Articles by Amy Rusiecki
While most of the strength I built during CrossFit has long since been forgotten, there’s a term that stuck with me. CrossFit uses the term “goat” to define a movement that challenges you. Given my abilities, that meant...
When I think about the ultrarunning community, there are a few common themes that come to mind. Ultrarunners show up for each other. The community welcomes and supports everyone. And for me, the Vermont 100 (VT100) alway...
The author hugs Wes Judd, winner of the Vermont 100k in 2019. Photo: courtesy author I’ve been in the sport of ultrarunning for over 15 years. I started when I was in my late 20s, a plucky an...
The role of race director has many parallels to training for an ultra. Directing a race can be a time consuming and frustrating process and at times, it can test your patience and passion. I find that I often need to emp...
At this year’s Vermont 100 (VT100), I would yell, “Let’s hear it for the volunteers!” just before leaving each aid station and allow the crews (eagerly awaiting their runners) to do what I couldn’t appropriatel...
Seven Sisters Trail Race female podium (L-R, Bonnie Lathrop in second, Colleen Chase in third and Carmen Bango in first). Rebecca_González-Kreisberg For the past several years, I have directed the Seven S...
I’ve been a runner for about 30 years now, and an ultrarunner for nearly 15 years. Over the years and miles, I’ve learned a lot of lessons—often the hard way. I was asked to speak to a local running club about my expe...
On a Saturday morning in April, 17-year-old Will Draxler set off up the trail to begin his “design your own” 100-mile journey through the Hilltowns of Western Massachusetts. Will was a senior at the local Academy at Char...
Winter in New England is always full of cross-training, as it’s hard to maintain regular running without a bit of flexibility and creativity. Snow-covered trails, slick roadways and sub-Arctic temperatures often force...
I sit in my backyard, completely comfortable in the old camp chair. My shower and bed (and kitty cats) are mere feet away inside my house, and the temptation to give into these creature comforts is intense. I have run 10...
In this crazy year, I’ve found it hard to find inspiration. I think that I just wasn’t invested in anything enough to capture my imagination. Particularly, there was the struggle of trying to navigate the immense work st...
I’ll admit it. My mental game can be weak. Of all the muscles in my body that I train to prepare for an ultra, my brain is the most neglected and undertrained. And, in those late miles of an ultra, it’s a critical compon...
On Monday, April 20, I ran 26.2 miles around my community. I was supposed to be running from Hopkinton to Boston, but COVID-19 changed that. Still, I couldn’t allow Marathon Monday to pass without celebrating the best wa...
Just 90 minutes outside of Washington, DC, hides a gem of a trail in the George Washington Forest – a perfect ring of mountains just begging to be run. The Massanutten Mountain Trail circumnavigates this 71-mile mountain...
For 40-50 hours per week, I work as an environmental engineer organizing the logistics and operations of a municipal public works department. My entire involvement with running, including training, coaching and race dire...
Somewhere between winter and spring, lies the frustration of ice and mud season in the Northeast. This time of treacherous running can last anywhere from a week to a month, but the most challenging conditions are when bo...
Years ago, someone once told me that “snowshoeing made the winter bearable.” I would go farther than that and say snowshoeing makes the winter fun. I actually think it’s the secret training weapon of those ultrarunners w...
Over the past few years, runners like Kyle Robidoux have made the ultrarunning news for their participation in races. Kyle is a well-known fixture in the New England running scene, having completed races such as the Verm...
There has been a lot of discussion recently regarding the wide categorization of gender in ultrarunning. Conversations, policies and debates have centered around male versus female topics including where transgender athl...