Read before You Ultra

The Running Ground A memoir by Nick Thompson, out today.

❝It’s easy to think of running as a beaded necklace; as a series of beautiful treasures, hard-earned through effort and attention, but what if running is actually the thread?
—Peter Bromka
open.substack.com/pub/bromka/p...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

Aussie rules as Phil Gore wins Laz Lake's Backyard Ultra World Championship 'The race with no finish' is over and it saw the current world record holder win the World Championship for the first time.

❝when that last athlete,
completes that last yard,
alone
it will be the cumulation of the efforts of everyone.
—Laz Lake/Jonathan Turner
run247.com/running-news...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

Analysing the Limiters of Ultra Marathon Performance An evidence-based guide to what really holds you back in an ultra, focusing on the interplay between perceived exertion, the brain, and physical breakdown.

2/2 ❝We dedicate countless hours to improving specific aspects of our performance like uphill propulsion, downhill technique, gut tolerance and metabolic efficiency, but are we focusing on what moves the needle?
—Niki Micallef
open.substack.com/pub/bornonth...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

1/2 A comprehensive, richly sourced analysis of the limiting factors in #ultramarathon performance:

Muscular Endurance Revisited: What Actually Works - Ultra Running Magazine Muscular endurance, what many in the endurance community now more accurately refer to as durability, is a cornerstone of ultrarunning performance. It reflects the ability to sustain movement, resist b...

❝[T]he one who slows down less in the final third of a race almost always comes out on top. That resistance to decline, or durability, is what muscular endurance ultimately buys you.
—Cliff Pittman
ultrarunning.com/featured/mus...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

Definitely not just for ultrarunners!

Foot and Ankle Care for Endurance Athletes: Practical Guidance from the Ground Up Discover practical foot and ankle care strategies tailored for endurance athletes—from biomechanics and injury prevention to recovery tactics and footwear insights—to support your training, performanc...

Very informative article with not a single gross foot picture.

❝[T]here is no single ‘best’ [shoe] drop for every athlete. What matters most is what the body is adapted to—and how any transition is managed.
—Dr. Jeff Hammond
uphillathlete.com/recovery/foo...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

❝We disagreed about things socially, theologically, and politically, and our conversations were constructive because we were friends, bonded by shared miles. Our common love of #running humanized these differences to me.
—Sabrina Little
www.irunfar.com/the-civic-va...

#trailrunning #ultrarunning

“Should I Be Worried?” The answer is always no. Here’s why.

❝All it takes is one athlete who doesn’t worry in a situation where everyone else does to prove that a problem can be recognized and addressed without interference from negative emotions […].
—Matt Fitzgerald
open.substack.com/pub/enduranc...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

How do I train for a stage race? - UltraSignupNews Learn how to train for a stage race with tips on building durability, recovery, pacing, and mental strength so you can go the distance and enjoy every stage of the adventure.

2/2 ❝Pittman says they can be a solid strategy in stage racing, when the emphasis is on recovering to perform the next day rather than maximizing training adaptations.
—Zoë Rom
news.ultrasignup.com/how-do-i-tra...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

Interesting.

1/2 ❝While ice baths or cold water immersion aren’t great additions to typical training because the cold can temper inflammation, blunting adaptations,

The Cuyamaca 100k: Underprepared but undeterred The joy of running 61 miles on just 6 weeks of training. Seriously.

Or, just as good—prove ourselves *wrong*.

❝But what are we here for if not to step into the arena and give ourselves the chance to prove ourselves right? How else are we going to find out who we are?
—John Maynard
open.substack.com/pub/runandge...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

I completed my first ultramarathon. Reporting from the heart, 50 kilometers later.

2/2 ❝Somehow, through this 50k, I have learned to better meet myself right where I am.
—Jessica Lin
open.substack.com/pub/runningb...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

1/2 ❝There will always be people faster than me in these races. There will always be longer distances that others have mastered. There will always be something else that someone else is doing.

I kind of hate Strava. When the competition is all in your head. And it won't leave.

❝We like to think of progress as linear: faster, farther, stronger, better. But sometimes progress is quieter. Sometimes it’s what used to scare you that doesn’t anymore.
—Jenn Collins
open.substack.com/pub/onthetra...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

7 Keys to Being A Stronger Ultrarunner Next Season - CTS There is nothing more powerful in endurance sports than accumulated training time. You can be a better trail and ultra runner next season because the season

❝Fear of losing fitness prevents a lot of athletes from taking a meaningful break from training. […] The reality is, a prolonged (3-4 weeks) period of rest and unstructured exercise can be very beneficial […].
—Ryne Anderson
trainright.com/better-ultra...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

Mammoth 200: Go Big or Go Extinct I am exactly one week removed from the inaugural running of the Mammoth 200. What a ride that was. A race this long deserves a long blog post, so grab a cold one and let’s get started. GAME T…

❝Sure, I knew there’d be things out there that I couldn’t predict that would almost inevitably happen… but as my mantra (picked up from Stephanie Case) dictated, ‘what if it all goes right?’
—Rachel Entrekin
blondeidiotrunning.wordpress.com/2025/10/04/m...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

2.5 Solo: This Splendid Defeat — Damian Hall When is a failure a success?

❝To me it’s about curiosity. I’m just deeply curious to see what’s possible. Can I do The Thing? How can I do it? What will it feel like?
—Damian Hall
www.ultradamo.com/blog/25-solo

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

Afraid of it all. Since I started trailrunning (15 yrs ago) I’m routinely asked about fear.

❝I have immense respect for the outdoors […].
And so I prepare.
I do research.
I listen to seasoned professionals and educate myself.
—Sally McRae
open.substack.com/pub/theyello...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

Fast Women: The shifting identities of competitive runners Katie Schide, Tove Alexandersson, and Nina Engelhard win world titles

❝Know that running will evolve with you, throughout your life, and it doesn’t have to be static. […] It doesn’t always have to look the same. That in itself is really exciting.
—Mattie Webb/Alison Wade
open.substack.com/pub/fastwome...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

So many shoes but only two feet I speak to footwear designer Richard Kuchinsky about the confluence of running shoe design and run culture

2/2 ❝I think the numbers are real. I don’t think it’s a big scam to get people to buy new shoes. It’s a limit of the physical materials […].
—Richard Kuchinsky/@runningsucks.bsky.social
www.runningsucks101.com/p/richard-ku...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

1/2 The age-old question: Do #running shoes really only last a few hundred miles?

Is there such a thing as a ‘vulnerable’ race? And could an average runner win it? Imagine if an everyday runner could actually win an event… this mid-packer set out in search of the seemingly impossible

Midpack FTW!

❝As the half-marathon club runners stretched their athletic legs, led by an elite Kenyan no less, we girded our middle-aged loins.
—Craig Lewis
open.substack.com/pub/runningt...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

Nutrition Strategies to Aid Recovery for Mountain Athletes Learn how proper nutrition supports recovery and performance for mountain and endurance athletes. Tips on carbs, protein, supplements, and sleep.

A short and sweet guide to recovering better.

❝Recovery isn’t just about taking a day off. It’s about giving your body the resources it needs to repair, adapt, and come back stronger.
—Alyssa Leib
uphillathlete.com/nutrition/nu...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

❝So yes—I’m an ultrarunner.
Not just because I run far, but because I show up for the sport I love.
—Shalini Bhajjan
ultrarunning.com/featured/im-...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

Can Run Clubs Make You a Better Runner? A deep dive into studies on run clubs, motivation and training quality, showing how group runs can help or hinder long-term success.

❝Does our body actually work harder or more efficiently in a group setting? The scientific evidence presents a compelling and somewhat unexpected picture.
—Niki Micallef
open.substack.com/pub/bornonth...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

❝Beyond mere existence, what a wonder that we can walk and run, and run for an hour, and run for days.
—Bryon Powell
www.irunfar.com/in-praise-of...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

Rain rage 276 days to 100 miles

❝Strangely though, I think I enjoy getting grumpy about running in the rain. […] Compared to a lot of the unnecessary hate and ill will in the world, rain is a pretty safe thing to grumble over […].
—Jonathan S. Bean
open.substack.com/pub/vengarun...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

Ultra-Trail Harricana 28K Recap – I don’t hold hands When it comes to trail running, I don’t hold hands. It sounds lovely and sportsmanlike, and all. But I much prefer to fight to the death. And I had so much fun doing so this weekend at the Ultra-Tr…

❝And when I felt like I wanted to faint, I told myself it wasn’t real. Over and over again until it wasn’t real.
—Rhys Desmond
rhysdesmond.com/2025/09/07/u...

#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning

Bahaha, you gave her homework, love it!

I’m curious, did she read it? Does she agree with what it says in general? Always good to have another opinion from a knowledgeable person.