2025 has been a year of growth so far as I recover from an injury. It’s also been a year of newness, as I train in new trails in a new province under the guidance of a new coach.

We’ve focused more on running efficiency – touching more roads already in April than all of last year. We’ve even added some sub-ultra races to the calendar to kick off the year (SO SPEEDY!).

But the changes to my approach are also far more about the behind the scenes work, which has been more detailed than ever before. Here’s what’s changed beyond the running notes I highlighted in my previous post: Maybe I do like to run 🤷.

A SUB-ULTRA START

From the start of my trail running journey, I’ve exclusively run trail marathons and 50K’s. Sulphur Springs 20K was my only true sub-ultra race, and certainly my only fast-paced race.

But having spent five months out injured in 2024 and a total of seven on and off with running, I decided to focus on shorter races to start 2025. I’m still signed up for my favourite race – the QMT 50K, which this year hosts both a World Trail Major and the National Championships. That’s my big goal race of the year.

But instead of having a few 50K’s under my belt before then, I’ve stuck to 30K’s. I switched my Black Canyon 50K to be Javelina’s 30K option this coming October, and dropped down from the Gorge Waterfalls 50K into the super-fast 30K in April.

My first impression of sub-ultra racing on the trails is that it reminds me of cross-country. Everyone is faster and can run at a hotter pace, but I still do okay enough to hold on and finish strong. It’s definitely not my speed, and my mountain legs were a lot less important, but doing enough of them has a lot of potential to get me faster for when I do return to 50K’s.

Following that approach, I’ll be taking on the longest name in trail running next – the Trail du Coureur des Bois de Duschesnay 34K. I’ll be speaking French and hanging with the XACT team, while trying to run another speedy sub-ultra race.

The goal of all of these 30K’s will be to focus on running fast and efficiently, rather than spending big days in the mountains too far out from my goal race.

This time last year, I had spent most of my runs on snowy, muddy, technical trails and only touched roads on trail crossings.

I even created a little loop on Strava called the ‘Borer’s Falls Loop‘, which features a lot of stairs, technical rock, and pure climbing and descending.

This year, I’ve barely touched snow or rock. And I feel more efficient as a runner than ever before, yet my mountain legs haven’t gone anywhere.

The famous of famous trail runners have often chronicled that they reached their best fitness for things like hundred-milers by focusing on a build toward a half-marathon.

To some extent I think this is crazzzy. And to some extent, I also know this to hold value, because everyone I know of a similar ability to me can run a faster road half marathon. And I know that’s where I can bridge the gap from being a really good trail runner to a really good runner (an ‘RGR’ maybe if that sounds cool enough?).

So this year, I almost want to train like I’m racing half-marathons (trail 30K’s with 1,000m of elevation gain aren’t totally different, right?). I then want to see how that applies to my performance at longer mountainous races like the QMT 50K and UTHC 65K, if I stick with the distance and a face-off against some fun Quebec frenemies.

But I’ve even had the thought of applying for the elite field at UTHC 28K and just making this a pure sub-ultra 30K year. It wouldn’t be the most Le Fun for me, but it might be the best way to Le Duh this thing and get better ahead of Le Fun 50K’s again next year.

CROSS TRAINING

At the tail-end of 2024, I fell in love with a new cross-training machine.

Before this, I had only ever done four methods for cross-training:

• Cycling
• Swimming
• Pool Running
• Hiking

Cycling helped to get me through plantar fasciitis, a torn hamstring, a broken toe and a broken collarbone. So I’d spent many hours on an indoor bike. And I think when you’re injured, you have to find just one cross-training tool that can help to keep you sane and active. One that doesn’t put any strain on the body, and hopefully, helps to heal rather than hinder.

With my knee injury, I couldn’t cycle. So my preferred choice went out the window. I did a lot of hiking, but felt like I’d make it worse, and could never even get my heart-rate up to a level where it felt like I was doing anything for my fitness.

Then on a random weekday, I discovered the arc-trainer.

I’d heard of arc-trainers being used by Parker Valby and Allie Ostrander. But like many, I’d never given it a try.

Fast forward five months later, and it’s easily my favourite cross-training machine ever. Here is why I love the arc-trainer:

✅ The movement puts next to no pressure on the knee.
✅ You can get your heart-rate up higher than cycling or elliptical.
✅ The movement is more similar to running than a traditional elliptical or any other gym machine.

So within the structure of a week, Jade will often give me 2-3 cross-training sessions a week, and I’ll always go on the arc-trainer.

I find it easier to stay engaged than an indoor bike, and that it even helps me think about running biomechanics, like cadence.

In order to go faster you push either your arms harder OR *ding ding ding* turnover your legs quicker. Turning my legs over at that speed has helped my body naturally develop a better cadence back on the trails, and consciously think about my steps more carefully.

When injured, I never really looked forward to a day on the bike or a swim in the pool. But now I look forward to my cross-training days almost as much as my run days.

Almost as much because running is so much more Le Fun. But also because the arc-trainer just feels so much more similar to running than anything else I’ve tried.

STRENGTH TRAINING

One of the other major changes of the year in working with Jade is a whole new strength set-up. I previously did David Roche’s speed legs routine once a week, adding a few of my own favourite exercises. I did the same exercises every single week, never really adding more or less resistance, and never stepping foot inside a gym.

But this year, thanks to Jade, I’ve done things I never did before. I never used machines at the gym. I didn’t even know how!

Now I know how to use at least five machines at the gym, which is a 500% increase, I think.

I like doing the banded exercises better than unbanded now (not a word apparently). I like adding weights to my pilates exercises now (still unbanded). I foam roll more. I can do pull-ups. I even strength it up twice a week!

I mean, I notice the difference when opening doors. Let me tell you.

And it’s just been cool to focus more on my upper body than ever before, and be able to notice the differences. I like the feeling of being stronger.

I’m still figuring all of this strength stuff out and the right balance with training, as I often feel more knee pain or muscle tightness after strength sessions. But I know that this will pay dividends at a strength + skill focused race like QMT, and I’m excited to put those mountain legs to use!

So those are some of the major changes to my approaches in 2025. Sometimes it takes a new coach and a new environment, but sometimes it also just takes a diligent gaze into what you’re not doing that others might be, and how that might help to reach that next level.

That’s what I’ve tried to do in recovering from injury at the start of 2025, as I build towards Nationals in July.

Thanks for reading and see you soon!