With off-road running the ability of knowing where you are going is a fundamental skill. Unfortunately for many runners the secrets of navigation are akin to the secrets of the dark arts of black magic.Specifically with the runner in mind, this book presents in an easy to understand manner all the skills and techniques that are required for the beginner through to the advanced user. 'Navigation for Off-Road Runners' will give you the confidenceto go further.

Whether you trail or fell run, one of the crucial aspects is the ability to run well uphill. All runners know the benefit of hill reps but there is far more to conquering the hills than that. This guide will show you how to prepare physically, the techniques to practice and how to plan a training programme to improve your uphill running.

Most runners think that the ability to run well downhill is something that you are born with or is handed to you when you leave the asylum. Rather it is a skill that, with correct conditioning and practice, can be prepared for and learnt. This guide will show you how to improve your downhill running.

Many sports operate in a single dimensional contact world, for example road runners generally run on flat tarmac. However off-road running, in common with sports such as climbing, work in a more multi-dimensional world based on the ever changing surface with which they are in contact with.'Terrain Training for Off-Road Runners' explores the different types of terrain you will encounter, the techniques for adapting your style of running to this environment and the safety aspects needed as well as presenting a number of training patterns to enhance your abilities in this world.On your next run off-road you will now look at the environment through which you are running with a different perspective."e;It's an interesting read for trail runners, particularly those who tend to stray off the trails and out into the open countryside. How many of us understand fully the nature of the flexible running style we should adopt to cope with the enormous variety of conditions underfoot that will be encountered?This book offers guidance on how we can run more effectively and minimise the risk of injury on a variety of treacherous surfaces. The book should be of particular use to someone starting out on off-road running. It is the distillation of a lifetime's experience. Even an old hand like myself found it helpful to have such good sense so clearly expressed. I'm happy to recommend this book."e;Newsletter of the Trail Runners Association

To enter a Long or Ultra distance event is a decision and a half. The confidence that needs to be built up not only of the distance but of the whole experience cannot be underestimated. Preparation is key. This guidebook explores the preparation, technical aspects and what you can expect before, during and after this arduous task.

Trail and fell running. As more runners leave the boredom of the roads and seek the challenges and pleasures of running in the open countryside, what can they expect to await them? This book takes the newcomer to this, the most rewarding and natural of all the athletics disciplines, and guides them through their baptism of off-road running.

'Filled to the brim with advice, tips and inspiration to enable you to achieve your dreams over whatever distance you want your legs to carry you' Chrissie Wellington, OBE, four-time Ironman Triathlon World Champion From complete beginners to seasoned off-road runners, The Ultimate Trail Running Handbook has all the training and nutrition advice, skills, gear and motivation you need to become a fit and confident trail runner. There are training plans that take newcomers from 5k parkrun to first trail marathon, while for experienced runners there are sections on strength work, injury prevention and advanced training plans to boost performance up to 50k (30 miles). To keep you enjoying every step, you'll find advice on how to choose the right gear; over 20 easy, healthy recipes; inspiring stories from real trail runners; and advice from top athletes and coaches. And if you want to explore new trails, you can use the navigation and route planning section to create your own exciting off-road adventure. If you're a trail runner or would like to become one, this book is your new best friend.

Guidebook to fastpacking - multi-day running trips carrying the bare essentials - in the UK, Europe and beyond. Includes 12 route ideas (all tried and tested), fastpacking stories from around the world (featuring Jez Bragg, Anna Frost and Jasmin Paris), and invaluable tips and tricks to help you prepare for your own running adventure. A summary of each route idea is provided, together with mapping and a gradient profile, as well as highlights, tips and 'tales from the trail'. Invaluable practical information is also included, covering everything you need to know to prepare and plan for a trip: training, accommodation options, safety, equipment, apparel, nutrition, hydration and more. The route ideas and stories featured showcase an impressive range of fastpacking opportunities, both in the UK and abroad. From mountain hut hopping trips, bothy discovery tours and wild camping expeditions, the inspirational tales and selected trails are guaranteed to entice 'everyday' runners to try their hand at a multi-day journey, be it in the Brecon Beacons, Bhutan or beyond.

The sport of trail running is booming as more runners seek more adventurous routes and a deeper connection with nature. Not only are runners taking to the trail, but a growing number are challenging themselves to go past the conventional 26.2-mile marathon point. The time is right for a book that covers everything a runner needs to safely and successfully run and race trails, from 5Ks to ultra distances. Like a trusted coach, The Trail Runner’s Companion offers an inspiring, practical, and goal-oriented approach to trail running and racing. Whether readers are looking to up their distance or tackle new terrain, they’ll find sophisticated, yet clear advice that boosts performance and enhances well-being. Along the way, they’ll learn: Trail-specific techniques and must-have gear What to eat, drink, and think—before, during, and after any trail run How to develop mental tenacity and troubleshoot challenges on longer trail adventures Colorful commentary on the characters and culture that make the sport special With an engaging, encouraging voice, including tips and anecdotes from well-known names in the sport, The Trail Runner's Companion is the ultimate guide to achieving peak performance—and happiness— out on the trails. "Sarah Lavender Smith has long been one of trail running’s finest and most insightful writers, and her first book, The Trail Runner’s Companion, ties everything together for all trail runners, from newbies to veterans and all abilities in between. She expertly and empathetically describes how one should train, eat, drink, and think while becoming a trail runner. But perhaps most importantly of all, she tells us what it means to be a trail runner—why this journey, in her words, 'all the way up to the summit and back down,' is worth the effort. If you already are a trail runner, The Trail Runner’s Companion will make you want to become a better trail runner. If you aren’t yet a trail runner, The Trail Runner’s Companion will make you want to become one.” - John Trent, longtime ultrarunner, race director, Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run board member, and award-winning sportswriter "The Trail Runner's Companion is a must-have for all trail runners, both new and experienced. It brings a wealth of knowledge and entertaining stories to keep you engaged in the valuable content of the book. If only I had The Trail Runner's Companion to read before my first trail race, I could have avoided so many mistakes! I highly recommend it.” - Kaci Lickteig, 2016 UltraRunning Magazine UltraRunner of the Year and Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run champion

Ever since the very first event was held over the wild moors of Swaledale in 1968 the mountain marathon has grabbed the interest of the outdoor enthusiast. The challenge of two days navigating your way across a mountain environment while carrying everything needed to be self-sufficient is nowadays proving to be more popular than ever and the original Karrimor International Mountain Marathon has been the genesis of a host of similar events both in Britain and around the world.In this, the first instructional book written for those seeking to face this challenge, the complexities and procedures that control and govern these events are laid open. Everything from the different types of courses and classes of event and how to enter them, through to the equipment required and onto the necessary training both to complete and improve your performance in these gruelling events are included here.Written by two experienced mountain marathon competitors who are rapidly gaining the reputation for producing the most comprehensive instructional books for those seeking the thrill of fell and mountain running this book is set to become the bible of all those seeking to complete the mountain marathon.