My last race got me thinking about all of the things that I’ve learned about running ultras. Actually, it got me thinking about all the things I’ve painfully learned over the years, forgotten, and then had to painfully relearn again. Don’t decide to drop between aid stations. Whatever is bothering you can typically be fixed…
Letting Go
I’m supposed to be running 200 miles right now, but like everyone else out there my race got cancelled. Unlike everyone else though the race was only kinda cancelled. The race director moved the race to August about a month ago, however since The Olde 96er is an unsupported run she gave everyone the opportunity…
Training for . . . ?
I’m in a weird limbo right now. My next race is supposed to be the Olde 96er 200 Miler on April 16th. Given the current pandemic situation though, the RD has decided to move it to late August. Since the race format is unsupported though, she’s left open the option of running is solo on…
M-DT Trip Report – Maps 7 & 8
With the cancellation of Hat 50K, I decided on running maps 7 and 8 of the Mason-Dixon Trail as plan B. I am in the middle of section hiking/running the M-DT as prep for a fastest known time attempt at some point in the distant future. My son and I did the last 2 sections…
HAT 50K Cancelled – Time for Plan B
If you want to have any success or longevity in ultrarunning, you better get good at moving on to Plan B. This is the second time a race I’ve signed up for was cancelled (2018 ES 100). I really feel for the race organizers and those runners that had been training specifically for this race…
Naked Bavarian Volunteer Report
Despite being a member of the ultra community for the past 6 years, this is the first volunteer report that I’ve written. It’s the first one because this past weekend was the first time I had ever volunteered at an ultra. My family and I have run an aid station at the Mushroom Cap Half…
Playing Life By My Rules
As of this morning, my running streak has reached 2,749 days. Every day for the last six and a half years I’ve run at least a mile each day. Through rain and snow and freezing cold (or even an unseasonably warm January), I’ve gotten out the door to get my mile in. It’s so routine…
My Favorite Chart
Running long distances is hard. Not the most original thought I know, but a contributing factor for why ultras are such a niche sport. Not many people have the ability or inclination to run/walk/crawl for 10+ hours at a time. It’s the difficulty that initially drew me in and it’s what has kept me going…
2020 Long Haul 100 Race Report
Flat ain’t easy. Here’s the thing. After 6 years and 30 some odd races, I’m starting to become an old hat at ultras. Unfortunately, I’m also becoming forgetful in my old age as lessons I’ve learned in the past need to be relearned on a periodic basis. Like flat courses aren’t as easy as they…
Long Haul 100 Demographics
I’m a numbers guy through and through. As such, I like to look at who signs up to run 100 mile races with me. Data from the charts below are pulled from Ultrasignup, which does a pretty good job of capturing US ultra results however isn’t all inclusive. These splits are similar to what I’ve…