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Winter Trail, Mountain & Ultra Running Training Skills Weekend | Garrigill Village Hall  | 14 to 16 November 2025 | All about Ultras, Mountains and UK Rounds

 

In Association with Mountain Mastery, Montane, Scarpa UK and Running Poles UK

 

An immersive weekend of ultra trail and mountain training in the middle of SPINE country, with expert coaches and elite runners.

£450 | A weekend with Louise Goddard and Tom Hollins | Friday & Saturday Evening Meals | Saturday & Sunday Breakfasts | Location - Garrigill Village Hall | 14 to 16 November 2025

Instructors/Skills Coaches: Chris Wright and Charles Sproson [Scarpa UK]

Athletes in attendance are: Louise Goddard [Montane], Tom Hollins [Montane/Scarpa UK] 

All instructors/athletes have excellent winter ultra backgrounds.

More athletes to be announced .....

" I cannot recommend Mountain Run highly enough. I attended the Ultra Mountain/ Trail Running Skills Weekend - learned a huge amount from Charlie and team plus the elites - Paul Tierney, Damian Hall and Beth Pascall. Go on one of Mountain Run’s courses - you will NOT be disappointed. Tremendous value for money for the expert teaching, beautiful countryside, awesome food (especially the lunches) and great company with like-minded people. " - David B 

Your winter ultra journey starts here: we’ve teamed up with Chris Wright, Tom Hollins and Louise Goddard to create an immersive weekend of winter running, skills and training that will prepare you to tackle races such as The Montane Spine, The Montane Cheviot Goat, UK Rounds like the Bob Graham, Paddy Buckley or Charlie Ramsay with confidence. Expect two jam packed days of running skills with expert coaches, opportunities to learn from seasoned ultra runners, evenings talking ultras and swapping stories.

You will:

• How to move in perfect form when loaded with kit
• Knowledge about Nutrition for fuelling during training in cold weather plus how to tackle an event like The Montane Spine with Tom, Louise, Chris and Charles
• Walking and running with Leki Trail poles [supplied] with Charles Sproson from Mountain Run - what poles are the best for Winter Mountain and Trail Running
• Running skills and trail skills with Charles Sproson from Mountain Run
• Knowledge about Clothing and Equipment, when to use it, how to use it and what to take with Chris and Louise.
• The mental approach, decision making and psychological tools required to succeed.
• Meeting new like minded people and hopefully making friends for life and share your information with like minded trail runners
• Cover terrain on the actual race route before and after Garrigill, tackling the much feared Cross Fell crossing to Greg's Hut
• Friday/Saturday dinner and Saturday/Sunday morning breakfast
• More skills and knowledge than you can shake a Leki Evo Trail TA running pole at!
• The chance to buy Leki and Black Diamond Poles at a discounted price from Running Poles UK
• Test out Kahtoola MicroSpikes and KTS Steel Running Crampons
• Test out Leki and Black Diamond Trail Running Poles
• Maps and Compasses
• Test shoes from Scarpa UK

 

There will be a talk or loose panel session/discussion 

You will be involved in the following sessions: 

Fitness training

• Volume, intensity - how long, how far?

• Hill work, Endurance, speed

• Race specific terrain – feet, joints, tendons and ligaments

 

Food and Hydration

• Eating on the go – what types. Weight consideration.

• Distance between checkpoints – knowing what you can get and where.

• Hydration – ml/hour, powders etc

• Emergency food

 

Clothing

• Footwear and Socks

• Base layers and Mid-layers

• Waterproofs and additional outer insulation

• Headgear and Gloves

• Layering system

 

Equipment

• Race bag/vest and pouches

• Liquid vessels: soft flasks, bladder, filters etc

• Poles, torch, goggles, ice spikes

• Emergency: bivi (sol or Blizzard Bags), First aid

• Sleeping bag/bivi bag/mat

• Stove, pot/pan, knife, spork, piezo lighter

• Poo kit

 

Navigation

• GPX files/watch

• Hand held GPS

• Map and Compass 

• Relocation

 

Recce’s

• Understand the power and pitfalls of Recce’s

• Get familiar with the route

• Get into the mindset

• Practise Bivi’s etc

 

Pacing and movement over different types of ground

• HR zones

• Cadence

• Steep up 

• Steep down

• Efficiency in the movement cycle

 

Personal admin

• Looking after your feet

• When to rest/sleep

• Layers: change damp base, put on, take off – be bothered!

• Charging electrical devices

 

Course Programme 

 

Saturday morning/Afternoon; 

Indoor session going over; 

• Fitness training

• Clothing and Equipment

• Food and Hydration

• Navigation  - theory

 

Saturday evening/night; 

• Navigation  - practical

• Journey on the Pennine Way from Garrigill

• Set up a Bivi and make a brew/food

• Head back to Garrigill

• Food at Garrigill Village Hall - think hearty meat or vegan chilli and rice

• Talk or loose panel chat with Louise, Tom and Chris + other Ultra/Spine Athletes - Curator: Charles Sproson

 

Sunday morning; 

• Breakfast to get us all set - Vegan & Meat options

• Walking/Running with Poles session

• Pacing and movement over different ground with packs loaded

• Personal Admin

 

Sunday Mid morning to Mid afternoon; 

• Journey to Greg's Hut

• Familiarise yourself with the route

• Practice skills on the move

• Chat about mindset etc on the move

 

Sunday afternoon [15:00]; 

• De-brief back at Garrigill Village Hall

• Course closure 16:00

 

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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