About a decade ago, I was a happy road runner, traversing the paved streets of major cities while collecting new half and full marathon finishers medals. I remember thinking that a race had outdone themselves when I'd show up to an aid station, and in addition to water and Gatorade, they had something like orange slices available. Food ON course? How thoughtful of the race director! Then, I Continue reading →
Miles, Mind Tricks, & Ultramarathon Hallucinations
Prior to my entrance into the world of ultramarathon, I had always imagined hallucinations to include terrifying scenarios. The kind of things that I'd have to remind myself were not real. Being chased by unidentifiable monsters that were out to get me. Hearing creepy voices calling to me in the woods. Avoiding cracks in the ground where the earth was trying to open up and swallow me. But the Continue reading →
100 Mile Packing List: What to Bring to an Ultramarathon
Confession: I'm pretty sure I pack more "stuff" to run a 100 miler than I do for a week long vacation. Packing for an ultramarathon is a learned art form, and frankly, ultras require a lot of gear. If you're facing your first 100 miler, you may be wondering what items are essential, or fearful of what items you may be forgetting. Hopefully, this 100 mile packing list will help ensure you've got Continue reading →
Ultramarathons, Immune Systems, and Why you Get Sick After Races
Inspiration for the posts I write come from all sorts of places. In this instance, I am 7 days post 24 hour race, and 5 days deep into a gnarly head cold. It's far from enjoyable, but certainly not unexpected. Ask any endurance athlete, from ultra runners to Ironman triathletes and they will tell you that getting sick after a race is actually, and unfortunately, quite common. In this post Continue reading →
Sadlers Creek Stumble 24 Hour Race Recap
I can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I am to have run the first ever Sadlers Creek Stumble 24 hour race. The short version, because I know some of you like that: the course was incredibly runnable, though deceivingly difficult, with the perfect amount of difficulty peppered in, in the form of (mild) hills and occasional roots. Distances include 24 hours (choose your own adventure), 50K, Continue reading →
7 Ultramarathon Race Formats Explained
The logistics of creating and setting up an ultramarathon course can often result in some creative course design for race directors. After all, it can be difficult trying to find a 50- 100 mile, uninterrupted trail for runners to traverse. Add in permitting for land use, aid stations, and other logistics, and it's no surprise that there are so many different styles of ultras. In this post, we Continue reading →
Why I Run Ultras: Chapter 1 – Failure vs. Success
I've been around the running, blogging, and blogging about running world long enough now to know that there are countless reasons why people choose to run. I know this, because I never get tired of hearing about those reasons. I've nodded my head in agreement while reading the articles others have written about their "why's". I've shed more than a few tears while watching the videos detailing Continue reading →
(Free) 100 Mile Ultramarathon Training Plan & Guide
One hundred miles. It's a long way to drive. It's a ridiculous distance to ride on a bike. And it's an almost unfathomable distance to cover on foot. Yet ultra runners do it all of the time. Chances are you are reading this post because the idea of running 100 miles is on your radar. For me, running the 100 mile distance has been, and continues to be, a life changing experience. I'm happy to Continue reading →
Ultramarathon Nutrition: Shifting my Mindset
Though I've never suffered from a diagnosed eating disorder, I am absolutely a flawed product of the diet culture that I was raised in. I'd be willing to bet that many of you reading this are too. (This is going to be one of those vulnerable, "Heather shares too much" posts. But I've been doing that for over a decade already, so why stop now. There is a huge risk in spilling my guts about Continue reading →
10 Life Lessons I’ve Learned from Running Ultras
Sports psychology is not my area of expertise. I couldn't even begin to tell you why I choose to train for, and run, ultramarathons, never mind explain why so many others do it as well. But there is a striking similarity between the struggle and reward of running ultramarathons, and the struggle and reward of human existence. So it's no doubt that there are plenty of things running Continue reading →
Preparing your Crew for an Ultramarathon: 9 Steps to Take
In an ideal world, we'd all be accompanied on our ultramarathons by an experienced crew that runs like a well oiled machine. They would know what to do - and when to do it - without needing you to utter a single word. The reality is: many first timers to ultra distances bring along friends and family to help them out who are also unsure of what they are about to get into. Crewing for an Continue reading →
