Ultramarathon News for Thurs March 30

If you’re training for MdS but living in Hong Kong, you run dozens and dozens and dozens of laps on the local sandy beach to recreate the conditions you’ll face in the desert. This all makes sense right?

Speaking of extremes, are you a better fit for hot and dry or freezing and wet?

Is having one dominant athlete good for a sport? Usain at track? Tiger at golf? Courtney at ultras? One of those athletes thinks sports needs stars to “keep it exciting” but I think others–including me–appreciate the standouts but also like it when the outcome is still a mystery. You?

Tyler Andrews adds a few Kili routes to his impressive list of FKTs.

Lize Britten reviews Kara Goucher’s book The Longest Race.

Camille Herron chats with iRunFar following her 48hr American Record.

This guy went on a day hike, turned around to head home and……..didn’t recognize the trail. Fortunately he was found nine days later. Be careful out there folks.

As a dad of an active and competitive 13yo girl, I’m laser-focused on watching out for eating disorders and appreciate reading about other young women like Allie O. I’m open to any and all advice.

What’s going on in the ultramarathon and trail scene this weekend? Jeff Stern has all the races and rundowns right here. (Missing from the list is this race that my son Van, 11, and I are running on Saturday in Carson City, Nevada. More on him at a later date.)

Short news day, gotta run.

Micah Ward says:

March 30, 2023 at 12:30 pm

Eric, concerning eating disorders. My daughter ran from 8th grade through two years of college. Thankfully she didn’t have issues but a few team members did. I recommend lots of love, support and open communication without judgment. Good luck!

Scott Hillis says:

March 30, 2023 at 4:35 pm

I live in the Seattle area and remember when that hiker got lost for nine days. I always had questions about what really happened and this new piece doesn’t really answer them. While I can definitely relate to the sensation of the landscape turning unfamiliar once you turn around, it is just hard to fathom how he got so disoriented that he wandered for nine days. The Pratt River Trail is heavily trafficked by day hikers, runners, and backcountry campers, especially on summer weekends. Trails are well-maintained and clearly marked. Even going off trail, you’re bound to hit another trail, stream, or even I-90 at some point. He does acknowledge ADHD and some mental struggles, so maybe those affected his ability to better assess his situation and make decisions? Glad he’s okay.

Ted Allen says:

March 31, 2023 at 3:12 pm

The hiker’s story is quite strange. The Pratt River Trail literally follows the Pratt River, which is the biggest river in the area by far. Hard to imagine getting so lost that you can’t just go back down to the river. Would love to read a follow up investigation that tries to explain where he may have gone. Maybe he was going for an Into The Wild kind of thing?

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