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From the Trail

Training advice, race strategies and practical insights to help you run smarter, stronger and more consistently — written by Brennan and Kat Townshend.

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Knowledge & Insights

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Training

How Long Does It Take to Train for an Ultramarathon?

50K in 16 weeks or 12 months? 100 miles in a year? A realistic, experience-based guide to ultra training timelines — so you arrive ready, not just hoping.

29 Jun 2026
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Training

Welcome to The Lap — Tips for First Timers

Coach Kat — a Lap finisher herself — shares everything you need to know to start, survive and love your first ultra around Lake Windermere.

21 Oct 2025
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Ultra Running

How to Fuel an Ultra — with Guidance from Leading Sports Nutritionists

A science-backed guide to ultra fuelling using The Lap as our example race — covering CHO targets, hydration and hour-by-hour planning.

14 Mar 2024
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Ultra Running
⭐ Featured

How to Pace Your Ultramarathon (Updated 2025)

Pacing an ultra is an art and a science. Updated for 2025 with the latest thinking on effort management, walk-run strategies and late-race survival.

19 Apr 2021
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Ultra Running

Do Ultra Runners Really Need Gels?

Gels are everywhere in ultra running — but are they actually necessary? A practical guide including real-food alternatives and homemade pouch recipes.

2 Dec 2025
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Race Report

Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB: What It Really Takes

An honest look at what it takes to line up, compete and finish Ultra-Trail Snowdonia — one of the UK's most spectacular mountain ultras.

11 Apr 2026
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Race Report

LEGEND OF MUSTANG — 173km, 9,555m of Ascent

A first-hand account of one of the world's most demanding ultra mountain races — 173km with nearly 10,000m of climbing.

6 May 2026
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Fell Running

How Runners From Flat Areas Can Prepare for Fell Racing

No hills nearby? No problem. Here's how to prepare your legs, lungs and mind for fell racing when your training ground is flat.

10 Dec 2025
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Fell Running

British Fell Running — The Purest Test of Speed and Grit

No marked trails. No poles. Just raw hillside and instinct. We explore what makes British fell running unlike any other discipline.

7 Dec 2025
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Ultra Running

Racing the UTMB Finals — OCC, CCC & UTMB: Qualify, Train & Race

How the UTMB World Series works, Running Stones, UTMB Index, the lottery, and specific training strategies for each of the three Chamonix Finals races.

23 Oct 2025
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Ultra Running

Strength and Conditioning: Building a Resilient Runner

Strength work is no longer optional for serious runners. Here's how to build a body that holds up through heavy training and long race days.

17 Oct 2025
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Ultra Running

Our Top 5 Lake District Ultramarathons Not to Miss

From 47-mile circumnavigations to brutal 100-mile epics, the Lake District is the heartland of UK ultra running. Here are our favourites.

15 Jun 2025
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