ultracoachuk

ultracoachuk UK-based ultra running coach

This is a very late weekly blog 🤣 that's now going to cover the three weeks since I last posted. It's been manic, mainly...
05/06/2026

This is a very late weekly blog 🤣 that's now going to cover the three weeks since I last posted. It's been manic, mainly taken over with a event I organise with a friend, Run the Grim Reaper . It's a mutli-distance event with races starting at 10-miles (day and night races) and then moving to ultra distances of 40, 70 and 100-miles.

Organising an event like this is hard work. Prior to race week you need to attract enough runners to at least cover costs. Not an easy task in the current cost-of-living crisis and a packed race calendar including UTS, SDW 100 and Sandringham24 all around the same period. However, we had just over 300 entries this year.

And then race week is upon you. There are loads of emails from competitors and runners enquiring about a last minute place. We then have the weekend itself which starts at 8am on Friday marking the course and assembling the race village, and finishing early afternoon on the Sunday when we do the final sweep of the course for litter.

The race weekend itself was amazing. It was the hottest May weekend for as long as I can remember which brings pros and cons. The Grimsthorpe Castle estate looked stunning, spectators (and race organisers) lapped-up the sun and the cafe sold a lot of ice creams. However, it was very tough on the competitors with 75% of 100-mile runners not finishing. It's not a super tough course but being a loop means you're at the finish line every 10-miles, making the lure of calling it a day ever stronger, especially when conditions are tough.

But, saying all of that it was evident that everyone had an amazing weekend and those who didn't finish are adamant they're coming back in 2027 to get the job finished. In my opinion, and that of many of the runners, the Grimsthorpe Castle estate is the nicest location for a race in the country. See for yourself on the Grim Reaper Ultra Marathon Facebook and Instagram pages, or the website at www.bog-dog.co.uk/the-grim-reaper

My running has been dominated by th final stages of my training for this weekend's Suffolk Backyard Ultra. I've trained harder for this race than any other. I'll let you know how I get on next week.

It's been a 12+ hour week with another 76-miles in the legs. That's almost 1,000 miles for the year. The focus this week...
10/05/2026

It's been a 12+ hour week with another 76-miles in the legs. That's almost 1,000 miles for the year. The focus this week was a recce of the Suffolk Backyard Ultra route (High Lodge in Thetford), which is my A race for 2026. You may be wondering why on earth I would recce a 4.167 mile loop that will be incredibly well sign-posted and that I'll be running time-after-time. Let me explain...

A BYU is quite strategic. How long do you want a lap to take? How much running do you want to do? Where will you have your walk breaks? How much food/drink do you want in between laps? All of these can be determined before the race starts, taking a degree of pressure out of race day.

On Friday I did six laps (25-miles) and my target was 48-minutes per lap. The first three laps were just getting to know the course, with lap 4 being the first when I felt I got my mix of running/walking perfect and the target time being hit! The final two laps were great. I had decided where I was happy walking and felt these 'breaks' were spread out well. It was also nice to see the venue and how stunning the route is. I made the two-hour drive home very excited for the June 6th event.

The day after was a 15-mile run to get used to running on tired legs. It's now just 4-weeks until the race and I'm feeling really good. Bring it on.

Next week will be another 12-hour week with a back-to-back weekend of 20-miles on Saturday and 15-miles on Sunday. I'll let you know how I get on.

10/05/2026

Now, this is a strong finish! 💪. I've been coaching Tafadzwa Mpofu for just under a year. In that time he's finished the gruelling Arc of Attrition 100 and yesterday he smashed the Goring Gap 50 by coming a brilliant 9th in a time of 8 hours 44 minutes. It sets him up perfectly for a big year of races. Well done 👏

If you want to recreate that 'knackered, hardly slept' feeling you get 70 miles into an ultra, get a puppy! That's how I...
01/05/2026

If you want to recreate that 'knackered, hardly slept' feeling you get 70 miles into an ultra, get a puppy! That's how I feel 24/7. A great training aid🤣

I have no link to this company, I just think you need to know about what works for me.It tastes damn good.1 drink, 24 ex...
30/04/2026

I have no link to this company, I just think you need to know about what works for me.

It tastes damn good.

1 drink, 24 expert proven nutrients.

Formulated to support active lifestyles in those over 30.

www.uthful.co.uk

Uthful

22/04/2026

I love my weekly 'long run', especially at this time of year when the weather is improving 🌞 and wildlife is plentiful🦌.

I always recommend you train on the type of terrain you'll experience in the race you're training for which, thankfully, is usually trail.

Here's a video from my latest long run as I train for the Suffolk Backyard Ultra in June. I've never seen so many deer.

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