Ultra Trail Running Made Easy – a guide for misguided beginners.doc

Ultra Trail Running Made Easy
A guide for misguided beginners
By Paul Ashton & Nigel Aylott
This article was originally written for publication in the Runners World Australia magazine shortly before Nigel’s accident and untimely death in Sept 2004. But the magazine said it was too long for one issue. After all this time, I am now releasing it for general publication. I hope that it provides interesting reading and helps to assist in promoting our sport. and keeping alive the ideals and dreams that Nigel so passionately held to.
Regards, Paul Ashton 26th May 2006
(More about Nigel’s phenomenal talent can be found here )
This guide is designed to introduce aspiring runners to the joys and wonders of peting in an Ultra trail run. It shares information from a range of sources that will hopefully allow both new and experienced runners to get more enjoyment from the sport of trail running and is particularly focused on the longer distances of ultra trail running. It should help the new runners to avoid a little pain in the discovery of this growing sport and help the experienced runner to tweak their running for ultra trail runs. In writing this guide Nigel and Paul have sought to show stage by stage (the essentials in transitioning for long distance road runners – marathoners, or shorter distance road and trail runners,) what is necessary to get out and enjoy some of Australia’s best country with trail running.
This article on “Ultra Trail Running Made Easy”(dream on), covers:-
What is ultra trail running – any running on trails in the bush over
Why people do it – For the wilderness experience, for the challenge; for the achievement of running distances that people would take a week or more to bushwalk (and to be able to do it without a heavy backpack); for the scenery/views; and for the opportunity to get away from it all in the bush.
Though, if you have to ask, you may never understand.
Training – How to prepare yourself so that you c