James Wood Trail Running

Thirty years on the trails taught me that peace isn’t found in leaving, it’s found in coming back I follow a lot of trail and ultra-runners on Instagram and watch podcasts and YouTube content. I love the sense of community in the trail and ultra scene. There’s one message I hear a lot from athletes and creators — that trail running is an escape from work, stress, noise, everything that grinds us down. I have to disagree. I get why people say it, but I think it’s the other way around. The trail doesn’t pull you away from life; it brings you back to it. That sense of calm and balance we feel on the trails, especially in forests, doesn’t come from running away from our problems. It comes from returning to the environment where we belong. After more than thirty years of running trails, I’ve come to believe we’re not meant to live surrounded by concrete and glass, but by rock, soil, and trees. We’re not built to hunch over keyboards, but to move — to hunt, to notice, to be awake. Our stress...

Every climb builds patience, every descent teaches trust — that’s the real lesson of chasing elevation Runners love talking about elevation. It’s the number that  makes a run look epic  on Strava, even if it’s just a few loops up and down a local hill. But elevation isn’t just about numbers or bragging rights. It’s a teacher. Every climb, every descent, has something to offer if you’re paying attention. The Ups: Learning Patience and Strength Climbing forces you to slow down. It’s humbling. You can’t fake fitness when the trail tilts up — lungs and legs will tell the truth straight away. But that’s why I love it. Each climb builds strength and aerobic capacity, but it also builds patience. On Prague’s trails you won’t find endless alpine climbs, but you’ll get punchy little ascents that demand respect: the gullies in Modřany, the ridges above Chuchle, the sneaky steps in Prokop Valley. They may only last a few minutes, but string enough together and you’ll know you’ve worked. ...

Mid-week progressive trail runs are my quiet test drives — starting easy along the  Modřany  river trail, feeling out the flagstones, then building speed split-by-split to see what the legs can do and spot trouble before it bites on a long run. Quick take Start easy, finish strong. A progressive run builds speed step-by-step, letting you check your body for warning signs before race day. No brutal sprints, no track laps — just a smooth acceleration that sharpens fitness and protects you from overload. Mid-week mornings aren’t glamorous It’s dark, cold, and the  Modřany  river trail feels like it belongs to the night shift — quiet, slick, and faintly echoing under my headlamp beam. The flagstones glisten with dew, and I place each step with care, knowing the riverbank has a habit of shifting underfoot. The first kilometre is easy — deliberately easy. This isn’t about heroics; it’s a systems check. How are the ankles on the terrain? Any tightness in the calves from th...

How I live, run, and stay true to what matters most Priorities People often ask how I manage to run and still juggle everything else in life. Truth is—my life  is  full-on. But the answer stays the same: priorities. I’ve made a commitment to mine, and nothing comes between us. It might sound selfish or inflexible, but that’s how I stay consistent and get results. The first hurdle is dealing with compromise. And to avoid being constantly torn, some deep adjustments are needed. For me, that came from aligning values, beliefs, and discovering my life purpose. Once that clicked, the adjustments weren’t a sacrifice—they were a natural evolution. James v2.0 was born. Vision and execution became one. I stopped drifting and started shaping my own reality. Purpose At some point, we all go searching for meaning. Sometimes more than once. We’re capable of reinvention, of changing gears entirely and shifting the sphere of influence around us. When you find your purpose, you  know . I...

Out there on a long climb, with breath and heartbeat in sync, you start to notice the small things: a footfall, a shoulder twinge, a shift in breath. That’s not just fatigue—that’s your body whispering. Or yelling. I’ve started listening more. One of the people helping me hear better?  Lawrence van Lingen . Who is Lawrence van Lingen? A former competitive triathlete turned movement specialist, Lawrence works with elite athletes and everyday runners to unlock better movement. He’s not about fixing your glutes or tweaking your cadence—he’s about helping you move better by  thinking, moving, and feeling  more clearly. His approach is fascia-focused, nervous-system aware, and completely in tune with longevity. In other words: perfect for trail runners who care about more than just splits. Think. Move. Feel. Here’s what’s stuck with me from diving into his content: Breath is everything.  It shapes posture, regulates effort, and signals safety to your system. Before pace, ...

It’s more than a run—it’s an story in stages Long runs are where everything comes together. The fitness, the mindset, the fuelling, and the fun. But I don’t just lace up and hope for the best—I plan these like mini adventures. Here’s how I do it: 💡 Summary: How I Plan a Long Run Adventure Section What it Covers 🗾  Route as a Story Plan your run like chapters in a book—terrain, views, challenges. Make it memorable. 🔮  Visualisation Mentally rehearse your run. Feel it before you even start. Helps with pacing and presence. 🍌  Fuelling Strategy Fuel early and often. Test what works, and always pack snacks like you're going on a picnic. 🧠  Mental Tricks Mantras, trail details, halfway hacks, rewards—small wins to outsmart the pain cave. 🧢  Gear and Prep Lay it all out. Dress for changes. Coconut oil is your best friend. Inov-8s for the "long haul". 🎭  Mood of the Run Match the run to your vibe. Some days it’s zen, others it’s chaos. Honour both. 🎯  ...

What those colourful little blocks actually mean—and how to get the most out of each If you’ve scrolled to the bottom of the FlexiPlan post and found yourself staring at a glorious rainbow of workouts, you might be wondering what each colour means and why it matters. This post unpacks the FlexiPlan and augments it with a few valuable tips and insights along the way. 💪 Strength Purpose : Build muscular endurance, prevent injury, and stay durable on long climbs and descents. Examples : Bodyweight circuits, resistance bands, and dumbbells. How Often : 2–3 times per week.  Tip : Focus on quality, not quantity, 30 minutes is often enough. Insights : I aim for 3 sessions of 30–40 minutes each week. I don’t split into “leg” or “core” days—I mix it all in. That’s how the trail serves it up, so that’s how I train. The most valuable sessions? The ones that simulate trail conditions I’m working to improve. Whether it’s steep descents or technical scrambling, I try to replicate thos...