Petter Engdahl on Ultra Trail Running.
1. What do you love most about Ultra-Trail running?
- The simplicity of just taking the running shoes out and running. The physical and mental challenge is demanding to be out for so long, pushing boundaries and fighting through all the ups and downs. And of course, the community!
2. How do you prepare in the months before a race?
- Preparation for each race looks different. But I build up in volume progressively and work on the skills I need to get better at for each race. If it is a flat race, I need to put in extra effort on that, climbing if it is a mountainous race, and heat if it is warm conditions, etc.
3. What’s the toughest part of Ultra-Trail running for you?
- It is so hard physically and mentally. You work for so long for one race, and then you are often so tired in the legs and mind afterwards that you need weeks, even months, to recover before you can perform at the next one.
4. How do you recover after a race?
- I focus on nutrition, sleep, and taking care of the body. So, loads of good food, extra sleep, and make sure to take care of the body with massage, strength, and physical therapy.
5. Any advice for new Ultra-Trail runners?
- Work yourself progressively up in distance and training volume, focus on uphill and downhill strength and enjoy the process!