Tag: Ask Ann

Taking on My First 50k

Dear Ann, We have never met before but I read your column in UltraRunning Magazine and enjoy your words and value your advice. I have a question. I would like 2017 to be the year of my first 50k – I feel ready. I just...

Individualize Your Training

Dear Ann, I’ve been ramping up my ultrarunning for the past few years in terms of getting faster and doing more races, and this year I’m hoping to continue that trend with some even faster 50ks and 50-milers over the...

Concurrent Marathons and Ultras

Dear Ann, Last year, I earned my first Boston qualifier. That was shortly before I started ultrarunning, which has taken over my runner’s heart. I worked super hard to BQ, so I look forward to the Boston Marathon, bu...

Adventure Runs

Dear Ann, We all know you had extraordinary success at racing ultras, and so many of your records still stand after many years. But I wanted to ask you about non-race ultras. I’ve heard that you used to do some epic t...

Women and Ultrarunning: Then and Now

Dear Ann, As a woman new to ultrarunning, I love the sport and its supportive community. But I know it must not have always been so welcoming to women. Can you share what it was like to be a woman in the earlier years o...

Vermont Memories

Dear Ann, I was thinking of signing up for the Vermont 100. It will be my first 100, and is a long way from where I live. I’m a little worried about what to do in a 100 and how to respond if I make a mistake or if somet...

Beating the Post-Race Blues

Dear Ann, Doing 100-mile races is a huge challenge, but all the training and hard work on race day is really rewarding to me. So much so, that the worst part by far is the comedown in the days and weeks after a 100-mile...

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Dear Ann, I hear advice all the time from friends about the things I should be doing to be a better runner. I try to be consistent, but I sometimes find myself slipping back into old habits or too busy to do everything....

Escape into Running

Dear Ann, I have been an ultrarunner going back 15 years. However, for the past five years, our family has had a very big tragedy in our lives that has also really impacted my running. I am now 65 and my running is almo...

The Power of Passion

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...

Training for High Altitude Ultras

Dear Ann, I would appreciate it if you could share some tips for training for races at altitude, such as TRT100. I DNF’d there this year at mile 40. I was taken by surprise, because I thought that I’d been building up w...

How to Approach Winter Months

Dear Ann, At this time of year, how did you go about planning your races and schedule for the upcoming year? Also, how did you approach these winter months? I’m getting stir crazy and want to be out there, racing long o...

Optimizing Multi-Day Races

Dear Ann, It was nice to meet you at Gary Cantrell’s newest creation, A Race for the Ages. That was my first multi-day timed event, and although I was pleased to get in 120 miles under the hot and humid conditions, I’m...

Training on a Busy Schedule

Dear Ann, I’m a nurse and work 12- to 14-hour night shifts. Depending on my schedule and how exhausted I feel from working nights, I’m able to train a lot some weeks, and almost not at all in other weeks. Any advice for...

Pushing Hard in Races

Hi Ann, I know this is a bit cheeky, but I wanted to ask your advice about racing. Your success in ultrarunning is legendary, and I have found it really interesting reading how you approach racing. I appreciate that...

Key Lessons

Dear Ann, Now that you’re a coach, are there some key lessons you pass down from your own coaches?  —Michael Dear Michael, I have always loved being a student of the sport-- reading, asking questions, trying new t...

Rapid Race Recovery

Dear Ann, Back in the day you were able to recover from racing long ultras and then come back quickly and strong, like in those years that you won Comrades and then flew around the globe to win Western States only a han...

From 10k to Your First Ultra

Dear Ann, I recently signed up for a local 10k race. It will be my first ever. Now I’m thinking about doing either a 50-mile, 100k or a 100-mile ultra. Most folks would probably do a half marathon first, then a full mar...

Tapering, Music and Alcohol

Dear Ann, I have done the training, and I’m ready for my big ultra race this summer—but first I have to get through my taper, and it is stressing me out. What do you advise? What was a key for your tapering back in the...

Ideal Weight for Distance Running

Dear Ann, First, I must say you are an amazing athlete, and your accomplishments are mind-blowing. My question is concerning the ideal weight for distance running. I have heard height in inches times two is the best; ho...