It’s taken me a while, but I’ve finally settled on my 2024 schedule. For the longest time, I had been planning on doing what I was calling the Pennsylvania 500 which consisted of the five PA hundred mile races. I thought it would be cool to do them all in the same year. Two of…
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…
2023 ES100 Preview
I’ll be heading back to Little Pine State Park this weekend for my sixth running of Eastern States 100 mile. This will break my current three-way tie of races that I’ve done five times before. Phunt and Naked Bavarian were races I kept going back to because they were cheap (both) and/or a perfect tune…
Backup Race, Nothing Like the First
The other way I’ve gotten over the cancellation of the Vermont 100 this month was by signing up for another race. I went to UltraRunning Magazine’s awesome calendar to find a replacement. I started by looking specifically for hundreds on the same weekend as VT100, however there wasn’t anything scheduled that was within driving distance…
The Un-Race Report
For those looking for my Vermont 100 mile race report, I’m afraid I have to disappoint you. Due to severe flooding throughout the state, the race was cancelled this year. I had pre-published my last blog post before the announcement and it went live a couple hours before I saw the RD’s email the next…
Chasing 10K by UTMB
I am excited to announce that I have partnered with the amazing UTMB race organization to bring you a one-of-a-kind blog experience. Not only will you get my standard race reports and periodic musings on my ultrarunning, but I’ll now be writing about all the incredible UTMB races. I’ll help peel back the curtain to…
Now Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Program
I tried a thing last year where I would publish a blog post every week. I actually started in December 2021 and was able to keep it going into September only missing a week or two along the way. I then entered a little funk with my running after Grindstone and my failed attempt at…
Too Old for PRs?
If you run for a long enough period of time, you will eventually reach an age where you stop getting faster. That age is probably different for everyone though. I’m too lazy to look it up, but I remember reading a while back that runners typically start slowing down after about 8 years of consistent…
Fifty Ultras
Glancing over my training log, I noticed that DUC was my 50th official ultra finish. Well, technically the 49th, but I’m counting my DNF at Capital Backyard as a finish and if you’d like to argue, I’d be happy to take it up with you in the comments below. Those of you familiar with this…