28/04/2014

The crème de la crème of British mountain runners assembled in Loughborough this weekend for the fourth annual mountain running camp, which aimed to provide a positive training environment mixed with some informative talks ahead of the 2014 mountain running season.

Kick-starting the camp was a review of the 2013 mountain running season, which highlighted the fact that the mountain running teams won six of the eight possible medals on offer at last years’ World and European Championships. There was also an individual silver medal for Emma Clayton (coach: Andrew Henderson) at the World Championships in Poland last year and team leader Sarah Rowell encouraged the athletes and coaches present to learn from one another, in a bid to win more individual and team medals at future international championships.

Saturday morning saw the athletes put through their paces on Beacon Hill, tackling up and down hill reps of up to 2.5km in length, whilst in the afternoon the squad listened to talks on nutrition and anti-doping. Team doctor Jonathan Hanson and team physio Graeme Everard were on hand to provide treatment and advice throughout the weekend, which was well received by both the junior and senior athletes present.

In the evening Clayton’s coach Andrew Henderson and leading senior man Steve Vernon (coach: Dave Turnbull), who was fifth at last summer’s European Championships, led a session entitled ‘Training for mountain running medals’.  During the session, Vernon said:

“Specific preparation is absolutely key. Finding out detailed information such as the profile of the course, the effects altitude will play, the expected race day temperature etc etc are all vital, so that you’re arriving at the championships ready to perform to the best of your ability.”

Sunday commenced with a long run over the rolling hills of the Leicestershire countryside, before the athletes and coaches headed to the National Performance Institute for a drills session, which aimed to improve functional movement and stability.

On the team’s success over the last couple of years, team leader Sarah Rowell commented:

“Out of a possible eight team medals on offer at international championships last year, the team won six. That was the best by any nation, only matched by Italy. The team is definitely growing in confidence and the quality of performances is certainly on the up. The goal for the 2015 World Championships in Wales is to win a full set of team medals – a tough ask but one that we believe is achievable.”

For further information on mountain running, head to the British Athletics Mountain Running page.