"Chasing Ultra PBs? Say Goodbye to Long Runs and Hello to Fun!"

This was an interesting blog to write, and excuse me for the title, I did indulge my inner clickbait there.

It is interesting that my partner Lisa recently completed a 55 Mile Ultra and never ran much over 20 miles in the build up to it, here are the bullet points I found most interesting.   

Here is Lisa in the Hardmoors 55  in sunny Yorkshire 😊

Introduction:

• Ultrarunner Camille Herron reveals her unconventional training wisdom
• Emphasizes cumulative volume and running frequency over long runs
• Supported by scientific research on bone adaptation, and our friends at Trail Runner Magazine who graciously provided the original article

• The Curious Science of Bone Adaptation

  • Bones are dynamic tissues that, much like us, need stress to grow stronger (who knew?)
  • Optimal amount of mechanical stress required for bone adaptation (not too little, not too much)
  • After back-to-back loading cycles, bone cells seem to go on strike and stop adapting
  • Bone cells get back to work after a well-deserved 4-8 hour tea break
  • Animal studies have shown that bone cells start to pay attention to mechanical stress again after a rest period

• Camille Herron's Eccentric Training Approach

  • Most days, runs 10-15 miles, takes a breather, and then goes back for another 6-7-mile jog (as one does)
  • Four main workouts: short intervals (for when you're short on time), long intervals (for when you're feeling ambitious), progression run (a mix of both worlds), and hill session (because who doesn't love a good hill?)
  • Prioritizes quality over quantity and runs for time rather than distance (more bang for your buck!)
  • Herron's training has led to multiple world records, proving the effectiveness of her approach

• Sabrina Little's (Un)Expected Experience

  • Five-time U.S. National Champion ultrarunner
  • Noticed a surprising performance boost after breaking her training into shorter, less daunting blocks
  • Champions the importance of "prepositional running" to squeeze training into her busy life (ingenious, really)
  • Set the American record in the 24-hour run with her longest run being only 16-17 miles, showcasing the power of shorter blocks    instagram.com/runcamille/

• Taking Other Factors into Account

  • Genetics, nutrition, running gait, and hormonal health also play a role in bone health and adaptation (life's never simple, is it?)
  • Balancing training and life's other delightful responsibilities is crucial
  • Herron and Little's approach encourages even the most time-strapped among us to give ultra running a go

• The Science Behind the Success

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute's musculoskeletal mechanics lab supports Herron's training philosophy
  • Studies on animals like mice and rats have shown the diminishing returns of distance running on bone health
  • Tendons and ligaments respond similarly to bone when it comes to mechanical stress and adaptation

instagram.com/runcamille/

Conclusion:

• Camille Herron and Sabrina Little's training method offers a refreshing, humble perspective on ultra marathon preparation
• Supported by intriguing scientific research on bone adaptation and real-life examples of success
• While our concise summary provides a glimpse into their approach, we highly recommend reading Trail Runner Magazine's original, in-depth article for a more comprehensive understanding (it's well worth your time!)

I hope you liked this summary of a really good article about Camille Herrons training published in TrailRunningMag.com