 19.2 running miles per week while there’s a pandemic going on may not have been easy. However, on the other hand, for many, running has proven to a be a great way of de-stressing. Putting on your running shoes and getting out on to the trails lets you escape some of the negativity for a while and makes you feel much better afterwards, too. So, those of you who are set to make it to four figures, a huge well done. But, whatever your total mileage, we hope you’ve enjoyed the journey and at least taken something from the challenge in the last 12 months. Every mile you…

England’s first National Trail, it stretches from Kirk Yetholm in Scotland to Edale in the Peak District (268 miles). John Kelly broke Mike Hartley’s 31-year-old record with a time of 64 hours, 46 minutes in July. Just a week later Damian Hall did it in 61 hours, 34 minutes. Sabrina Verjee set the women’s FKT of 74 hours, 28 minutes in September. Although direct comparisons with the races on the same route are not reasonable, it’s worth noting that Jasmin Paris holds the outright record for the Montane Spine Race, held in winter, with 83 hours, 12 minutes. Sabrina herself holds the women’s record for the Montane Spine Fusion, held in summer, with 81 hours, 19 minutes.…

‘I REALLY WANT TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK TO MY AREA. THIS IS HOW I DO IT’ The beauty of trail running is often defined by landmarks: Kinder Scout, Mont Blanc, Helvellyn... but Tottenham Hotspur Stadium... really? But that’s where Liam Dee, sub-four-minute miler and produce of the multi-cultural American collegiate world met Andre Coggins, leader and coach of Mafia Moves, a community-focussed running group based in North London. It’s a strange feeling, writes Liam, standing under the imposing arena on a Saturday morning, a time when you may expect the bustle of football-related traffic at other times of year. But as the Mafia Moves group arrive, you could say the energy of running arguably outperforms that of any Spurs fan. “It’s all about community” Andre tells me as we begin…

I’ve been struggling with a few aches and pains. I try to run every day but they are mainly quite short and much the same. What would I do without this group and all your lovely posts? Anyway, I’m slowly getting there: hit 900 miles on yesterday’s run despite being loaded down with apples for the last three miles! Dave Pritchard Finally got the motivation to do a 50k run yesterday. Thank you for all your stories and achievements that have pulled me back from some down times. Yesterday, I was able to go out for the day and enjoy my running. Paul Waldron This week, I reached my 1000 miles and ran my second mountain marathon of the year, finishing seventh female! I have rheumatoid arthritis, which isn’t easy,…

Email your questions to tr@ bauermedia.co.uk or send a message over social media to get your training queries answered by the pros. ANDREW PYE Coach and Mercia Fell Runners training co-ordinator. trailrun westmidlands.co.uk RACHEL SHELDRAKE Running coach and mountain leader with a passion for trails. mudandmiles.co.uk FINN JOHANNSEN Specialist in sports medicine, and Injurymap co-founder. injurymap.com ROBBIE BRITTON World-class ultra runner with an MSc in Performance Coaching. robbiebritton.co.uk MATT BUCK Running coach and founder of Running Adventures. runningadventures.uk…

You probably don’t live near sand dunes, but you can still enjoy some of the benefits by training on hills. While many runners will undertake a session ‘straight from the manual’ such as 12 repetitions of a one-minute-long hill, the key is variety, believes top coach James Thie. “If you look at some people’s training sessions, they’re quite rigid,” he said. “It might be the same hill, same distance and you do the same number of reps each time. But try being a bit off-piste... It might be that you do that hill just once and it might be one of the longer hills on your circuit, and then jog over to another hill before doing a further, shorter hill four times.” It’s also worth using different terrains, he says:…

MEET THE EXPERT Dr Short is a Welsh Clinical Academic Training Fellow in Histopathology. Follow her on Instagram: @dr_emmashort A good sports bra is a fundamental piece of any woman’s running kit, but choosing one that is comfortable and supportive is not always easy. More than half of all female runners have difficulties buying an appropriate bra, and more than one in five are put off exercise due to bra-related problems. With a lack of physical exercise being a significant contributing factor to more than half of the UK population being obese or overweight – and with fewer women than men meeting recommended exercise requirements – it is vital that any barriers to exercise are removed. Why are sports bras important? Breasts are actually modified sweat glands, their primary function…

1 SID VALLEY RING, DEVON Ups and downs in the glorious south-west of England 2 NORTH DOWNS WAY A big day out on the Canterbury variation 3 HAM HOUSE, RICHMOND Easy off-road running within minnutes of central London 4 DUNSOP BRIDGE, FOREST OF BOWLAND Hit your peak in Lancanshire 5 MAM TOR, PEAK DISTRICT Unforgettable half marathon 6 KINDER SCOUT ROUND, PEAK DISTRICT Historic site, big elevation 7 LOUGHRIGG FELL, LAKE DISTRICT A lap of Rydal Water 8 Y FUWCH TRAIL, CAMBRIAN MOUNTAINS Undulating Welsh 10K 9 OCHIL 2000S, CLACKMANNANSHIRE Some Stirling summits to bag 10 BEN MORE... AND MORE Double top in the Trossachs…

Up the intensity Exercise which is at least of moderate intensity, such as running, is beneficial in reducing mortality. A study by the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at University of Cambridge used activity tracker data from 96,000 middle-aged Brits. A moderate level of activity was found to halve the risk of death, while for those who included some more intense exercise, the mortality risk was halved again. Don’t skip breakfast... You can’t skip breakfast and compensate at lunchtime, scientists at Swansea University suggest. In studies on evening time trial cyclists, they found mean power output over 20km was 3% lower in the group who missed breakfast. Both groups consumed 1400 calories with the same nutrient balance, the no-breakfasters eating a very large lunch. Let your mind wander 53…

Are recyclable shoes the future? Both Salomon and On Running seem to think so. Salomon recently released their Index. 01, featuring recycled polyester and TPU and free from dyes and harsh glues. Simply run in them, then send them back to Salomon, where they’ll separate the upper and midsole to be repurposed in clothing and footwear. On’s Cyclon comes as a lightweight silhouette, made from castor beans and a one-piece upper to reduce waste. The Cyclon is only available through a monthly subscription – pay for each month that you use the shoe, return it when you’re done and On will send a new pair and recycle the old. It might sound outlandish, but we think this may become more common in future.…

Donnie Campbell became the fastest person to summit all 282 Munros in Scotland, running the round in 31 days. The ex-Marine’s total ascent was an unbelievable 126,143m over the 833-mile route. The British Bob Graham Round Record has been broken by George Foster. His time of 13hrs 44mins, set on October 11, beat Billy Bland’s previous best by nine minutes and is second only to Kilian Jornet’s overall record. Ultra running star Tom Evans was selected for the GB team at the World Half Marathon Championships, and finished in 63:14 mins, proving that ultra runners can mix it with the best on the roads! In local news, David Bone set the FKT on the Peterborough Green Wheel path, running the 42.5-mile loop in 6hrs 23mins. It might not be Britains…

If lockdown has taught us anything it’s hopefully to appreciate the simple things in life. When our freedom was unexpectedly taken away it made us realise what was important. It was a time for reflection and a time to put future plans into place so we could experience and explore new places. As a keen trail runner, I’m always on the lookout for that next legal high. Whether I’m running down a mountain, through a forest or dancing along the coast path, this is my happy place and what keeps me coming back for more. It’s in our DNA as trail runners. Often these moments of euphoria come at a time when we least expect them, and can be found in the most unexpected of places. Speaking of which, let…

1 SIGN UP ONLINE Visit run1000miles.co.uk to register. We still have 2020 #Run1000Mile ruffs for you to wear while you complete your challenge. They’re on sale now for £7.50 – so order yours today, stock is extremely limited! An ideal stocking filler, maybe? 2 DO A PLEDGE Visit the website, download the #Run1000Miles pledge, sign it, take a picture of it and post it on social media to commit to the challenge. 3 JOIN THE FACEBOOK GROUP Sign up at facebook.com/ groups/run1000miles. You’ll be part of a buzzing community sharing the joys and toils of the experience, boosting you to achieve your aims. 4 FILL IN THE TRACKER Download the mileage tracker from run1000miles.co.uk to record how you’re progressing towards the big 1000. 5 GET…

RECCE THE ROUTE If you have support on something like the Wainwrights or Bob Graham Round, it’s tempting to rely on the local knowledge of those you may be running with. However, Sabrina was adamant she wanted to take personal responsibility for knowing the best lines to take and where to make overnight stops. “I had recced all of it at least once, probably two or three times, to make sure I was taking the most efficient route,” she says. “I couldn’t stand it to follow someone else’s route and then be thinking ‘I should have done it this way.’ So I wanted to know it inside-out and make the right choices.” WHICH WAY? Deciding which way to go when running the Pennine Way is always a discussion point. Part…

We use in-house and independent experts with sports and exercise backgrounds and many years of trail kit testing under their belts so you can trust their advice. PAUL LARKINS Over the next three pages, editor Paul showcases some of the hottest new kit to recently catch his eye. SARA MATTICK-HERBERT Just in case you were starting to panic about Xmas, Sara has taken care of it with our gift guide, p86. JEN & SIM BENSON Feeling the chills? Jen and Sim have you covered, with their pick of the best warm and cosy running kit, p92. DR EMMA SHORT Emma investigates the importance of finding the perfect sports bra for your next run, p94.…

VJ IROCK 3 £219g (UK 7) vjsport.fi  £115 Designed with competition in mind, this shoe has a really secure feel to it, perfect for tight turning at speed. It works off a 6mm drop, but it’s the Fitlock system that’s the real story. Fitlock’s rubber protects the inside of your foot from rocks sticking up. And that teams up really nicely with the solid, inflexible upper. At pace, off-road, you want your foot to stay rock solid still and this close-fitting shoe does exactly that. With that in mind, they are a little narrow, although this updated version has a wider, more accommodating toe box. The longer Butyl rubber studs this shoe uses ensure you'll be staying upright in the mud. VERDICT Decent choice for extreme weather racing ADIDAS TERREX…

TIKIBOO CROSS BACK BRA £28.99 The Tikiboo cross back bras are fantastic – they come in a range of funky designs and are great to wear by themselves or under a sports vest. They offer medium support, and I often wear them for short recovery runs. tikiboo.co.uk FREYA EPIC SPORTS BRA £42 The Freya Epic sports bra is amazing for running – it’s incredibly comfortable, doesn’t chafe and offers a high level of support without being at all constrictive. I also love the fact that the whole of the design team at Freya are women. freyalingerie.com SWEATY BETTY STAMINA LONGLINE SPORTS BRA £35 I like the Sweaty Betty Stamina Longline sports bra for activities like yoga. It offers medium support with a compression design and has a longer length than…

was recently fortunate enough to take part in the Atlantic Coast Challenge, which was a 78-mile, three-stage event along the South West Coast Path. The organisers, VOTWO, showed it is possible, albeit with some extra effort, to stage Covid-safe events. As we appreciate, there is so much more to event organisation than having runners turn up at the start line – in this case, they had to arrange registration, accommodation, handing out fuel for the run, checkpoints and transport. Yet, with some extra reliance on modern technology, such as good digital communication rather than traditional briefings, and GPS tracking technology, it went down smoothly as far as I’m concerned. However, with so many new factors to consider, it is not surprising that organisers are only tentatively dipping their toes into…