Well, that sucked in a completely different manner than it normally does. World Class Race Organization You really can’t gauge someone’s character until they’re tested by adversity. I believe this adage applies to race organizations as well. The Eastern States race organization has steadily improved over the past ten years, but it’s been in all…
2024 Eastern States 100 Preview
This will be my seventh trip to Little Pine State Park. While it’s true I always look forward to my hundred mile races, I’m especially excited for this year’s ES100. I’m coming off two amazing events and my fingers are crossed that the Summer of Phil can continue for one more race. The Dream Race…
Going Streaking
They say the key to success is consistency. That it’s better to slowly grind away at a goal rather than progressing in fits and starts. Personally, it’s much easier to keep up with something if I have a set schedule rather than one that is periodic or random. My strength training goal for the year…
Walking/Hiking As A Competitive Advantage In Ultras
Everyone enters the sport of ultrarunning with preconceived notions (aka baggage) of what is and isn’t ultrarunning depending on how we were introduced to the community. My running journey started with roads/marathons where walking* was frowned upon. As I built my endurance and was able to run for longer and longer distances, walking became a…
Viaduct 100 Mile Race Report
Old School. Even though Viaduct has only been around since 2008 (PA’s oldest hundred miler!), it very much embodies the spirit of ultrarunning. Carl and Dave, the RDs, ran 68 miles on the course in 2007 with support from their families. The following year they started up the 50 and 100 mile races as fatass…
Viaduct 100 Mile Preview
There are five established hundred mile races in Pennsylvania. I have managed to finish four of them over the years with Rabid Racoon being latest this spring. Viaduct is the last one on the list even though it was the first hundred miler in the state beginning all the way back in 2008. The race…
Great Smokey Mountains NP Trip Report – Part 2
My family spent a week in Gatlinburg, TN and we ended up hitting most of the trails closest to town. If you missed it, here’s Part 1 of our trip. Day 4, Wednesday Old Sugarlands Trail (Running) – 7.7 miles Day 5, Thursday Rainbow Falls Trail (Hiking) – 5.5 miles Any trail name with the…
Great Smokey Mountains NP Trip Report – Part I
My family is spending a week in Gatlinburg, TN and exploring the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. We were here three years ago and loved it, however I didn’t do any running in the park since I was still recovering from Laurel Highlands. Here’s where I’ve been hiking/running: Day 1, Sunday Middle Prong Trail (Hiking)…
Into The Gauntlet
Here goes nothing. I’ve consistently done six ultras per year since I got into this sport/community/hobby (fine, obsession) a decade ago. Of these, I’ve typically raced three 100s since I graduated to that distance in 2015. The past two years I’ve managed to up that slightly to four races. This has been spread throughout the…
Sri Chinmoy 24-Hour Race Report
First off, thanks to the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team and all their amazing volunteers for putting on a great event. The race is held on a scenic and blazing fast paved path around a lake in Rockland Lake State Park. There were three events with the 24-hour and 12-hour races starting at 8am and the…