TRAINING SESSIONS

1 Long run. I’ve always thought the Ballbuster is as tough as a marathon, so the build-up for the race can have many overlaps. Do a long run of at least 12-15 miles 3-4 weeks beforehand so you’ll be prepared to handle the second 8-mile run.

2 Cycle hill reps. The Box Hill climb is a 2.5km 5% climb, so you need to be able to maintain a steady pace to the top. If you have access to Box Hill, then go and do 4-5 repeats, or otherwise try on a different ascent with a similar profile.

3 Tempo run off the bike. Cycle the race distance of 24 miles followed by a 5-mile run at half marathon pace. This will help get your body used to running at a sustained pace on fatigued legs.