Timed Events

Genesee Valley Ultra 24 Hour – Race Report

Race: Genesee Valley Ultra 24 Hour Race

Runner: TRR Coach Ryan Williams

Race Date: 03/29/2025

Location: Parkton, Maryland

Result: 90 miles in 23:52:25; 4th place overall

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/14030805201/overview

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
  1. Community: I love that the community is building for this race. Some more local ultra runners are getting out to it and it’s start to feel like a party.
  2. Race Director: The RD Jason Mabe is fantastic. He is there the entire time. He’s supportive and engaged and logistically that are no issues.
  3. Time of year: It’s such a great early spring event. The weather is always up in the air; you can guarantee you’ll get some wind, but also flowers on the course.
Ryan Williams smiling while running the Genesee Valley Ultra 24 Hour Race. PC: John Roemer
Ryan Williams smiling while running the Genesee Valley Ultra 24 Hour Race. PC: John Roemer
Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The on course offerings are quirky to say the least! We always call it “Genesee Valley aid”: there will be pancakes but no syrup or utensils. This year, in the middle of the night, someone will brought hushpuppies that no one wanted to eat that in the middle of an ultra. They’ll also have a lot of random food that has been donated. You don’t know what is going to be there or when it is going to come, but that is sort of the old school vibe of it.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Running 2.5 mile trail loops for 24 hours with about 225 feet of vert per loop is pretty weird! Part of the loop is through wide open fields where you just get wrecked by wind.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

On the same course and in the same time, I ran two miles further this year than last year. This was in spite of unseasonably hot conditions this year, suggesting I did a good job of staying on top of my hydration, even though it was nearly impossible to do so. I’m happy with reaching my “C” goal: I set a new 24-hour distance PR of 90 miles!

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

It’s a 24 hour race, so you really need to pace yourself! For the past two years, I’ve been in 1st place for the first 100K, before slowly falling apart after the 12 hour mark, reducing me to walking. This course seems like an easy loop but it can beat you up over a 24 hour time period. My advice is to walk the hills, take advantage of the flats, and be prepared for it to get cold at night. Also, know that there is a 90% chance of winds over 15 mph because of the location and lack of wind shields on the second half of the loop.

Ryan Williams working his way through a tough spot in the race. PC: John Roemer
Ryan Williams working his way through a tough spot in the race. PC: John Roemer
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Pacing! This is a skill that comes with time, but I knew enough to be concerned about being in first place even around 50 miles. Each loop, I’d focus too much on trying to stretch out the gap between me and second place. As a result, I wasn’t running my own race anymore. I needed to go a lot slower. This race doesn’t start until 50 miles, so who cares if I’m leading before that? In future, I need to keep a steady pace for the entire time limit. I don’t want five hours of power hiking at the end.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

There are some technical trail sections, but 80% of the course is either on grass, smooth double track, or open field. I think you could do really well with just a cushioned road shoe for the 24 hours. I’ve used trail shoes the past two years but I’m over that. At the same time, both years the person who has out-lasted me was just wearing road shoes. I think that’s something worth paying attention to!

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Very pretty! The course is on an environmental center in rural Maryland. You’re in these beautiful open fields and in the woods. It’s a beautiful loop that you won’t mind running over and over again.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

It shouldn’t be but it is. There is a big incline in the middle of the loop that takes it toll over 30-40 loops. While the diverse surfaces you’re running on offer variety for the legs, it also tends to beat you up over the time duration. With half of each loop (and thus half of the race) in a valley, it’s usually really cold or really hot here. This year, it was just stagnate air in the valley and you couldn’t breath or get your heart rate down when you were in there.

The biggest challenge is the weather. For every year this race has been held (three so far), it has either been freezing cold with rain and wind, or very hot and stagnate.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

The Genesee Valley Ultra 24 Hour Race is very well-oiled machine! The RD Jason Mabe runs an amazing race. It was super hot this year, and once that heat set in, Jason had ice and cold water out on the course for us. He’s far enough away to direct, but close enough to help out.

Competition – Is there a strong field?
Ryan Williams running downhill during the Genesee Valley Ultra 24 Hour Race. PC: John Roemer
Ryan Williams running downhill during the Genesee Valley Ultra 24 Hour Race. PC: John Roemer

To some extent. While there aren’t any pros that come, each year some good local talent always show out.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

No issues at all here. You can probably sign up for the Genesee Valley Ultra 24 Hour Race the day before. There aren’t really any hotels locally, but the race does offer camping the night before and during the race. They have a big field set up with water access for camping.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

There is only one aid station in Race HQ, accessible every 2.5 miles. As mentioned before, the food options are limited. Most runners set up their own table and personal aid station on the course by the start/finish. You can just pop off the course and access your aid each loop. That seems to work the best.

Weather and typical race conditions

If you’ve made it this far, you probably already know the answer: variable, lol!! With half of each loop (and thus half of the race) in a valley, it’s usually really cold or really hot here. This year, it was just stagnate air in the valley and you couldn’t breath or get your heart rate down when you were in there.

Besides the duration, the biggest challenge of the Genesee Valley Ultra 24 Hour Race is the weather. For every year this race has been held (three so far), it has either been freezing cold with rain and wind, or very hot and stagnate. And always be prepared for wind!

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Nothing special, except you are required to have a headlamp for the overnight hours (which I’m not sure why you would want to run without). I’d recommend setting up your own aid station on the course. You can waste a lot of time going into Race HQ for suboptimal food offerings.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes definitely! The great thing about repeating a small 2.5 mile loop is that spectators can see you every loop. They also allow pacers, so friends could even sign up to run a bit with you.

How’s the Swag?

Think old school ultra. You get a t-shirt. Minimal awards. The way it should be, lol!

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I give the Genesee Valley Ultra 24 Hour Race 5 stars! I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to explore the mind-challenging format of a 2.5 mile trail loop for 24 hours!

Ryan Williams is a parent, proud dog dad, athlete and coach who believes running is a metaphor for life. He specializes in forming positive bonds with runners of all ages, distances, and abilities from couch-to-5k to ultramarathon. 

TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra Race Report

Race: TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra

The aforementioned proposal during the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra. PC: Chris Manwaring
The aforementioned proposal during the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra. PC: Chris Manwaring

Runner: Chris Manwaring

Race Date: 02/01/2025

Location: Hale Education Center, Westwood, MA

Result: 90 miles completed within the 30-hour race cutoff (95 miles ran total) placing 5th overall!

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?
  1. The course: Three 5-mile loops, each with their own personality- red, white, and blue. The red loop was the most technical. The white loop covered the mountain bike trail section of the course, and had the steepest climbs. The blue loop was the flattest one with lots of time running right beside the water, which also meant it received the most wind.
  2. The food: So many great food options offered throughout the whole time, both hot and cold.
  3. Witnessing a proposal! Friends Patrick and Kim got engaged on the first loop, a year after they first met at this race in 2024!
Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I really enjoyed the views throughout the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra course! (Makes all the difference when you’re running it for 30 hours!) The red loop had a really nice high point that I reached at sunset, making for a special experience. I felt like I managed my layers well throughout the night, managing to stay warm but sweat minimally.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Definitely experiment and practice with a variety of layers in training! Go for runs with the intention of under-layering to see what it feels like to be cold, as well as intentionally over-layer to see what too warm feels like. This will help during the race when the temperatures drop so that you can identify when to start adding different layers to keep body temperature equilibrium. Also, it will help you better identify when you are too warm and sweaty out there, so that you can shed a layer when needed before soaking your clothes (and getting chilled).

Chris (right) during the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra. PC: Chris Manwaring
Chris (right) during the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra. PC: Chris Manwaring
Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Something I learned from this race was the importance of consuming extra calories for body heat production. There were a couple times I came into the aid station feeling a little chillier than I should’ve, and what really helped me out was putting down an extra few hundred calories.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The warmth of the lodge is so tempting! It is really easy to lose time in there, especially since you see it every 5 miles. I made a mantra for myself “I can be warm when I’m done” which helped minimize my thaw time inside.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It is a really great course for scenery, with each loop having their own highlights! The red loop has a great high point that is perfect for catching sunrise and/or sunset! The white loop takes on some of the mountain biking trails, and the blue loop had lots of lakeside beach running!

Chris smiling ahead of running over 90 miles at the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra. PC: Chris Manwaring
Chris smiling ahead of running over 90 miles at the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra. PC: Chris Manwaring
Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

It’s definitely New England trail running, and 100 miles of the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra course will net you over 12,000 feet of vert! An added challenge is the winter conditions, which can make the course turn into an ice rink, or a snow drift, or a mud pit… you get the idea.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

The race directors were good with communication between pre-race emails and Facebook group posts. The course marking crew gave a few trail condition updates in the days and hours leading up the race which was super helpful!

Chris enjoying the warmth of the aid station lodge mid-race.
Chris enjoying the warmth of the aid station lodge mid-race.
Competition – Is there a strong field?

The field is decent in my opinion. Only 100 entrants are allowed to start the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra, and not everybody is there to go for a buckle which is okay! There were lots of folks having great times going for their own different distance and time goals. I believe only about 12 of us were still on the course come sunrise, so expect nighttime to get lonely!

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Registration opens less than six months in advance, and with the limited field size, generally fills up within the first few days. The waitlist does move along though, so patience is key! Folks that are from out of town, there are hotels and lodging in the general area.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

There is a single aid station inside the lodge accessible after each 5 mile loop. There were so so many food options, both hot and cold. My favorite hot options were the grilled pickle and cheese sandwiches, as well as the chocolate peanut butter stuffed waffles! My favorite cold options were the moon pies and PB&J sandwiches!

Weather and typical race conditions

Historically, the weather has been all over the place… the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra handbook says it best:
“Historically, February in Westwood has an average low of 20°F and high of 39°F, but this is New England and anything can happen so BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST! In 2023, it was about -20 degrees (about -30 degrees with the wind chill) at the start and 40 degrees by the end of the race. In 2022, Old Man Winter dropped 2 feet of snow on us race weekend. We postponed the race to the following weekend, and then experienced slush storms in the days leading up to the race (our poor course marking crew…), which then froze into an ice rink on race day. In 2019 and 2024, we had crisp winter weekends, with little to no snow on the ground. Anything can happen.”

Chris' race swag, including the coverted "kiss me" rock!
Chris’ race swag, including the coveted “kiss me” rock! PC: Chris Manwaring
Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Traction needs to be prioritized! There are lots of different traction options out there, be sure to practice beforehand and bring extra pairs! I saw lots of broken/snapped/destroyed traction devices were out there. Also, bring as much warm clothing and layers as you can! The night is long and cold, and a variety of options are the key to success!

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Only race volunteers are allowed inside the lodge, but there is field space right across the street for tents and such. There was a bonfire going all day Saturday until about 2 am Sunday morning, so either invite your really hardy friends or just ask them to volunteer instead! 🙂

How’s the Swag?

Swag was cool! Finishing a minimum of 30 miles earns you a finisher medal cookie, beanie, and sticker. As “Last Horse in the Barn” I also received a small yeti and the white loop’s “kiss me” rock.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5 out of 5 stars!

For an unpredictable, wintry, icy, “choose your own adventure” ultra, this race nailed it! This event is quite a unique experience, and if it appeals to you as you read this, I highly recommend the TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30-hour Ultra! (Remember, you don’t have to go for the full 30 hours).

by Chris Manwaring

For more popular New England ultra trail races, check out “Riverlands 100 Mile Race Report – Bucky Love” and search for “Maine” under “Popular Post Tags” on our blog.

Twin Cities Toughest Mudder Race Report – James Delorie

Race: Twin Cities Toughest Mudder

Runner: Jim Delorie

Race Date: 07/08/2023

Location: Hugo, Minnesota

Results: 12th place over all Male

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/9418363325/overview

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

The over night format was unique and made for the the event to be challenging. The opening of obstacles as the night went along so you had to plan when to push to miss an opening window to save time or when you know it was coming so you slowed down to clean hands and prep for an obstacle. I also enjoyed the 10k lap format so you are not required to carry 12 hours of gear and fuel.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Having to get to the venue 3 hours early to claim a pit location was new for me and had I not had others to support it would have been a real challenge, but I am not sure this can be avoided.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

You are choosing to run all night, crawl in mud, jump in ice water and get shocked. Many think this is weird but it is mostly fun!

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I was able to meet so many new people and set up my PIT with new friends who helped me achieve my goals through out the race. They got me through pitting after each lap and as veterans of this race type where happy to share and give advice. I also got to spend time running laps with each of them that was outstanding! Highlight of the race.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

If you are going for a 12 hour Obstacle Race, ask all the questions everyone wants to help and better to know and not need something than be unprepared. This is very true for when it gets cold and you are might be entering water obstacles.

The only other lesson would be to be more dialed in with fueling practice. I am not sure why but my fuel did not settle even though I use it on training runs. The last 3 laps I took not fuel or water as m stomach was not right.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I need to purchase more specific gear (dry suit top and knee pads) and I did not need to change my socks or shoes but still thinking having them was the right choice.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

I think knowing when obstacles opened through out the night was key. On my 4th lap we had 7 minutes to get past two hard obstacles before they opened so a friend (Hannah Carta 2nd place female) and I pushed the last half mile to avoid them an get in to pit before having to do them the next lap. We cleared the last obstacle Electric Shock Therapy by about 1 minute.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Sunset and Sunrise where beautiful but mostly it was dark.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

First Tough Mudder event and longest race ever so I am not sure. I think it was hard but not more than expected.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

It was extremely well organized, staff and volunteers through out the course, easy in and out for registration. I was impressed.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

I believe it was a strong field with many Toughest Mudder Veterans and even many Worlds Toughest Mudder competitors. I completed 7 laps of the course the winner completed 10!

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

It was simple to register online, but needing a variety of gear, fuel, and water needed to over pack and check a bag at the airport so a a direct flight to not risk losing a bag was a must for me. Arriving the night before was great but waiting all day Saturday for an 8:00 pm race start was long.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Since you had your own pit every 10K these where not here.

Weather and typical race conditions

The temps dipping in to the low 50s with a full submersion obstacle Artic Enema water filled ice opening at 1:00 am until the finish time of 8:00 am was certainly cold. You had to commit and get in an out quick.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Gear list I used was, Houdini Windbreaker (ruined), Knee pads, Wet suit Top to stay warm when wet, REI Gators to keep shoes from filling with rocks, and then your fueling device of choice. I used a front loaded vest but when you crawl in the mud the tops got covered. I did not care but some might, with it being a 10k loop a think a belt might work. Also a few headlamps as they are required or you can not start another lap, also a blinking light on the back of your head lamp was required.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

A few of the pit crew where able to follow a marked course to see use cross different obstacles in like 5 locations, it felt like I saw them all the time. Just make sure you have a crew willing to stay up all night.

How’s the Swag?

Got a cool race bib that you where required to wear, Medal for finishing 20k, Shirt, and patch for hitting 70K! I was very happy with the swag… oh and my first ever tough Mudder headband.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I would give them full marks, there was nothing that they could have done differently that would have improved my experience it was fun from start to finish.

Jackalope Jam 24 Hour Race Report – Lydia Schrandt

Race: Jackalope Jam 24 Hours

Runner: Lydia Schrandt

Race Date: 02/18/2023

Location: Cat Spring, TX

Results: 66 miles

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/8586344654

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  1. The community. Everyone was super welcoming and supportive and cheered each runner’s accomplishments equally, whether a half marathon or 200 miles.
  2. Easy access to the aid station every 1.5 miles. This means you don’t have to wear a vest or carry much of anything, and you can test out different nutrition strategies.
  3. Organization. Trail Racing Over Texas puts on great events.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The course is pretty flat, which was hard on the body as the miles climbed.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

You’re running a 1.5-mile out-and-back around the “cone of death,” which is a beat up orange traffic cone wrapped in flashing Christmas lights. It’s a bit surreal when you’re approaching the cone at 4am, slightly delirious, with no other runners around.

The appropriately named, Cone of Death

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I managed to shave almost an hour off my 50k time, and I managed to pass the 50-mile and 100k marks for the first time.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Stick to your plan. The event has runners tackling times between 6 and 100 hours, so you’ll see other runners moving at a fast clip and others walking at a leisurely pace. This makes it extra important to run your race and not get distracted by what others are doing.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I need to tinker with fueling after the 9-hour mark. At that point, nothing sounded appetizing, and at one point, even water made my stomach turn. Once I let nutrition get away from me, my performance (and ability to keep warm) began to erode.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

It’s a flat gravel road with zero shade or shelter from wind.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It’s nice enough, but aesthetics aren’t really the point of this one.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

No, other than the fact that the flat path can get monotonous.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Very well organized.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

It’s a pretty small field – only 35 runners for the 24-hour event. Mostly local Texas runners.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

The ranch that hosts the race offers free camping. You can set up a tent right alongside the first 400 meters or so of the course, so you have easy access to whatever you need. There are also RV sites available, and a few small hotels in nearby towns. You can usually register right up to when the race begins.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

The aid stations generally have water, Gatorade, Base Performance, and a few different types of sodas. There was a nice range of sweet and savory snacks (fruit, trail mix, cookies, chips, pretzels), and at nights, hot foods like ramen noodles and pierogis.

Weather and typical race conditions

It ranged between 40 and 58 degrees for the 24 hour race, but last year had freezing rain and sub-freezing temperatures. Other years have reached the 80s.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Definitely a head or waist lamp at night.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes, lots of spectators and crews come and camp alongside the course.

How’s the Swag?

Everyone gets a wooden medal and a hoodie, plus buckles for 100k+ finishers.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

4/5

Hamsterwheel 30 Hour Race Report – Bucky Love

Race: Hamsterwheel 30 hour

Runner: Bucky Love

Race Date: 11/05/2022

Location: New Boston, NH

Results: 24 hours 22 mins

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/8077360242

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  1. You get to see your friends, family, and crew every 4 miles.
  2. The commitment of the Race Director and her family to make it a great event.
  3. The easiness of the course. Not technically or challenging.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The hot food options I personally found too much or not worth waiting for. I love that the RD spent all week cooking and preparing foods for runners but not many of them were great runners food for during the event. They would have been kick ass to have after. I get what they were going for but it didn’t do it for me. Do you really need a pile of apple crisp or macaroni and cheese in a bowl to carry with you, and that is if you were willing to wait for them to dish it out as usually there was a line with no separation between runners and non-runners. And the overnight food was managed by young boys who fell asleep. Love that they tried but it really didn’t work for me. The grab and go aid station they did have set up was pretty sparse and you had to mix tailwind from bags on the fly. Overall, whereas I really loved this race, and their energy, for me at least I do not believe they had many volunteers with 100 mile or 30 hour running experience that know best how to guide runners and keep them moving. I would never want to do this race without my crew of vast experience.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

The hot food options, where I didn’t find them that appealing (probably because I tried it eat it and most of it came back up), but the spread was pretty impressive. They also had movies playing on a giant screen, a live band earlier in the day, and Karaoke at night. It would pretty crazy and fun to run and participate in those types of things, if you didn’t have a specific distance goal in mind.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

My race pace was very consistent. I employed a run 7 mins and walk 3 min intervals from the start and mostly all the way to the end. I had two bad miles in there during a couple of vomit sessions but overall I was steady and the race terrain allowed for it. I also fueled very consistently taking in calories basically every 2 miles. All of this left me feeling the best I have ever felt at the end of a 100 miles.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

I wasted too much time at the aid stations during the night hours because it was fun to see my crew. Watch yourself if you care about time on that. I also over did the tailwind (mixing it on the fly) so it caused me to retain water and not pee. within a couple hours of stopping tailwind my fluids starting flowing regularly.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Same as the lessons above. Thankfully my friends asked about my peeing and knew the solution as I had never even considered stopping electrolytes altogether as the solution. In fact I was making myself drink more . Definitely a good lesson learned in balance.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

That is it flat and a 2 mile out and back with a little deviation at the end that goes up a small hill.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Meh, not really. Very standard New England rail trail and no real views or sights to see

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

No, definitely not.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

A little bit of both. They got a lot of things right but the aid station food.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

I didn’t really pay attention. My primary goal was to finish the 100 and have fun. which I achieved. I would say there was defiantly 5-6 very strong runners there that went well north of a 100 miles.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

The race didn’t seem to sell out as I signed up 3 weeks in advance. I don’t think it takes much special logistics on this one.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

All more comments above

Weather and typical race conditions

It is a New England Race in November. This year it was abnormally hot but other years it has been below freezing, raining, or snowing. I would say the average year would more then likely be low 30’s at night and 40’s during the day.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

I would have gear for hot, cold, wind, rain, and snow. Cover your bases. There is no reason not to have it. You can literally park your car near the start/finish area and have access to all your stuff every 4 miles.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Very spectator friendly. You can see your runner every 4 miles.

How’s the Swag?

There was none that I received or saw. You do get a cool red eyed hamster belt buckle for reaching the hundred and you collect lap wooden medallions which is a cool memento to keep.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

4 out of 5 because I think the well intended effort was definitely there and I wouldn’t necessarily say someone needs to run it but if they do, bring a good crew and have fun. It was a fun race and I would recommend to others if they want to get in an end of season 100 but I wouldn’t say it is an must do race.

Joe English Twilight Challenge 6 Hour Race Report – Nate McBride

Race: Joe English Twilight Challenge 6 Hour

Runner: Nate McBride

Race Date: 10/01/2022

Location: Amherst, NH

Results: http://www.joe-english.org/results.php (but not live yet)

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/7897457274

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

They have:

  • An amazing course for a loop race…just absolutely perfect rolling woods and farmland
  • An amazing group of volunteers who put in 110% for this race every year
  • Fantastic post-race (or mid-race) food

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

There is nothing about this race I do not love. It is such a deceiving challenge and even the gutsiest end up walking as the clock winds down.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

2,500 feet of vert for a marathon? Yup. It’s baffling but you feel it early and it just gets worse…it’s such a great equalizer.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Well I have a fractured pelvis right now and so have only been able to work on my fast hike for the last 6 weeks so I had to do about 95% of this race at a fast hike with only a few small opportunities to run (the steepest climbs up.). However, I almost was able to do a marathon at my fast hike pace and I just needed four more minutes on my last loop and I would have had it. Had to do the quarter loop out and back instead but it was close and that gets me psyched for 2023 race season. My power hike is my new superpower.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Your calves are going to get wrecked. The course SEEMS like flat and perfect trail but it’s got so much proprioception baked into it that your feet have to work 2x as hard to find their way. So find the best line that you can and stay in it every loop otherwise it will catch up to you fast. I see a lot of people having to hike backwards up the climbs each year by the end because their calves are wrecked.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Next year I am going to be really aggressive on the first 20k and then pull back to powerhike/run tradeoffs…should be easy to net a 50k and still be able to move fast by the end.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Road shoes will do you just fine. Leave the trail clunkers at home…you will be lucky if you step on a single rock in the whole course.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Gorgeous – and they light 6 huge bonfires along the course in the woods and have groups of high school kids manning them so in a 2.4 mile loop you get to pass all of these little parties and they are so much fun!! When not around the bonfires it’s as dark as dark can get and so you get the moon and stars which are pretty spectacular.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

It is very deceivingly difficult. If you have ever run far on a beach, golf course, or similar athletic fields you know what happens over time. Yet, it’s a perfectly smooth trail.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Bar none one of the best run ultras in NE in my opinion and I have done a lot of them.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Every year varies. This year there were 5 or 6 people in each age group going full bananas while the rest of the pack was just out for the experience.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Nah, I don’t think it has ever sold out but it is in the buttcrack of southern new hampshire. It goes from 5pm to 11pm so I find it’s always pretty easy to get home and I live 90 min south.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Just one at the start/finish. It’s a short enough loop that even a novice should be able to make it home without dying.

Weather and typical race conditions

Always very cold with a breeze. It is southern new hampshire in October so you could get anything up there.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Like I said, leave the trail shoes at home! Road shoes will do ya just fine, otherwise it’s your regular running kit with maybe a few extra layers.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

They will see you about every 25-35 min when you come through and there is always a ton of hooting and hollering as people come through the paddock for the time sensors.

How’s the Swag?

Nice shirt, some local goodies…I’d rather they give the money to the charities they donate to so it works for me!

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

10 out of 10 and yes!! It’s a 6 hour loop race!! What’s not to love?

Sri Chinmoy 7 hour Race Report – Jonny Granby

Race: Sri Chinmoy 7 Hour Race

Runner: Jonathan Granby

Race Date: 05/28/2022

Location: Seattle, WA

Results: Stone dead last

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  1. Simple but effective. This is a no-bells-and-whistles type of event, it has everything you could want or need and nothing extra.
  2. Mix of terrain. In a 1.54 mile loop it was remarkable to be on tarmac, gravel and single track, but the variety was immensely helpful in staving off boredom.
  3. Ties to Sri Chinmoy. The connection to this community provided a warmth and cheerfulness that is rarely seen.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

  1. The lap tracking was a little, um, different. It was sweet in its simplicity but it didn’t always afford the runner accurate, timely information.
  2. The loop itself has a minor lollipop section where all the runners had to squeeze past each other going in opposite directions, not a major gripe but became tiresome

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

This race was entered in pursuit of a larger goal, to walk around Lake Washington (all 63 miles of it) in one day, we’re calling it WALWOD (Walk Around Lake Washington in One Day). This ultra event provided a great training opportunity to spend 7 hours walking on a flat terrain, largely mimicking the lakeside paths that’ll be used. Good testing for shoes, equipment and really just walking for so flipping long.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Not much to it. There’s no secret handshake required. Some legit runners show up, with at least one on their way to Western States later this year. You can park right on the side of the course, which is fabulous for easy access to gear changes and saving you tent set up or anything like that.

Vernal Equinox 48 Hour Race Report – Sarah Forman

Race: Vernal Equinox 48 Hour Race

Runner: Coach Sarah Forman

Race Date: 04/01/2022

Location: Batavia, OH

Results: 130 Miles, 6th Overall, 3rd Woman

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/6924260460`

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  1. The race is held at Majestic Farm which is a horse farm in Batavia, Ohio. Each runner was given access to a cleaned out horse stall. I loved that I could set up my own mini aid station and access it after every loop. My husband and 2 daughters were also there, so seeing them every 2 miles lifted me up when it started to get hard.
  2. There were several distances being run throughout the weekend (48 hour, 24, 12 and 8 hours). Being out there with other runners who were suffering just as much as I was, was an incredible bonding experience. I met some amazing people who got me through some very low points in the race.
  3. This was my first multi day race but after this experience, I’m already planning my next one! I loved having the opportunity to push my limits and find out how my body and mind would respond when pushed to this extreme.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Each runner has access to their own cleaned out horse stall for all of their gear. I loved this aspect of the race!

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

  • The highlight for me was getting through the first night on my own. My crew (husband and 2 young kids) had to go back to the hotel, so I was on my own until morning. The temperature dropped to 28 degrees quickly and I couldn’t stop shivering. I was able to problem solve and figure out that I needed to get more food in me to stay warm. I put on every piece of clothing that I brought and kept moving. I experienced hallucinations and fell asleep on my feet a few times but I made up a lot of time by running through the whole night, while many runners napped in their cars. It was one of the hardest parts of the race for me but also the part that really stands out in my mind.
  • Another highlight was coming around to the aid station somewhere around mile 40 and seeing my daughters singing karaoke for the runners. This really took my mind off of the discomfort I was feeling at the time and lifted my spirits!

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

  1. Being very organized can make things easier for you later in the race. I organized medical supplies, electronics, snacks, socks and clothes each in separate plastic bins and labeled everything clearly. This helped out my crew during the day but it also helped me when I was on my own and couldn’t think clearly from the lack of sleep. I also had a foot kit with step by step instructions on how to fix blisters. We put this to good use just after I hit 100 miles!
  2. A 1 hour nap can go a long way to getting through the second half of the race! I laid down in my sleeping bag at 7pm going into night 2. It was very loud but I was still able to get a little sleep which gave me a much needed mental boost.
  3. Early on in the race, I decided to not let myself think about how many hours I had left. I thought only about mileage which I found to be less overwhelming than thinking about total time. It also helped me to stay present throughout the race and enjoy the experience!
  4. Take care of your feet and take care of any chafing early! I changed my socks and covered my feet in Trail Toes multiple times throughout the race. We also took care of several blisters at the 100 mile mark using the method in the book “Fixing Your Feet.”

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I made the mistake of changing into new trail shoes around mile 70. I didn’t have any blisters up to this point but developed several after changing my shoes. If your shoes are working well, it’s always best to not change them. I’ve learned this lesson in other races as well!

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

It can get very muddy! I started out the race in my road shoes and had to change after the first loop because there was so much mud throughout the day. Also, there are several open areas on the course that get very windy so it will feel colder than expected.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

I thought so! The race is held on a horse farm so we ran by the horses every lap, through corn fields, alongside 2 small lakes and through a nice section of trail in the woods.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

It’s a 2 mile loop on trails with rolling hills. It’s a very runnable course but it did get very muddy.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

This was a very well run race! The race directors are 2 women that are both established ultra runners and know how to handle anything that could come up while running for such a long period of time. They were also incredibly supportive throughout the race. When I hit 100 miles, one of the race directors completed a loop in the opposite direction with me which was fun.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

The field for the 48 Hour was small with only 40 people but the top finisher completed 190 miles!

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

I signed up online for the race in October but it didn’t sell out until about 2 weeks before the race was held. We were able to easily find a hotel 15 minutes away about a month before the race.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Mainly standard ultra fare at the aid station. They had hot meals for breakfast lunch and dinner and offered Tailwind throughout the race.

Weather and typical race conditions

It was unseasonably cold this year, with snow during the first few loops! During the day, the temperature got up to around 40 but dropped to 28 the first night. There were also high winds on the 2nd night. You never know what you’re going to get with Ohio weather!

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

In a timed race on a loop, you can really bring as much gear as you want. I recommend bringing more than you need! I probably brought way too much food and brought most of it home afterwards, but I did end up using all of the clothing that I brought. I brought several batteries and set up a charging station for my headlamps, earbuds and watch which worked out really well. We also had a portable pop up privacy tent so that I could change in the horse stall.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes! You see your crew every 2 miles at the main aid station. We were also allowed a pacer for the 2nd night starting at 8pm.

How’s the Swag?

We received a long sleeve shirt and will be getting an engraved award with the total number of miles ran. They also had buckles for those that completed 100, 150 or 200 miles.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I highly recommend it!

To learn more about Coach Sarah or work with her, check out her coaching page.

TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30 Hour Race Report – Bucky Love

Race: TARCtic Frozen Yeti 30 Hour

Runner: Bucky Love

Race Date: 02/05/2022

Location: Hale Reservation, Westwood MA

Results: 80 miles; 2nd overall in distance achieved in the 30 hours.

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/6642329796

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

My favorite aspects of the race were the the race directors, and volunteers at the aid station. They all were an A+. They went out of their way in subzero temps to ensure runners had what they needed in water, hot drinks, hot food, warming up shoes (more like thawing frozen shoes). Even at 2 AM with only 3 runners still on the course they stayed strong and planned for your arrival after your 5 mile loops. They even went out of their way at 3 am to make me different hot foods without meat (grilled cheese and pickle sandwich at 3 AM, after running 60 miles, yes please!!). To top off their performance at the aid station the volunteer course clearers/sweepers waited for me to complete one of my loops before shutting it down and sweeping because they knew it was my favorite of the 3 different loops we were doing. You could really tell that everyone there really cared about this race and the runners.

The other aspects that deserve top marks is the course markings, particularly at night, I didn’t get lost once despite lots of twists and turns and the overall energy of the event was inspiring.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Anything I didn’t care for about the race is outside of the race directors or event sites control. For example, the wind was unnecessary at 4 AM.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

It is a 30 hour race in the middle of winter in New England, the whole event is probably pretty weird. Let me go run for 30 hours on the same (3) five mile snow and ice covered single track trail loops over and over until I run out of time or quit.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I really nailed my gear, hydration, nutrition. I was one of the few not having to complain about my feet and wearing traction. My shoes didn’t freeze up and my feet stayed warm and I stayed up right, SPIKECROSS 5 GORE-TEX for the win. I did not change cloths once which I am pretty proud of. Everything felt comfortable and no chafing. This was a big gear win day for me.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Have the right winter gear and proper layers. Have the right shoes. In the cold winter in the Northeast it is extra important to know your gear and be prepared with extras should something not be working that day.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I set up a tent, sleeping pad, and subzero sleeping bag. Just in case I wanted a short nap. I think this was a mistake as it allowed my normal 24 hour plus event 30 min nap to turn into a 4-hour nap. There is certainly an argument to be made that I did what my body needed in that moment, but it did prevent me from getting a 100 miles in which was a loose goal. Next time if I really want to chase a 100 down under these wintery conditions then no tent.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

That it is new England in winter. Come prepared for any kind of weather, temperatures, and trail conditions.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It is mostly single track through the woods. The area is pretty and enjoyable. The ice on the trees was stunning when the sun was shining and the moon setting was awesome.

There is definitely beauty to be seen all over the 15 miles.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

I would say it is a sneaky tough course. I got almost 10,000 ft. of elevation in the 80 miles. Where that is necessarily a lot, the hills are rolling and each loop had their one little climbs that add up over time. It also depends if there is snow pack or bare ground? No roots or rocks to deal with this year with all the snow from the storm the weekend before, but it could get tricky footing if there was no snow.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Well -oiled machine. They know what they are doing and how to do it. Usually the can host inside a heated lodge, but due to covid everything had to be outside this year and they handled it nearly seamlessly despite the sub-zero temps and finding creative ways to keep food and drinks from becoming blocks of ice.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

I would say not really. No real elite runners or ringers. You have to be a pretty strong athlete to go all the way and most of the field stopped at 50 or less miles. The only really competition is the clock and yourself in what you have for personal aspirations.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

It is an easy race to get into and plenty of local hotels. No special logistics needed.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

One central aid station that you pass by every 5ish miles. Great variety of foods from sweet to savory. Good hydration options. They had everything that a standard athlete could need.

Weather and typical race conditions

Cold, snow, and ice. Be ready for a New England Winter event.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

If you have to ask what gear you need for a New England Winter event then you probably shouldn’t be running a New England winter event. Come with layers and changes of everything just in case. I personally recommend have the spikes built into your shoes like the Spikecross I mentioned earlier.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

It would be very friendly if they had allowed spectators, crews, or pacers but they did not due to covid. Typically they do and you would be able to see your friends or family every 5 miles and they would never have to move.

How’s the Swag?

Standard travel coffee mug and yeti cookie for all runners finishing the minimum 30 miles for an official recorded finish. All kinds of yeti swag for runners going the distance, so to speak. If you spend nearly all of your 30 hours out there they hook you up. I received a back pack, a dry bag, a zippered hoodie sweat shirt, sweat pants, a yeti exceptional stuffed animal, a fleece throw blanket, and a long sleeve shirt. I am not even sure if that was because I got 2nd overall, but I think it was because I really embraced the yeti and stayed out in the subzero cold temps doing lap after lap and not quitting even when I wanted to.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5 stars for a winter event. Anyone wanting to challenge their winter running abilities and push how far you can go then this is a great event for you.

Training for your first ultra? We’ve got you covered.

Desert Solstice 24 hour Race Report – Matt Urbanski

Brother Jeff Urbanski wearing matching space-cat-taco tanks with me behind him

Desert Solstice Track Invitational is a 24 hour event on a 400 meter track, put on by Aravaipa Running, held in mid-December in Phoenix, and is an invite-only event. Elite ultrarunners have the chance to break records across many distances and age-group categories and is an incredibly fun, unique event to be a part of, whether as a runner or a crew member.

Race: Desert Solstice 24 hour

Runner: Matt Urbanski

Race Date: 12/11/2021

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Results: 7th OA, 4th male, 131.7 miles; https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=84967

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  1. Such a unique format! I’d never raced anything like this before, and I felt very much like a newbie, which is tough to accomplish after being a runner for 40 years!
  2. Race organization. Everything was super organized and smooth.
  3. Aravaipa puts on good races. This one made the runners feel exceptionally special, and I felt privileged to be part of it.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Nothing weird per say about the event itself, but 24 hours running around a track is definitely unique! Seeing your crew every 400m, seeing your splits and your ranking on every lap – those things are not something I’ve ever experienced in a race before.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I kept my cool early and never totally wrecked my legs. I made some mistakes and I can do better next time, but I was running at 8am on Sunday morning when the time was up. I also had a good mental attitude for the majority of the race and never went totally dark in terms of my mood.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Chill early! Everyone says this, but the reality was that out of 25+ starters, only 7 of us were still on the track at 8am Sunday morning. Sure, there were a handful of people who had planned to stop early, but not everyone managed to go the full 24 hours who had planned on doing so. I was told by some veterans in the sport the night before the race to keep it chill, to avoid running faster than 2:10 laps for the first 6 hours if I wanted my best odds of hitting 150 miles. I was pretty good about this and I do think it helped later in the race. After midnight, I was cruising at that 2:10 pace for many laps and had my legs thanks to this good advice I received pre-race.

Heading into the track with brother Jeff

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I need a better plan for how to manage the overnight. I got sleepy. I didn’t think it’d be any issue to stay up all night, and that was what really did me in. I laid down on the track for an hour on two separate occasions, primarily because I was just sleepy tired! Yeah, maybe my stomach would have gotten me, or maybe my legs would have crapped out had I not stopped and slept, but the sleep monster is what derailed me and ultimately impacted my total mileage the most. I will be better prepared for this next time!

Sleeping on the track while Papa bear Urbanski watches over me

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

It’s a track! Thankfully, we got to change directions every 4 hours. That felt like such a nice thing to look forward to! Crew were all in popup tents set up by Aravaipa along the homestretch of the track in lane 4, two runners per tent. There were toilets on the back corner of the track and I never had an issue needing a toilet and having them be full.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It’s a track in the middle of PHX, AZ. But it had its elements of beauty. The sunrise was pretty, the sunset was pretty. The green color of the infield felt nice, the red of the track. It was all crisp and vibrant.

Sunrise after nearly 24 hours

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

haha. Just seems like a funny question for this kind of race! It’s so easy yet so challenging!

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Aravaipa is arguably the best race organization in North America. They put on a great event and I couldn’t have asked for more!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

The best. All kinds of records went down. It’s invitation/qualification only.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Other than getting into the race by meeting their qualification standards, it was all easy and straightforward. We happened to have chosen poorly for our airbnb – next time we’ll go to Scottsdale most likely. Restaurants, groceries, coffee – it’s all nearby and easy.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

At the 300m mark of the 400m track, there was an aid station. I hadn’t intended on taking anything from them – I brought my own gels, blocks, Tailwind, and specialty items.

However, they had all kinds of vegan foods and they were advertising them so nicely that I ended up trying a lot of their foods. They had fruit smoothies, vegan chickpea sandwiches, and more. We saw them every lap so it felt like we got to know their faces quite well, and they were always willing and eager to help.

Setting up our own personal aid station tent with myself and my brother, Jeff

Weather and typical race conditions

It got into the 60s during the day and was sunny. At night it gets chilly – 40s. It felt colder than 40s in Boulder feels. It can get a bit hotter some years, and thankfully we didn’t have any wind. All in, it was ideal for this event.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

I actually changed shoes – not something I often do during an ultra. I started in the Nike 4%, but my feet were hurting after a few hours so I switched to the Hoka Rincon 3. I didn’t have to carry anything with me, which was wonderful!

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

It’s a really intimate setting and if you have people there for you, they can be right there cheering and helping you the entire time. I felt like I got to recognize the crews of all the other runners, throughout the course of the race.

Aid every 400 meters – no complaints!

How’s the Swag?

Nice zip up sweatshirt jacket. Buckles.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5 out of 5. While during the race I kept thinking about how silly the race was and that I didn’t think I’d ever do it again, within 24 hours of the finish, I was already convinced I wanted to try again. Aravaipa rocks, and I’m eager to get back out there again in 2022!

Matt Urbanski is the Co-Founder and a coach at Team RunRun. Reach out to him at [email protected] with any questions/comments!

Considering what my feet went through, they look pretty good!

Franklin Mountains King of the Mountains Race Report – Frank Fisher

Race: Franklin Mountains King of the Mountain

Runner: Frank Fisher

Race Date: 11/12/2021

Location: El Paso, TX

Results: 5th OA

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/6247738241

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  1. It’s in my hometown.
  2. It’s technical af!
  3. Views forever!

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

I kinda wish it was longer, but other than that it was cool.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Nothing weird. Some kids came and ran it then had to go to school, losers… Lol!

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Highlight number one is I didn’t die! I sort of enjoyed the views, but I was to busy trying to consume oxygen to enjoy a lot of the scenery. Being in only modest shape and living at sea level made for an interesting day. Race starts at around 5000 ft in elevation and goes up to 7000 ft. Normally, this wouldn’t bother me, but holy smokes… I was sucking wind immediately. My legs felt great, but I had to go kinda slow on the way up so as not to pass out. On the way down I figured I would make some time up on everyone else, which happened for the most part but I wasn’t able to go as fast as I wanted. Just not as sharp technically as I would’ve needed to be, but it was fun and once I got past a bit of fear it went well.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

There are 3 route options, I chose the most direct route because it’s a King/Queen of the Mountain race and why would you do it any other way? The other two routes are quite a bit longer and I never even saw the flagging for them. On the direct route, it’s pretty much a scramble till you get up to the saddle and there is a trail up the ridge to the top. I highly suggest following the locals.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Lesson number one, be in better shape and don’t let this be your second trail run in a few months. It’s 5 days later and my quads are still sensitive to the touch.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Follow the locals. It’s extremely rocky, technical and there’s lots of stickers and things that will hurt you. You’re probably going to get hurt and bleed some. I came home bloody and bruised, others faired a little worse, you need to be on your p’s and q’s and be focused the entire time. Make a lot of mental notes on your way up as it looks a bit different coming down and easy to miss the fastest route down from the saddle. This is an ankle breaker of a course for numerous reasons, by far the most technical race I’ve ever done. Had I not grown up on this stuff I imagine it would be fairly daunting.

Hell yeah, this is beautiful!

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

If you like the high desert and mountains, it’s beautiful. The view from the saddle is fantastic, and even better when you reach the top. You get to see Texas, New Mexico and Mexico in all their brown and dusty glory.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Yep. It starts out on a dirt “road” for about a quarter mile that’s full of large sharp rocks, loose dirt, loose rocks and sand. Then you turn off the trail and pretty much pick your own path from there across some scree fields and up the hill which is mostly large sharp rocks, loose dirt and solid rock. At the saddle you follow the ridge on some better surface but there’s a few spots of modest scrambling. Closer to the top is fairly easy and probably the nicest most well defined trail. Then you go back down the way you came and it’s pretty gnarly.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Well run, Trail Racing Over Texas has been around a while and had it together pretty good.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Nope, sorry locals, but not particularly competitive. I stopped and took pictures (was really just catching my breath), talked to a photographer and spent a few minutes at the top talking to one of the volunteers (also still trying to catch my breath), and didn’t take this particularly seriously and got 5th having not prepared for this whatsoever.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Easy to get to, I registered the day before. I think that had day of registration as well.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

No aid stations.

Weather and typical race conditions

Beautiful, sunny and a little chilly in the morning but it warms up quick.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Wear your grippiest shoes with good lugs. Maybe gaiters too, lots of loose rocks and dirt.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Not really.

How’s the Swag?

Good, I really liked the shirt.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

4 stars. I loved the course and would do it again, and probably do one of the longer races they have that weekend. Several distances to choose from up to 100k.

Frank Fisher is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with Coach Frank, check out his coaching page.

Anchor Down Ultra 24 Hour Race Report

In this race report, runner Nathan McBride shares his experience of the Anchor Down Ultra – 24 Hour race. Read his review for what you need to know about the course and his tips for finishing the race.

Race: Anchor Down Ultra 24 Hour

Runner: Nathan McBride

Race Date: 8/13/2021

Location: Bristol, RI

Results: DNF @ 41

3 Bests – What aspects of the Anchor Down Ultra race did you like the most?

The race director does an amazing job and really puts his heart and soul into this race. The volunteers are stellar and it’s such a great race environment. I also love that everyone is supportive of everyone else through this one.

Not so much – Aspects of the Anchor Down Ultra that didn’t do it for you

Heat…once again heat did me in. Well, heat and chafing. It gets so hot there, and its really hard to train for both mid 90 temps and mid 90 humidity. The pros can handle it quite well it seems, but that’s not me unfortunately. Beyond the heat though, it’s pretty much a great race (if you are into the 24 hour thing).

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about Anchor Down Ultra?

7pm start on a Friday night. It’s hard to think about, but after a week of working 7 to 7 and then having to try and shift out of work mode for a Friday night race start is difficult. It’s just very weird to try and drop life all of a sudden.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I really didn’t do anything well. I trained for 16+ months…pretty much thought about this race every day, trained in blazing heat, got my diet dialed in for this…did all of THOSE things. Then on race day, that guy did not show up. My only redeeming moment was after a few hours laying under an ice blanket I was able to get up at 3:30 in the morning and pump out another 25 hard miles before I succumbed to terrible chafing, which I didn’t notice until it was too late. Plain and simple rookie gear mistake did me in!

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the Anchor Down Ultra race to help the next runner

  1. Spend as much time as you can emulating the TRUE course conditions in your training. This race is very well known to be dangerously hot and every year they carry people off to emergency rooms from this race. I trained in heat but it was dry heat or like low-80’s heat…so manageable.
  2.  If you feel your body breaking down from heat, don’t keep going and hope you will get past it. Stop and cool down and don’t move again until you are back to normal. Had I stopped after mile 9 and fixed it, I probably would not have spent 3.5 hours under an ice blanket being monitored by my wife. It happened that fast.
  3. Bring ALL of the gear you might need. Don’t neglect to bring that thing you need only like twice a year. Bring it anyway! I needed it and it would have been a game changer for me.
  4. If you get the stomach sloshiness, your body is not processing liquids. You need to stop and resolve that issue whether through cooling down, salt balance change or basic rest.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

  1. Keep one pair of training boxer briefs in my summer 100 miler kit.
  2. Don’t pick a race for which I can not properly emulate heat conditions.
  3. Start slower.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Next year the Anchor Down Ultra is changing to a qualifier and lottery. Racers will need a qualifying race to get in, and it will be a lottery. The area where you can set up your own crew station doesn’t open until 1pm on race day, and everyone jockeys for the best spots. It’s tough to set up a race site when it’s over 100 degrees out 6 hours before your race so plan accordingly.

Aesthetics – Is the Anchor Down Ultra a pretty course?

The first .9 miles or so are very difficult. You are running through double-track with neverending roots. There are one or two brief patches where you can jog but so many runners go down on this section constantly. Then you have about a mile of running along a beautiful bay…literally about 15 yards from the bay. Then you go into a bit of an oven running across an exposed field.

Difficulty – Is the Anchor Down Ultra a tough course?

The loop is short but it is anything but easy. At sunup, the park fills with families and tons of people all playing and camping and hanging out at the beach ledge and you have to block it all out and run through it. There is very little elevation. I would say it is a very tough course for that time of year.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

One of the best run and best organized races I have ever been to. It is why I keep coming back!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

There are 3 or 4 elite runners in each of the 3 divisions (6 hour, 12 hour and 24 hour). Then it sort of drops way off for times and distances. I think the same person keeps winning the 24 hour every year.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

The Anchor Down Ultra 24 hour sold out in 26 seconds this year. Like I said, next year it is going to require qualifying and it will be a lottery. Only runners who finished this year will get an automatic pass if they want it. Very difficult to get into.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

The aid station is very well stocked and there is a water station about 1.5 miles into the loop. Otherwise, it’s whatever you bring yourself.

Weather and typical race conditions

This was my fourth year, and this was the second hottest year I have done it. The first time, I did the 100 miles in 21 hours, and it was close to 100 all day on the second day. For whatever reason, it just happens to always be on the hottest day of the summer in Rhode Island. Race conditions are brutal, even for those who trained properly.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Gaiters…the first .9 miles of trail is very dusty and dirty and your calves will be black after a few hours with tons of grit in your shoes. Simple gaiters will do ya right.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Very friendly course for all spectators.

How’s the Swag?

Cool technical t-shirt (SS) and finisher’s medal for anyone who does 100k or more.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I give it 5 stars out of 5. Sheer toughness. It requires a literally perfect set of circumstances to get it done. You have to be 100% dialed in across the board. That’s pretty freaking hard to do. I probably won’t be going back again, at least not for the 24 hour. The 12 hour people looked much happier when they were all done. 🙂

Prepping for a race? Our coaches have tips for making the most of your race day! Check it out in this checklist.

Blue Hills Skyline Trail Double Out and Back FKT Trip Report

Blue Hills Skyline Trail Double Out and Back FKT Trip Report – Keith Nadeau

Race: Blue Hills Skyline Trail double out and back FKT

Runner: Keith Nadeau

Race Date: 5/08/2021

Location: Blue Hills Reservation, MA

Results: 5:25:43

Strava Activity Link: https://strava.app.link/tlHx5zMz7fb

Blue Hills Skyline Trail Double Out and Back FKT Trip Report

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

The scenery, terrain, and location are my 3 favorites. Beautiful views all along the way and you can see the Boston skyline from a few spots. The terrain is super challenging for most of the trail and is amazing that something so close to Boston can be so tough. The location is perfect for me as I can go do this in the morning and be home before noon! It is perfect training for running in New Hampshire’s mountains while not having to do the long drive.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The idea of running the same trail 4 times is not the best, but I think it is good training for loop style races. I prefer course that are point to point or looped so that you get new scenery the whole time.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

The weirdest part is that technically it is a point to point trail, but in the middle there is a separate North and South section. For this FKT you have to do both trails each out and back, but also reverse the order for the second out and back.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I managed my effort all day better than ever before. It’s so hard to push this hard while still being smart and I think for the most part I nailed it this time around. I was flying on the flats and downhill, but right from the start made sure not to kill myself on the ups. This made it so that even nearing the end I was still moving well on the ups and only a little slower than the start.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Practice this course! Since my last FKT run over a year ago I spent a lot of time on these trails learning the ins and outs. It’s incredible how far course knowledge can take you on a race effort.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

This run broke through mental and physical barriers for me. I learned mostly to not limit perceived ability to what is comfortable or that you know you can achieve. Last year I maxed out at 6 hours and 30 minutes, and going into this I thought maybe I could go under 5 hours and 40 minutes but the thought of that was hard to conceive. It is during these efforts that we can become the runner we dream of and that all starts in the mind and believing it’s possible. I stayed in the moment and got into a different headspace than ever before.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The course is gnarly! Over 8k climbing in the 30 miles and almost all of the trail is filled with large and medium sized rocks/roots. Very important to be confident running fast over technical terrain and holding that focus from start to finish. It becomes mentally exhausting towards the end and thats where you need to be most careful.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

The course moves across the Blue Hills just south of Boston. Many great views and scenery to take in along the way. You can easily feel very remote until you pop out to see the skyline and realize where you actually are. It’s amazing that this place exists and is reserved for us to play in.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

For 30 miles this feels hard. The climbing and terrain make this very tough!

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Partly why I love these FKT efforts is the flexibility. You can choose the perfect day and start whenever you want. This day was perfect being around 50 degrees and overcast so it wasn’t too hot. It was on a Saturday however so I ran into multiple large groups that I made sure to stay respectful of. It’s easy to forget you are on a trail being used by others and it’s important to give people space and not just run straight through.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

This has seen much more attention recently and this is the 7th lowered time on the FKT site. I’m hoping the locals will go back out to try and better this time soon!

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Go whenever you want! It’s always open!

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Since it is a double out and back, it is perfect for a single re-supply mid way.

Weather and typical race conditions

This day was close to perfect. Not many bugs yet, surprisingly dry, and cool temps. One of the rare days of the year where this trail is fastest.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

I went very minimal for this in hopes that I would feel free and light. I used 2 x .5 liter handheld bottles, one with water and the other with cherry nuun tabs. I wore a Nathan waist belt and had in it my phone, Gu’s, honey stinger waffles, and honey stinger gummies. Other than that I wore some aftershocks headphones with good tunes on the whole time from my phone. This was much better I thought than wearing a full kit for such a hard effort.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

I ran by a few people I knew on this run, and let them know I’d love to stop and chat but didn’t have the time. You can easily do sections of this trail from many different parking spots which is very cool.

How’s the Swag?

No swag 🙁

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I rate this a solid 6/10 with trying to have a non biased perspective. This course and FKT mean a lot to me personally so in that sense I give it a 10/10, but for someone without that background I think it’s still a great FKT route and/or training run for other races and adventures.

Blue Hills Skyline Trail Double Out and Back FKT Trip Report

Mindbender Virtual Race Report – Jeffrey Zawadzki

Race: Mindbender

Runner: Coach Jeffrey Zawadzki

Race Date: 06/26/2020

Location: Virtual (east coast origin)

Results: 2nd place

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  1. Starting and finishing at my house.
  2. Picking my own course (gift and a curse)
  3. Overall interaction with the runners and host on Zoom.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

No prize offered, so a little hard to stay motivated after 24 hours.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

This race is a last man standing style, which is great! Every 3 hours you have to run a 10km until everyone quits and one person finishes the last 10km. I would have liked to see some incentive to finish first each lap that would have made this a really interesting and more competitive event.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

If nothing I am very consistent hitting the same time for each loop.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

START your watch on time!!!! Also every step matters and matter more when you are tired and losing focus.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Start more reasonable if you plan on going for the longer 24-48 hours.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

You make your own course but need to stick to it each loop.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Mine was city based and I love San Diego… So definitely

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Yes and no, mainly flat but 24 hours of flat sucks!

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Organized and ran wonderfully, as well as virtual runs go!!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Interesting question…not sure

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Nope

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

It had everything I needed and wanted

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

More spring energy (ran out) and more dry clothes.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

My wife and friends!

How’s the Swag?

Cool T-shirt and bragging rights!

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

8/10

Jeffrey Zawadzki is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with Coach Jeffrey, check out his coaching page.

Yeti Ultra 24 Hour Challenge Race Report – Rodney Brown

Race: Yeti Ultra 24 Hour Challenge

Runner: Rodney Brown

Race Date: 2020-05-14

Location: Seattle

Results: Finished

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  1. My first time running 30+ miles, though this was spread over 24 hours in 6 x 5 mile chunks.
  2. Fun to run in the middle of the night.
  3. Nice to have a goal in these strange times.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

Got a bad calf cramp for the last five miles, so had to walk that.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

I ran the exact same five-mile route six times in one day. A little monotonous.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

All was great, except for the calf cramp at the end. And even being forced to do some walking in the middle of the night wasn’t so bad.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Plan your schedule in advance. It’s strange to do all of this running, fueling, drying out gear, etc. over 24 hours.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Eat more real food, since you have down time to digest.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Good.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Nope.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Nope.

How’s the Swag?

Haven’t gotten it yet.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

4 stars, mainly because it was a challenge in a time full of canceled races.

Yeti Ultra 24 Hour Challenge Race Report – Austin Tiller

Race: Yeti Ultra 24 Hour Challenge

Runner: Austin Tiller

Race Date: 04/25/2020

Location: Asheville, NC

Results: 31.7 Miles 5Hr13Min

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/3355758069

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  • The “newness” of doing something so different. (6 runs every 4 hours within 24hrs)
  • The ability to pick my own route
  • Running at different times of the day

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

  • Getting back into a sleep schedule was odd…

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

  • Running on such little sleep!
  • Spreading it out over so much time changed how I thought I needed to approach eating/fueling myself. I was unsure exactly how to do it and learned the hard way what not to do next time!

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

  • I enjoyed running different routes I’d never done before at different times of the day.
  • I feel like my training over the past couple of months really helped me do so well and feel so comfortable during each of the runs.
  • It was such an interesting experience to be able to test how I perform under such interesting conditions.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

I made a point to make sure I didn’t overthink the race and what the exact schedule would be. I would definitely start earlier than I did (started at 11am) so that I could finish even earlier next time. Mostly so that I’m not attempting more runs that interrupt my normal sleep schedule. I normally sleep from 9pm-5am. I would start at 6am next time so that I’m not messing with my normal sleep rhythm as much. My mind easily overcame the lack of sleep this time as I only slept between the last three times and it wasn’t too hard to keep going. So I would make a point to try and time it around your normal sleep schedule.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I’ve always been pretty good about fueling myself during and before my long runs and I’ve never really had issues with lack of or too much fuel before. I can’t remember the last time I had stomach cramps/stitches during a run.

After run 3 I was very hungry and didn’t think a snack would be enough to keep me going and get me through the next one. I made some chicken and eggs right after the run. I didn’t feel too full or anything after eating. I felt content and satisfied. I hung out and rested until the next run.

I suffered from the worst stomach cramps/stitches during each of the last three runs that I know killed my times. It was so hard to focus on my breathing and not it ruin my even strides. I kept catching myself landing heavy on one foot or the other and had to focus to keep it even. I was worried about dragging it out and hurting a knee from too much exaggeration on one side or the other. About halfway through each of the runs the pain started diminishing but never went away. I’m still amazed at how well I did on the last three with the stomach pain. I was determined and didn’t want to slow down too much.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

If you do something like this, bring enough clothes to change into and out of for each run and break. It helped feeling fresh for each one.

How’s the Swag?

Shirt is nice!

RUFA Staunton Rocks – 6 Hour – Stephen Bartos

RUFA Staunton Rocks Race Report

Race: RUFA Staunton Rocks – 6 hour

Runner: Stephen Bartos

Race Date: 03/07/2020

Location: Staunton State Park – Colorado

Results: 2 Laps -17 Miles

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

  1. The event is to raise money for clean air in our state.
  2. It has a very low key group run feel, which is a great way to start the race season.
  3. Location! It was only 40 min from my front door!

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

  1. Starting at noon really threw my normal race routine out of sorts, but not really a huge deal.
  2. The ice and snow!! Made it difficult to get into any rhythm with all the sliding around.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

Nothing too weird about the race.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Beautiful race course was the overall highlight.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Bring traction! It’s not a difficult race and its very laid back. Good race to test out new items such as shoes, packs or nutrition.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I will not try and run through the slippery stuff, in the end it cost me some hip tightness that kept me from a third lap.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

There will be ice! Sections of the first uphill are very shaded and there will be longer patches of ice.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Yes there are 3 overlooks along the course that are beautiful!

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Medium toughness, but mostly due to ice and snow.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Very well run and the new location made everything smooth.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Not a very competitive atmosphere, but there were some elite runners in the field.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Very standard. I brought my own snacks knowing I would be back to my car after each lap.

Weather and typical race conditions

March in Colorado can be 65 and sunny to inches of snow all in the same day. We were lucky and the sun was out and temperatures in the 50s through the day.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Spikes!

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yes, very spectator friendly. 24, 12, 6, and 3 hours races all on the same 8.5 mile loop and one big aid station at start/finish line.

How’s the Swag?

Swag is solid, no t-shirts (I have plenty anyway) but hats and socks were solid.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

4 Stars. Great to run close to home and for a good cause.

jackpot ultra race report

Jackpot Ultra Running Festival Race Report – Barbara R

Race: Jackpot Ultra Running Festival

Runner: Barbara R

Race Date: 02/15/2020

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Results: https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=66966

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/3103159854/overview

jackpot ultra race report
Photo: Jose Santos

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

1. Entertainment – Beyond Limits does a great job at bringing entertainment to what can be a very boring race.
2. 2.5 mile loops in horseshoe style w/ varying terrain (gravel, pavement, grass, single track trails).
3. Being able to set up my own aid station halfway through the loop and having my own crew!

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

The one thing that didn’t go well was the end of the race. They were supposed to blow a horn/siren to signify the end of the 6 hour race but no one heard it (apparently people near the horn heard it but said it wasn’t loud at all). So I wasn’t sure if the race was officially over or if I should keep running – it made me pretty anxious and unsure.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

They do weird things every year to keep it entertaining for the runners. This year they brought out Vegas showgirls and had an ice cream bike for runners to get ice cream from.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

My nutrition was on point so I didn’t have to worry about tummy problems. I prepped my crew (aka my partner Vinnie) with in-depth details of what I wanted and he rocked it. I was able to move efficiently through the aid station each time and he could help me at the other main aid station. It was pretty awesome. I also like the loop style because mentally I don’t have to worry about where I’m going or what the terrain/climbing might be. I knew exactly where I was at all times and where I needed to be if I wanted to hit my goal.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

Set up an aid station for yourself in the grassy field. And way overstock it. You never know what you might need/want! It’s just nice to know that it’s there. Also, be prepared for crazy weather. One year it rained so much they had to reroute the course and this year it got so toasty I had to put on my arm sleeves and shove ice everywhere!

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Nope, I felt like I nailed that race!

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Get ready to get really loopy. Like super duper loopy.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It’s pretty for a city park – you get to run around a small man-made lake and see mountain views. It’s nothing spectacular.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

No! Pretty flat and fast. For you flatlanders, there is a “hill” in the course.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

Yes! Super well organized!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Yes, for the 100 mile USATF. Not much other distances though.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Nope! Just sign up and show up! There’s plenty of places to stay in Vegas so that’s not an issue.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

There is one main aid station and they have all the things you could wish for (even ice cream, popsicles, and snow cones). I know they switch out the food for the night portions if you’re running in the night. And they take requests as long as you give them enough notice, they’ll make whatever you want! You can also set up your own personal aid station which I relied on way more. It’s nice to have your own area and not have to try to figure out what you want or try to get around people.

Weather and typical race conditions

Totally up in the air. It could be sunny and hot, windy and cold, or torrential downpours.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Nope! Just check the weather and plan accordingly. Especially if it’s going to be hot – have ice and plenty of water/electrolytes and a hat because there’s no shade on the course.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Super! You can see the runner the whole time and actually cheer/talk to them twice on each loop!

How’s the Swag?

The shirts are nice and super creative. The medals and awards are super awesome!

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

5 out of 5! If you like to get loopy and run fast or see how many miles you can get in a certain time, this is the perfect race!

jackpot ultra race report
Photo: Jose Santos

stories ultra race report

Stories Ultra Race Report – Diane P

Race: Stories Ultra

Runner: Diane P

Race Date: 02/08/2020

Location: Cheyenne Mountain State Park

Results: tied for 3rd in the 15 hr race

stories ultra race report

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

The venue was beautiful. Volunteers were so friendly and helpful. Race director was there to hand out everyone’s medal and give a hug.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

I think I paced myself well. I talked to lots of people which I really enjoyed and built a snowman! I think my fueling was ok with the help of crew and pacer.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The race consisted of 4 loops that had to completed in order. You could do them as many times as possible in the time allotted. There was a 30 hr, 15 hr and 6 hr you could sign up for. The course was well marked with ribbons denoting the loop you were to be running. The weirdest one was the longest and last of the 4. It was a wonky figure 8.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It was a very pretty course especially with a foot of snow the day before and race day was total blue sky.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Not too terribly difficult. Not a lot of elevation gain in any of the loops. The loops were in increasing length.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

It was the 3rd year for this race. It was well run but there are a few things they know they need to make better.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

These races are for anyone who wants to see what they can accomplish for themselves. There are always some strong runners but it is about reaching your own potential. There are no awards for 1st, 2nd or 3rd. The series is aptly named Human Potential Running Series.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Some of the races fill up quickly and then there is a wait list. Many of the races are equipped for camping.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Many of the aid station captains are given standard fare such as bacon, pancakes, quesadillas, candy, cookies, salty snacks, ramen, water. But as always there are some different things brought by the captains. Hot soups, chili, sticky rice, etc. It is fun to see what there is.

Weather and typical race conditions

There was a foot of snow the day before so the first loops consisted of breaking trail after the trail markers had been out the day before. But race day was about 45 and sunny. That’s Colorado for you!

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next runner?

Many runners used traction. It was more needed as the night got colder for the 30 hr runners.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

There was only one aid station at the start/finish because all loops started and finished there.

How’s the Swag?

The medals are all hand made wooden medals designed by the race director and maker of the medals. The T-shirt is nice and this race we got a dry bag.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I would give this race 5 stars for this year. One year it was really muddy and another it was 5 degrees! It is a winter ultra!

stories ultra race report

operation jack 6 hour race report

Operation Jack 6 Hour Race Report – Ashley Nordell

Race: Operation Jack 6 Hour

Runner: Ashley Nordell

Race Date: 12/07/2019

Location: Tigard, Oregon – Summerlake Park

Results: Official results not posted yet, my result was 1st OA and CR with 41 miles and change (it’s a 9/10 mile loop, so you stop at the finish if you can’t make it one more loop)

operation jack 6 hour race report
Photo Credit: Steve Walters, RD

3 Bests – What aspects of the race did you like the most?

*This race was a last minute decision (signed up the night before) and one of the main reasons I did it was that it was a fundraiser for Autism and I was intrigued by the idea of a timed race. I didn’t go into it with any big expectations on great views or big crowds. So keeping that in mind, what I did like was…

1) All the money goes to a good cause
2) The park we ran loops around was open to the public, so I loved seeing so many people out walking despite the POURING rain
3) Getting to see the other runners so frequently and having access to our bags so often, plus I was fortunate that Zach Gingerich was there spectating and he jumped in and crewed for me for the first 4ish hours, since I was out solo. I love how awesome runners are. If I had my things more organized this could have even been a greater help, but I was so happy to see a friendly face so frequently offering to help.

Not so much – Aspects of the race that didn’t do it for you

-It rained for 6 hours straight – that was a bit hard for my muscles, especially since I don’t often run long on pavement or do runs that are so runnable, so it took a toll pretty quickly.
-The loop was challenging in that it had a lot of hairpin turns and lots of little hills. This would not be ideal if you were wanting to go for a lot of miles (about 2,000ft gain over 40+ miles, which is not major for trail ultras, but feels like a lot when trying to run steady splits). It is also pavement for the whole loop, so just good to know for those who prefer dirt timed courses.
-The small aid station was positioned behind the timing mat and hard to access easily.

Weird factor – What’s the weirdest thing about this race?

I am pretty sure running so many loops around a park is weird to most people.

Highlights of your race – What did you do well and enjoy about your race in particular?

Hmm, I can probably list a lot of things I did not do well since I went into it so unorganized. I would say smiling the whole time, despite running mostly alone and soaking wet for so long. It was hard to stay in it mentally and keep going for the whole time. Oh, and one of the bathroom stalls had a heater in it.

Lessons for others – Share your pro-tips on the race to help the next runner

See below in Lessons Learned.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I think I went into this too casually. Even though I had no goals or big plans for it, just being organized could have made my day more enjoyable. I had my bag all thrown together and in the back of the covered picnic area that was not close to where we ran by, so I ended up not accessing my bag enough, thus not getting enough calories. I also only brought minimal calories since I signed up on a whim, and was in the valley, not at my house to grab my usual stuff. Because of how cold and wet I was, I never felt thirsty, but I could tell the next day I definitely did not drink enough. I also think I underestimated how hard running loops for so long would be. I had visions of meeting all sorts of runners and running with other people and it being a social event, but I think because of the weather people were so bundled up with heads down that I never really got to interact with others as much as I envisioned. Because of that, it was a long solo six hours. My legs went from feeling like I could easily run 7:50s-8:10s all day to suddenly feeling so tight and sore that by the end, 9:00 pace felt like torture. I am sure part of that is just due to never really running long on pavement and the cold rain, but I am sure part of it was also due to my lack of fueling/drinking/electrolytes. I love doing some races casually and not worrying too much about the details, but there are definitely things I could have done to help myself feel better and enjoy it more. Doing a loop course is such a great way to practice fueling, and I should have taken advantage of that since fueling at ultras is my challenge. I think being low key is great, but being unprepared is not so great. I was more the unprepared person on this day.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The mini hills feel huge by the end, and knowing the way the loop goes so that you can position your gear or car would be really helpful. It is a short loop, so you have lots of time to get to know the course.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

It is a paved loop around a neighborhood park, but it is a pretty park with a pond in the middle. I saw lots of birds – geese, ducks, blue heron. But it is an urban course still.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

It is not tough like a trail run, but it is challenging in a different way. I learned several lessons out there.

Organized and well run – Did it feel like a well-oiled machine or were they flying by the seat of their pants?

It is pretty laid back and put on mostly as a fundraiser. The race also offers a half and full marathon option. The timing system was very well done – we had chip timing and every time we crossed the timing mat our information was relayed onto a big TV screen so we could see what mile and loop we were on.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

No, lots of people use this race as a chance to walk a marathon with 6 hours to finish. But I think in a run like this it is kinda cool to be yourself against the clock. I was more aiming to get 41ish miles because the course record was 40ish, so in a way I was racing an imaginary person.

Logistics – Does it require a special handshake, registration a year in advance, hotels all booked? Give us the low down on the nuts and bolts of making the race happen.

Nope, signed up about 12 hours before it started and I could have signed up race morning.

Aid Stations – Standard fare or anything special to know about the aid stations in terms of what’s available or when?

Pretty minimal. Bring your own stash. I wish I had brought some more choices. They did have hot cider which was nice in the cold weather.

Weather and typical race conditions

It is Oregon in December. Probably pretty standard to have pouring rain, though not sure it always lasts the whole time.

Gear – Did you need anything special or is there anything you’d recommend for the next guy?

Warm food/drink in a thermos, (wish I had had), waterproof mittens, organized gear bag if going crewless.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Yep! Great for family. There are playgrounds on the park, so if the weather is ok, it is very family friendly

How’s the Swag?

Not really, again, it is more put on to raise money. There are shirts if you sign up early enough.

The Overall Score – How many stars do you give this race and do you recommend that others run it?

I give the race an 8/10 as far as an event, just not sure the loop course on pavement is for me. Of course, I will probably want to try to do better someday, so I am sure I will try another one at some point. I think if the start/finish area had a bit more going on (music, people cheering, etc) it might be a bit more fun, but I don’t blame people for not wanting to hang out in the weather.

Ashley Nordell is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about her or to work with Coach Ashley, check out her coaching page.