I guess I need to start with the name, which has always challenged me. I can never seem to remember which letters are supposed to be capitalized and which not. It’s just an odd look. The second thing is that the name is flat out false advertising. You see the format is a a giant…
My Ultra Lifestyle
If I’m being honest, running ultras has become more of a lifestyle choice for me than a hobby. Consistently running. I managed to run 12 miles the week after Buckeye. I’ve logged 2,000-2,500 miles per year since 2018 and at least 1,700 miles since I started back in 2013. All of this without any injuries…
Buckeye 200 Mile Race Report
I came. I saw. I slew some monsters. Buckeye 200 is an out-and-back race from Ashtabula to Wellsville mostly following Ohio state route 45. The format is set up as a journey run, which means no course markings or aid stations. You can either do this crewed or screwed as they say. I chose the…
Buckeye 200 Preview: Thar Be Monsters
Nine years ago I began Lewis and Clarking my way through ultras. I had been running steadily for a couple years and spent a lot of time reading about the sport, but overall it was this large blank canvas. What to eat, how to pace, best way to prevent blisters, handling rain; I was faced…
Practicing Race Pace
One of the challenges of ultras, especially as you progress past the 50K distance, is that you never practice your race pace. Sure you’re running slow on your long run, but I guarantee that at whatever pace you’re doing that is going to be too fast for a 50 miler and waaaaaay too fast for…
Running Long Since 2013*
At what point is it acceptable to say “I have arrived as an ultrarunner”? Or rather “I’m an expert”? Is it a certain number of lifetime miles run? Maybe the number of races you’ve entered? Or finished? Does performance have anything to do with it? Should mid- or back-of-pack runners be ignored because we’re slower…
Long Range Weather Forecasts
I’m still over 3 weeks out from my next race, but that hasn’t stopped me from checking the weather forecast just about every day. Something I’ve been doing for the past couple weeks if I’m being honest. It’s not that I have a fear of the weather. Let’s just say I have a very healthy…
Inter-Race Training Strategy
I have seven weeks between ES100 and Buckeye 200. It’s long enough to get some work done, but not really long enough for a full blown training block. I think of these periods more as maintaining rather than training. Not like I normally do a bunch of structured training even if I have 3 months…
2023 ES100 Additional/Final Thoughts
If you hadn’t guessed yet, I’m pretty obsessed with Eastern States so here’s yet another post on the race. Let’s start with finish times. Here are the median finish times over the years and how mine compare. 2023 was the second slowest year to the infamous 2016 race (oh yeah, it sucked). This makes me…
Strategies For A Successful Eastern States 100
I’m going a different direction with my race report this year. More of a How-To guide on running the race. If you’re interested in a more traditional accounting, you can check out my races in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022. Or my photo journey in 2021. Strategy #1: Go out fast Don’t listen to all those…