If you’re like me, you’ll probably head out on your long run this weekend thinking something like, “Alright, I’m going to use this run to practice for my next ultra. I’ll imitate key aspects of my next event like hydrati...
Articles by Travis Macy
Captured by a crew member on cell phone video, the scene is captivating: Family members scream urgently towards the dark woods until, finally, a runner emerges on the trail, sprinting for all he’s worth, blowing right th...
Last month we examined the causes of post-race blues (also known as postrace letdown), defined roughly as a short or long period of mental and/or physical “low” after a big event. That article ended with a rather dreary...
The build-up to an ultrarun provides a phenomenal – and even life-changing – experience. The mission gives us purpose, structures our days, connects us to our tribe, and fans the flames of our dreams. And that’s just the...
“What’s the world’s greatest lie?” the boy asked, completely surprised. “It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the wor...
The cerebral nature of ultrarunning is one of my favorite aspects of the sport, and I am constantly encouraging coaching clients to “think on your feet out there.” Fueling, pace, gear, outlook, logistics: there’s so much...
A theme in this issue of UltraRunning is young ultrarunners, so I’ve drafted a letter I wish I could have read at age 22. I’m not yet a full-on old guy, but as an experienced athlete who now cares as much about coaching...
Some topics are covered often in ultra literature because they’re particularly relevant, and this is one of them: “How do I prepare for a mountainous ultra if I don’t live in the mountains? Is that even possible?” It’s o...
After thousands of hours of hammering the trails through my beloved Colorado Rockies with my head down and vision marred by sweat, I realized last fall that it was time for a shift. Time to connect more fully with nature...
“Where innovation demands shocking and radical reform, all kaizen asks is that you take small, comfortable steps toward improvement.” – Robert Maurer in One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way In Costa Ric...
Last issue we explored symptoms sometimes experienced by runners that may be related to overtraining, including irritability, low mood, lack of motivation, poor performance, and low/fluctuating hormones. This article see...
My first experience with significant overtraining from running occurred during my two years of collegiate running for CU-Boulder. I was a decent, All-State high school runner in Colorado’s second largest school class, bu...
I got snowed on in August while running in Breckenridge, Colorado, and my mind flew immediately to a single focus: Skimo! I’m not that good at ski mountaineering, but man, do I love it. Skimo – short for ski mountaine...
We ultrarunners truly are fortunate to be able to do what we do. A lot of people go through life without a whole lot to look forward to. And that probably also means there’s not a whole lot to remember, either. If you’ve...
The meat sizzled in the pan – kind of like bacon, but the smell was definitely a little off. I was actually able to swallow it a few minutes later, although that might have just been because it was covered with avocado i...