Ultramarathon Daily News | Monday, July 29, 2019
Oh hey. It’s Laura Parson again, here to bring you the latest in ultrarunning news and other related hot takes whilst Eric is on his European vacation. I’m starting my own FKT attempt of the Collegiate Loop this morning, so while you are reading this, I’m winding my way along the Collegiate East trail (or maybe, hopefully, already on the west loop). If you’ve got a lot of free time, or would like to send encouraging messages, you can follow along live on my Facebook page.
This early start means that I’m not starting with either this weekend’s ultra racing results or the Fast Women newsletter. It falls to my cohort of guest URP editors to bring you those links tomorrow.
Speaking of people doing FKTs successfully, “Legend” just completed his third FKT record of the year, this time an unsupported FKT of the Long Trail. I’m impressed, and not just by the sweet, sleeveless cat hoodie he is wearing in the header. Y’all, I want one.
In the world of timely products reviews, Trail Sisters has a review of running skirts that shouldn’t be missed. Everyone can run in trail skirts, so therefore everyone should check this link.
Meanwhile, if you’ve been slowly accumulating running shoes you shouldn’t run in any more but can’t bear to donate, here is something else you could be doing with those shoes. When I say recycle or reuse those shoes what I mean is turn those shoes into a building. No excuses.
In response to the accusations of racist behavior made against aid station volunteers at the San Diego 100 shared by Clint in Friday’s news, the captain of that aid station penned her response. Accusations of racism are serious. I hope they are never made or taken lightly.
In running research news, it seems that some recent research suggests that strength training might actually decrease our endurance muscles. But wait. Before you celebrate, TrainingPeaks published (and then took down?) a strength training routine to improve performance in endurance triathlon events premised as a guide to revive flagging triathlon performances. This is up now. What should you do? When evaluating all training recommendations based on research, check who participated in the study. If the population studied was mice, those results might not transfer to humans (There is a twitter account that retweets scientific findings where the research was done IN MICE with that label. It’s my very favorite). If the sample is, say, men between the ages of 18 and 24, and you are neither of those identities, review the research judiciously. Traditionally, the sports research we’ve been taking as doctrine has been conducted on a sample of youngish men, and as Stacey Sims so adeptly says in ROAR “women are not small men.” Now, if the training tips include no links to research at all? Proceed with extreme caution. Or reckless abandon. Who am I to give you advice anyway?
And if you’re thinking, “hey, I came here for the news,” here is a study that suggests that trash talk works. On a related note, if you have something “not so nice” to say about my FKT attempt, please leave it as an anonymous comment on this daily news post.
And, finally, burro racing. You’re welcome.