While running far, climbing mountains and moving for hours on end are keys to success for ultramarathons, we should not overlook the benefits of running faster as we traipse over the trails. There are basic drills and tactics which all trail and ultrarunners can deploy, even in the depths of winter, that have considerable benefits.
In 2015, I had just read “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall, where I learned that people run 100 miles at a time. While eating pizza and calling each other names? Professional runners. Not everyday parents that have ordinary office jobs. I put the book away, but the thought lingered. I could never run 100 miles, obviously. Or could I?
With a wise approach to layering, it’s possible to stay warm and dry and avoid concern for hypothermia or frostbite. Empower yourself to be confident, comfortable and safe in a wide range of weather conditions. Fine-tune your system using these basic suggestions as a starting point and test your layering tactics against whatever the elements deliver and enjoy what winter running has to offer.
The holidays are here. Is your wish list complete? For those of you who may be new to ultrarunning or are transitioning from a road background to the off-road scene, there are a few items that can help make the shift easier.
Now that you’ve made the decision to do this ultra marathon thing, how do you go about choosing your first 50k ultra running event? I reached out to some of my good friends across North America who are coaches, race directors and ultra running legends for their personal recommendations.
Compared to shorter ultras you may have completed, the 100-mile race is a strange and formidable beast and nothing like bowling. It’ll be harder than anything you’ve done before, so here are some ways to prepare and ensure your first hundo is a success.