PLEASE NOTE: This course is FEMALE ONLY

 

If you prefer a mixed gender course, then we have one on the following date: 

 

Ultra Mountain/Trail Running Skills Weekend | Borrowdale YHA | 7 to 10 March 24

 

In Association with Scarpa UK, the The Montane Lakeland 50 & 100 , Keswick Mountain Festival and Lake District Sky Trails

 

An immersive weekend of ultra training in the heart of the Lake District, with expert coaches and elite runners.

£350 | Half Board Accommodation | Location - Borrowdale YHA | 8 to 10 March 2024

Athletes in attendance are: Robyn Cassidy - winner of Helvellyn Sky Ultra and Dragon's Back Race 2023 and Emma Stuart - Winner of Arc of Attrition 100, UTS 100 and Tor de Geants 2023, plus others [TBC] for a panel session over the weekend.

All athletes have excellent ultra backgrounds and are at the top of their game right now.

More athletes to be announced soon.

“It was more than just a course ... I can’t recommend Mountain Run highly enough. It was an amazing weekend with great people, both the Mountain Run team and my fellow runners" Tory M

Your ultra journey starts here: we’ve teamed up with Scarpa UK, Keswick Mountain Festival, The Lakeland 100, the Lake District Sky Trails team to create an immersive weekend of running, skills and training that will prepare you to tackle your next (or first!) ultra or mountain challenge with confidence. Expect two and a half jam packed days of running skills with expert coaches, opportunities to learn from world-class elite ultra runners, and evenings talking trails and swapping stories over a glass of wine or a pint. You will:

• Learn how to tackle your first or next ultra in style and with ease
• Learn about Trail Navigation for Ultra Runners with Mountain Run
• Learn to walk and run with Leki Trail poles [supplied] with Mountain Run
• Learn how to fuel and train for Ultra's
• Have a chance to use the slack-lines we have set up - great for core and balance
• Try out the essentials of yoga for runners
• Run with top level trail, mountain and ultra runners
• Learn about Mountain Weather and how to read the MWIS synoptics and more with Gary Nicholson from Mountain Weather Information Service [MWIS]
• Make friends for life and share your information with like minded trail runners
• Discover some of the finest trails in the Western and Central Lake District
• Run on some of the KMF 50k Ultra and Lakeland 100 route
• Test shoes from Scarpa UK
• A Chance to rub shoulders with UK top Ultra Distance athletes

Plus there will be highly interesting and informative talks from those involved and extra special guests*

*To be released in the new year.

Friday 8 March:

• 16:00 - Early arrival time
• 16:30 - Social 10/15km guided run with Charlie Sproson from Mountain Run
• 18:00 - Later arrival time
• 18:15 - Social 5km+ guided run with one of the Mountain Run team
• 19:45 - Dinner at the Borrowdale YHA
• 21:00 - Social chat with drinks [available at the bar]

 

Saturday 9 March:

• 06:00 - Option to go for a "Wake up Run"
• 06:30 to 07:30 - Session 1: Yoga for running form and flexibility for Ultra and Mountain runners
• 08:00 to 09:00 - Breakfast at Borrowdale YHA
• 09:30 to 12:30 – Session 2: Nordic Walking and Running with Poles - session lead by Charlie Sproson. Wake your muscles up with some light Nordic Walking around the valley. Charlie will show you the benefits of Nordic Walking, the Nordic Running Style, Double Polling and much more, then he will explain how to make the transition to 'Running with Poles' for Ultra Distances and Mountain Travel. Once you have the skills working their magic, we will then go for a short run (3 to 5km) to get this ingrained in to your muscle memory and mind. - Remember, you can't run before you can walk, so the walking cycle is essential to good efficient travel.

• 12:40 to 13:20 - Lunch at Borrowdale YHA
• 13:30 to 14:30 - Session 3: Nutrition for Ultra Running: Its very specific for each runner, but in this session you will learn some of the pitfalls of fuelling and nutrition for ultra running and racing.
• 14:45 to 15:45 - Session 4: Navigation for Ultra Running: - Session lead by Mountain Run. A 1 hour talk/chat about navigation and some easy ways to stay on top for Ultra racing - GPS devices worked in and encouraged. 
• 16:00 to 18:15 - Free time to run, shower and relax
• 18:30 to 19:30 - Dinner at the Borrowdale YHA
• 20:30 - Talk/Film or relax and chat in the Borrowdale YHA

** Night option: Guided night run after dinner. There will be a £30 supplement for this session. You will be lead by head torch somewhere around the tops of the valley of Borrowdale or lower valley, conditions dependant.

 

Sunday 10 March:

• 06:00 to 06:30 - Option to go for a "Wake up Run"
• 06:45 to 07:45 - Session 6: Yoga - Strength and Conditioning for Ultra and Mountain Running
• 08:00 to 08:45 - Breakfast at Lakeside House, Keswick
• 09:00 to 11:15 - Session 7: Running Form for Ultra's TBC
• 11:30 to 12:15 - MWIS weather chart interpretation with Gary Nicholson from MWIS
• 12:30 to 13:15 - Lunch at Lakeside House, Keswick
• 13:30 to 16:00 - Session 9: Guided Run - Blow the cobwebs of the weekend away with a guided trail run around the local trails of Borrowdale and surrounding valleys. Session lead by Charlie (mountain run) and other running stars [TBC] - other Special Guests may feature here.

 

Monday 11 March: - ** There is a supplement to pay for this day and will require an extra nights accommodation (£30 B&B plus £60 extra for the day)

• • 08:00 to 09:00 - Easy morning start with Breakfast at Borrowdale YHA
  • 09:30 to 14:30 - Guided run around the Scafell Massif offering a real 'Tour de Force' of the Central Lakes area's using some of the epic Rab Scafell Sky Race route. The run will be lead by Charlie from Mountain Run with the possibility of some other fell/trail running stars [special guests TBC]

What's included: 

• Two nights' awesome accommodation at the Borrowdale YHA (note: this is single-gender premium accommodation)
• Home cooked and hearty food all weekend – breakfast, packed lunch and dinners, with brews and cake thrown in - we can cater for allergies, intolerances and vegan diets, please note in the booking form. 
• Notes to take home so you can review what you’ve learned
• Fun with like-minded people and the chance to make friends for life!
• Two full days of training with world-class tutors and coaches
• Two chilled out evenings with alcohol if the moods takes you [available in the bar]
• Fun and smiles – on and off the trails!

View the Course Disclaimer / Terms and Conditions.

View the Course Cancellation / Refund Policy.

This event offers the option to purchase XCover, so that participants may be able to get a refund if they are unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances.

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