This article explores how these athletes—and their coaches—navigated the critical stretch between those summer “A” races and the World Championships using smart recovery, strategic training and data-informed decisions to peak again when it mattered most.
Few trail races begin with compulsory mountaineering helmets, but the unusual start of the Kailas FUGA Gongga 100 Extreme Glacier Challenge was different from most races.
Although Twisted Branch is just one Saturday in August, its impact on the people in the community, the runners that train for it and perhaps, most importantly, the longevity of the Bristol Hills Branch, stretches much farther.
This year’s race was difficult to pull off due to the aftermath of two major fires that affected the race at both the start in Wrightwood (WW) and the finish in Altadena.
Running events of 200 miles or longer are increasing in popularity year after year. The time and resources necessary for training, traveling, participating in the actual race and recovering from multiple days and nights on foot are significant.
I cannot say that I like aging or finishing dead last or making sure of generous cutoffs before I sign up for a race, but running also hasn’t stopped offering many life lessons.