The Checkpoint Black Trail Runners

This episode of The Checkpoint is sponsored by adidas TERREX.

In this episode Sabrina and Rachel talk to BTR Members Angela Tomusange, Lisa Jayne Henry-Arscott and Alice Light about their trail running journey and what lessons they’ve learned along the way.

We talk about the importance of community, representation and mentors as well as modelling what we want to see in the world.

Be prepared to be blown away by these inspiring ladies and their stories and experiences.

Thanks for listening and remember to rate, review and subscribe on your preferred podcasting platform.

To follow their journeys go to:

Lisa: https://www.instagram.com/henryarscottl/

Angela: https://www.instagram.com/kimbowa2016/

Alice: https://www.instagram.com/alice.light.731/

This episode of The Checkpoint is sponsored by adidas TERREX.

In this episode Sabrina and Rachel talk about what they wish they knew about trail running before they started and the important part that mindset plays, no matter what distance you’re running.

They share techniques they use when things get tough during runs and what keeps them going.

This a candid, wide-ranging conversation, which includes a few swears, so perhaps not one for little ears!

Thanks for listening and please send us thoughts on what you would like us to include in future episodes via our Instagram @blacktrailrunners or our website blacktrailrunners.run

Volunteer at Black to the Trails: volunteer@blacktothetrails.co.uk

Camino Ultra 50k Epping Forest: https://www.caminoultra.com/

Sabrina’s Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/sabrinapace/playlist/1VUlZhV86Sq2jACBKnEBs0?dl_branch=1&si=13lxqjGbRTKPT3Qr329-Ng

This episode of The Checkpoint is sponsored by adidas TERREX.

On this week’s show Sabrina talks to fellow Black Trail Runners member, Renee McGregor, and trail running ultrarunner, Raj Mahapatra, about their experience at this year's Spine events.

On June 18th 2022, Renee crossed the line as 3rd female at the Spine Sprint – a race covering 46 miles along the Pennine Way, starting in Edale and finishing in Hebden Bridge. And on June 25th, Raj and Sabrina crossed the line of the full Spine – a race covering 268 miles along the Pennine Way, starting in Edale and finishing in Kirk Yetholm.

In this episode the trio discuss:


Why the Spine race?
What is it?
Race prep and training
Kit
The race journey
Highs and lows
The power of teamwork
The importance of representation

And much more….

Links:

Renee McGregor – IG @r_mcgregor / https://reneemcgregor.com

Raj Mahapatra – IG @mrrajkm

Sabrina Pace-Humphreys – IG @sabrunsmiles /www.sabrinapacehumphreys.com

NASS Charity - https://nass.co.uk/

Spine Race - https://thespinerace.com/

This episode of The Checkpoint is sponsored by adidas TERREX.

Abby Hall is a professional trail runner for adidas TERREX. She started running at the age of 12 and has never stopped!

She fell in love with running, both the pursuit and the community and – as an adult - continued running when she was living in Chicago and Los Angeles, working as a graphic designer. She started to make trips to the mountains on the weekends and moved to Boulder, Colorado with a view to be part of a community eager to explore the outdoors.

In Boulder, Abby signed up for a number of ultras and attended every group trail run she could find, exploring the trails and mountains. She now lives in Flagstaff, Arizona and over the past few years has been racing all over the world.

Recently, Abby has finished 1st at the Innsbruck Alpine Trail Festival 65k, 2nd at the 2022 Transgrancanaria Classic (126km), 2nd in the prestigious 2021 UTMB-CCC race and she has also finished Western States 100 amongst the top 30 athletes.

Abby is part of the adidas TERREX ‘United by Summits’ campaign and we discuss what that message means to her in this conversation. 

For more information on Abby, follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abby.k.hall/

For more information on United by Summits: https://www.adidas.com/us/blog/858718-united-by-summits

This episode of The Checkpoint is sponsored by Adidas Terrex.

In this episode, the first in our new ‘How To’ series, run coaches Sabrina and Rachel are talking about hills!

They address questions from the community including:

- How do you train for a hilly trail race when you live on the flat?

- What is a ‘technical’ trail?

- Do you have to use poles?

- How do you improve your downhill running technique?

- What can you do to avoid injury on the up and downhills?

It was a fun and (hopefully) informative conversation. We’d love to hear what you think about this episode, so please drop us a comment and also let us know what other topics you’d like us to cover in future ‘How To’ eps!

For the strength and conditioning sessions mentioned, go to: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDioyxbx4tPQPCy-4BOVVZg/featured

This episode of The Checkpoint podcast is supported by Adidas Terrex.

Earlier this year, Black Trail Runners won a grant from Ciele Athletics to send a team to compete in The Speed Project. If you don’t know what The Speed Project is, you’re not alone. Taking place once a year in non-Covid times, it’s an extreme challenge that proudly espouses a ‘no spectators’ philosophy. In simple terms it’s a running relay. But it’s much more than that, because it’s a relay over 340 miles, from Santa Monica on the California coast to Las Vegas in Nevada. It’s a relay that traverses Death Valley. It’s a relay with effectively no rules. Teams self-navigate and self-support, with runners and crew sharing large RVs (that’s a Recreational Vehicle, or camper van, to our UK listeners).

Technically it’s not a trail race, but it has many of the features of one. Varied terrain. Extreme weather conditions. A need to manage nutrition, pacing and logistics. And frankly, it’s epic!

BTR’s team of six flew into Los Angeles a couple of days before, some of them meeting for the first time, and some of them being in America for the first time. Angela, Deo, Jazmin, Laurence, Nethliee and Tony were supported by a three-man crew from the US – Dan, Gordon and Kevin.

Having had only 10 weeks or so to train for the event, our team’s goal was about challenging themselves, about the experience, and about representing the BTR community in what, despite, or perhaps because of its mystique, is an iconic event.

A couple of weeks after they returned from the US, Sonny spoke to some of the team about their experience. First Jazmin, then Laurence, Deo, Angela and Tony.