Articles by Meghan Canfield

Menopausal Training Strategies

There are three training barriers female athletes will likely face in peri and post-menopause: speed, motivation and recovery. Here are some training strategies to keep you mentally engaged and committed to an ultrarunni...

Finding the Other Side

Last year, a lot changed for me as an athlete and as a woman. The struggle was real – not only the actual struggle to run but the emotional struggle to let go of who I used to be, while embraci...

Aging in the Off Season

I don’t think I’m any different than most folks when it comes to aging—we want to put it off, not let it affect our lifestyle and when we slow down, we want to do it with some sort of grace. Because honestly, we don’t ge...

Something New Out Your Front Door

One of the benefits of being an ultrarunner is it can satisfy wanderlust on a daily basis. However, there is a lot to be said for staying local and finding adventures in your own back yard. When I started running, I woul...

Advice from Veteran Ultrarunners

You’ve finally bitten the bullet and signed up for your first ultramarathon, managed to get the training in and survived your first taper. Welcome to race day. Below is advice from ultrarunning legends Tim Twietmeyer, Er...

Where to Run When Training for an Ultra

Expanding your horizons from marathoning to ultramarathoning means expanding your running distances, changing some of your training practices and probably committing more time to the sport. This begs the question, “Wh...

Ultra Training 101

I loved school. Especially the first week after a long break. Back in the day, it meant brand new Pee-Chee folders, fresh #2 pencils, blank college-ruled paper and unbridled enthusiasm for learning something new. My...

Gear Up for Winter Training

Ultramarathon training in the winter months brings on different challenges that can deter the bravest of runners. Having lived in Oregon for most of my life, I am often asked, “Do you run in the rain?” to which I resp...

Becoming Legendary

Legends exist in pretty much every facet of life, and the sport of ultrarunning is no exception. To help separate the latest and greatest visitor to the scene from the lasting heroes of our sport, here is a short list...

Behind the Scenes of an Ultra

Throughout the months of training for your first ultra, your race director was also hard at work putting together the pieces in order to make a great race. All that goes into making a runner’s experience the very best po...

Western States from the Sidelines

If your venture into ultrarunning has you dreaming of running Western States one day, I hope you’ve had the chance to be there in person to spectate, crew or pace. While I have run it 12 times, I have had the pleasure of...

Your First Ultra

It’s finally here. Hours of training and miles on the trails have prepared you for your first foray into an ultramarathon. Before toeing the start line, there are many things to consider that can help make your first...

Find Your First 50k

Now that you’ve made the decision to do this ultramarathon thing, how do you go about choosing your first 50k? I reached out to some of my good friends across North America who are coaches, race directors and ultr...

Change is Coming

As you begin to wade into the unknown waters of the ultrarunning world, you may wonder how this new activity will change your current lifestyle. Will it affect your family life? Your relationships? Your food budget? I...

So You Want to be an Ultrarunner?

Spring is on the horizon. Hope is resurfacing with the lengthening days, warmer temperatures and distribution of vaccines. And with that, new dreams and goals emerge like the bulbs pushing up out of the ground – goals...