I started this ranking a couple years ago. No race is exactly the same and since everyone looks for something different when choosing races, I thought I would give you my ranks in various categories. Only one race gets added to the lists this year (Devil Dog), however C&O Canal gets moved around a little…
Mind Games
They say hundreds are 90% mental. I’ve always thought that was 110% effort type math. Sure. I understand what you’re trying to say, but you’re undercutting your argument by being hyperbolic. Running ultras are extremely physical endeavors. Trying to undersell that I think is a mistake. That said, not having your head in the right…
The Ultra Runner Super Skill
If you want to succeed in ultras, then I have one skill for you to focus your time and attention. It’s not downhill technical descents. Not eating while running. Nor is it dealing with adversity. Though all those will surely benefit you, there’s one other skill I would recommend you hone: Patience. So I’m not…
You Do You
At races, you end up talking to a bunch of different people over the course of the day. Two recent conversations stand out. While they were very different in specifics, both had the same underlying theme. The first was at Eastern States where another runner was planning to drop at Hyner Run. He’d finished some…
2021 Eastern States 100 Race Report
I guess the fourth time’s the charm as I had a simply incredible run this year. I was spotting rainbows and unicorns all over the course last weekend. I feel giving you the details of that run though may undersell the difficultly if this race. I’m sure the 49% of the field who dropped wouldn’t…
Laurel Highlands 70M Preview
Finally. I was signed up to run this race last year, however wasn’t able to because – well, COVID. The truth though is I’ve been waiting to run this race for much, much longer. It wasn’t too long after I got into running about 9 years ago that I learned about ultras. I was intrigued…
RIP Salming Trail T2s
First run: 12/1/18 Last run: 1/30/21 Total runs: 147 Total miles: 1,101 I got more miles out of these shoes than any other that I’ve owned. They probably should have been retired a couple hundred miles ago, but they weren’t bothering my feet too much so I kept them in the rotation. Today’s run put…
Love the Process
My alarm went off at 6am this morning and I really didn’t want to get up. During the week, I’m usually up and awake by then, however I like to catch up on my ZZZZs on the weekend and sleep in. It didn’t help that I tossed and turned all night long for some reason.…
Wait for it. . .
I’m now fully immersed in my off season if my bathroom scale is any indication. I had been going pretty much non-stop since last November so it’s past time for me to dial back the miles and sleep in more often. I don’t necessarily think I was too close to overdoing things, but you never…
Chasing 10k Update
A number of years ago now, I had this idea that turned into a goal which has morphed into an obsession. That being to finish a hundred 100 mile races (100×100=10k). It was a completely delusional idea since at the time I had never even finished an ultra marathon let alone a hundred mile race.…