24 hr Round and Ultra Race Seminar 

Saturday 17th February 2018

 

 Nicky started running in 2001 and did her first Bob Graham in 2005 in 23.32 hours. Since then Nicky has successfully completed ten 24 hour rounds and did hold the Ladies records for all three UK Rounds (BG 18.06, Paddy 19.02 and Ramsay 19.39).  In May 2016 Nicky attempted the Double Bob Graham to celebrate her 10 year cancer survival and became only the 2nd person ever to get under 48 hours and the 1st woman; finishing in 45.30 hours.

Nicky has raced in five 100 mile ultra races; winning the GRP twice, coming 16th Lady in the 2015 UTMB and won the 60 mile Fellsman Hike three times. In 2014 she won the inaugural 10Peaks Xtreme outright and was 3rd in the 10Peaks Long in 2015. 

In 2015 Nicky completed in the 144km, 10,900m L'Echappee Belledonne coming 19th overall and 2nd Lady in 35.32 hours. In August 2016 she raced the UTMB again and was 11th Lady . To celebrate her 50th birthday she did the Joss Naylor challenge (for over 50's) and broke the Ladies record in a time of 11.02 hours. In September Nicky started the inaugural 100 mile, 11,000m Ultra Tour Monta Rosa but pulled out after 60 miles with a chest infection. Learn how she is rallying round and preparing for a comeback in 2018!

During the day the course will cover how to train and prepare physically, practically and mentally for Ultra races such as the Fellsman, Ultra Trail Mont Blanc, Ultimate Trails or Grand Raid Pyrenees. Nicky will also run through all aspects of training, reccying and organising a Bob Graham, Paddy Buckley or Charlie Ramsay round. 

On the practical side there will be basics of navigation lesson and a pole technique demonstration which you can practice on the walk / run in the local countryside before lunch.

Cost: £50 including breakfast and lunch. 

Location: Woodhead Mountain Rescue Barn, Bedding Edge Rd, Hepworth, Holmfirth, W.Yorks, HD9 1TP

To Book on please use link below

People booking for

Schedule of the Day's Events

There will be short breaks in between these sessions as and when required.

Time Event
9 - 9.30am Arrive - tea/coffee & bacon/egg sandwiches / teacakes
9.30 - 10.00 Introductions from participant and Nicky Spinks 
10.00 - 11.30 Training - Learn how to make and implement an effective hill and distance plan that works for you. How to manage Injuries.
11.30 - 12.30 Navigation, Poles Kit - learn basic navigation, how to use poles effectively and how to choose the right kit for individual events. Short walk to practice one or all !
12.30 - 1.30 Lunch - sandwiches, soup, baked potatoes, cakes
1.30 - 2.30 Pre Event Preparation - How to research into the event you are doing and use this to help your training, planning and preparation.
2.30 - 3.30 Physical Race / Round Preparation -  How to organise schedules, kit, clothes, food, support points, supporters
3.00 - 3.30 Ultra Race and Round strategies - Mental strategies and how to get through the "bad times" to finish the event
3.30 / 4pm Questions / Wrap up / watch Bob Graham film over tea and cakes.
   

Reviews / Blogs 

"I had a great time at your workshop.  I have only attended one event like this before and I found yours much more helpful and informative. I think the amount of information you were able to give us as well as anecdotes about your own experiences was really informative and entertaining.  It's nice to know elite athletes have 'issues' like the rest of us e.g. vomiting in ultras. Another positive was the small size of the group.  It meant that it was relaxed and it wasn't too intimidating to 'join in'."

"Great to hear about your exploits. Thank you so much for the training day last Saturday, it was very informative and I think I've learnt a lot. I'll be adopting a number of your training strategies and am currently in the process of putting together a training plan for the Hardmoors 110. I thought the format of the day was great, breakfast and chatting to people as they arrived was a lovely informal start to the day. The background to your running history was also really helpful and to hear about all your amazing achievements - you really are a huge inspiration to the running community. I enjoyed trying out the running poles and again, got a lot out of Andrew's talk and tuition....needless to say, a set of poles is on my Christmas wish list. All in all a really enjoyable, informative and good day which I'm sure many folk can benefit from in the future too."

"Thank you very much for your time on Saturday and the whole day was very enjoyable and helpful.  The cost was also very affordable, normally events like that cost a lot more, so the price was really appreciated. "

" Just wanted to say thank you very much for running the course today. It was such a practical and down to earth set of sessions and I almost believe it's manageable now"

"HI Nicky, 

II came to your preparation training day in November last year.  Just to say I completed my BG round - 23:40 on 21/5/16-22/5/16.  Lovely.
You asked for some feedback from the training day.  I wasn't sure at the time what to feedback on, however I've now got some thoughts.
- you advise about food really resonated with me, and I trained with eating every 20 minutes.  This worked really well for me, I was never hungry, thirsty or food energy depleted.
- you spoke about being really clear with pacers about our requirements of them.  Again being clear prior to the round was good for me and good for them, but on the day, there were moments where they really had to 'step up' to keep me going (I hadn't foreseen the extent of which this would be needed, Leg 3 in particular).
- the other training advice which absolutely worked for me was 'always running on flats and downs'.  The only addition for me in hindsight would have been that I trained to more fully use the downs.
- poles were fantastic
Hope the above is a useful contribution to the training days - although many months after the event.. Congratulations on the double.!"

Links to participants blogs

Kirsty Reade at Run247 -Nicky Spinks:-What's-the-secret-of-her-success?

Charlotte Goodall - Learning from the very best - Running with Nicky Spinks

Ronnie Staton - Confessions of a Coach: a day with Nicky Spinks

Jeff McCarthy - RunEatRepeat: a day with Nicky Spinks