Abby Hall wasn’t even guaranteed a spot at the race until weeks before, inheriting a Golden Ticket after EmKay Sullivan deferred her entry. Just two years removed from a broken leg that required surgery at the renowned Steadman Clinic, Hall had every reason to doubt whether this was the year—but she didn’t.
This year’s race was once again broadcast across the globe via the livestream produced by the Mountain Outpost team. However, if you were in attendance, the magic at the start all the way up to mile 4 at the escarpment was palpable.
Now that it’s been a while, beyond post-race endorphins, I can truly say that it was the privilege of a lifetime and an experience I know will bond us closer for the rest of our lives.
Many ultrarunners will tell you their crews have the hardest job between the start and finish line of an ultra. After crewing for over 150 100-mile trail races, I can tell you the difficulty of the job actually depends on the race.
Unfortunately, after years of training and racing in the mountains, some of us have had to battle bone injuries—more specifically: stress fractures. If you have ever had a stress fracture, you know that the recovery is long and tedious. Here are some ways to keep your risk level low.
It’s easy to believe elite ultrarunners are doing something that’s top secret. But after speaking with Rod Farvard, Shea Aquilano, Jeff Mogavero and their respective coaches, one thing is clear: they follow the same training principles as everyone else. What’s different is the scale and the precision at which they execute.