Halloween edition!

Tim (footfeathers) is headin out West to help Sarah run PCTR and some of the most beautiful runs in the country.  Welcome back to California Tim!

Wardian takes second at MCM on Sunday with a 2:23 and change. That's still scaaaaary fast.

Got buckle but no belt? This ultrarunner/leather artist is filling the void.

Scary: This runner had blisters during an 1,100km jaunt, they got infected, and as a result, had a leg and a foot amputated.

Colorado announces it's entry into the PAC12 conference by sweeping both mens and womens races at the xc champs.  What the heck are they drinking in that state?!?

Fri, Oct 28

Tomorrow is the Sacramento Halloween Beer Mile. I'll be there, representing URP in all its glory. Next weekend is Lithia Loop Trail Marathon in Ashland. More running, but also more beer.

These elites have rigorous warm up routines. Mine has generally been get up, have some food and coffee, head to the start, and hang out until the RD says "go!"

Sorry we've been slow these past two weeks. Work is busy.

Dan Parr breaks the CR in a 250k Sahara run.

Thoughts on icebaths. More directed towards elite track, but still interesting.

Road running Jen Pfeifer turns to trail ultras and discusses the differences.

Thurs, Oct 27

What do you think about this guys' opinion on course records?

Wondering where Kyle Skaggs went? Here he is, living quite the life.

Tim Long (footfeathers) turns in a RR from a DNF at Pony Express 100 with some great lessons.

Groundbreaking female runner (does that sound offensive?) marks an important 50th anniversary.

Disgusting: Guy tries to be heaviest person to finish a marathon.

So much for trail running being a cheap sport. That's an $860 outfit.

Wed, Oct 26

Ian Sharman breaks down international road marathons alphabetically.

Last Chance 50 miler is coming up in Sacramento. If you're not running it but want to volunteer, shoot me an email.

Runner passed away during Tussey Mountain relay. Family and friends find consolation and say he died doing something he loved.

Is there an ultra-joggler yet? Pretty tricky on the trails, I'd presume.

Guy finishes a 50 miler, turns around, and makes it an even hundo.

Have you got your name into Comrades yet?

Tues, Oct 25

Video: Wanna see Killian chasing Marco deGaspari down some stairs? Whew! Hat tip to GZ for the find.

Dan Rose (Run 192 guy) runs a fatass 100 miler across Cape Cod, with some beautiful pics.

Guinness wants the 100 yo marathoner to prove his age, despite India not issuing birth certificate when he was born. Come on, now.

I still haven't tried the new Brooks PureConnect, but this reviewer says they're too narrow. Sounds good to me!

Boys XC runner leads team to win 3 weeks after suffering a stroke. Wow.

Mon, Oct 24

So they have jerks who move trail markers in Africa, too? Kevin Chen gets lost during 250k stage race across the Kalahari.


Endurance swimmer sums it up right: “My philosophy is, you have to have the right screw loose to be a good endurance athlete.  You look at the best ones, they’re crazy.”


Karl is talking about putting on a big $ hundo at Snowbird. 


Tim Englund wins Laz's crazy Backyard Ultra.  Zach Gingerich wins Des Plaines 50M with a 5:37 and Wardian takes USATF Champs Tussey Mountain 50Mwith a new CR 5:33.  Frank Bozanich, 67, turns in an 8:32.  Also, Seth Wold sets a new CR at Pony Express with a 7:17. 


List: "7 races to get you started in ultrarunning." Two of them are hundreds?


Blind HS XC runner runs with a guide dog. Not too long until I see that at an ultra, I'd imagine...

Fri, Oct 21

The Onion: Kenyans just watching trail marathons for the crashes.

Is sitting ruining your running?

Toddler shows off perfect barefoot running form.

Kami Semick now lives in Hong Kong and keeps running into snakes.

"You can't shoot a cannon from a canoe" and other musings on long and slow Maffetone methods.

Corrected: Todd Braje, who's got a 5:30 50 miler to his name, will be attempting a second win at Tussey Mountain 50M this weekend. Wardian will also be there.  Should be a great race.

Thurs, Oct 20

The 100 year old marathoner lets us in on his secrets to longevity.

"I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter."--Sir Winston Churchill

Should you run twice on your long days?

The geniuses over at letsrun discuss whether "ultrarunning is still a joke."

An inaugural 100k goes off without a hitch. Well done, RD!

Study: How quickly is water absorbed after you drink it?

Wed, Oct 19

Many Oly Trials runners are passing on NY Marathon because 2 marathons in 2 months is too much. Mike Wardian says "huh?"

Geoff Roes opens up about his schedule.

USATF does something right.

Some of the dirtiest trail porn ever. Listen up photogs, this is how you take pictures.

Gretchen compares running to writing and ponders the question "is our inability to be satisfied our greatest talent?"

Scott Jaime competes in Krispy Kreme Challenge.

Tues, Oct 18

Video: Lecture on fruit-based diet by the Fruitarian, Mike Arnstein.

Don't streak the Olympic Marathon or it'll cost you.  Yeah, I'm talking to you.

How do you qualify to be a running coach?

I don't know how triathletes find the time to train this much.

Hal K takes a first at TNF 50 in Atlanta this weekend, with Nicki Kimball coming in 5th overall. Nice!

The Philippines lose an inspirational ultrarunner.

If ultras seem too safe, you could always run with the bulls in Arizona.

Mon, Oct 17

If you've got the time, check out this new mag on trail running from Australia and NZ. Here's a pdf of  volume 1 and here's vol 2. Warning: Big files.  Well done, mates!

Wardian takes a third on Saturday, then wins on Sunday. 2 marathons, 2 days.

A XC race on Pre's Trail. Sounds like fun.

Robbers steal Ironman triathlete's stuff after event. Wait, did they say six pairs of shoes? I know triathletes are gear whores, but six?

This article mentions a 39 mile race. What a great distance! Hello RDs?

Video: The ultra shuffle.

Fri, Oct 14

Shorts....or skorts?

This runner had all the motivation he needed. Black IPA.

How a Japanese amateur road racer beat the system.

Brandon Fuller wrestles with hundo entries for next year. Haven't we all had this conversation with ourselves?

This list is pretty much right...except for most of it. Give me a pair of shoes and a nice trail, and I'm good to go.

Barefoot shoes are great, but they're not perfect.

What happens when protesters are "occupying" the finish line area?

New way to treat ITBF and PF.

Thurs, Oct 13

Video: Inspirational comeback on the track.

This guy is raising money by running 50M so that kids can enjoy the outdoors. Seems like he found a way to do it for free.

Holy crap! Joe Grant's encounter with a mountain lion.

Marathoner pulls a Rosie Ruiz and duh, gets caught.

This elite coach makes it simple: Be honest with yourself.

How do energy drinks effect your running?

2 things I didn't know about Lizzie Hawker. She's a PhD Polar Oceanographer (!) and she's currently running 1,000 miles across the Great Himalayan Trail. Wow!

Wed, Oct 12

What it takes to be elite.

Have you seen the ultrasignup app prototype? Pretty cool! Only for iPhones, and doesn't allow signups. Good thing! Have a few beers with your running buddies, next thing you know, you've signed up for every race in the damn country.

Video: A pro's guide to filming ultras.

The annual BeerMile in Sacramento is coming up. Check out the world records here.

PattySue Plumer signs on as Stanford XC coach.

Should pregnant moms take on endurance events?

Tues, Oct 11

Ten things you didn't know about running.


Must read: Road to trail transitioning.

This race had some real highlights, not the least of which was the "full meal of puso, lechon, ngo hiong, cold beer..at the finishline."


Take a few minutes to answer some questions about your running for this scientific study. Might even win some shoes!


Woman gives birth right after finishing Chicago Marathon.  Wonder how many times she stopped to pee?


Jean Pommier turns in a great race report from Firetrails 50. How he travels so much and runs so well is amazing!

Mon, Oct 10

Runner dies 500 yards from the finish line at Chicago Marathon.

Craig Alexander and Chrissie Wellington take firsts at Ironman Champs in Kona.

Neil Gorman wins Grindstone 100, and Mr. Mackey takes a win at Firetrails.

Trail porn: Adams Gulch Big Loop in Sun Valley, Idaho.

The Tevis Cup, rerouted from July because of snow, had to reroute again because of...you guessed it, snow.

Could you run a 250k stage race across the Sahara, carrying a giant statue of Taoist deity Nalakuvara. Wait, what?

Friday, October 7, 2011

Here's a list of all the major ultras in the world. Broken down by country, with all past winners.  Time to geek out.

ESPN's The Body Issue is coming out with nude (but covered) pics of top athletes. Huh? No ultrarunners? No Gordy? No Jenn?

Grindstone 100 is tomorrow. AJW is running and will give us a race report next week.

Should the term "ultramarathon" refer to cycling events? I don't think so.

You need to find a way to work a combo workout into your schedule.

...meanwhile, this running event is called an ultra, even though it's shorter than 26.2.

I got stuck on "bacon and oreo sandwiches and jello shots."

Thurs, Oct 6, 2011

How much to drink during a marathon. Will this ever get solved?

Guess who's racing again?

Mr. Roes just can't help it. He's a binge runner.

The new Midwest Slam. But can I get sausage instead of bacon? Thanks.

"Run like hell and get the agony over with."
--Clarence DeMar


Fun weight and performance calculator that shows how fast you could be if you didn't drink so damn much beer.


More really young kids getting into endurance events.


Kiplagat backs out of the NYC Marathon. Booooo!

Wed, October 5, 2011

Another story of a runner helping out another in a race. Hat tip to Dons Diary for the find. Do guys ever do this in competition, or is it only the fairer sex?

What was your mileage last week? Let us know and it may win you a free entry to the Lithia Loop Trail Marathon in Ashland next month.

Listen: Electroswing may just find its way onto my tempo run playlist.

Dakota Jones offers tips on winter running.

How to PR in an ultra with no extra training.  Yes please!

Do you suffer from Runners Face?

Hey Inov-8! We at URP would really love to try the new minimalist road shoe, the BareX-200. We promise to get it dirty reaaaaal quick.

Tues, Oct 4, 2011

Can you make it to southern Oregon by Nov 5? Lithia Loop Trail Marathon is taking place in Ashland. We'll be there...will you? Check out our contest to win an entry!

Nick Symonds makes the case for the USATF and IAAF getting the hell outta the way of growth.

Ironman Kona is coming up this weekend.  We'll have Tim Waggoner on next week to talk about his tri/ultra crossover success.

Ultrarunning biochemists now showing up as characters in suspense novels.

Carnage in Catalonia as Miguel Heras bags another win. Will we see him at NF50 in December?

Monday, October 3, 2011

I know it was last week, but still...read up on Mike Morton's crazy 24 hour race.

Triathlon book causes controversy.  I've got his other books and think they're great.

Feel crazy? Enter this 12 hour downhill bike race.

Disc golfers and runners have a turf war near Prefontaine trail in Eugene.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg starts a commotion when he posts a pic of himself wearing these running shoes.

Interesting article on how PEDs work.