Western States 100: A Decade To A Day
My journey to the Western States 100 took 10 years of training, setbacks, and growth. Here’s what it takes to reach the start line — and the finish — of ultrarunning’s most iconic 100-mile race.
The Ultrarunner’s Crew
Tips for Crewing & Pacing By Coach Maria Simone I love the opportunity to support another runner going for the ultramarathon finish line – especially the first-time finish line. There is something special about being a part of all of that suffering – and watching the human mind, body, and spirit overcome. I love to[…]
Vermont 100 Endurance Run: Digging the Mind Out of the Trenches
By Coach Lindsay Leigh I had so many reasons to quit the Vermont 100 Endurance Run, and reasons I knew were good enough and people would support me. I had trench foot, a strained calf, blisters covering my feet, and a series of other maladies. But I continued on, aid station to aid station, and[…]
Gritty, Cheerful, Supportive Ultrarunners: Umstead 100 Race Report
~ By Coach Lindsay Leigh The 100 mile distance has intrigued me for years. I only had to decide when the right time would be to toe the line. Up until the start of the 2018 Umstead 100, and even during some moments of the race, I could not quite wrap my head around running[…]
Running Towards Uncertainty: Leadville 100
“One who fears failure limits his activities. Failure is only the opportunity to more intelligently begin again.” ~ Henry Ford This summer, I embarked on an attempt to complete the Grand Slam of Ultra Running: 1) Western States 100, 2) Vermont 100, 3) Leadville 100, and 4) Wasatch 100. I made it 40 miles into[…]
Living Dreams: 2017 Western States 100 Race Report
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” ~ John Muir I lived one of my long-time dreams as I climbed the snowy[…]
Take 3: Vermont 100 Race Report
“A teachable spirit and a humbleness to admit your ignorance or mistake will save you a lot of pain. However, if you’re a person who knows it all, you’ve got a lot of heavy-hearted experiences coming your way” ~ Ron Carpenter Jr. This race report begins with my preparation for the race and learning from the mistakes[…]
Go Back a Little to Leap Further: Infinitus Not Quite 72
“No human ever became interesting by not failing. The more you fail and recover and improve, the better you are as a person. Ever met someone who’s always had everything work out for them with zero struggle? They usually have the depth of a puddle. Or they don’t exist.” ~Chris Hardwick Let me start my[…]
My “Dopey” Disney Experience: Dopey Challenge 2014
[Note: This is a race report written by No Limits Athlete Stephanie Riis, who recently completed the 2014 Dopey Challenge, which was held January 9-12, 2014. What’s the Dopey Challenge? Read on and you’ll find out!] *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Everyone loves a challenge, right? Well, the Walt Disney Corporation, or #RunDisney to be specific, has learned how[…]
Vermont 100 Race Report
Every training session, every race is a teacher. If you are open to the lessons, you can learn a lot. My training for and racing of the Vermont 100 is no exception. Here’s how it went down. The race started at 4 a.m., which meant the timeline for pre-race eating was pushed ever earlier. I went to[…]