UltraRunning October 2018
- Fall Shoe Review
- Coree Woltering Helps Re-Define the Sport
- Caffeine and Endurance
- Run an Aid Station Like a Pro
- Am I an Ultrarunner?
- Issues Facing the Sport: Some Interesting Questions
Participation in mountain, ultra and trail (MUT) races continues to grow by leaps and bounds each year. However, many people in the sport have little understanding of the role that USA Track & Field (USATF) plays in the MUT world. As a MUT representative with USATF and a member of multiple US Teams for World Championships, my goal with this article is to shed some light on that relationship and its history, as well as the history and structure of various World Championships in MUT.
The mystical beauty of the Oregon Coast harnesses thousands of visitors every year. Just drive Highway 101 any time between Memorial Day until the kids to return to school, and you’ll find a steady stream of cars filled with those who are dying to dip their toes into the 50-degree temps of the Pacific Ocean. Which is why early October is perfect for the Oregon Coast 50K, as runners begin looking for peaceful shores and deserted trails without having to worry about dodging seasonal tourists.
“3-2-1… Have Fun!” Without a crew or a pacer ahead, I am able to just run along. There was a spreadsheet, but I don’t need it now – I’m not going to be late for anyone.
The Cacapon 12 Hour Challenge Trail Run enjoyed a successful fifth running this year. Four of our runners received special awards for completing the run every year.
If you pull out the DVD from the 1986 Western States 100, there’s a shot of winner Chuck Jones descending toward the Rucky Chucky river crossing. He looks straight into the camera and says, “I love runnin’.”
By: Nick Bautista I returned to Pittsfield, VT. for my second attempt at my “white whale,” the Peak Races 500…
In early March, for the first time in nearly eight years, I started coaching high school running. Coaching high school…
In 2008, 2009, & 2010, I ran the Nashville, TN Ultra-Marathon (www.nashvilleultra.com) which is held in the fall (mid Oct/early Nov). The event offers distances from 50K thru 50 miles, but I did the 50 mile option each time. The course is 75% paved and 25% trails and alternates between paved greenways, grass trails, and several miles of asphalt through downtown Nashville.
Strava, the website and mobile app that first got its start in the cycling world, has slowly infiltrated the trail and ultra communities as runners become more comfortable merging technology with the meditative and natural delights of running.
At first glance, the North American all-time fastest road ultramarathon list looks like a time capsule: names and times from decades past, seemingly frozen in time. The bulk of those fastest- ever road and track performances were all logged over 20 years ago. In fact, the most recent entry onto the USA Top Ten list for the 50-mile distance was etched in 1990.
We are on the cusp of summer and some of the hottest ultra races are coming up fast. Last year both the San Diego 100 and Western States 100 saw brutally high heat, which led to a record low 47% finishing rate. I am going to review heat preparation and management strategies in this article, but the bottom line is you should try many things to determine what works best for you.
Oh, if only running and racing to one’s potential was just about running, wouldn’t that be wonderful? It would make life so much simpler and I truly believe that many more “weekendwarriors” would be up on the podium at competitive ultras. But the more I run, the more I realize that it’s the “extra stuff” that all goes towards truly fulfilling one’s potential as a runner, which is hard, as all I really want to do is run, and all I often feel I have time for is to run.
UR Congratulations on your big win at Way Too Cool, that was way impressive! Can you give us a little…
One great thing about our sport of ultrarunning is the variety of places and conditions that we have to choose…
This year marked the ninth year of the Antelope Island Buffalo Run and once again, several hundred runners showed up…
Last month I described some fun ways to get to know your new training partner, your heart rate monitor! The…
By Cory Reese Mormon pioneers named the canyon and surrounding areas “Zion”, meaning “a place of refuge”. Those pioneers undoubtedly…
By David Horton So, you’re thinking about doing an ultra or looking for a new challenge? Completing an ultra may…