TrailAndUltraRunning.com - Ultra Marathons and Trail Running

Posted by UltraEm on Jun 19, 2013

Using Cutoffs as a Pacing Strategy: Putting P50 to Rest

Executive Summary for Those Who Hate Long Pointless Race Reports: Your sport should be fun, and if it’s not mostly fun then do something else; if you don’t love running fast, run slow; if you don’t love running slow, hike; if you don’t love being on your feet, cycle; if not that, something else. Find that place where you can live with yourself, where you are stretched but fulfilled. Life is short –...

Posted by MissingNail on Jun 18, 2013

Lessons From Weeks of Higher Mileage Running

Last week I successfully completed another big block of training. With my legs fully encased in my recovery compression tights I took a few moments to reflect. Like most ultra runners there’s more to the daily to-do list than stretch, lace and run. Life is busy and we have to make the most out of the time we have. Planning large blocks of training can be challenging but they are necessary for success...

Posted by elizabethjayne on Jun 17, 2013

My Journey to the Best 100 Miler: A San Diego 100 Race Report by Olga King

I’m excited to share one of the best running stories this year: Olga King‘s slam dunk San Diego 100. 78 degrees at 7am and it only got hotter from there; 2 rattlesnakes, 2 skunks and a cougar 8 miles from the finish; no pacers; no crew….just solid execution and a sub 24 finish for 4th female. The self-proclaimed freight train that never stops proved it again. She’s raced over 100...

Posted by MattWilliams on Jun 14, 2013

The Amazing Race – My First 100

Defining what an “Amazing Race” is will be different for each one of us. Going into my first 100, I felt like I had prepared well but still had a lot of ‘unknowns’ remaining that had me conjuring up images of extreme suffering, pain and ‘gutting it out to the finish’. The reality was quite different – I had an absolutely enjoyable time. There were plenty of tired,...

Posted by MissingNail on Jun 13, 2013

Running from Failure

People see failure in a lot of ways. And who’s to really say who’s to judge (if I missed a “whom” moment there then you can see me as a failure). For me, I have a certain criteria of what failure is and how it can be fixed. Failure to me is not making the most of your life and health. When I was younger I was a huge failure. I was lazy, fat, smoked and drank through high school…as in before class, during...

Posted by CraigLloyd on Jun 11, 2013

Gear Review – 2013 UltrAspire Spry

The Spry, by UltrAspire, is a race vest was inspired by ultra running great Krissy Moehl. While she prefers to run and race with handheld water bottles, she also recognizes the need to carry the essentials. The result has been the Spry race vest. This sleek vest offers the traditional vest pockets up front; one zip with trash collection pocket and a cinch mesh pocket on the other side. Additionally it...

Posted by Nicholas on Jun 10, 2013

No More Trail Intimidation

There was a time when running long distances on trails was crazy talk. With the proliferation of trail races, events, and series, the thought of trail running isn’t nearly as crazy as before. The mystique of the unknown may still lurk in the background, but the same can’t be said about the intimidation factor. The mindset has changed. Weekend warriors and road runners are welcoming the...

Posted by mkreuzer on Jun 4, 2013

So you want to Run a Faster Ultra Marathon? Back to Basics

Simple, if you run faster you’ll run a faster ultra. You’re thinking, that was a waste of click…BUT wait! Seriously, in the ultra marathon world we focus a lot on distance…duh…but we often forget about speed and what it does for you. Now, I know a lot of us are simply trying to survive the race – me included – but the benefit of speed can really help you have a...