DELIBERATE PRACTICE TRAIL & ULTRA RUNNING

As trail and ultra runners, we love the feeling of cruising along a fast-flowing single track. We could do this day after day and never lose enthusiasm. However, if you’ve found you have reached a plateau in your performance, it’s likely due to one of two reasons. The first is that your periodisation (structure and progression of your training) may not be right. The second (less commonly looked at) reason may be a lack of deliberate practice in your running.

Deliberate practice is when you place focused attention on a specific area of your performance to improve it. This is different from simply running for the enjoyment of it, as is the case if you only go on social runs and never change your pace or style (e.g. tempo, fartlek, build or interval), or