PATRICK LANGE’S FAVOURITE RUN SESSION

Get off-season specific with the 2 x Ironman world champion and fall in love with running again

So now that the triathlon season is well and truly over (well, in the UK anyway!) it’s time to unwind. At this time of year, I like to spice up my training by doing all those things I love to do but don’t find the time for during my season. And trail running is at the top of that list! Not only does it strengthen your muscles and tendons, but getting off the pavement and onto rougher routes increases sense of balance, too. Going off-road also keeps things fresh thanks to variety; woodlands, hills or trails... just head for whatever you have close by. All you need is a pair of shoes with a profile that’ll support your running on uneven terrain.

The session length really depends on what you feel like doing that day; it’s all about tuning into our body and having fun, so there are no strict time limits. But, in terms of injury prevention, I’d stick to a minimum of 5-10mins warm-up of light running, then at least 20-30mins for the main set followed by 5mins cooling down.