Features

As one of the oldest ultras in Kansas, Rockin’ K has had time to develop a bit of a reputation. After dwindling numbers in the 50-miler, the race organization decided to retire that distance (for now) and introduced the Rockin’ K 50K. Now runners can choose between a “marathon that’s really an ultra,” or they can run an actual ultra.

This spring Garmin introduced an entirely new product line with the release of the Enduro watch, a model that is something of a hybrid between the Forerunner and Fenix series, with a massive increase in battery life that makes it ideal for ultrarunners.

Runners often describe their KEYS100 race experience as “deceptively hard.” The course is nearly a straight shot along Overseas Highway until you reach Key West, is flat except for a handful of bridges along the way, and there are plenty of opportunities to meet your crew for whatever support you might need. And yet the finishing rate is around 60%.

As Kelyn Curitomay crossed over the Mexican border into Tijuana, she was both excited and nervous. The year prior, she had to drop to the 25k course during the Ultramaraton Baja 50K when the technical, hilly course got the best of her. In 2018, she was determined to complete the 50K distance and toed the line, feeling intense gratitude for how far she had come since she laced up her first pair of running shoes.

Adidas has traditionally kept a somewhat low profile in the trail and ultrarunning space, even with a string of solid offerings in their lineup. That profile should increase this summer with the release of the Terrex Speed Ultra, the result of two years of development and testing by Adidas athlete Tom Evaans during the Ultra-Trail World Tour.

The Pulse Endurance Runs held in Eagle Island State Park just west of Boise, Idaho, in late May reminded me why I love running 100 miles on a short loop course. Much of the aggravation that comes with running an unfamiliar point-to-point course is stripped away and you can concentrate fully on the distance and on the joy of pure running.

Janji is a Massachusetts-based company with a simple yet enormously challenging global vision: everyone should have access to clean drinking water. Janji donates 2% of all their proceeds to non-profit agencies supporting clean water projects around the globe. They also take environmental stewardship very seriously when it comes to their production models. Janji is not just a feel-good story; the apparel has the performance to back it up.

Merrell’s Antora 2 (women’s) and Nova 2 (men’s) are gender-specific trail running shoes with subtle construction modifications on the Antora to enhance fit and biomechanics for female runners.

Maloja’s lightweight men’s shirt and shorts are a functional combo for long miles on warm days. The shorts have a comfortable boxer brief liner and functional storage options, but come with a hefty price tag. The shirt has a generous overall fit, the fabric is extremely lightweight and highly breathable, and it’s also versatile as a base layer in cooler conditions.

Ask anyone at last month’s Canyons 100K which athlete was grinning ear-to-ear at aid stations and clearly having the absolute time of his life, and you’ll likely get one answer: Preston Cates. The 23-year-old finished in sixth place and was just 21 minutes off the podium in one of the most competitive ultras in the country—and this was just his third official ultra finish.

The 22nd Chubb 25 & 50K was held on April 17, 2021 after a hiatus in 2020. In the months leading up to the start, I wasn’t sure if the St. Louis County restrictions would allow us to run our normal race with a mass start, a smorgasbord of ultra snacks and a post-race barbeque. However, since I am writing this report, you can assume that some kind of race actually happened. Here’s how it went down.

If you’ve ever used the word “pleasant” to describe a 100-mile race, it’s likely going to be the C&O Canal 100 near Knoxville, Maryland. Forget about tripping down technical trails, battling brutal heat or sub-freezing temps and facing quad-burning elevation. Instead, imagine banks of wildflowers, a wide river flowing nearby and a running surface free of rocks, ruts and anything that would require your attention.

Brighter days and longer miles during the spring months help build a base for fun adventures throughout the year. Just in time for your ramp up in training, we’ve tested a new crop of socks to keep your feet comfortable.

I made a long trip up to the still-thawing-out Pacific Northwest for the 19th Annual Peterson Ridge Rumble, previously advertised as a 40-miler, but really known to only be 60k. Either way, it’s a fast and runnable course with two big climbs and tons of flowy single track southwest of Sisters, Oregon, in the Deschutes National Forest.

When I found out that Terrain Trail Runners was adding a 100-mile distance to its Ozark Foothills lineup, I was beyond excited. This is a first-of-its-kind for the greater St. Louis area. We have a strong trail and ultrarunning community, but somewhat lack in the availability of races over 50 miles.

The last time I’d been to Zumbro was as a pacer during the blizzard of 2018, where I watched the trail disappear amidst wild raging winds and swirling piles of snow. In 2019, yet another blizzard had prevented the race from happening, followed by 2020, when it was canceled, along with most everything else. But in 2021, this southern Minnesota race was back. Things looked different, of course. The 17-mile race remained, but the 100-mile and 50-mile races were exchanged for a 34-mile option.

Salomon has had a longstanding commitment to socially responsible manufacturing practices, and this spring they are debuting a flagship running shoe that exemplifies this concept. The Index.01 is designed as a high performance road running shoe that is completely recyclable: it is made entirely of repurposed materials and is intended to be completely disassembled and recycled after its lifespan, with the raw materials incorporated into other Salomon products.

Saucony’s Kinvara and Peregrine shoes share similar DNA, even though one is a road shoe and the other is designed for trails. Both were born from the minimalist running shoe boom of the mid-2000s, combining sleek design with lightweight construction and just enough performance elements to allow fast but natural movement. Each of these models have been through a number of revisions since that time, but they haven’t strayed from their original mission and both received a few updates this spring.

Jeff Beaudoin had been waiting 10 years for this moment. On a cool September day in 2020, gusty winds blew high in the White Mountains of New Hampshire as three headlamps dotted the landscape and Jeff and his buddies ran along the rugged and rocky trail of the Presidential (Presi) Traverse. The 20+ mile point-to-point run brings runners and hikers along numerous peaks, and summits the highest mountain in the northeastern United States: Mt. Washington.

A longtime staple of the Arc’teryx lineup, the Atom SL (Super Light) Hoody has proven to be a versatile piece for hikers, runners and climbers alike. Designed as a dual purpose garment, this jacket bridges the gap between winter and spring seasons by acting as an effective layer under a shell or a standalone garment.

Instead of gathering in Hong Kong, Vibram Hong Kong 100 runners from across the world were offered an alternative: run it anywhere, on their own course. The rules were straightforward: run the course in Hong Kong without any official support from the race organizers, only if you were a local resident. Or, run and match the distance and elevation from wherever you live. That’s the brilliant part. 

Spring temperatures are often warm enough to ditch the jacket, but still too cold for short sleeves. That’s where long sleeve shirts come to the rescue. Having a variety of thicknesses to choose from allows you to customize the degree of insulation or ventilation you might need depending what temperature awaits outside.

UltrAspire is known for its innovative approach in the hydration vest space, and their design philosophy emphasizes minimizing the footprint of the vest against your body while still providing adequate storage for a variety of adventures. This spring, UltrAspire updated two of its popular unisex minimalist vests, the Alpha 4.0 and Momentum 2.0.

The King’s Highway Trail Race had its second annual race this year, held at Hobcaw Barony on the outskirts of Georgetown, South Carolina. The property includes more than 37 historic buildings and structures representative of the eras of both 18th and 19th century rice cultivation and 20th century winter retreats.

New to the market, the brand rnnr was co-founded by ultrarunners and offers fun gear for a running lifestyle. Their Cold Weather Running Beanie is a cozy cap that pulls on loosely and easily covers ears for maximum protection from the elements. The acrylic fabric is soft against the head and a thicker weave insulates during exposure to sleet and snow.

The Stone Mill 50 was named the RRCA National Championship Race ultramarathon for 2020, but as the spring unfolded, it became apparent that what we were hoping to offer was not likely going to be allowed. As race director, I did not relax until the day before race day at 5 p.m., when I knew county officers had left for the day and our permits were intact.

This year’s Hellcat 50K almost didn’t happen. Not only did the organizers have to contend with COVID, but highway construction wiped out part of the old course. If that wasn’t enough, Mother Nature dumped three inches of rain on the course the night before, turning the trail into a mudfest.

Donald Buraglio reviews the Altra Timp 3 trail shoe and new Altra Rivera road shoe.

It’s unusual to review a product almost two years after it first hit the market, but when presented an opportunity to test the COROS VERTIX, we were compelled. One of the company’s noteworthy attributes is their ongoing product improvement with software updates and new feature sets long after the initial launch, and the VERTIX has undergone some notable upgrades since its original release date.

New York-based filmmaker and ultrarunner Austin Meyer’s love for storytelling originated in the fourth grade after he got in trouble at school. Since then, Meyer, who released his film about the Western States Endurance Run, “Golden Hour,” just last year, has loved to tell stories. Whether they are about inspiring individuals or global crises, his knack both behind the lens and beyond is apparent.