

Suunto Blog

3 must-run routes in London
Keeping up your running routine while traveling can be challenging, but when it is the right route at the right time, it's rewarding in many ways. Whether it be an invigorating break from a hectic schedule, or a way to explore a new city, knowing where to go is everything. This couldn’t be more apt than in a mega-city like London. The options are endless, but at the same time daunting; but don’t worry we’ve got you covered.
We’ve highlighted three types of routes: the short and sweet tourist route with plenty of scenery; the locals run which is favorite and accessible route, and finally, a more adventurous, forested, single-track trail. Each route comes with the logistics to get you out and back with ease! Each of these routes share the same motivation – inspiring you to explore a new route and new city on the run!
To follow these routes with your Suunto watch or mobile device, please follow these instructions:
1. Press download GPX.2. Go to Suunto app and press + button in app map and press 'import route'.3. Find the route, press it. The app opens the route, press 'Done'.4. You can modify name and details. The route is saved. Keep the 'Use in Watch' toggle on to have the route in watch.
Note: If you are not reading this on a device with Suunto app installed, download the route file and save it in a location you can access on your mobile device. Then follow the guidance above
GOLDEN JUBILEE AND MILLENNIUM BRIDGE (4KM)
Download GPX file here.
Who it is for:
Tourist Run/walk route taking in the cities best sights in less than 5km.
Description:
Simply the best route for visiting and photographing (if you choose) some of London's most famous landmarks. This short route is best done in the morning during a crisp sunrise. The route takes in some of the most visited paths in London so it can be crowded during the day but soaking up that atmosphere can be part of the fun, if you are that way inclined.
Expect extremely "instagramable" shots from the two iconic bridges of Golden Jubilee and Millennium Bridge. Look out for the National Theatre, South Banks finest culture, London Eye, Tate Modern, HMS President, Big Ben, St Paul's Cathedral, The Shard and more, its a veritable feast for the senses!
Start point note:
Best access via London Charing Cross Station or Embankment
Finish Point note:
100m before the finish you will see Embankment Café. Perfectly stationed in Garden Pavilion, right next to the Thames River. This cafe will have something to quench your thirst or fill your stomach at any time of day. It could be coffee and a Traditional English Breakfast in the morning or even quintessentially British Fish and Chips in the evening.
Run extensions and alternatives:
Instead of finishing back at Embankment, continue to run past it keeping the River Thames on your right. After 800m you can take a right up Richmond Terrace which leads you to the famous Downing Street and into St James Park. Continuing a bit further along the Thames (1km from Embankment) will have you finish at Westminster tube station and next to Big Ben. Here you will be a stone’s throw from St Stephens Tavern, a real ale pub known as the ‘politician’s hangout.’
MULTI ROYAL PARKS ROUTE (8.1KM)
Download GPX file here.
Who it is for:
The “locals” running route in the heart of London. Maximum greenery, maximum sightseeing.
Description:
An absolute must for locals and anyone over for a short stay. The Royal Parks are a thing of wonderful British heritage so with this route you can hit 4 in one run. Starting from Hyde Park (the home of one of London’s most famous running clubs) you will run around and through the park taking in Kensington Gardens and The Round Pond. Green Park will have you running directly past Buckingham Palace. Finally, through St James Park and past Horse Guards Parade and down The Mall. Beauty.
Start point note:
Lancaster Gate tube on the Central line. Paddington Station is only a 3 minute walk too.
Finish Point note:
Green Park tube. It’s worth taking the time to visit Shepard Market which is full of independent shops, pubs and restaurants.
Run extensions and alternatives:
Doing a full lap of Hyde Park before heading out is very popular with locals. Similarly, you can add in full loops of Green Park or St James Park. Another option is continuing the Green Park loop to get back to your initial entry point and heading back into Hyde Park to finish at the Café in the centre of one of London’s biggest Green spaces.
RICHMOND PARK AND WIMBLEDON COMMON TRAILS (16.3KM)
Download the GPX file here.
Who it is for:
The adventurous type of runner seeking something more than just concrete blocks
Description:
London's worst kept trail running secret. A beautifully scenic route taking in Richmond Park which is teaming with deer, ponds and wildlife. Richmond has its own unique London Culture with constant pop-ups and riverside events. Crossing over into Wimbledon Common you’ll be running through some fantastic single track path in a forest-like environment. Keep in mind, if it rains expect it to get muddy! There are a couple of short sharp hills along the way, they are not long but at 12–15% grades they will certainly get your lungs going.
Start point note:
10 minute walk from Richmond Station. A straight forward walk up the high street (left out of the station) will get you up to Richmond gate and the start point of the route. However we also recommend walking down the Thames River path into Richmond Park. It is an extra 5 minute walk but if it’s a clear day then start your route on the towpath for lovely views and waterside activities.
Finish Point note:
The route does a figure of 8 to finish back at the same start point. Walking or running back to Richmond tube will take you past copious amounts of cafes, bars and restaurants. For something different, and extremely British, we’d recommend the Tea Box for gourmet teas and cake in a cosy corner café.
Run extensions and alternatives:
At the top of Wimbledon common you will see the A3, run parallel to this, beside Putney heath, for a few hundred metres before taking a left turn down the A219. This will have a running down a big hill straight towards Putney which is another South-West London hotspot. In Putney you can still get both tube (Putney east or Putney Bridge), Trains (Putney Station) and Buses outside Putney station to most parts of London.
Another option is to do a full loop of Richmond Park instead of crossing into Wimbledon common. Following the Tamsin Trail which hugs the outer parameter is a glorious run that is extremely popular with locals. A full loop is 11.5 km.
Lead image: © Max Willcocks
Discover new routes with heatmaps. Heatmaps show the tracks frequently used by the Suunto App community all over the globe, based on millions of moves. You can plan your own route with the help of rich, topographic maps, transfer it to your compatible Suunto watch and start exploring.
With Suunto 5 and Suunto 9 watches, you can add these routes directly to your device and track your progress.
SEE ALSO MUST-RUN ROUTES IN BARCELONA, HELSINKI, NEW YORK CITY, PARIS AND STOCKHOLM

Which nation runs the fastest? 10 fun facts from 2019
Suunto app saves millions of workouts every year, creating a veritable treasure trove of training data. When our data team crunches that mountain of numbers – while respecting personal privacy laws, of course – they discover some surprising sport insights.
Our data nerds have just finished calculating the 2019 workout stats generated by users in nations across the world. Continuing the age old tradition of friendly international sport rivalry, we looked at which nation is the fastest, which nations runs for the longest distance, as well as other stats. We’re sure you’ll find the results as interesting as we do.
Flat and fast: Denmark sets the pace
According to our analysis of all the workouts in 2019, runners in Denmark are lightning. The average pace of our Suunto-wearing Danes is 5:11 min/km! Whoop! That’s quick.
Perhaps it’s not surprising given a 2017 Eurostat survey found Denmark, a nation of 5.6 million, exercises more than all other EU nations, apart from Suunto’s own Finland. Apparently exercise, whether cycling the small nation’s famous bicycle path network or running along its gorgeous coastline, is a core element of Denmark’s culture. Respect!
Click here for tips on how to improve your running economy!
The long run: Portugal goes the distance
Portugal, a nation of 10.3 million, likes to run! Our data shows people in Portugal ran the longest average running distance – 10.3 km/run. It’s the only nation to break the 10 km average distance mark. Bem feito!
Click here for tips on running the distance!
Sleep tight: who sleeps the most/least?
Analyzing all the sleep data proved an interesting exercise. People in Chile, Finland, New Zealand and Ireland enjoy a good night’s sleep; on average they get more than seven hours a night.
Conversely, people living in Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and South Korea, seem to like burning the candle at both ends; on average they get less than 5.5 hours a night. We hope they’re getting enough recovery time!
Click to read how sleep can make you a better runner!
Feeling great: the most common feeling vibe
It seems like Suunto users are positive bunch – must be all that outdoor exercise. We checked what is the most common feeling recorded after all the workouts, and we discovered “excellent” came out on top. That’s a really good sign. Feelings are a great way to keep track of how your training is going, and to monitor whether you might need to rest more.
Magnifique: the French LOVE trail running
When comparing their trail running to treadmill workouts, the ratio in France is 12.9:1, almost 13 times more trail than treadmill. In the US, by comparison, the ratio was 1.6:1, and in Spain 4.8:1. We’d love to know what causes this big difference!
Around the clock: trail runners move for the longest
Respect to all the trail runners out there. It’s the most popular activity for 12+ hour long activities. That’s a solid length of time to be on your feet moving. We hope you are fueling and hydrating well.
Read to learn how to transition from road to trail running!
By foot wins: running and walking the most popular
Running came out as the most popular activity among Suunto users, followed by walking, and cycling in third place.
Sport lovers: Suunto fans enjoy four activities
On average Suunto users did 4.3 different activities during the year. But some were much more varied; one user tracked 74 different activity types, another one did 72! That’s an impressive performance! We wonder how they found the time!
Go guys! Men walk more
Out analysis shows male Suunto users walk a little more than women. Men walk on average 9446 steps a day, and women 7969. Ladies, show them next year!
Lead images: © Graeme Murray / Red Bull Content Pool
Read more articles:
7 tips for running in the dark
Hunter or the hunted? 7 race tactics for the trophy
Fuelling the engine: 6 principles of nutrition for athletes

10 ways to make your adventures more sustainable
Greg charges his electric car onroute to the mountains. © Greg Hill
With the release of his latest film, Electric Greg, skimo legend and Suunto ambassador Greg Hill showed how the adventure lifestyle can be more sustainable. He climbed more than 100 mountains without using any fossil fuel, instead relying on his small electric car to get him into the mountains.
Also a weekday vegetarian who grows his own vegetables, Greg has researched how he can “be a little better'' in terms being kinder to the planet. He says it’s not about being perfect, but just trying to improve incrementally.
“As outdoor enthusiasts we are the ones who appreciate and get so much back from nature, so we should be the ones doing the most to preserve it,” Greg says. “Snowboarder Jeremy Jones is the ideal example of that. He recognized his impacts and looked for ways to change it. In creating Protect our Winters, he enabled change on so many levels, from personal to political. We can all make a difference.”
Follow the cardinal rule
Before even thinking about other ways to be more sustainable, make sure you are following the cardinal rule of outdoor recreation: pack it in, pack it out. “It’s a pretty simple mantra,” Greg says. The only thing you should leave in the outdoors are your footprints, and the only thing you should take are photos.
For a month, Greg restricted himself to cycling to and from all his trips © Greg Hill
Find backyard adventures
Often times, destinations further afield seem more exotic. While it’s great fun to explore far away places, exploring our local recreation areas helps us to feel more connected to the land where we live. It’s fun to get a topographical map of your local area, note points of interest, and visit them all. It’s also a fun adventure project to walk, hike, bike or run every single trail in your local mountain or forest park.
Move to the mountains
If working remotely is a possibility for you, consider moving somewhere closer to the mountains. “If you love adventure, find the ideal town and move there, and then backyard adventure forever,” Greg says. This will result in less travel time, therefore less carbon emissions. And every morning you will look out the window and see the mountains waitining for you!
Greg is a weekday vegetarian. Studies show eating less meat is good for the planet. © Angela Percival / Arcteryx
Use rail when possible
One of the great things about living in Europe is the rail network. Sure, you might need to factor in more time to get to and from the mountains, but using rail, rather than driving a fossil fuel powered car, definitely helps us to be a little better. And after a big day in the mountains you can sit back on the train and enjoy a well earned beer or coffee.
Buy quality gear
In this age of fast fashion and disposable culture, we are conditioned to shop for the best bargain. But the best bargain is often not the best deal. Some outdoor gear – like Suunto watches, for example – have been designed and built to last. It’s also possible to send our watches back for repair, extending their lifespan. Other gear, like these running shoes designed by Salomon, can be recycled and turned into ski boots.
Yes, good quality, durable, hardy gear usually comes with a higher price tag, but ultimately it will save you money in the long run because it will last longer and perform better. While cheap quality products wear out quickly and end up in landfill.
Maintain your gear
To help make your gear last, get professional advice about how to maintain it properly. When you get home from a big hike, for example, clean your footwear properly with the correct cleaner, and keep your leather boots waxed so the skin doesn’t dry out, potentially cracking. And wash your rain gear with washing detergent designed for the job.
Go electric
Buying an electric car is awesome, but if it isn’t possible for you then another option is to rent one when you do visit somewhere by plane. “On the last trip that I had to fly to, I landed and rented an electric car,” Greg says. “It was a Tesla Model X and it was amazing!” Remember, it’s not about being perfect, just a little better.
Reduce microfiber plastic pollution
One of the big challenges for the outdoor gear industry is reducing microfiber plastic pollution. All the plastic-based sport clothing people wear sheds trillions of microfiber plastics when they are washed, which ends up in the ocean. It’s estimated there are now more than one million trillion microfiber plastics in our oceans. That’s about 200 million microfibers for every person on the planet. Ouch.
You can help tackle this problem by choosing to use clothing made of natural materials, such as wool, or you can use a Guppyfriend Washing Bag to prevent microfibers going into the waterway when you wash your plastic-based outdoor clothing.
Choose ethical companies
“Buy from companies that have good ethical policy towards the environment and are pushing change at their corporate level,” Greg says. “Many companies are now working hard at being better.” Visit company websites and see what they are doing about sustainability. Suunto’s environmental policy is here.
Avoid packaging
Plastic packaging is a big problem for the planet’s ecosystems. It’s out of control. So, instead of buying flapjacks, for example, make your own. Take a reusable water bottle, reusable food containers, and do everything in your power to phase out packaging!
Lead images: © Angela Percival/ Arcteryx
Read more articles:
Fuelling the engine: talking nutrition with Greg Hill
Proving electric adventure is the future
How to find your way in the mountains
8 avalanche safety checks to tick off before the ski season

12 ways to change up your training over winter
Winter is a good time to focus on strength training. Photo by Sergio Pedemonte on Unsplash
Now that winter has landed, it’s time to pause, reflect and adapt. With recognition and acceptance of the shorter and colder days, we can adapt and turn winter into an opportunity.
Now is a good time to pause, to take stock of where you are at, and how your body is doing. Do you have any injuries or niggles that need attending to? How are you feeling mentally? Inspired, flat or tired?
It’s also good to now reflect on how the season went, what went well, what could have been better, and how you’d like to do things differently next season. If you have a coach, sit down with him or her and review your efforts this year and discuss how to plan for next year. You could also sit down and analyze the training data captured by your Suunto watch and see what insights you can find.
Pausing and reflecting like this will suggest how you might like to adapt over winter. Ask yourself what would serve you – body and mind – the best in the coming months?
But before you begin, we are going to jump the gun and give you a few suggestions on how to make this your best winter ever.
Try swimming regularly to maintain your condition. Photo by Goh Rhy Yan on Unsplash
Make winter goals
Making goals gives us direction and purpose. There’s no reason to drop making them over winter. After you have paused, reflected and adapted, create new goals for your winter. Write them down, tell your friends and family, and set to work fulfilling them.
Go to physiotherapy
If you suffered an injury, or have a niggle that comes and goes, now is the time to take care of it. Book a block of appointments at a sport physiotherapist, and get to the bottom of it. Make whatever your physio advises your main mission in the coming months. If he or she gives you exercises to do each day, do them!
Work on technique
Reducing your training volume means you have more time to exclusively focus on the finer points of your sport. If you’re a runner, dedicate the winter to improving your running efficiency and technique. You could do regular 20 minute treadmill runs, for example, and focus on form.
Resolve any niggles or injuries by seeing a physiotherapist. Photo by Jesper Aggergaard on Unsplash
Get massage
Your body has been your trusty work horse all year. Reward it by getting massaged. There are all sorts of massage styles; Shiatsu, Lomi Lomi, sports massage, Thai, Swedish etc. Why not try a few? We suggest getting at least three massages over the off season. Your body will thank you for it.
Build strength
Winter is a great time to focus on strength training. Join the gym, buy yourself some weights, or sign up for an online fitness course on core power. You don’t need to go hard. Just do a little each week over the off season and it will pay dividends come spring.
Try something new
Learning new forms of movement is good for the body and mind. You develop new skills and capacities you didn’t know you had. It also gives your body a break from your usual movement patterns, while keeping it in shape. Sign up for a boxing course, for example, learn cross country skiing, join a social team sport or go indoor regularly.
Climbing is great for coordination and mental focus. Photo by Jonathan J. Castellon on Unsplash
Escape to training camp
If slowing down and pivoting to other things isn't how you roll, then why not head to warmer climes where you can keep training like a beast? There are some great places around the world that offer training camps and warmer weather.
Focus on eating well
When the off season arrives, it’s often the case our nutrition plan goes out the window. Especially with Christmas and New Year, it’s easy to eat too much of the wrong stuff and gain weight that you have to shed later. While it’s good to allow yourself to enjoy, try focusing on eating well this winter. You could focus on eating seasonally, try being a weekday vegetarian, or learn how to cook a particular style of cuisine.
Swim and sauna
Swimming regularly is incredibly good for the body. It tones the muscles, improves strength, and is a good cardio workout while causing no impact on the joints. Try swimming two or three times a week this winter. If you’re not a strong swimmer, consider getting a couple of swimming lessons and developing your technique. Once you’ve done your laps, hit the sauna and sweat it out.
There are many styles of yoga. Restorative is good for deep relaxation. Photo by Mark Zamora on Unsplash
Practice restorative yoga
One of the best ways to give the body and mind the deep release they need is by doing restorative yoga. This style of yoga is all about slowing down and holding easy poses for longer than usual and with the support of comfortable props. This approach invites deep muscular release and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, bringing us back to homeostasis, or a state of relaxation. Try to attend six restorative classes this off season. Yoga helps Emelie Forsberg find the flow.
Stay inspired
Dark, grey and rainy days week after week can get uninspiring. Counter this by dosing up on adventure and training inspiration. Read uplifting biographical books, listen to podcasts about training and your sport, and watch films and documentaries that spark your imagination. Find local meetups or clubs for your sport and connect with others who are on the same path as you.
Hibernate
Lastly, sleeping more can help you become a better runner. So consider how you can catch some extra winks this winter. Day time power naps have been shown to be immensely beneficial.
Lead image: © Photo by Vlad Tchompalov on Unsplash
Read more articles:
7 tips for running in the dark
How to find your way in the mountains
8 avalanche safety checks to tick off before the ski season
Proving electric adventure is the future

How to find your way in the mountains
The more people in the group who can navigate confidently the safer it is. © Arc'teryx / Piotr Drozdz
Knowing how to read a map, use a compass and find a safe route through the mountains are essential outdoor skills for hikers, climbers, mountain bikers and trail runners. These skills, the basis of good wayfinding, make our adventures safer and more enjoyable.
In this series of articles, Terho Lahtinen, who works in Suunto’s Emerging Business team, will explain how to develop these essential mountain navigation skills. Terho was lead navigator in an adventure racing team that competed all over the world for eight years. He recently led a clinic on wayfinding at the Arc'teryx Alpine Academy, and helped dedicated adventurers gain greater confidence on their trips.
“The confidence that comes from knowing how to navigate in the mountains helps you to relax on their trips, making them more enjoyable,” Terho says. “Location awareness, map reading and compass orientation are also fun in of themselves.”
In this first article of the series, Terho explains where to begin to develop your wayfinding ability.
Don't be dependent
Yes, it’s true we have GPS nowadays, but digital navigation technology isn’t a replacement for these essential skills; as we explain below, mobile phones and GPS devices should play a support role only.
What happens, for example, if your smartphone runs out of batteries or falls in a river? What if the reception sucks? Or you are dependent on someone in your group to be the navigator and he or she gets it wrong? The more people who know how to navigate the safer the group.
Even if you usually follow well marked trails, knowing how to navigate with a map and compass can come in handy. A few moments of distraction while passing a fork in the path, and you could go in the wrong direction and an hour or so later find yourself wondering where the heck you are. It happens.
Location awareness is key
It all starts here. Without this ability, the other skills will be shaky. Location awareness is more than just knowing where you are. “It’s an attitude of consciously and constantly observing things around us and a sensitivity to notice the essential landmarks,” Terho explains. “It’s almost an intuitive feeling for the landscape around you.”
This honed sense of location awareness makes orientation more straight forward. Orientation is the attempt to determine one’s location by relating your position to nearby objects or landmarks. This depends on being able to relate what you see around you to what you see on a map. It takes time to develop this, but with regular practice it will come.
Start observing
To cultivate location awareness, learn to be more observant. “Start observing things around you, studying maps, correlating map information and the real world to each other, and it gets more and more interesting every day,” Terho says. “If you are using phone apps for navigation, stop using automatic guidance and just use your location on the map, choose the way yourself, and study what’s around you and how it appears on the map or a satellite image.”
The more you use topo maps, the more you’ll come to love them. © Arc'teryx / Piotr Drozdz
Practice with topographical maps
We all agree that Google Maps is possibly the next best thing to sliced bread. It is immensely helpful when running late for an appointment while navigating in an unfamiliar city, for example. But digital technology has its limitations, too. We should avoid becoming dependent on it.
Terho suggests buying a topographical map of an area you know well and start studying the map and relating what you see around you. Doing this over time will give you a sense of how maps communicate land formations.
“Paper maps never run out of batteries and they won’t break if they fall on the ground,” Terho says. “They contain much more detailed terrain information than most digital maps and are much more practical for planning and for studying larger areas and longer routes.”
Learn the contours
The number one thing to learn is correlating contour lines on the map and topographic shapes in your surrounding landscape to one other. The map should tell you what you can expect to see around you. With time and practice, you get a feeling for this.
“Contour lines describe the shape of the earth’s surface and that’s the most important information on any map for outdoor activities,” Terho says. “Studying maps at home is a great exercise for getting the feeling, comparing map and actual terrain is even better.”
Practice makes perfect
In each article of this series Terho will suggest some homework for you to do to cultivate your wayfinding skills. This first article’s homework will keep you busy!
Map study
Get a terrain map for an area you know well (where you won’t get lost). Study the map at home, spot familiar places on the map and find out how they are illustrated. Compare the map with your memory of those locations.
Terrain recognition
Remember your latest activity in the map area and identify your route on the map. Study the contours lines and look at the intervals between them. Where are the hills? How high are they? Are there any valleys, ridges, gorges, or saddles? Is the slope in a specific location steep or flat? What is the highest point on the map? The lowest? Where is the steepest slope?
Field study
Time to take the map into the field. When you’re out there, align the map with the surrounding terrain (north on the map pointing to the north in the terrain). Look around at what you see and compare it to your map. This can be visualized by imagining the map is fixed to north and you are walking around it, depending on which direction you are going to or looking at. If you are looking south, you are on the north side of the map and north on the map is pointing at you. When changing direction, you are turning, not the map. You are always holding the map in front of you and the map is pointing to north.
Now, choose a route that you’re familiar with. Follow your progress on the map, and spot every detail that’s drawn on the map and identify them in the terrain. This is a great way to learn how the map and the terrain relate to each other.
Panoramic view
Find a spot where you have a sweeping view of the landscape. Keep the map aligned, north pointing north, with the terrain. While looking in different directions, find distinctive terrain features, such as cliffs, peaks, valleys, buildings, and rivers and then locate them on the map.
Guide a buddy
Head into familiar hills with a friend. Make a route plan in advance, explain the plan to your friend including the different terrain features and other objects you are going to use for navigation waypoints. While out there, explain all the things you observe in the terrain and show where they are on the map. Then let your friend do the same.
Stay tuned for the next article in the series: how to plan your route through the mountains!
Lead image: © Arc'teryx / Piotr Drozdz
Read more articles:
7 tips to find a safe track up the mountain
8 avalanche safety checks to tick off before the ski season
Born to shred in the Arctic
Proving electric adventure is the future

Get ready to race with our trail marathon training plan
Nicknamed the “marathon whisperer” Denise Sauriol knows the distance inside out. She should do after running more than 112 marathons in locations across all seven continents. She is one of our Suunto multisport team coaches and has designed this plan for trail runners.
Denise began running as a child and ran her first marathon in 1994. She continued advancing as a marathoner until August 2009. She was running to Central Park to race in the New York Half Marathon, but never made it to the start line. A car struck her, breaking five of her vertebrae, and temporarily ending her running career. To give back to the sport she loves dearly, she transitioned to coaching.
“I loved coaching so much that in 2016 I left my 26-year career to become a full-time running coach,” she says. “I have a lot of practice on what to do and what not to do with training and on race day. I coach runners of all abilities, ages and race goals. I have helped my clients run their first mile, all the way to helping some of them run a 100 mile ultra.”
Click here to access Denise’s 20 week trail marathon training plan!
Ready to train? Let coach Denise guide you! Denise has created a 20 week trail marathon training plan for beginners. Available for download on Training Peaks, it’s designed for runners who are already averaging between 32 and 40 km per week and can comfortably run a 12 to 16 km long run each week. It assumes people following it have a strong endurance base.
The plan has a four week cycle: In the first three weeks the volume and long run distance increase by 10% each week. Then both decrease on the fourth week. This ensures a balance of build up and recovery time. The training volume continues increasing up until two 32 km long runs. This gives athletes plenty of time on their feet and more confidence than if they only complete one 32 km long run. “The plan also allows for a three week taper,” Denise says. “During the taper the volume drastically decreases, allowing the body and mind to rest and reset for race day.”
Denise advises athletes following her plan to make sure they do their long runs on trail, not on roads or treadmills. She says this is one of the most common mistakes she sees trail runners make. “You have to train on trails to race trails,” she says. “Trail running is a different beast than road running. You can run some of your training miles on a treadmill or on the road, but I recommend a high percentage of your weekly miles, especially the long runs are run on trail.”
The plan is available for free as part of Suunto Value Pack via TrainingPeaks, one of Suunto’s key partners, and provides easy to understand, week-by-week, session-by-session, training guidance. Your end of the bargain is doing the work.
To download Denise’s 20 week training plan, login or sign up to TrainingPeaks and find the plan here.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SUUNTO VALUE PACK AND HOW TO GET THIS TRAINING PROGRAM FOR FREE