How I Plan a Long Run Adventure
Long runs are where everything comes together—the fitness, the mindset, the fuelling and the fun. I don’t just lace up and hope for the best; I plan them like mini adventures, a story in stages. Route as a story I break the run into distinct stages, each with its own terrain, vibe or challenge. One might be a wooded climb, another a wide-open ridge, and then a fast descent to wrap it up. It keeps my head in the game and gives me moments to look forward to. Another aspect of this is research: I check local geology, flora, history—anything that adds flavour to the story. The run becomes a narrative, curious and engaging. You often hear trail runners talk about the “why”. If you have a strong narrative, you have a choice of whys, and you can tie them together with visualisation. Visualisation For trail runners, there are so many moments worth imagining: a shady valley, a gnarly climb, a flowing descent. Before the run, I play the stages in my head like a film. I imagine the s...