When I think about the ultrarunning community, there are a few common themes that come to mind. Ultrarunners show up for each other. The community welcomes and supports everyone. And for me, the Vermont 100 (VT100) alway...
Tag: Community
There was one thing that worried me about my Transcon. I did not want to miss out on the people. One of the great joys of journey running is the people you meet along the way. Passing slowly across the countryside gives...
Think about your favorite trails. Do you know who owns the land they wind through? Most likely, especially in the West, you own it – along with me, the editors of this magazine, your cousin and every other American. T...
When I was growing up in Chicago some of my relatives would yammer in my ear about the way it used to be. How they had it back in their day: “I had to walk to school and back five miles in the snow, each way.” Their “sto...
The ultrarunning community is fierce. Taking steps beyond 26.2 miles requires an elusive, constantly changing formula that is equal parts tenacity, preparation, suffering, and support. The relentless ferocity of runners...
Sometimes it’s worth sitting back and reflecting on what a wonderful community we are lucky to be a part of. If you’ve already been running trails and ultras for many years then you might be easily nodding your head in a...
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...
Why would I willingly participate in an activity that beats my body to the point that walking to the bathroom becomes nearly impossible? Why is it worth doing when it makes me shed toenails more often than a snake sheds...
Yet again, the competitive endurance community is embroiled in controversy. New allegations have surfaced involving the Nike Oregon Project, the flagship of American distance running excellence. The man at the helm, Albe...
Ask any race director what the number one issue with today’s runner is, and most will respond: “They don’t know the rules.” People sign up for races, do the training, yet fail to “get educated.” They don’t read the ra...
Every once in a while a central organizing hub for a given activity or human endeavor emerges, and big things happen. In ultrarunning we have seen this in Ashland, Oregon, where Hal Koerner started Rogue Valley Runners a...