Terrain Training for Off-Road Runners

4.3/5 ( ratings)

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.

“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.“
Newsletter of the Trail Runners Association

<h2>About the Author</h2>

Stuart Ferguson is a member of the Fell Runners Association, a founder member of the Durham Fell Runners club and a UK Athletics coach specialising in Endurance Running in the Fells and Mountains.
Stu has been an active outdoors person for over thirty three years indulging his passions as a fell runner, rock climber, mountain biker and skier in areas as far apart as the USA and Nepal. He currently lives in the Durham Dales.
Stu has been an active long and ultra distance runner for many years competing in numerous events around the country under the trail, fell and LDWA banners. In 1998 and 2001 he was the winner of the Durham Dales Challenge 28 mile off-road run. He has also advised on and supported a number of challenge attempts by fellow runners notably on the 72 mile Bob Graham Round in the English Lakes.
Looking for new challenges he has devised and ran in 2005 the inaugural Durham Dales Reservoir Round of sixty miles in under twelve hours and in 2006 the Durham Hewitt's round of forty eight miles in fourteen hours. Current plans include a seventy two mile round of all the current Youth Hostels in the North Pennine area.
A summary of his other accomplishments include:
• His mountain marathon record includes:
Open CountryMM2002, 4th overall, 1st vet team.
Lowe AlpineMM2004, Elite 9th overall, 1st Vet team.
Lowe AlpineMM2005, Elite, 12th overall, 1st Vet team.
• First duathlon style round of the 4 x 3,000 feet Lakes peaks in 11 hours 34 minutes including running Scafell and Scafell Pike and mountain biking Skiddaw and Helvelyn.
• First mountain bike round of the High Street and Helvellyn Ridges, 54 miles in 10 hours 15 minutes.
• A rock climber with 84 x 1ST ascents from Cornwall to Northumberland including Spitfire E3 5c Aire Rock, Cornwall; Sacked E1 5bWhite Tower, Pembroke; MarqueeMetal E3 5cWanney’s Northumberland and First Born, Direct Finish E5 6b Kyloe, Northumberland.
• Walked the PennineWay,West HighlandWay and the Helumba Trail in Nepal.
Has skied over twenty winter seasons, the majority in the French Alps with many classic off-piste descents including Valle Blanche in Chamonix.