Like many facets of athletics; steeplechase, hurdles, etc., the skills must be acquired by practice. Good descenders all try to perfect their technique through practice on the varying terrain available. The technique required is to lean forward and land with slightly bent knees. A good descent brings out the "WheeEE..." factor in everybody. Falls are surprisingly rare as the body adjusts rapidly to the speed and terrain. The runner must concentrate on his footing (picture) with the occasional glance up to ensure he/she doesn't go in the wrong direction. The motivation for faster descents in Ireland is often a great thirst as the race start/finish here is generally beside a pub!

In some countries in Europe which touch the Alps, mountain races can be uphill only. They often feature 1,300 metres of climb or more and no descent. At the finish, the competitors must walk or drive down. However, throughout the rest of the world, mountain races go up and down. Good descenders like 1995 World Champion Lucio Fregona can pass 4 or 5 international level runners on the descent to win races. The lure of the descent is generally the main attraction for most mountain running afficionados who just can't miss that adrenalin rush!

A 10k mountain race demands the effort required for a 15k road or cross country race, a 20k one the effort for a 30k road event. Athletes should prepare with hill training and a mix of long intervals, fartlek and steady running. Preparation for the descent is beneficial, and can be achieved by training on a longish grassy slope. The technique mentioned above is effective, but downhill training should only be done sparingly as it's demanding on the body. You should never train on hard surfaces for descending.