Even as I write this, several weeks after finishing, I am still dealing with a fairly severe case of swamp ass. Perhaps that is a bit of an exaggeration, but yeah, it was hot that day. It usually is at this race. When it...
Articles by Zach Adams
Ultras are somewhat difficult by definition. Can you run an ultra on very limited training? Yes. The mind is incredibly strong. Should you run an ultra on very limited training? That depends on how bad you want to hurt d...
In a span of about three years I took my running to a level it had never been before. I accomplished things I never dreamed possible. The ultrarunning fire was burning hotter than a nuclear reactor. But something happene...
After more than six years consistently training for and running ultras and 10 years of long distance running, I find myself on a completely new trail. I am much less comfortable on this trail than I have been on any othe...
“Ebb and flow” is an expression that the Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms defines as “a recurrent or rhythmical pattern of coming and going, or decline and regrowth.” I love this definition and think that it describes...
Hey, ultrarunners! Mid-Pack Zach here with some great tips on how you can step up your humblebragging game. You didn’t train that body until it was like a finely tuned Ford Pinto and manage to stumble across the finish l...
A good ultra gives you the opportunity to have fun. A great ultra supplies a challenge that tests the limits of your abilities. An outstanding ultra places you head to head against yourself, other racers, the trail, the...
From the middle of the pack… I see the sun rising, lighting and warming the day and breathing life into the runners on the course. I see aid station tables that have been rummaged through but still have a plentiful...
Notice it is “P,” and not “pee.” While it is important when it comes to training in the heat, this article is not about taking a leak. Here are my “four Ps” for the mid-pack runner to keep in mind while looking to improv...
Disclaimer: I am not a coach – unless I consider myself my own client – so keep in mind that just because something worked for me does not mean that it will work for everyone. My method of self-training has developed thr...
Why would I willingly participate in an activity that beats my body to the point that walking to the bathroom becomes nearly impossible? Why is it worth doing when it makes me shed toenails more often than a snake sheds...
The morning was crisp but not cold. The extremely dry Colorado air had a lingering smoky smell from the haze that had drifted in courtesy of the ongoing California wildfires. As my crew (my wife Candi and best buddies Er...
This piece is inspired by a presentation given by Dr. David Horton—yes, that David Horton—the night before the 2014 Epic Ultras Prairie Spirit 100 in Ottawa, Kansas. His presentation was “Lessons Learned from 100,000 Mil...
The many crazy, wonderful people that I have met while running or volunteering at ultras have overwhelmingly been of extremely high character and integrity. They have also shown a willingness to share and sacrifice in wa...
I was recently asked, “Zach, your crewing article was great, but I am not really wanting to sit on my butt for hours just to pop blisters, make sandwiches and fill water bottles… what about pacing?” Well, my friend, that...
If you are not a runner yourself, but have crewed for an ultrarunner, you probably have no trouble remembering your first time. It is pretty unforgettable. You likely felt like a fish out of water. At the very least, you...
When you run a 100-mile foot race, it is easy to think of yourself as some kind of superhuman. After all, you are voluntarily covering a distance on foot that a percentage of people very close to zero ever even attempt....
Burnout: When running becomes nothing more than work and the fun has “left the building.” You are seemingly only running out of a sense of obligation. You may experience a general lack of motivation. When you reach the p...