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Author

Ian Sharman

Ian Sharman

Ian Sharman is an ultrarunning coach with USATF and NASM certification. He is on the Altra Running Team and has represented England for ultrarunning. He only started running in 2005 but quickly got addicted to races and became a student of the sport, interested in all types of running terrain and style of event. In particular, Ian loves to explore the world through running and has raced in six continents with almost 200 marathon and ultra finishes. Some highlights include setting the record for the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning in 2013, during which he won the Leadville Trail 100. He also set the fastest North American 100-mile trail time at his Rocky Raccoon 100 course record of 12:44.

  • How to Use Heart Rate Variability for Ultra Running Training

    Ian Sharman 02/16/2023
    Ian Sharman 02/16/2023

    As a coach, I spend a large proportion of my time discussing recovery to avoid over-training and maximize adaptation from harder workouts. Historically this has been a more subjective concept,…

    Read more
  • High Altitude Training

    Ian Sharman 07/07/2021
    Ian Sharman 07/07/2021

    A high-level overview which aims to prepare runners for the specifics of dealing with high altitude races. In particular, I’ve used Leadville Trail 100-miler as an example since it’s one of the most historic ultras, and a personal favorite where I’ve enjoyed battling for wins and coached two other winners and numerous finishers.

    Read more
  • Why We Need Adventure

    Ian Sharman 03/11/2021
    Ian Sharman 03/11/2021

    There are many reasons why athletes take on ultras, whether it’s looking for a new challenge, different terrain or reading an inspirational book. One of the key components underlying all those reasons is the need for adventure, especially in a world of sedentary office jobs. Normal life can seem dull in comparison to traveling to an exotic location, making new friends and doing something genuinely hard. Yet, this year, monotony and frustration with lock-downs has been especially difficult to cope with for our mental and physical well-being.

    Read more
  • Power-Hiking With a Weight Vest

    Ian Sharman 09/23/2020
    Ian Sharman 09/23/2020

    Odds are that for the really long distances, like 100 miles, almost everyone will need to power-hike at some point during a race. To put it in context, each time I won the Leadville Trail 100, I typically power-hiked around 25 miles

    Read more
  • Knowing When to Fold

    Ian Sharman 10/03/2019
    Ian Sharman 10/03/2019

    When life or health issues get in the way, one of the hardest choices runners must make is whether or not to run a race. Sometimes it’s for logistical reasons that are out of your control, such as starting a new job or the timing of a new baby. But when it’s due to injury or not being well-prepared, it’s tough to make the right call.

    Read more
  • From the Coach: Consistency is King

    Ian Sharman 08/08/2019
    Ian Sharman 08/08/2019

    I often get asked if there’s a secret to maintaining consistency. This question usually has the undertone of having your cake and eating it too, i.e. doing excessive training and getting away with it. Yet, it’s a fairly simple formula that I instill in those I coach, as well as in my own racing.

    Read more
  • Progressing for Next Season

    Ian Sharman 12/15/2016
    Ian Sharman 12/15/2016

    At the end of the year, most of us back off training and allow for a little downtime and reflection, plus, family commitments are especially time consuming (and fun) during the holidays. What should you consider when thinking ahead to next year to allow yourself to keep progressing and improving your running?

    Read more
  • Road Races to Improve Trail Running

    Ian Sharman 09/10/2015
    Ian Sharman 09/10/2015

    I’ll admit I have a bias on this topic, since when I first started running ultras in 2005, I also got hooked on road marathons. However, one thing I noticed was how effectively sub-ultra road races prepared me for many aspects of longer races.

    Read more
  • Racing in the Heat

    Ian Sharman 08/20/2015
    Ian Sharman 08/20/2015

    As we get into the middle of summer, many races involve running in severely hot weather. The most experienced runners use several tricks to deal with this, which are most evident at two Californian races renowned for their searing heat—Western States 100 and Badwater 135.

    Read more
  • Maximizing Vert

    Ian Sharman 06/11/2015
    Ian Sharman 06/11/2015

    Summertime means the mountains are open for runners and hikers, and the majority of the high alpine races are during this time of year. However, many runners, especially city slickers, don’t have equivalent climbs where they can train. Fortunately, there are ways to prepare for the more mountainous races no matter where you live.

    Read more
  • A Purpose for Every Run

    Ian Sharman 05/07/2015
    Ian Sharman 05/07/2015

    One of the simplest improvements a runner can make to his or her training is to approach every run with a simple question: “What am I trying to achieve today?” It sounds obvious, but it’s all too easy to get caught up aiming for weekly mileage targets for no better reason than because they sound impressive.

    Read more
  • Seeking Adventure

    Ian Sharman 04/16/2015
    Ian Sharman 04/16/2015

    Do you find your running mojo runs low sometimes? That every run feels the same and you’re pounding familiar paths again and again? It can be easy to get stuck…

    Read more
  • Planning Your Race Season

    Ian Sharman 01/08/2015
    Ian Sharman 01/08/2015

    Around the end of the year we all look forward to a little downtime from running. Then after about five minutes, we get itchy feet and want to get right…

    Read more
  • Off-Season

    Ian Sharman 11/20/2014
    Ian Sharman 11/20/2014

    No matter what mileage you run per week or how many races you have in a year, it’s helpful to have an off-season, and this is the time of year to consider how to get the most from this phase of training. This article lists some of the advantages of down-time, plus tips for getting the most from it.

    Read more
  • Training With Weight Vests

    Ian Sharman 08/14/2014
    Ian Sharman 08/14/2014

    One thing I’m frequently asked about is how I incorporate weight vests into training, since it’s a tool I use for myself and for those I coach. It was especially key to my attempt at the 2013 Grand Slam of Ultrarunning, where I ran 100-milers close together and had to get the most out of training while focusing on recovery.

    Read more
  • Races As Training Runs

    Ian Sharman 04/17/2014
    Ian Sharman 04/17/2014

    Races can be very useful training arenas as alternatives to solo long runs. There’s certainly a tendency for ultrarunners to race a lot more frequently than the traditional spring and fall marathon, so what’s the best way to incorporate races for training purposes?

    Read more
  • How To Train For Trails In The City

    Ian Sharman 03/20/2014
    Ian Sharman 03/20/2014

    Through winter we all struggle to fit in any type of run with less daylight, icy roads and snowy trails. This becomes even more difficult for city dwellers in cold…

    Read more
  • Preparation To Finish Your First 100-Miler

    Ian Sharman 01/27/2014
    Ian Sharman 01/27/2014

    At the end of the year most runners think about their plans for the following year, including their target races. This early planning is exacerbated by the number of lotteries…

    Read more
  • How To Train For And Recover From Races In Quick Succession

    Ian Sharman 12/05/2013
    Ian Sharman 12/05/2013

    Ian lays out tactics for optimizing your performance for racing multiple ultras with less than a month between.

    Read more

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