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Training

An Interview with Ultra-Runner Tom Evans

SportsShoes recently caught up Tom Evans, the medal winning Team GB ultra runner and adidas Terrex athlete, to find out more about his career and what trail running means to him.

an-interview-with-ultra-runner-tom-evans

HOW DID YOU GET INTO TRAIL RUNNING?

In 2016, I had some friends in the military who did the Marathon des Sables and once that finished, over a couple of beers in the pub, I bet them that I could finish higher up than they did. So, the next morning, I signed up to the race and in 2017, competed in the Marathon des Sables – a 150-mile multi-stage, self-sufficient race across the Sahara desert and ended up finishing 3rd, which is the highest ever performance for a non-Sub-Saharan African male.

From there, I just fell in love with the sport! I loved running outside and was offered opportunities to race in the mountains. Living in London, that’s a little bit daunting but I really enjoyed the challenge and loved running on the different and varying terrains. So, one thing led to another and I just couldn’t say no to a lot of opportunities that came my way. Two years down the line I’m now a full-time adidas Terrex athlete and absolutely loving the process of training in the mountains and getting to race in some of the most beautiful places in the world.

an-interview-with-ultra-runner-tom-evans

WHAT DOES TRAIL RUNNING MEAN TO YOU?

Trail running for me is all about the challenge. I love setting myself both physical and mental challenges, either by increasing the distance or trying to push myself further, both in training and races.

I’m very much a performance focused athlete and I use a lot of data for my training both on the roads and in the mountains. For me, having the option of different distances and varying terrains for trail running is amazing. A 100-mile race on the road is going to look very different to the training that you do for a 100-mile mountain race, and for me that difference and that challenge is so exciting. It keeps me pushing myself as hard as I can to be the best athlete that I possibly can be.

WHAT DOES TRAIL RUNNING GIVE YOU, THAT NO OTHER SPORT CAN OFFER?

The great thing about trail running is being able to do it in such different places. Having raced on the roads and raced a bit of triathlon, being able to run in such beautiful places all around the world is incredible. Each race is like no other, which I love. I spend a lot of time preparing specifically for each race as it can be so different: a 100K in Europe for example will be very different to a 100K in the US.

For me, living in London and being able to compete in the mountains is just an incredible opportunity and it really does make me push myself in my training and to train smarter. I really love the challenge of thinking outside the box for my training and still being able to compete at the highest levels against those athletes who do live in the mountains. That keeps me really motivated. Being on the trails, you have sections where people will be stronger than you and other sections where you are stronger than them and it can be such an incredible battle throughout the race. The race doesn’t finish until you cross the line and if that finish is with a long technical downhill, then that’s what you‘ve got to be good at when things get tough.

HOW HAS ULTRA-RUNNING CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

Ultra running by it‘s very nature means you have to train a lot. Because the race is so long, your training volume needs to be high, so a lot of running and a lot of other cardio training is in my week. The great thing about that is that it allows me to eat a lot and you can get away with eating pretty much anything, making sure that you are fully fuelled for training.

It also has made me appreciate that, even as a full-time athlete, there is more to life than just running. So I still make time to see friends, see family and do normal things. I think it’s really important to remember that even if you are really focused on something you need to enjoy yourself the whole time. Ultra running has just given me a much wider view into the world. I’ve got to meet some incredible people and it’s also made me appreciate the time that I have where I can relax and go on holiday or go out for coffee with friends.

an-interview-with-ultra-runner-tom-evans

WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO MAKE THE NEXT STEP FROM GOING FROM SHORTER TRAIL RACES TO ULTRA-RUNNING?

I do love a challenge and I’m very stubborn. I always want better myself and see how much I can improve and it’s the same when it comes to ultra distance running. You run the shorter distances and then you think how can I challenge myself more? I want to keep pushing myself both physically and mentally. Coming from a military background, I think, has allowed me to suffer a little bit more in these races and to be able to block out pain and to really concentrate on getting the job done because at the end of the day, I love running and I’m here for a reason: I want to be as good as I can.

I feel incredibly lucky to be able to be outside pushing myself and challenging myself in these longer races. I get asked by a lot of people about what the next step is, where do you go from a 100-mile race and actually for me it’s more how can I improve my 100-mile race. I don‘t think you have to pigeonhole yourself into one sort of race – my next race will be much shorter than a hundred miles. I just want to keep improving, keep challenging myself and keep pushing myself to become a better athlete with the long-term goal of being the best ultra distance trail runner that I possibly can be.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN YOUR CAREER, TOM?

I love racing, and the reason that I train so hard is so that on race day I can be in the best possible shape. But when you are in your training, in the winter when it’s cold, dark, there are no cameras, there’s no social media, no one’s looking at you... you don’t want to get outside, you don’t want to put the miles in. But it’s convincing yourself that it’s worth it. You may be training for a race that’s six months down the line and it seems like an awfully long way away but actually maybe the session that you do today is what makes the real difference. So for me, it’s just keeping myself motivated when the chips are down, when things seem like it’s really tough and remembering the bigger picture.

One of my quotes that I use – from my coach Allison Benton – is “process, not outcome“. On the process, you are an athlete, and I know that the session that I do today and tomorrow will build up and will lead to the outcome that I want. If not all the pieces of a puzzle are there then you won’t be able to complete the puzzle. Being able to stay motivated when things are really tough, when you’re in a high volume training week, you’re running 30 hours a week in the snow and wind, you’re losing weight, you feel miserable, you’re starting to get ill... It’s all about staying motivated and positive because I know at the end of the day that’s what it’s going to take.

an-interview-with-ultra-runner-tom-evans

Follow Tom Evans on Instagram here. Tom runs in the adidas Terrex Agravic Flow and Agravic Boa – explore the whole range at SportsShoes.com.

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