“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” E.E. Cummings recognized his conflict with convention and fully embraced the fundamental American value of individualism, stretching the soul to cover enough space in this world to resist getting lost in mediocrity or someone else’s dreams. This proclamation of uniqueness and the call […]

In some circles, it has become taboo to declare that men and women are biologically different. Acknowledging this fact is not an assertion that one is inherently superior, nor is it a dismissal of the grand overlap of traits between them. Both sexes evolved together and have varying skills and social strategies based on reproductive […]

All communities, from ants to the digital sphere, depend on a system of rules and only remain functional as long as its constituents adapt and maintain regularity. These are complex groups that exhibit cooperation and dynamic behavior that result in structure, replication, and progression. The community of ultra-runners is relatively new, though many of its […]

As athletes, we tend to obsess about our sport and how our training is progressing, or even how our personal workload compares to others’. We plan, log, sweat, fuel, and prepare. Sometimes this leads us to invest too much in the available numbers; we ignore fatigue and feel ashamed if heart rate or power falls […]

Humans are infatuated with differences. At first face, it appears we are unique in awarding prizes to exceptional talent and ability. We note the performances that are striking in how unusual, influential, and precise they are. Likewise, we herald the performer as being a creative or athletic idol, someone to whom we should aspire, a celebrity […]

Written by Christopher Thomas Round 3 – NorCal 100K Grand Prix Quicksilver 100K 62.2 miles – 13,000’ e.g. Quicksilver Park – San Jose, CA Here we are one more week and it’s over. There are only three of us left out of seven who started, Stacie Riddle and Satpal Dalal. This is what the last […]

Written by Christopher Thomas Round 2 – NorCal 100K Grand Prix Miwok 100K 62.2 miles – 12,000’ eg Stinson Beach – Marin Headlands, CA Coming off my big run at Canyons I was not sure how my body would react. My coach, Bob Shebest of Point Positive Coaching continually told me trust in the process, […]

Written by Christopher Thomas Round 1 – NorCal 100K Grand Prix The Canyons 100K 63.6 miles – 15,000’ eg Western States Trail – Foresthill, CA Canyons is deemed as one of the hardest 100K courses in California did not disappoint. At 15,000’ of elevation gain including Devil’s Thumb about 1,600’ in a little over a […]

The Woodside Ramble this past weekend elicited a few inquiries about Lance Armstrong’s participation last year. Some were hopeful to race against him while others were looking for a photo or story. Days prior to the race we were asked about our position regarding anti-doping policy and if the experience of allowing a former doper […]

You arrive at a race and find yourself engulfed by runners bouncing like boxers, lunging around the parking lot, trotting down the road to bring blood to the muscles, and then you spot them. They are deliberate and methodical in their approach. They appear confident and convinced of their routine. You may even feel as […]

As the year comes to a close and the holidays are thrust upon us with glittering urgency, like many Americans during this time, I feel anxious, exhausted, and even a little unrestrained. The pressure of tradition and social obligations, along with the general hum of unrelenting responsibility make what is supposed to be a joyous […]

Exercise is good for you, but there can be severe consequences in demanding too much from a body designed for moderation. As more insight and research is conducted in the field of exercise physiology, old ideas are discarded and the public gets to feast over new controversies in data while the verdict is still out. […]

The internet is bustling with articles and news flashes about the grand importance of sleep, and how without it we experience shrinking hippocampi (which leads to impaired memory), weakened immune system, depression, irritability, digestive issues, along with other deleterious consequences. In a world that is so connected, so buzzing with information, this need for sleep […]

How Thoughts Influence Performance: An Overview by Tanya DavisUnlike most other animals, humans have a high level of consciousness which imparts both positive and negative consequences on our performances in just about everything. Our brain, though genetically and structurally similar to other animals, can actually plan parties, hold grudges, categorize ourselves and others, dwell on […]

There are many discomforts a runner can experience during training and racing. Usually it involves the gastrointestinal system, and sometimes, it can be quite embarrassing. Most of us have encountered some form of GI distress during a run and have taken steps to remedy the cause so we don’t have another discomfiting moment. The cause […]

After hours of sleep or sitting at a desk, the most common action upon standing is to stretch. The muscles are relaxed and have experienced decreased blood flow as there is less demand for strong circulation while immobile. Stretching helps to stimulate circulation and bring newly oxygenated blood to the tissues. The heart rate increases […]

I’ll admit it: I like to restrict calories. Well, I don’t “like” to restrict calories, I do it because I’m neurotic and obsessive and a perfectionist, and I want to be an ideal weight in fanciful hope of delivering a speedy, flawless performance. Too many calories would mean I’d put on weight which would hamper […]

Mother Earth, Venus, Triple Goddess, protector, siren: women are temptresses and nurturers. It is not a duplicity but a congruency that is imperative to our spirits and our ability to provide, strengthen, and guide. Women should have the dignity to uphold this duality and claim their status as the fierce Empress–she does not submit to […]

As our waist sizes increase and our rear-ends flatten under the weight of a sedentary body, you’d think that the existence of endurance/ultra sports would be threatened.  Apparently, sitting like a lump on a log is only a fraction of the story and demands further scrutiny.  It is true that most Americans do not participate […]

Americans are obsessed with status, acknowledgment/approval, comfort and excess. Acknowledgment isn’t limited to Americans, that is a very human motivation and a colossal incentive for progress. Status and excess are also desired by other peoples, though it is typical of American culture and something that we are defined by. It then isn’t a surprise that […]

Caffeine is one of the oldest and most accessible performance enhancing aids. It is a metabolic stimulant that affects the central nervous system and decreases the perception of fatigue; studies suggest that caffeine may even enhance muscle contractions. Fat is known to slow sugar absorption and digestion, allowing you to feel satiated longer and have […]

How many of you neglect to eat and hydrate adequately during or after a run? How many of you simply forget to drink your sports solutions and sip water at aid stations? Hydration and fuel for your event are fundamental concepts, yet they are often discounted or repudiated. The key to optimal performance and adaptation […]

Animals didn’t develop to consider long-term consequences and long-term planning even though it may be written in our DNA to behave in ways that will secure a future existence.  We have to remind ourselves that we are animals and we act according to an ethical code and to the hormonal ebb and flow within our […]

Good God!  We’ve been buried for the last couple weeks and are thankful for the lull in the trail racing news this time of year.  Personally, I’ve been juggling 70+ hour weeks putting on and preparing for running events with PCTR.  We had a great time putting on the Woodside 50k (35k, 17, 10k) last […]

Kilian Jornet proves his dominance and talent at UTMB, running in the front all night and day to win in 20:36. Salomon teammate, Iker Karrera, cruises in shortly afterward for 2nd. The North Face’s Sebastien Chaigneau sweeps in for 3rd.  Did you follow it?  What are your thoughts?

Follow all the action in one place. Watch the comments here on this post as well and please add your thoughts. We’re excited about this and are settling in for the duration! UTMB 2011 at Inside Trail

After the race briefing held in the old gymnasium in downtown Leadville, I was able to talk with some of the top contenders.  Here are some of the photos and words of note from those chats:        

Stay tuned for raw analysis of the talented and stacked field in the upcoming UTMB “ultra showdown”.