Ultra and Trail News, Mon, Feb 8

Ultra and Trail News From Around the World

How to set long term goals in ultra running.

This elite was out for a training run near Sacramento and found a guy on a wall putting a noose around his neck. You’ll have to read the story right here.

If you run on the roads, you need to read this. A few safety tips, but really check out the data analysis. While there’s no data on runners vs pedestrians, it’s still interesting to to see at what time runners are most likely hit and which gender is more at risk.

Jen Benna, post Sean O'Brien 50. — Jen Benna, post Sean O’Brien 100k. Used with permission.

Speaking of road runners, there’s a lot of freedom on the roads, as shown in this short essay by Jeremy.

Roll Recovery offering to pay entry fees for Olympic Trials qualifiers. Good on them! Here’s my review of their latest torture device.

Lots of big results from the Week in Running by Justin at iRunFar. Golden tickets, Gordy qualifies, new names, new records…Check out that pic above of 3rd female at Sean O’Brien Jen Benna. Here’s her interview from last year.

Here’s Ian’s report from his Rocky win.

And here’s Ford Smith’s report from Tarawera. Didn’t go as planned but gutted it out in the last 10k.

I opened up my heart and mind and let my inner unfuckwithable badassery come out. I ran hard and I ran free. No more gremlins, no more demons. I simply outran them.

—and here’s Devon’s report from her awesome finish at Sean O’Brien 100k.

McDonald’s kale salad: Is it any good?

ultra trail running wind river high route — Douglas Pass on the Wind River High Route. Pic by Andrew Skurka.

The Wind River High Route in Wyoming has been on my bucket list for a long time. Ninety miles of mixed trail with about 30k feet of cumulative elevation gain with nine passes between 12,200 ft and 11,500 ft—six off-trail and three on-trail. Hello! Andrew Skurka has a guide that details every damn thing you need to know about it. Check it out here.

Women-only races confuse me. I understand the elite women who want to break the tape without any men, but can’t understand (hey, I’m a guy) the rest. What’s so bad about running with men??? This article attempts to explain why women love these races, but comes off as pretty patronizing in my opinion. Ladies, what do you think? Am I missing the entire point?

Then there are these superwomen.

1:11 half marathon with a stroller for a new WR. Awesome! I’d love to see the GoPro footage!

A case for running by feel and ditching the GPS.

The 50-55 age group (both sexes) for ultras in Northern California is freaking brutal. Here’s a great example.

The Western States Board of Trustess added/modified a rule banning runners with past convictions of doping. Well done. Wasn’t there a rule before though? Can’t recall what it was? Anyone?

…while Comrades is on the lookout for course cutters and bib mules.

Manning’s Budweiser comment at the end of the Super Bowl yesterday caught my attention to. Here’s a bit more on it.

This dude is out walking on the trails with his son when he’s attacked by a mountain lion. The cat lunges at him, dad wrestles it to the ground and snaps its neck. Wow!

Interested in either the paleo diet or going vegan? This discussion on Jeff Browning’s website is civil, smart, and has strong opinions from both sides. Check it out.

Hmm, a lot to take in here. Do high performance cultures lead to low success? It’s tough to compare some of the authors examples to ultra and trail running, but it’s no accident that top runners cluster around each other and make the group better. Additionally, the author has some strong opinions on money in sports and how it’ll be the downfall of success.

…speaking of money in sports, the US Oly Trials will have $600k at stake for the winners.

10 Responses to "Ultra and Trail News, Mon, Feb 8"

Sarah Lavender Smith says:

February 8, 2016 at 8:14 am

I have never liked women-only races and have always thought the Nike Women’s Marathon is mostly about marketing. I want to run with guys as well as women. That said, it’s undeniably exciting to see a specific high-level competition of women only (like the women’s Olympic Marathon Trials). But that’s the exception. I went to a “She Rocks the Trails” trail race organized once for women only, to encourage more women to run trails, but I didn’t get it then and still don’t get it. I’m with you on this, Eric. (Ask Ethan about this the next time you have a chance; he has a slightly different view.)

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Stew Gunyon says:

February 8, 2016 at 9:55 am

I was kind of shocked how Mike the Fruitarian went after Jeff on Jeff’s blog a week or so after good naturedly cutting and serving coconuts at HURT100.

It’s known and appreciated how Mike is dedicated to his diet and the positive effects it has wrought in his life, but we’re all different when it comes to diet as Zach and Jeff so intelligently point out!

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  February 8, 2016 at 12:44 pm
  
  I agree completely. Being dogmatic about a choice like that has the potential to turn people off.
  
  Reply
Chris says:

February 8, 2016 at 12:06 pm

Does the Western States policy apply to their training runs?

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Michael Jimenez says:

February 8, 2016 at 12:43 pm

Mountain Lions take note, do not screw around with former wrestlers! Me and my runner arms…I’d be kitty chow. Dang snapped it’s neck. Most impressed by the fella’s sympathy for the cat. That was a nice surprise for a guy that just looked death in the face and prevailed

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Tropical John says:

February 8, 2016 at 5:38 pm

FYI, here’s the old WS100 performance rule:

The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run is committed to keeping ultrarunning a clean, drug-free sport. Use of performance-enhancing drugs or blood doping as defined by USADA is forbidden. The Western States Board reserves the right to disqualify a runner based on competent evidence of such use.

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Beth says:

February 8, 2016 at 5:51 pm

I personally do not see the Appeal of women’s only races, but I’ve had 4 friends who never would’ve tried running and/or triathlons otherwise. It lowers the intimidation factor especially for those who did not grow up as athletes or don’t think of themselves as athletes. I voluntarily coached a friend to her first race (girls only) and she summed it up by saying the last time she did any exercise in a mixed gender group it was being harassed by guys in high school gym class. Not a great association! Whatever gets people moving!

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Sara says:

February 9, 2016 at 5:33 am

I don’t usually like to comment on the Internets, but feel compelled to comment on the women-only races. I can see why you’d think the article was patronizing, but I actually think it captured a lot of reasons why some women prefer these kinds of events. Like Beth stated above, many women didn’t grow up running or even grow up in athletics (or if they did, they have bad memories), and these events provide a safe, fun space for them to explore running and athleticism, while also getting some fun stuff.

I did not grow up as an athlete, and when I started running 11 years ago, I was very overweight, slow and scared. I joined a women-only “Learn to Run” group, and the support, encouragement and friendship of those women is why I’m still running now. I’m faster and more competitive now – I just ran my first-ever track race at age 36! – but I wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t been for that safe space.

Also, for whatever it’s worth, my degree is in women’s studies, so I usually abhor acquiescing to gender stereotypes. But I do think that there is something there for some women who want a different environment, and who perhaps are in it for different reasons.

Rachel Toor recently wrote an excellent piece in “Running Times” (RIP) about her gut, condescending reaction whenever she sees women in pink tutus lining up at races. She then comments on how she makes a conscious effort to adjust her thinking to “Good for you. Glad you’re out here.” I myself have had similar reactions to the pink tutus, but like her, I think whatever gets people moving is fantastic. If it’s a competitive 50 miler, awesome. If it’s a 3K on an indoor track, good on ya. If it’s Nike Women’s Half-Marathon where you get present a Tiffany necklace by a man in a tuxedo, awesome. Running is running. Movement is good.

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Amy says:

February 9, 2016 at 9:38 am

Thank you one million times over for sharing that picture of Jen Benna. I’m a running and nursing mother myself and pictures like that are so encouraging and powerful. Motherhood alone is tough enough to manage. Piling in nursing/racing/training can feel overwhelming. It’s wonderful to know I’m not the only one navigating those waters.

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1. eric schranz says:
  
  February 9, 2016 at 12:45 pm
  
  I agree, it’s one helluva moving picture. Jen is one tough woman! And for the record, I know I’d be one dead husband if I shared a pic like that of my wife!
  
  Reply

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