At the end of the year, someone asked about my thoughts on the future of the sport. I could not offer an answer because, for once, I’m not sure what 2025 holds for ultrarunning. However, as editor in chief of UltraRunnin...
Tag: From the Editor
As ultrarunners, we are used to planning months in advance. Training, travel and scheduling means penciling in blank spots on the calendar. It’s a process that builds strength, endurance and confidence – all of which are...
Every year, we ask our subscribers what we can do to improve their experience with UltraRunning. A reader survey gives us a quick snapshot of who our readers are, and what they want to see more of in each issue. In 2023,...
Remember where you came from, but don’t forget where you’re going. It’s a lesson many of us learn when running long distances—we’re different after each race finish but we must toe the start line to get there. The same c...
Transitioning from road running to trail running can be difficult. Changes beyond just the hard surface underfoot turn into obstacles like hopping over rocks and roots, along with keeping track of your location and makin...
The recent historic achievements by Jasmin Paris at the Barkley Marathons and the epic NCAA women’s championship basketball game between South Carolina and Iowa have inspired me—both as a woman and as a runner. We’re see...
Inspiration must come from the heart. Watching an athlete’s emotional struggle as well as understanding their physical hardship is what connects us as humans. We need to feel it. While the sport of ultrarunning is full o...
Early spring training feels a bit like waking up from a long nap. We’re focused on getting in the miles and workouts each week, but our goal race still seems so far away. The monotony of long miles and training week aft...
In 2023, the sport of ultrarunning saw historic records fall and limits that were pushed incredibly far–further than we‘ve likely ever witnessed before. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention all of the amazing achievem...
My daughter is an avid fan of the mega pop star Taylor Swift. Her most devoted fans are more commonly defined as “Swifties” and continue to support her sold-out shows around the globe. I’ve enjoyed watching her dive into...
“This is the best community in the world.” These were the words of John Trent right before the start of the Western States Endurance Run in 2019. The ultrarunning community has often been the subject of this column over...
In 2020, when we experienced a pandemic that kept us distanced from other people—loved ones and strangers alike—we made do with video technology apps like FaceTime and Zoom. However, as restrictions were lifted, it be...
My running partner and I have been using the trails as a way to connect for nearly a decade. We’ve bonded over dirt, week after week, pounding out miles while discussing the complexities of human nature, supporting on...
Adventure running can inspire FKTs (fastest know times), traveling to remote trails or pairing running with other sports. Fortunately, much of ultra and trail running is already what many consider an “adventure,” and...
Watching Bob Dylan’s 2011 Grammy performance on YouTube led me to a discovery: the song “Maggie’s Farm” was not, in fact, written by the band Rage Against the Machine. After years of listening to Dylan songs, reading boo...
How do you choose your races? Is your preference to stay local or adventure abroad? Is mountainous terrain a deal-breaker or the preferred venue when it comes to running on trails? Maybe your preference is a...
On New Year’s Day I met with an old high school classmate for a beer. He recently made the difficult decision to leave our hometown of Bend, Oregon, for a new position in Salem—just a couple of hours west—where we bot...
As 2022 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on a year that’s now in the rearview mirror. As editor, I’m always looking back, while trying to look ahead and forecast what’s on the horizon. And after spending a weekend...
Trail races that are sub-ultra distances have an important place in our sport. Ultrarunners sign up for “ultra” distances (mileage over 26.2), and most will also admit that they sign up for shorter races on the regular—f...
“Mountains, please.” This phrase adorns the windows of many vehicles in the growing mountain town I call home. But that particular word combination has never settled well with me. Maybe it’s because I’m too literal an...