Now that it’s been a while, beyond post-race endorphins, I can truly say that it was the privilege of a lifetime and an experience I know will bond us closer for the rest of our lives.

Broadening our metrics for how we assess our race performance can be beneficial and even liberating. Beyond covering the full distance of the event, there are many ways to walk away, look back and feel successful.

For those who got their pick of races, consider yourself lucky. If you didn’t get your first choice, now is the time to start formulating a backup plan.

Let’s face it, the winter months in the northern hemisphere include a lot of dark hours. While not every ultramarathon or trail race requires runners to spend time running in darkness, plenty of them do.

It’s only November, but winter has already arrived in many parts of the world. Regardless of your location and feelings toward winter running, there are plenty of ways to manage the challenges that comes with the arrival of cold, snow and ice.

I’ve had the privilege of coaching endurance athletes for over two decades, and not once during that time have I had regrets about the opportunity to coach in-person. While technology offers the ability to extend the reach of numerous coaching aspects, there’s no replacement when it comes to sharing geographical space with an athlete.

Experience, athleticism, age, fitness and a host of other factors play a role in how well runners can execute the various demands of running downhill fast. If you’re looking to improve your ability to run downhill, here are some strategies for enhancing your skillset.

Drop bags are a perk that can and should be taken advantage of for a greater chance of success on race day. Try to mitigate problems by preparing yourself with gear, clothing, nutrition and other useful items that will make the day more enjoyable and increase your chance of reaching the finish line.

Even for the most solitary personality, group runs can add a fun, social and challenging element. Here are some ideas to help make group runs more appealing and approachable for every runner.

Taking risks is uncomfortable for most of us, and everyone has a different risk tolerance. Still, it can lead to growth in the sport of ultrarunning and in other areas of life. What exactly would risk-taking look like for a trail or ultrarunner? Let’s narrow it down to three categories: training, events and cross-training.

The treadmill is often a tool of last resort, or a skipped training session altogether if it is in fact a last option. I won’t argue if you’re in the camp of not being in favor of spending time going no place, but I will argue that it can be an effective means to an end in a few ways.

Passion gives us purpose. It gives us a reason to do the things we do, and that includes running. But what happens when passion starts to fade? You’re not alone.

Wrapped into every challenge exists an opportunity—even when the hurdle is repeatedly running the same routes every week.

Autumn marks the transition from summer to winter, along with the end of race season. Consider leaving your watch at home or resist pushing the start button on the activity tracking app and just go run.

Coaching and being coached should be an ongoing, give-and-take relationship. It can give back to everyone in ways far beyond planning workouts and executing a perfect race day. When we invest in each other as people first, there are no limits on the richness that may emerge.

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of race day, so one of the biggest things trail and ultrarunners can do is prepare themselves in advance for their race day needs, and shift their focus to resting, polishing mental strategies and getting to the line feeling organized, well-rested and confident in their planning and preparation.

While there is no single correct formula for mountain race preparation for athletes who have little or no access to outdoor hills and mountains in the winter, there are options for being reasonably prepared.

Recently, a friend and I went skiing in an area that was new to us. We didn’t have what we deemed significant objectives and I was anxious to test my lungs after an awful case of the flu. On the drive to the trailhead, steady winds were drifting snow across the road which meant this adventure would surely keep us on our toes.

Lotteries for some of the largest races have already been held and many of us are outlining plans for next year. This is an exciting time, but it’s also easy to commit to a big endeavor many months in the future. Here are a few considerations to help you maintain a high level of excitement and dedication from the moment you receive your official enrollment email to the time you cross the finish line(s).

Don’t miss the opportunities that fall brings. Being free from a formal training structure can be very liberating and should be unique to each athlete’s needs. Address areas that need attention, take the opportunity to connect with nature in ways that will be novel and revitalizing. Appreciate what your body has allowed you to do during the racing season but take the break you need.

As welcoming as the ultrarunning community is, there can still be a lot of intimidation related to the unknown for new-to-the-sport athletes. The following are a few specific tips for negotiating aid stations and may help you develop a successful race strategy come race day.

As we start to ramp up to race season, most trail and ultrarunners are increasing their training volume. Warm weather and long days beg for more time on the trails. This increased training load, in turn, can pose an increased risk of injury. Here are some helpful hints to stay injury-free for those who are new to the sport of trail and ultrarunning.

Engaging with a host of other runners and athletes seems especially relevant right now. Creating a network of others who share your passion is a worthwhile endeavor that will deepen your appreciation and experiences within sport and running. Let’s explore some ideas for creating your own community which may be especially helpful for athletes new to trail and ultrarunning or for those who’ve recently relocated to a new area.

Ultrarunners tend to be independent and self-sufficient. These characteristics allow us to climb over mountains, blaze cold pathways before dawn and problem solve along hundreds of miles of trails. While these autonomous attributes are commendable, there are far-reaching benefits to creating and nourishing a running community.

While running far, climbing mountains and moving for hours on end are keys to success for ultramarathons, we should not overlook the benefits of running faster as we traipse over the trails. There are basic drills and tactics which all trail and ultrarunners can deploy, even in the depths of winter, that have considerable benefits.

With a wise approach to layering, it’s possible to stay warm and dry and avoid concern for hypothermia or frostbite. Empower yourself to be confident, comfortable and safe in a wide range of weather conditions. Fine-tune your system using these basic suggestions as a starting point and test your layering tactics against whatever the elements deliver and enjoy what winter running has to offer.

The holidays are here. Is your wish list complete? For those of you who may be new to ultrarunning or are transitioning from a road background to the off-road scene, there are a few items that can help make the shift easier.