Articles by Amy Clark
There aren’t many people who can say they discovered ultrarunning after meeting a few legends of the sport on a 10-day trek in the Arctic Circle. But that’s exactly what happened when Sandi Nypaver overslept one fateful morning in college.
Finding the right running tights can be tough. We’ve tested a few models, some which offer comfort, fit, protection or a little of each, to help make selecting the right ones just a bit easier.
Big races coincided early in the season this year, as Black Canyon Ultras lined up runners in Arizona for the 100k Golden Ticket race just as the Barkley Marathons sent runners on loop one a few hours before in Tennessee...
Sponsored by Topo Sarah Carter began her freshman year of college like most high school graduates. She was excited to move from her home in Phoenix, Arizona, to the University…
Entering a new year and a new racing season feels like a fresh start, especially if you’re entering a new age group. The milestone can signify a potential for faster competition or an opportunity to see what you’re still...
Keeping a healthy perspective on a 12-month training calendar means having goals for all “seasons” in the sport: training, racing and off-season. Now is the time to embrace those off-season goals in preparation for the y...
Hiking into Oregon’s Mt. Jefferson Wilderness with a pack and a 6-foot crosscut saw balanced over one shoulder, I felt a desire for true adventure for the first time as a young college student. Clearing trails for the US...
John Trent sits down with Western States’ winners, Caleb Olson and Abby Hall, to find out more about what led each of them to victory on race day.
Altra’s Experience line of running shoes offers a natural running experience for users with added support and comfort in three unique models: Flow, Form and Wild. With the recent release of the second iteration in May, we put the Wild 2 to the test on trails throughout Central Oregon.
What struck me the most at this year’s Western States was the work of the incredible number of volunteers. They were managing aid stations like well-oiled machines, all while having some fun during the long, hot hours on...
This year’s race was once again broadcast across the globe via the livestream produced by the Mountain Outpost team. However, if you were in attendance, the magic at the start all the way up to mile 4 at the escarpment was palpable.
Ben Gibbard is no stranger to training for ultras. With multiple 100-mile finishes under his belt and a long list of ultrarunning accolades, he’s well-versed in the sport. However, as lead singer for the band Death Cab for Cutie, the demands of traveling and performing aren’t always conducive to the rigors of training for endurance sports.
As an alternative to carbon plate technology which seems to be offered by most brands these days, the Roadfly is a shoe with a more natural feel at a reasonable price point that is ideal for short speedwork or longer mileage training days.
The solitude of the trails is the perfect environment for deep discussions. Without the distraction of screens, work deadlines or house chores, there’s an opportunity for long, intense conversations when you’ve got a fri...
In March, Arc’teryx released the Norvan LD 4, the latest iteration of their most popular trail running shoe. Focused on pure mountain running, the shoe adapts to rugged conditions on just about any terrain.
This new road shoe from Tracksmith has been engineered to enhance performance on race day, and promotes speed while maintaining comfort throughout longer miles.
The Suunto Wing open-ear headphones feature bone-conduction technology and are the first of its kind for this Finnish company that’s known in the running world for their GPS watches.
As we inch forward to race season, most of us are putting in the miles as we continue to progress toward our goal of finishing an ultramarathon this year. By keeping our focus on a training plan, nutrition, recovery and...
After finding the sport of running at an early age, Aaron ran his first Siskiyou Out Back (SOB) 50-miler at age 32. Living in southern Oregon during the mid-2000s and running the surrounding trails, he has had the company of local ultrarunners pushing him to run faster and farther – legends including Hal Koerner and Scott Jurek, along with other big names in the sport.
Most of the country is still seeing extreme temperatures and cold weather patterns, so we’ve put together a list of some new pieces of gear that can be utilized all winter long, and in some cases, throughout the year.
At the end of the year, someone asked about my thoughts on the future of the sport. I could not offer an answer because, for once, I’m not sure what 2025 holds for ultrarunning. However, as editor in chief of UltraRunnin...
For younger trail runners, it can be hard to enter the world of training and racing. The All In Trail Collective is an organization that offers opportunities for coaching and racing with an “aim to provide coaching support and mentorship for promising, younger athletes, particularly those from marginalized or underserved communities.”
The difference between a durable training shoe and and speedy racing shoe can be substantial. Here are two models from Hoka that we’ve put to the test for both long distance training and speedwork sessions.
As ultrarunners, we are used to planning months in advance. Training, travel and scheduling means penciling in blank spots on the calendar. It’s a process that builds strength, endurance and confidence – all of which are...
Every year, we ask our subscribers what we can do to improve their experience with UltraRunning. A reader survey gives us a quick snapshot of who our readers are, and what they want to see more of in each issue. In 2023,...
Summer is on its way out, but that doesn’t mean our taste buds can’t enjoy the flavors of the season. With these nutrition products in your training routine, it’ll be possible to enjoy summer all year long.
Remember where you came from, but don’t forget where you’re going. It’s a lesson many of us learn when running long distances—we’re different after each race finish but we must toe the start line to get there. The same c...
Based in the UK, the brand Inov8 has over 20 years of experience refining their shoe designs in the mountains of the English Lakes District. One of their latest trail shoe updates is the TrailFly, which promises a new fit, improved grip and better protection.
This year’s Western States could be considered one of the fastest races in the 51-year history of the event. With the return of a three-time champion and a course-record-breaking second-place…
Transitioning from road running to trail running can be difficult. Changes beyond just the hard surface underfoot turn into obstacles like hopping over rocks and roots, along with keeping track of your location and makin...
It was definitely a weekend to watch in the ultrarunning world. In this week’s Ultra Weekend Recap we’ve got results from California, Washington, Florida and Colorado. Let’s get right to…
With an origin in England as a running shoe brand, the name Reebok is often associated as one of the major athletic shoe brands that dominated the 1980s and 90s.…
Finishers of the 2024 Barkley Marathons, from L to R: Greig Hamilton, Jared Campbell, Ihor Verys, Jasmin Paris and John Kelly. Howie SternThe daunting energy surrounding Frozen >Head State Park is undeniable. With a now-...
The recent historic achievements by Jasmin Paris at the Barkley Marathons and the epic NCAA women’s championship basketball game between South Carolina and Iowa have inspired me—both as a woman and as a runner. We’re see...
Inspiration must come from the heart. Watching an athlete’s emotional struggle as well as understanding their physical hardship is what connects us as humans. We need to feel it. While the sport of ultrarunning is full o...
Early spring training feels a bit like waking up from a long nap. We’re focused on getting in the miles and workouts each week, but our goal race still seems so far away. The monotony of long miles and training week aft...
After spending two years in Arêches-Beaufort, France, Jim Walmsley is back at his home in Flagstaff, Arizona. Walmsley is taking time to rest and reflect on a successful year of firsts that saw him not only become the first American male to win UTMB in its 20-year history, but also set the course record. He also discovered a bit about himself in the process.
Courtney Dauwalter was unstoppable in 2023. Her year began with a Golden Ticket and course record at Bandera 100k, and then she broke three more course records—one of them being her own—at the most competitive races in the world. We sat down with Dauwalter to find out what fueled her success throughout the year.
In 2023, the sport of ultrarunning saw historic records fall and limits that were pushed incredibly far–further than we‘ve likely ever witnessed before. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention all of the amazing achievem...
Our Ultra Weekend Recap has plenty of results from races in Southern California, Texas and Florida, so let’s get down to it.
This week in What’s Up in Ultra, we’ve got our second Old School Ultra of the year in Alabama, a classic in Southern California, a 50k that traverses the border of a national park as well as an island 50k on our UltraRunning Calendar.
VJ’s ACE is a studded trail shoe designed specifically for winter running. The snow and thick ice which recently blanketed the Pacific Northwest were just right for our team of testers. The harsh elements presented a chance to test the durability, fit and traction, and have a little fun in them, too.
While some parts of the country are still under a layer of ice and snow, we have some blazing-fast times in our Ultra Weekend Recap. We saw familiar names on the podium at the Coldwater Rumble, women dominating the Florida Roots Trail Series at Fort Clinch and frigid temperatures at Lake of the Woods 50k.
Winter temperatures are keeping many indoors right now, but our UltraRunning Calendar includes a races that’ll bring runners back to the start line.
My daughter is an avid fan of the mega pop star Taylor Swift. I’ve enjoyed watching her dive into each of Swift’s 13 albums, which is also how Swift orchestrated her most recent “Eras” blockbuster concert tour. Each “era” is dedicated to an album from her vast collection of work. It got me thinking about the eras in UltraRunning Magazine.
Axel Kabundji Ben Gibbard is no stranger to training for ultras. With multiple 100-mile finishes under his belt and a long list of ultrarunning accolades, he’s well-versed in the sport. However, as...
My daughter is an avid fan of the mega pop star Taylor Swift. Her most devoted fans are more commonly defined as “Swifties” and continue to support her sold-out shows around the globe. I’ve enjoyed watching her dive into...
“This is the best community in the world.” These were the words of John Trent right before the start of the Western States Endurance Run in 2019. The ultrarunning community has often been the subject of this column over...
The business of coaching ultrarunners is one of the least talked about, yet fastest-growing businesses in the running world. The growing population of ultrarunners means coaching services are exceedingly in demand for the niche sport and therefore, include a number of athletes who are stepping into the ring as professional coaches.
In 2020, when we experienced a pandemic that kept us distanced from other people—loved ones and strangers alike—we made do with video technology apps like FaceTime and Zoom. However, as restrictions were lifted, it be...
We found the Zinal 2 to be a perfect option for shorter trail days, but missed the snappy response of the original version when running on flat, fast surfaces. The lighter weight and beefier traction help transition this model into a trail shoe that can easily tackle just about any technical surface.
As an award-winning sports journalist and 11-time finisher of Western States, John Trent has built an arsenal of memories, facts and statistics about the storied race. So when planning began for the 50-year celebratio...
My running partner and I have been using the trails as a way to connect for nearly a decade. We’ve bonded over dirt, week after week, pounding out miles while discussing the complexities of human nature, supporting on...
After John Kelly’s dramatic finish in 2017, five years passed without a single finisher of all five loops at the Barkley Marathons. The subsequent unsuccessful attempts could be explained by a number of circumstances: ex...
Adventure running can inspire FKTs (fastest know times), traveling to remote trails or pairing running with other sports. Fortunately, much of ultra and trail running is already what many consider an “adventure,” and...
Watching Bob Dylan’s 2011 Grammy performance on YouTube led me to a discovery: the song “Maggie’s Farm” was not, in fact, written by the band Rage Against the Machine. After years of listening to Dylan songs, reading boo...