My Ultra Marathon Training Journey: Building My 2026 Season
- 21 hours ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
1st April 2026 | Andy Hood
A Year Without a Plan… at First
As a child, the summer holidays felt endless. The sun always seemed to shine, the days stretched on forever, and the grass in the garden would turn that dry shade of brown, much to my dad’s frustration. These days, it’s the opposite. The years seem to speed up, and before I’ve really settled into one, I find myself already a quarter of the way through it. Somehow, we’re three months into 2026, and it feels like the right moment to pause and reflect.
I came into the year without a fully defined running plan. I knew I’d be in Chamonix in August for UTMB week, and Krispy Kreme had floated the idea of bringing back the Doughnut Run, but nothing was locked in. Towards the end of 2025, I’d made the decision to join a Runna maintenance programme, something to keep the legs ticking over and maintain a base level of fitness while I figured out what I actually wanted to aim for.
And I'd entered UTMB Arc of Attrition in late January, in all honestly I'm not sure what prompted me to enter a winter ultra, I am usually quietly training away for a Spring event as I am not one who loves the wet and the mud. But it was actually a great day. Read more about that on the Completed Ultras page
By late January, things started to take shape. Krispy Kreme and I confirmed we’d go again in early May. We named it Run for the Glaze, which felt very on-brand, and not long after that I wrapped up my existing training block and rolled straight into a 50K plan with Runna. Suddenly, there was direction again.
Shaping My Ultra Marathon Training Journey for 2026
February and March became about building endurance first, with a touch of speed layered in. Ultra marathon training takes commitment in all weathers, I needed that grit and determination through the start of the year as storm after storm arrived.
I added the North Downs 50 on August 1st, part of the Ultra Challenge series, and then towards the end of March, Toby from The Robin Cancer Trust asked if I’d join him for the South Coast 100 in September. Just like that, a year that had started with question marks was mapped out in detail. It’s funny how quickly things can shift, January felt open-ended, by March everything was locked in.
Events Completed
January 2026 - UTMB Arc of Attrition
Attrition is the quiet erosion of strength, the kind that happens step by step, mile by mile, and nowhere is that more evident than on the South West Coast Path. This isn’t a trail that breaks you in a single dramatic moment; it wears you down slowly, demanding constant focus over unforgiving terrain. Having run long stretches of it before, including a 170-mile post-cancer journey to Land’s End, I knew what it could take. So lining up for UTMB’s Arc of Attrition in the depths of winter, after months of telling myself this season was for recovery, felt like a contradiction. But the pull of the coast, the community, and the challenge itself proved stronger than logic. Choosing the shorter 25-mile route was a nod to experience, though the conditions, shaped by Storm Ingrid, still delivered the kind of relentless test the path is known for.
What stood out most wasn’t just the terrain, but the people and the shared experience along the way, familiar faces, fleeting conversations, and the quiet camaraderie that carries you through tough miles. Small moments grounded the run, even as the course demanded everything physically, right through to the brutal final climb where preparation met purpose. Crossing the finish line wasn’t about distance or speed, but resilience, a reminder of what the body can still do and the journeys that remain unfinished. The coast path still calls, as it always does, and while I don’t yet know what comes next, I know this: some challenges aren’t about pushing further, but about returning to something that still has more to give.
A Fresh Addition to the Rotation
Around the same time, it became clear that my trusty Asics Superblast 2s had reached the end of their journey. After more than 1,200 kilometres, they’d earned their retirement. They’ve been one of the best all-round shoes I’ve used, reliable over long distances, including ultras, but still capable of picking up the pace when needed. I’d held onto them slightly longer than usual, partly because I was waiting on the Superblast 3 launch, which had been rumoured for March.
When the 3s arrived, they were good, softer, with more energy return, but they didn’t quite give me what I wanted when it came to faster sessions. I just didn’t feel that same responsiveness.
That’s when I brought in the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5. Thanks to Run North West for sorting a great deal (and a seriously good colourway), they’ve quickly become a standout in the rotation. Light, stable, plated, and importantly, they deliver. I’ve already taken them through a pyramid session and a longer tempo run, and both times I was ahead of target pace without forcing it. That’s always a good sign.
An Unexpected Opportunity with Runna
February also brought something unexpected. In the middle of the usual winter grind—cold mornings, wet runs, just getting the miles done, I got a message from the team at Runna asking if I’d consider becoming an ambassador. It’s not something I take lightly. I only ever align myself with products I genuinely use and believe in, and Runna ticks both boxes. The app has been a big part of my journey, from those early days coming back after cancer to now taking on ultras, and it’s something I’ve recommended countless times.
We made it official in March, and I’m genuinely proud to be part of what they’re building. It also means I can offer a two-week free trial of Runna Premium, so if you’ve been thinking about it, there’s really no excuse not to give it a go and come join me for a run.
As an ambassador I can give you access to a Runna Premium Free Trail - use code ANDY2 or the link below. So now you have no excuses to join me for a run.
Runna 2 week free trail - https://web.runna.com/redeem?code=ANDY2
More than that, though, I’m hoping this partnership evolves into something bigger, bringing Runna into the wider cancer awareness work I’m doing and supporting people navigating their own journeys.
That’s something I’m really excited about.
The Reality of Fundraising
Fundraising, as always, continues to be a challenge. The current climate doesn’t make it easy, but then again, I’m not someone who shies away from a challenge. Cancer continues to touch far too many lives. Just this week alone, I’ve heard about two people losing family members, and a 21-year-old being diagnosed with testicular cancer that has already spread. It’s a stark reminder of why all of this matters.
When I first got back into running, I set myself a goal of raising £10,000 for cancer charities. Since then, that number has passed £25,000, and the aim for this year is to push through £30,000. Krispy Kreme have stepped up in a big way, matching every pound raised during the Run for the Glaze ultra, with all proceeds going to ChemoHero. Every bit of support genuinely makes a difference.
I’ve got bigger ideas for where this can go, ambitious ones, and I know it’ll take a lot of work to get there. But having been through cancer myself, I know exactly how important that support is when you’re in it.
Donate to Run for the Glaze - supporting cancer charity ChemoHero
JustGiving
Beyond Running: Expanding the Message
Away from running, the past few months have been busy in other ways too. I launched Check Ya Balls, a testicular cancer awareness underwear brand, back in October. It’s been incredible to see the response, sales have been strong, and profits are being shared with two cancer charities. The aim is simple: get a pair into every man’s drawer, so that checking becomes second nature. A small habit that could genuinely save lives.
I also wrote and produced a song, Unbreakable, for anyone going through cancer. Seeing it out there, connecting with people across platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, has been something I didn’t quite know how to process at first, but it’s been amazing to watch it grow.
But now, the focus shifts back to running.
This year was always meant to be about stepping back slightly and deciding where I want to take both the running and the awareness work. The Krispy Kreme run is about community and supporting others, and every ultra I line up for will be run in my Check Ya Balls shorts, because they spark conversations, and those conversations matter.
At the same time, I know I need to think bigger again. More impact. More attention. More ways to get people talking and, ultimately, acting.
There are a number of ideas in the pipeline, some realistic, some probably a bit out there, but that’s part of the process. Some will happen, some won’t, but all of them are pushing things forward.
Looking back on the first three months of the year, I can honestly say I’ve loved it. I feel strong in my running, more settled in my direction, and clearer than ever about where I want to go next, with both the miles and the message.
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