Running is a decidedly simple sport. You don’t need a team, opponent or a lot of gear. It’s seemingly the perfect sport for the miserly – until you start ultrarunning. The costs of ultrarunning can easily pile up faster...
Articles by Pam Smith
At the end of August I spent time at Six Days in the Dome, crewing a runner and providing general assistance to many other participants in the race. I had a front row seat to all of the action and the rollercoaster of em...
Women make up an equal share (or more) of sub-ultra race finishers, but they are under-represented in the ultra world. One of the reasons is lack of time to train due to the demands of parenting. Of course, family obliga...
I received the following text from my friend, Danielle, after she successfully completed her first ultra: I’m not sure I’ve ever been this sore before!Any tips for the recovery process?A great training plan will prepare...
“I’m running my first 100-miler next month. How long would you suggest I taper prior to the race, and should I do anything different beforehand?”—JakeGreat question! You’ve picked your event, put in months of hard work,...
If you are like most ultrarunners, you probably have several dream races on your bucket list. Whether it is an iconic race like Western States, Hardrock or UTMB, or a local gem that you have your eye on, there’s a good c...
It seems to me that ultrarunners pack all of their insecurities into a drop bag. Running really long distances through rugged terrain at all hours of the day can be daunting, and as such, drop bags can get unwieldy. It’s...
This is the time of the year when most people have shaken off the winter cobwebs and are starting to get into the thick of training. Not many people become an ultrarunner if they don’t like running, and as such, I think...
Dear Pam,“I have only been running 18 to 20 miles and am looking to complete my first marathon. I am intrigued to run farther and faster. I have been injury-free up until last year, but I am currently working through pla...
I’m sitting here writing with my right butt cheek propped up on an ice pack. It’s been three days since I last ran, and I am itching to get back at it. It doesn’t help that last week I finally decided to commit to two ra...
Last month’s column was dedicated to vitamin supplements and their possible benefits. But there are hundreds of other WADA legal substances sold with promises of improving athletic performance. (WADA banned substances sh...
Ultrarunners are obsessive people particularly when it comes to health. We are all cognizant of the stresses those extra miles can wreak on our health and we like to do what we can to mitigate the negative effects. One o...
Gearing up for a longer ultra, such as a 100k or a 100-miler requires a dedicated training plan with particular focus on getting more miles and more time on feet. One way to accomplish this is with back-to-back long runs...
Recently a friend sent me a frantic e-mail: “I got my Inside Tracker report and I am basically the most unhealthy individual ever. I am surprised I am able to get out of bed based on the results.” This wasn’t a first for...
As the temperatures rise through the summer months, so does the ultrarunner’s needs for fluid replacement. Figuring out how much you need to drink requires a bit of research, some educated guesses and a lot of experiment...
Ultrarunners are a group with an intense love of running. It’s such a strong attraction that ultrarunners are willing to give up half days, normal meals, social engagements and even sleep to keep running. But training to...
If you spend any amount of time talking about ultrarunning nutrition, you are almost certain to hear the term “fat adapted.” The general idea is that a “fat adapted” athlete will be very efficient at burning fat and thus...
There’s nothing like spring weather to get you excited about buying a new pair of kicks, but with so many options out there, which ones are right for you? The 2009 publication of Born to Run spurred a minimalist trend...
Hi and Happy New Year! I am excited to be joining the UltraRunning Magazine team for 2018. In this column, I plan to dissect some general questions in ultrarunning while applying my basic philosophy that no issue is just...