Race Reports

Disarmingly beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the old-growth redwoods tease me with their grandeur, but I must keep my eyes on the trail. Certain …

In the wake of a series of severe storms that struck the Independence, Kansas area the week of the race, the rocky, technical, and rather remote FlatRock 101K course was …

Ozark Foothills is a gem of a race, taking place in forested Greensfelder County Park just 25 minutes from St. Louis. Along with a scenic and challenging course, two distinctions …

This is going to sound corny, but running FTPR this weekend felt like an old-timey ultra race. I really felt the sense of community and it renewed my faith that …

I always mean to write race reports for my own races, but all I end up with are drafts. I thought writing one for my girlfriend Stephanie’s race might go …

The inaugural Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 13 Hour Race in Seattle, Washington, started at 6:02 a.m. with first light, rain and wind of the day. Undeterred, the runners set off into …

All was quiet in the Old Growth Redwoods the night of Friday, May 20 as runners slept soundly – or not so soundly depending on their pre-race mindset – in …

Every single participant in the inaugural Merced River Canyon Endurance Runs set a new personal record at California’s Shortest Ultramarathon. Perhaps it was the unusually overcast day. Maybe it was …

The hills kept coming. Our buddy Otter had warned that this third section of the course, the 18-mile out-and-back to the Emma Carlin (mile 40) aid station, would be “objectively …

“Do an ultra,” they said, “it will be fun!” On Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the Ice Age Trail 50 Mile, they were right. And wrong. And then right, and …

It was fitting to run my first ultramarathon in my college hometown of Athens, Ohio. After rain every day the week before the race, I knew this would be a …

Set in the beautiful Northern California countryside, the BayTrailrunners Coastal Marin 50K rides high above Stinson Beach, across Mount Tamalpais, over the Marin Headlands and finishes with a crossing of …

At 1:14 a.m. in the Cuyamaca Mountains just outside of San Diego, California, a small lone headlamp headed toward the finish line of the Cuyamaca 100K Endurance Run.

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been asked “What is a PHUNT?,” I’d be in the middle of planning my next trail running vacation. Since I’m writing …

Sixteen months ago, a friend helped me realize how self-defeating thoughts and behaviors were affecting every area of my life, including my running and racing goals. Running took a back …

Nestled into the idyllic Bay of Plenty region on New Zealand’s North Island, there is a town that smells like no other. A famous tourist attraction for its geothermal activity, …

It was my third time making the journey out to Bald Head Island, North Carolina, to take part in Badwater Cape Fear 51.4 mile race. Traveling from south Florida, the …

The repeated phrase rang throughout the bright green finish area, “I can’t believe how deceivingly hard that trail is”. Hells Hills Endurance Run got this name for a reason. This …

Maybe it was the buzzards circling overhead, or maybe it was the 20,000+ feet of elevation change facing our 50-mile runners, but I knew this would not be an ordinary …

The second annual Peyton’s Wild and Wacky 5k Ultra was held on Saturday March 12th, 2016 at Laurel Hill Park in Mount Pleasant, SC. Its a beautiful park and one …

Thanks to good weather and volunteers the 22nd “A-OK” 25k/50k on March 6, near Atoka, Oklahoma, was a success. Finishers received jars of honey and cedar plaques made from a …

The single-track trail ascended in a series of switchbacks as far as you could see. The heat from the sun amplified the soul crushing fatigue I felt from having run …

Mario Lacerda’s vision for the Brazil 135 occurred after his failed Badwater 135 attempt in 2005. Although Mario had not summited Everest or won any 100 mile races—questions on the …

The Hellcat 50km race on Jan 9 2016, is held annually to commemorate the F6F Hellcat Navy fighter of WWII fame. It is held on the old Navy air base …

A runner’s greatest asset is “heart”, the ability to put it all on the line to block out all competition and to run as if you are the only one …

For many ultra runners Patagonia is a distant iconic image propagated by vivid imaginations of unscathed wild terrain and sharp edged peaks. A mysterious mountain running promised land of sorts, …

The idea for the Ultra Race of Champions 100K was conceived by its race director, James Russell Gill III. Gill, a Hoka One One sponsored athlete and long time ultrarunner …

Flagstaff Sky Race was a beautiful display of not only what Flagstaff has to offer mountain runners but of what hard work and a season of Skyrunning produces in the …

After a few relaxing days in the Tetons, we headed northeast to continue our 2015 Western adventure. Our destination was the Ghosts of Yellowstone 100-mile run in the Tobacco Roots …