Welcome to The Journey to 100 Miles Wave 1 and the beginning of a 20-week training program based on Wave Running. These notes apply to The Journey to 100 Miles as I prepare and run the Feral Pig 100 Mile Ultra on the Bibbulmun Track near Perth, WA.
As much as possible, the notes are generally applicable to any Wave 1 in a Wave Running Training Program.
Wave 1’s in the Stock Market
From an Elliott perspective in the markets, Wave 1’s (moving upward) come after a long pause or downward movement. As Wave 1’s, they are the beginning of a change in trend, and not everyone in the market is necessarily convinced about that!
Market behaviour can be a bit choppy and sometimes volatile but usually displays an increase in trading volume and breadth.
Wave Running Wave 1’s
In terms of Wave Running, Wave 1’s are the beginning of the training program. You might be starting after a break in training, perhaps after your last event or possibly after an injury or illness. Alternatively, you might be starting a whole new challenge. Either way, the program begins after a pause, just like a stock market Elliott Wave 1. And you might even think of it as a change in “trend” as well, also just like the stock market.
And to be honest, just like stock market traders, there might be times when you are not convinced about the direction of your program in the early stages! 
Wave 1 Volumes
The volumes in wave 1 are low but increasing. There are no great heights, or kilometres, as you establish yourself in a training program again – or perhaps for the first time.
If you’re like me, you may be prone to over-training, or perhaps you haven’t had much of a break before starting the program. In that case, the low volumes act as a good discipline to help make sure you don’t overdo things.
It’s worth pointing out that the volumes are gentle at the start of Wave 1. Rest weeks later in the program have more training volume than these early weeks.
It’s also important not to be tricked by this. Wave Running provides a systematic and calculated method for determining training volumes throughout the program.
So use these early low volumes to establish your discipline and your form.
Volatility & Intensity
Markets exhibit volatility and strength. Although not precise, there are guidelines about this for different Elliott Waves in the markets. The parallel in our Wave Running training programs is intensity.
While also not precise, there are guidelines about training intensity for our Wave Running training programs.
Please see the related blog on Volume and Intensity for more detailed information.
The Journey to 100 Miles Wave 1
As per the volume and intensity guidelines, I included a moderate amount of intensity in my wave 1 program.
Strength training is important for trail and ultra running. It helps to run up and down those hills. General core strength is also essential to maintain form for an extended period and to negotiate the twists, turns, rocks and roots found in ultra running. This is especially so for the more “mature” runner, like me! 
I included some HIIT training (Insanity) in my program to help with strength. Insanity is functional, gives a full-body workout and doesn’t need any equipment!
I also managed to get out onto the Bibbulmun Track and run a small part of the event course. This gave me a mix of low and higher intensities and valuable experience on some tricky parts of the event course.
The rest of my runs were low intensity around the river!