Articles by Amy Clark

Returning to the Trail

After returning to the Hagg Lake 50K for the fourth time, I started to ask myself why I keep going back to this February race nestled in the northwest corner of Oregon, year after year. Is it because of my fellow runne...

Do It for the Ultra Moments

Whether they’re good or bad, we all have our favorite ultra moments. Remember that painful bliss after crossing the finish line of your first ultra? Or the disappointment and heartache of your first DNF? Maybe it was...

The Return of UROY

After the first-ever hiatus in the 41-year history of the magazine, awards for UltraRunners of the Year (UROY) have returned. Even though 2021 stumbled to a rough start, larger races like Black Canyon Ultras produced...

From All of Us, Thank You.

UltraRunning was originally created for ultrarunners, by ultrarunners. Over 40 years later, it remains exactly that – inspired by you, our readers. The survey we conducted in September included over 1,000 subscribers and...

I Love you, Man

Relationships need to be nurtured. That’s never been more apparent. After being separated from so many over the past year, I decided to pack a lot of running into the fall months, and the one thing I’ve come to realize i...

The Values of Ultrarunning

UltraRunning Magazine reports the overall number of ultra finishes each February in our annual UltraRunners of the Year (UROY) issue. Due to last year’s drop in participation because of race cancellations, we had very li...

Lessons from Lifers

This year’s return of Western States brought familiar faces, both young and old, to the iconic course on the last weekend in June. A few were running, some were volunteering, and many came to spectate at a race that hold...

There's a Feeling in the Air

Maybe it’s the apprehension of the start line or the exhilaration of the finish line. Or maybe, it’s the heartwarming feeling of reuniting with the ultrarunning community. But there’s definitely a feeling...

We’ll Keep Showing Up

The very first issue of UR was published this month back in 1981. The cover was printed in black and white and featured the TAC (The Athletic Congress) 50K champ from 1980, Bill DeVoe, running the Knickerbocker 60K in...

Year of Opportunity

With a full year of race cancellations, COVID infections, restrictions and lockdowns moving ever so slowly into the rearview mirror, it’s hard to reflect on the past and not see a future full of opportunities. The...

Spring Running Bra Review

As critical as a good bra is for comfort and function during a long run, it can also be exceedingly difficult to find just the right style without all the bounce. Our testers have put a new crop of spring tops through...

Don’t F*ck It Up

Jumping up to the famed buckle distance can be daunting for anyone. Despite the famous words of Karl “Speedgoat” Meltzer, 100 miles is actually pretty far and for most of us, takes a lot of time to finish. But to do s...

Familiar Stories

On my first day as UR editor, I received the following email: “Welcome to the job, from the first editor. What a great 10 years of my life getting UR started! IBM Selectric typewriter. Film cameras, struggling for a c...

Make Glimmers Happen

As ultrarunners, we live for planning. Lotteries. Race calendars. Training plans. Sound familiar? Normally, this is the time when we’d be planning for the year ahead. Yes, things have changed. The anticipation of race...

What Do You Miss?

The community. Smiles from familiar faces. Hugs from long lost friends. Meeting new people who feel like long lost friends. These are the things I miss about not running ultras in 2020.Connecting with others at events is...

Find a Routine and Stick with It

Fall has arrived. In a typical year, back-to-school activities would be in full swing and fall races would fill the weekends. While much of that has changed, brisk morning runs and leaf-lined trails are a sign that summe...

Love Your Gear

The act of running is as simple as it gets, but as distances grow longer, so does the list of necessary gear. After a few years of carrying handhelds on long runs and suffering from numb fingers, loose straps and a gener...

The Next Generation

Right now, our children are experiencing the world from a different perspective. With the inability to attend school, see friends or play team sports, they are also hearing us talk about pandemics, protests, riots and in...

Strength in Times of Change

As I sit down to write this, a majority of the world continues under broad orders to shelter in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Just a little over three weeks ago, my kids were still in school...

Race Directing for a Living

Even though Steve Durbin, owner of Durbin Race Management, can no longer run, he prides himself on making his races “runner-friendly.” This six-time Ironman and Boston Marathon veteran (he’s completed the legendary race...