Tag: Beginner

Mid-Packer Training Tips

Disclaimer: I am not a coach – unless I consider myself my own client – so keep in mind that just because something worked for me does not mean that it will work for everyone. My method of self-training has developed thr...

Training to Tame Big Climbs

For your average ultrarunner, the bedrock training technique is the familiar LSD, or Long Slow Distance, workout. You give up one of your precious weekend days to go really long, stay on your feet for hours, dial in the...

Early Season Training

It’s January, and old man winter is clawing at the doors and windows. Serious running may not be happening for a while, but now is a great time to make plans and commit to some goals. Are you dreaming of setting a PR...

What I Learned When I Ran My First Ultra Marathon

Let’s face it: marathons are so last year, right? And seriously, why should the fun stop at 42k? When you run somewhere, you just run somewhere, no matter how far it is. You just want to reach your destination, whatever...

Patience and Planning

The 100-mile distance holds a huge allure for many an ultrarunner. Whilst I’m not saying that 50k or 50 miles are easy distances, without a doubt, covering 100 miles is rightly still seen as the ultimate challenge for ma...

Ultra-Lessons Learned

This piece is inspired by a presentation given by Dr. David Horton—yes, that David Horton—the night before the 2014 Epic Ultras Prairie Spirit 100 in Ottawa, Kansas. His presentation was “Lessons Learned from 100,000 Mil...

I Have Done It

It was totally a fluke thing, one of those moments where you cannot believe that it happened the way it did. You have done so much to prevent it and had so many other instances where this could have been the outcome, but...

I Didn’t Think I Would Like It

I didn’t think I would like it: in fact, I tried just about every excuse in the book to avoid it. I gave reason after reason not to do it, and for a long time I got away with it. It was smooth sailing; I was in the clear...

Handling Your First Ultra

In marathons and shorter distance races, most runners have one goal in mind: speed. Holding a particular pace right at the upper edge of their abilities for the duration of the race is the end-all and be-all. Things like...

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...

Make Your Run a Reunion

One benefit of the ultrarunning boom of the past 10 years is that there are now a plethora of ultras to choose from spread across the calendar and all over the country. You can pick just about anywhere you want to travel...