The UltraRunning Race Series records the race results of every ultrarunner in North America and calculates points for each one based on all relevant factors. It adds up every ultrarunner’s best scores at each of the prim...

Dear Ann, Our conversation really opened my eyes to the one thing that is preventing me from getting to the next level. In my mind, I am still that fat kid who always got picked last in P.E. For this reason, I race and...

We all know that to get faster, we need to push ourselves with some form of speed work, but the advice varies greatly on which sessions to include, how often to include them and why. In fairness, that’s because it depend...

I distinctly remember the finisher shirt I got at my very first marathon in Victoria, British Columbia. I remember it because it was a bit of a dilemma – I’d just run a marathon, a whole 26.2 miles, so I sure as anything...

Fueling during an event or extended workout (greater than 90 minutes) is imperative to maintaining your energy levels, enhancing your performance and preventing injuries or crashes. Multiple studies have linked carbohydr...

Throughout 2016, we will break down the fundamentals of efficient running mechanics, and how the demands of the ultra distance – terrain, weather conditions and even gear – impact how we run. Last month, we discussed ide...

Runners have a different relationship with their surroundings than people in cars. Traveling at footspeed, we have time to see everything, and really see it. We can afford to look around, without worrying about going off...

By understanding the physiology behind thermoregulation, we can be better prepared for our summer events. Here’s what you need to know about what causes body heat to increase, heat loss mechanisms, why athletes perform w...

Think you can’t handle the heat? Actually, you can, but it will take committing to some heat training before your race and then playing it smart on race day. High temperatures are going to slow everyone down, but they’ll...

By July 1993, Marshall Ulrich was well established as one of the best in the sport, a veritable King of Badwater who seemed to handle the heat better than almost anyone around. I was well established as a self-assured in...

Erin Strout has always given back. Most notably, during her nearly 20 years as a journalist, her altruism has come in the form of insightful writing for national publications. Her writing is reflective of who she is:...

As ultrarunners explore the extremes of location and distance, dependence on hydration becomes paramount. You can’t possibly carry enough water to sustain a day-long adventure run or a multi-day fastpack – but refilling...

This issue of UltraRunning is filled with valuable insights and advice about how to deal with heat during extreme exertion. Important stuff, because pound for pound, humans are among the most needy when it comes to our b...

Notice it is “P,” and not “pee.” While it is important when it comes to training in the heat, this article is not about taking a leak. Here are my “four Ps” for the mid-pack runner to keep in mind while looking to improv...

In southern Utah, our summer temperatures regularly resemble standing on the surface of the sun… while wearing sweat pants. Because of this, I have more than my share of experience running in the heat. I know tricks to m...

For as far back as I can remember, I’ve run. I never owned a bike growing up, and my family never owed a car, so everywhere I went, I ran, walked or took public transportation. It just seemed more fun to run rather than...

Billed as the world’s “Coldest and Toughest Race,” the 2016 Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra started on February 4th with 71 competitors from 17 countries crossing the start line in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada on foot,...

On January 22, a vicious winter storm descended on Huntsville. So too, did hundreds of ultramarathon runners, hungry to race the Mountain Mist 50K the next day. Run on the deceptively difficult trails of Monte Sano, the...

It’s hard to decide what story, or even what word, to focus on when trying to describe this year’s Rocky Raccoon, presented by Altra. I think I’ll use the word “special.” For me, this being my first year to direct thi...

As every entrant who reads the “Book of HURT” knows, runners can only receive aid from an aid station when they are within 100 yards of it. However, when 2015 HURT winner Michael “The Fruitarian” Arnstein decided to set...

I hadn’t originally planned on racing the Sean O’Brien 100K. But after narrowly missing a Western States “golden ticket” at Bandera 100K, I was determined to give it another shot. Originally, I registered for Black Canyo...

The Hellcat 50k race is held annually to commemorate the F6F Hellcat Navy fighter of WWII fame. It is held on the old Navy air base in Green Cove Springs, Florida. The base is now an industrial park but the old runways a...

A combination of Chicagoland winter weather, challenging hills and winding single-track trails makes the Frozen Gnome a tough winter challenge. The course consists of five 10k loops to finish the 50k distance. Runners lo...

What started as a pleasant day with temperatures in the low 40s turned into a freezing, rainy, muddy nightmare. One hundred and forty-four happy runners from 25 states and Canada, South Africa and Ecuador toed the lin...

I never could have imagined how strongly I would feel the fundamental value of the tagline I recently wrote for Tejas Trails: “More than just trail running…” Bandera Endurance Run, by Montrail 2016, reminded me exactl...

The Bandit 50K course has a reputation for being very challenging. The race is run over five connecting trails along the northern mountain range in Simi Valley: Corriganville, Rocky Peak, Chumash, Marrland/Las Llajas and...

Chehaw Park, located in southern Georgia, was the host of the inaugural Chehaw Challenge trail race on January 30, 2016. There were three concurrent race distances of 10 miles, 50k and 50-miles, with routes made up of 10...

Ba-bump… ba-bump… ba-bump… You could practically hear the sound of the runners’ hearts beating as they geared up and loaded into the plane for the start of the 150-mile Skydive Ultra. There’s usually a lot of energy and...