The Trail Running Guidebook provides athletes of all abilities a safe pathway of preparation to their chosen adventures.
Author Hanny Allston is an elite Australian trail runner who holds numerous race records, including 1st Female at Ultra-Trail Australia 50km (2016) with a time of 5:08:15 and 2nd Female at Ultra-Trail Australia 100km (2017) in 11:12:00. She holds a record for the 2015 Six Foot Track Marathon (3:34:50) among other numerous representations, and provides her knowledge to both elite and recreational athletes.
In her latest book Allston’s personal coaching methodologies focus on sustainable, long-term health, training and performance successes. What is most interesting however is her opinion that the pathway to her performance requires a fundamental belief in who she is as a person, making sure she asks the question, ‘Who am I when I’m not an athlete or out running?’.
Allston also discusses the importance of having a desire to have fun whilst out running, where taking out the influence of others and not letting ‘Fear of Missing Out’ guide your decisions. And where ‘playing wilder’ comes in to effect is about the love for the sport being vital to longevity and optimising your abilities.
The Trail Running Guidebook reveals the three secrets to success, how to build your foundations, what ‘training smarter’ actually means, and tips on how to physically and mentally prepare for those races where you need to travel a fair distance via plane.
Key chapters that I found of personal interest included one on older runners and another on nutrition, where three classifications of athlete were identified from her own personal substantial observations during races. It’s a lot of information punched into a 138-page book, but her unique model of Wave Training allows runners an opportunity for better recovery, self-reflection and playfulness.
Allston has experienced the elation of success but also the pitfalls of striving too far for performance, and it’s from this honest place that she has written The Trail Running Guidebook.
Rating: 4 out of 5
RRP: $24.95
