When you think of Western States (WSER), who do you think of? Maybe it’s Jim Walmsley and his outstanding course record from 2019? Or Ann Trason and her mind-boggling 14 wins? As with any race, elite competitors at Weste...
Articles by Ellie Greenwood
The North Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, BC, is a true backcountry experience. Don’t be deceived by the lack of elevation – it’s remote, wild and rugged. When I backpacked the trail last summer with three girlfriends,...
Ultrarunning as a sport has technically been around for over 100 years, but the format that most of us know as “ultrarunning” today (trail and road races, typically 50k to 100 miles) is barely 50 years old and evolving r...
Love them or hate them, treadmills are an excellent training tool and can be a lifesaver in winter. I’m impressed if you continue running outside when the temperature is hovering around zero – that’s dedication for sure....
Ultrarunning can seem like a selfish pursuit – heading out onto the trails for hours on end, we often leave family at home or defer social engagements with friends because we need to get our long run in. And all for what...
While I have my own thoughts on gender and its impact in ultrarunning, they are based on personal experiences. So, a short online survey seemed like the best way to see the bigger picture. Thank you to the 1,040 of you w...
At some point, maybe long ago or not so long ago, we all signed up for our first ultra. Maybe you chose a race because you thought it would be a challenge, or you wanted to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. I d...
Minimalism seems to be a continuing trend in the outdoor scene, and for good reason. After all, who wants to lug around a ton of heavy stuff that slows you down and makes trail adventures even harder? But (and this is a...
Most of us have been there – we make grand plans for running in the months ahead and visualize optimistic ideals of both our time and motivation for training. Then, before we know it, our New Year’s resolutions are fadin...
Running is a simple and joyful sport, but my-oh-my how complicated we can make it. It’s not that we mean to, but with good intentions of becoming a faster runner, it’s easy to get bogged down with the details and not see...
I’m not a big fan of Strava crowns or FKT’s, but when runners start to proclaim how cold it is outside I somehow manage to weave into conversations the fact that I once ran when it was minus 38 degrees. Whether in Celsiu...
I have often said that one of the main criteria to be an ultrarunner is to really enjoy running. This might seem amusing but if you think about it, it’s really essential given doing anything “ultra” implies that you’ll b...
Each year I try to volunteer at a few races – something I feel that we should all do in order to give back to the running community that gives us so much. It’s surprising how rewarding volunteering at a race can be – you...
With the influence of the Internet, and social media in particular, more and more folks are getting out to explore our trails. We’re presented daily with beautiful images on Instagram and Facebook, and inspired to trail...
Taking on your first ever ultra might have been a daunting prospect – sure, a 50k is “just” five miles more than a marathon but as we all know, with the uneven terrain and all too often hilly course profiles, a 50k is of...
The final month of preparation for a key ultra is not always as straight forward as you might think. When you sit down to plan out your training months in advance it can be easy to just think of the final month as time t...
I am sure many readers are now kicking off their 2018 racing season. Sure, maybe not too many of you have run a 100-miler yet this year but by now 50ks are happening every weekend and many 50-milers or 100ks are looming....
Being competitive, driven and hardworking are admirable, and one could even argue, desirable traits in a long-distance runner. Set the bar high and you’ll often put in the work to achieve those lofty goals – be they a ne...
Many runners casually throw around the word “cross-training” in conversation – we talk about speed intervals, special diets, the latest gear and… cross-training – it’s like it can almost be a bragging point that someone...
Have you strung together a good number of 50k and 50-mile finishes? Do you feel like you are a reasonably capable ultrarunner? Sure you may not be fast and you might not post podium results, but you’re confident running...