Endurancelife - Fit for Adventure

Trail Running
Adventure Racing
Multi-Sport Racing
MTB Trailquest

Trail Running

Trail running is an umbrella term used to describe the practice of off-road running. It is not atypical for routes to ascend and descend thousands of feet and steep inclines and rough terrain may require sections of hiking and/or scrambling.

The feeling of freedom that results from an hour or two out on the trails is massively addictive and It is no surprise that the sport of trail running is growing rapidly in popularity –Trail running produces a natural high and is a superb way of releasing stress and tension after a hard day or week in the office.

The Benefits

There are numerous health benefits to trail running. The most obvious are improved cardiovascular fitness and reduced body fat through aerobic exercise. In addition to these proven physical benefits are a number of mental and spiritual benefits; The effects of fresh air, open spaces and stunning scenery lead to dramatic enhancements in ones sense of well being and increased personal confidence.

Whilst certainly taxing on the lungs, trail running can be less taxing on the body’s joints compared to road running. The constantly changing surfaces and frequent inclines and declines take away much of the repetitive pounding that the joints receive during the road based activity. While the higher stride rate and increased concentration required to remain balanced on uneven terrain results in a calorie burn some 25% higher than running on even surfaces. At a reasonable pace, a trail runner can expect to expend about 120 calories a mile.

Equipment

Trail runners tend to seek out inspiring landscape such as hills, fells, mountains, deserts, forests, and (our favourite) cliff paths. Trails in these kind of locations tend to be largely inaccessible by road (except at the road heads) and are narrow, uneven and steep. They may also involve sections of muddy, rocky, wet, boggy or slippery terrain. It is therefore imperative that trail runners pay close attention to their kit choice and make sure that they carry appropriate safety items.

The most important kit is footwear, and trail shoes are utterly essential. Trail shoes are specifically designed to cope with the rigours of off-road running, they tend to be grippier and stiffer than road running shoes, and will help to prevent injury from falling or slipping. We recommend Inov-8 trail shoes, Inov-8 produce an extensive range of shoes with models appropriate for all types of terrain. A good all-round shoe and one that is suitable for the Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series is the Roclite 315.

Other recommended equipment includes wicking garments, windproof layer, water bottles, energy food, sunprotection, emergency head-torch, and emergency blanket. These items should be carried using a hip pack such as the Inov-8 Race Elite 3, or back pack such as the Inov-8 Race Elite 20 which consists of a bladder, a suck tube and a small low profile backpack.

Training

As with all training it is important to start with a specific goal in mind - events often provide the best focus for training. The Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series is a unique series of seven events that offer un-matched opportunity for goal setting, bench marking and performance tracking. We advise that you book your place(s) well in advance and use it as a goal to work towards. The earlier you book, the sooner you commit psychologically and the more effective your training will be.

For most just completing one event is challenge enough and is to be commended, but more and more people are taking up the 7x7x7 Challenge and attempting to complete all of the seven stages in the series. The 7x7x7 challenge takes commitment to a whole new level! Obtaining and sustaining the required level of fitness and avoiding injury for seven whole months is a tough mission and those that manage it deserve to wear their special 7x7x7 t-shirts with pride!

Adventure Racing

Adventure Racing is designed to test both physical and mental endurance, it is often referred to as a ‘thought sport’ as success depends on equal levels of both physical and mental fitness.

Adventure races usually involve a large amount of planning and tactics. The need to think on the move and make decisions when physically exhausted is something that appeals to adventure racers over other sports such as triathlon where you simply get your ‘head down and race’.

While technically a form of multi-sport racing AR tends to differ from other multi-sport formats such as triathlon in a few key ways;

A) Navigation is an important (often critical) aspect of the event

B) Some form of kayaking is usually involved,

C) Other extra disciplines such as rope-work or coasteering may be included.

Adventure Races can be as short as 5 hours or as long as several days. The course is normally kept secret until the last minute. Just before the race start participants are handed a map and information pertaining to the whereabouts of a number of checkpoints. Each checkpoint has a points value assigned to it, the aim is to collect as may points as possible within the given time frame. There are usually penalties for going over the allotted time.

The Benefits

AR provides the opportunity to push yourself to extremes and as a result the major benefits of participation include improvements in physical fitness, mental alacrity, ability to handle stress and ability perform under pressure. It can also be great for improving leadership and or teamworking skills.

Of course one thing that gives everyone a buzz is adrenalin! If you’re an adrenalin junkie then adventure racing is for you…from the moment you start it’s a rush!

Once you try adventure racing, the biggest kick of all will be discovering a whole side to yourself you never even knew existed and you will amaze yourself at how much you can achieve!

Training

As with all training it is important to start with a specific goal in mind - events often provide the best focus for training. The Endurancelife Coast RAID Series offers un-matched opportunity for goal setting, bench marking and performance tracking. The series is comprised of three one day events, each two months apart, followed by a two day finale. This format gives participants nicely spaced milestones within which to hone, practice and test their skills, and culminates with a grueling test of endurance.

Through the winter/spring season we advise that you take part in as many of the Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series weekends as possible. With Trail Running events on the Saturday and Mountain Bike Orienteering on the Sunday these weekends are the ideal way to get into the groove and prepare for the AR series to come.

Multi-Sport Racing

Multi-sport racing involves combining two or more disciplines in a race, typically running, biking, and a water based activity. Races tend to follow a marked course with competitors changing between disciplines at transition areas. The most common forms of the sport are triathlon and duathlon. Adventure racing also falls within the parameters of multi-sport racing.

The sport is open and accessible to all standards. Multi-sport athletes benefit from a wealth of choice, with the calendar being inundated with races all over the UK. Race organisers have the flexibility to include any number or combination of disciplines and have no specific distance boundaries to adhere to.

The Endurancelife Multi-Sport Trailathlon (MST) Series provides the perfect opportunity to experience the very best of multi-sport racing. We have taken the format of triathlon, got rid of the swimming, leg shaving and the unnecessarily competetive aspects, thrown in kayaking, and added a large helping of fun and adventure. Take this format to some of the best trail racing locations in the UK and what do you get? A real fun blast on the trails and water, whilst experiencing some stunning scenery. With 3 distance categories and all kayaking kit provided, the MST is accessible to all and sure to test every level of competitor.

MTB Trailquest

Trailquesting is a fantastic sport if you like getting out on your mountain bike, exploring new ground and having a great time amongst other bikers. Trailquests are navigational events undertaken on mountain bikes (and now cyclo-cross bikes). The aim is to visit as many checkpoints as possible within a given area and time period. They are designed to be fun, challenging events that test route making skills, bike handling skills and endurance over the different terrain the area has to offer.

The national governing body of mountain bike orienteering , the Trail Cyclist Association (TCA), established this race format in 1993 and now has over 1400 registered members. All trailquest events are run under the guidelines of the association, thus maintaining the high quality and standard of event across the UK.

Endurancelife is set to kick off the winter season by launching a new Coastal Trail Quest Series in the South West. Following a one day format, this exciting set of trailquest events will showcase the very best of the region, taking in some incredible coastal views and testing terrain along the way. Open to solos or pairs and with two score categories (short - 3hr or medium 5hr), both newcomers and experienced mountain bike orienteerers will be tested on some superb trails. If you’re looking for a new, fun and challenging sport to take up this winter, then the Endurancelife Coastal Trail Quest Series is it! Check out the CTQ pages for more info.