Staff Blogs

Tall tales from the outdoors. Outside staff are often to be found running over moors, trekking up mountains and climbing up everything from high mountains to Stanage boulders. Occasionally they'll even be caught squeezing under mountains, and every year at least two of them will find some way to climb a frozen Kinder Downfall. When we can persuade them to stop moving for long enough, we get them to write it all down and share some of the photos they've taken. Welcome to the Outside staff blogs.

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Tom's last Everest Marathon?

The Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon takes place on 29th May each year. It started in 2003, the brain child of Bikram Pandey of Himex Nepal, to mark the historic first ascent of Everest in 1953. It attracts an international gathering of proper serious mountain runners ...plus me. Continue reading →

This entry was posted in Shop News & Staff Blogs, Shop News & Events, Staff Blogs and tagged Tom Richardson, Marathon, Himalayas, Running, Staff Blog, ultra marathon, Ultra running, mountain running, mountain ultra on 16th June 2022 by Tom Richardson.
Marathon Des Sables - Equipment and Logistics for a Multi-Day Desert Race

Outside Guest Blog: Wes Cole offers an expert guide to the gear and logistics needed to tackle the Marathon des Sables, one of the world's most gruelling ultra races.

Continue reading →

This entry was posted in Buying Guides, Reviews, Running, Shop News & Staff Blogs, Staff Blogs, Clothing, Rucksacks, Running and tagged Running, ultra marathon, Ultra running, running gear, marathon des sables, ultra race, running equipment, race equipment, ultra race gear on 9th May 2022 by admin.
The Dragon's Back 2021 - so near and yet so far...

It’s five hours into day five and I have arrived at the Usk Reservoir support point with just 15 minutes before the cut-off time. The welcoming team of volunteers hustle me towards a chair, give me my re-supply bag and refill my water bottles. They allow Jane to join me...

This entry was posted in Shop News & Staff Blogs, Shop News & Events, Staff Blogs and tagged Running, Trail Running, ultra marathon, Training for a marathon, Ultra running, chris harle, training, mountain running, Dragon's Back, marathon training, Dragon's Back mountain race on 27th September 2021 by Chris Harle.
Dragon's Back Ultra Race - ready for anything

The Dragon’s Back Race has become an obsession - most of my waking hours are preoccupied with training and fitness, the route and race strategy, kit requirements and all things ultra running. Although multi-day ultrarunning is new to me I am confident that I have done everything possible to get...

This entry was posted in Shop News & Staff Blogs, Shop News & Events, Staff Blogs and tagged Running, Trail Running, ultra marathon, Training for a marathon, Ultra running, chris harle, training, mountain running, Dragon's Back, marathon training, Dragon's Back mountain race on 20th August 2021 by Chris Harle.
Trad climbing with your kid

I suppose this is a piece of writing about assumptions. For example, I assumed the pandemic would be a wholly negative experience, and indeed it has been devastating for many. But there have been some bright spots on the scene, like the phenomenal effort keyworkers have made in keeping things...

This entry was posted in Shop News & Staff Blogs, Shop News & Events, Staff Blogs and tagged climbing, Trad Climbing, BMC, lockdown, lead climbing on 4th August 2021 by Guest Contributor.
Tilley Hats Review

A long term investment - or Finders, Keepers! Some products in the outdoor industry are more hi-tech than others. The Tilley T3 hat that I stumbled across back in 2005 is one of the more time-honoured designs. I found said Tilley hat, lost by its previous owner, floating gently on...

This entry was posted in Reviews, Shop News & Staff Blogs, Shop News & Events, Staff Blogs, Clothing and tagged walking, hiking, Tilley, Tilley hats, sun protection, headwear, hats, caps, Steve Hartley on 23rd July 2021 by Steve Hartley.
Wainwright’s Coast to Coast to Conclusion

When I previously wrote about our west to east walk following the route invented by the legendary guidebook writer Alfred Wainwright from Coast to Coast, we had reached the lovely market town of Richmond in North Yorkshire on 8th October 2020. Progress was halted shortly afterwards by the current governments’...

This entry was posted in Shop News & Staff Blogs, Staff Blogs and tagged Tom Richardson, hiking, coast to coast, long distance walking, Wainright, wainrights, c2c, long distance trails, national trail on 7th June 2021 by Tom Richardson.
The Dragon’s Back Ultra - Training

5 months to go and Wales is about to open up Splitting logs was not a good idea. A warm house perhaps, but also a muscle spasm protecting a jarred back. This was the first injury since starting my Dragon’s Back training schedule exactly six months ago. Fortunately, it occurred...

This entry was posted in Staff Blogs and tagged Running, Trail Running, ultra marathon, Training for a marathon, Ultra running, chris harle, training, mountain running, Dragon's Back, marathon training, Dragon's Back mountain race on 1st April 2021 by Chris Harle.
Beating the Lockdown Blues

Shipton, Blank on the Map - a rare 1st edition My strategy for beating the lockdown blues is in two parts. I got the idea for 'bookshelf expeditions' from a book in my bookcase that belonged to my Dad. It is called Blank on the Map and it was written by...

This entry was posted in Shop News & Staff Blogs, Staff Blogs and tagged mountaineering, Tom Richardson, Expedition, Himalayas, winter walking, Peak District, walking, hiking, Books on 1st February 2021 by Tom Richardson.
Lockdown training for the Dragon's Back

It is tempting to grumble about the current situation and how it might be affecting my training for The Dragon’s Back mountain race in September, but of course compared to most I have nothing to complain about. All I have to do is look out the window to realize how lucky...

This entry was posted in Staff Blogs and tagged Marathon, Trail Running, Leki, ultra marathon, fell running, ultimate direction, Ultra running, chris harle, lockdown, mountain running, Dragon's Back, Dragon's Back mountain race, Sea to Summit, Ortlieb, mountain race on 21st January 2021 by Chris Harle.