For a few years now I’ve had my eye on the Arc of Attrition by UTMB, a brutal yet beautiful 100 mile ultramarathon that takes place every January along the South West Coast Path in Cornwall. It’s a race renowned for its wild conditions, remote beauty, and relentless elevation, making it one of the toughest winter ultras in the UK.

Training for the Cornish Winter

There’s an old saying among ultrarunners: a lot can happen in 100 miles. That’s certainly true, but one thing I can be pretty sure of for the Arc of Attrition is that I won’t be battling heatwaves this time. Unlike my previous races such as the South Downs Way 100 (2023) and the surprisingly hot UTS 100K in Snowdonia (2024), the Arc promises wind, rain, mud, and 16 hours of darkness.

So my training has been all about preparing for what a Cornish winter race might throw at me: slippery paths, relentless climbs, and long, cold nights.

Finding the Right Training Ground

I’ve been putting in the miles on the South Downs, close to where I live. The rolling chalk hills offer great elevation and steps to mimic the rugged ups and downs of the Cornish coastline. But the Downs don’t hold water like the South West Coast Path, so I’ve been hunting out routes that are muddier, more technical, and less well trodden — the kind that soak your shoes and test your patience.

These fiddly, uneven trails break your rhythm and force you to adapt — exactly the kind of training that pays off when the going gets tough at mile 80 in the middle of a storm.

Keeping My Shoes Dry and Race Ready

Running five days a week means my trail shoes are rarely dry for long. That’s where the Atacama Shoe Dryer has become a key part of my ultramarathon training gear.

It’s simple but brilliant. I get home from a run, pop my wet shoes on, press a button, and let it work its magic. No noise, no hassle, just perfectly dry shoes ready for the next day’s miles.

What I really appreciate is how gentle drying helps extend the life of my running shoes. Drying them on a radiator can weaken the glue and cause cracking over time. The Atacama uses low, steady heat to dry shoes safely — ideal when you’re relying on your kit to perform through months of wet winter training.

Ready for the Arc

With winter setting in, the long runs getting longer, and the Cornish coast looming ever closer, preparation is everything. Between the muddy miles and the quiet moments of night training, I’m building not just fitness but resilience — the kind the Arc of Attrition demands.

And thanks to tools like the Atacama Shoe Dryer, my shoes and my motivation are both staying in it for the long run.

Ben O’Connell is a trail runner and ultra marathon coach www.benoconnellcoaching.com