Running Clubs: 10 Reasons You Should Join One!

April 19, 2025April 18, 2025

In a world of running, we can spend a lot of time alone. Especially when we are first starting, we lace up our shoes, head out the door (or to the treadmill), and run with our own thoughts. Running is truly a sport where we battle with ourselves, where we strive to reach new goals and break our old PRs. We might have gotten into running to race other people, but it always comes down to bettering yourself and reaching personal goals. Joining a running club helps make this individual journey of setting and achieving goals a little less lonely.

*Pocatello Running Club 2024 Halloween Run*

Here are 10 reasons why you should join a running club:

1. Great way to meet new people… especially when moving to a new town.

Back in 2021, my wife and I moved to Pocatello, Idaho from the Midwest. We had no family, friends, or connections in Pocatello when we first moved.

Usually, when people look up a new city they want to move to, they look up the cost of living, entertainment, climate, job availability, etc… But for us runners (or if you want to get into running), one of the top searches should be, “Is there a running club?”

The biggest reason we chose moving to Pocatello was because there was an active running club. We looked up their Facebook page, scrolled through the recent club photos and events, and even gave them a follow. So, when my wife moved out west a month before me, the first thing she did was go to the Tuesday night track workout with the running club. She made friends instantly! I moved out a month later, and I was already welcomed to a night out for Octoberfest (three hours after driving for two days straight) and a trail run the next evening before I could even unpack. All because my wife went to a few running club group runs and found people that shared the same interests.

Whether you are moving to a new town or already living in one, the easiest way to make friends as a runner is to join a running club. We did and now we have so many great “family members,” friends, and connections in town.

2. Learning new routes and amazing sights.

Once you make the leap to joining the running club, you will get a lot of opportunities to see the town you live in through a whole new lens. Pocatello has a huge trail network through the mountains, and it was quite overwhelming to learn. Lucky enough for my wife and I, we had the running club to help.

Wednesday night group trail runs were the perfect way to learn the town’s trails, without any fear of getting lost. Most Saturdays, the Pocatello Running Club hosts Saturday long runs on either road or trail. We were able to explore the town with people that have lived in Pocatello for decades. We got their opinions and knowledge on the best places to do tempo workouts and hill intervals. And they shared which parts of the neighborhood we needed to be careful of when venturing off alone!

The friends you make will show you even more routes to run during non-sanctioned group runs. Switching up the routes you run can help you avoid burnout. If you’re into photos and social media, you can also ask someone to take some awesome “action shot” photos of you and wifey (or dog, or new friend, or favorite plant, etc.). You’ll get to learn your town in its entirety and see views that will be remembered forever.

My wife, Whiskey (dog), and I during a Wednesday night group trail adventure. — *My wife, Whiskey (dog), and I during a Wednesday night group trail run.*

3. You can always find people to run with (and push you on harder runs!).

Speaking of burnout, another way to combat it (instead of just running new routes) is by running with different members of the running club. Whether you are training for your first marathon or trying to improve your 5k time, there are almost always people in the club at the same level or faster than you who are willing to help you achieve your goals.

Some people might be running their easy runs at 8 min/mile pace and you need to hit that pace for a marathon pace training run. Ask them to join you. I’m sure you can find a date/time that works for the both of you. If you have track nights, find someone at your level or a little ahead to do the workout with. First time running 20 miles? Find multiple people to help you throughout the long run. Alternately, join the club’s long runs to make the huge mileage seem less scary. Whatever the workout may be, running with someone else makes it easier. Go find someone to push you, and soon you’ll be achieving goals you never thought possible.

4. For motivation and accountability. #accountabilibuddies

A few of my #accountabilibuddies at the Pocatello Running Club 2025 Goal Setting Party in late 2024. — *A few of my #accountabilibuddies at the Pocatello* Running Club 2025 Goal Setting Party..

Ever not want to wake up for an early morning run? Find yourself getting home from a long day of work and not wanting to do your workout? Joining a running club can help with those days of no-to-low motivation.

If people from the running club hear that you are having trouble finding the motivation to do your workout, they will help you overcome your worries or even join you to give you an extra little push. Most of the time, it’s just getting out the door. There are plenty of times I have reached out to people that are having trouble fitting in a run or lift, and I will invite them to join me. That’s the whole reason my wife and I started the Monday morning coffee runs for the running club. We wanted to get people out of bed and start the week off right–to motivate people to continue their training despite what their week looks like.

Running clubs might even have a goal setting party every year (and if they don’t, you can start your own) to help with getting the motivation to set and achieve your big goals. While we all have our own individual goals, we want to help people achieve their goals too. You and your running friends can even hold each other accountable for the goals we set at the beginning of the year throughout the year. Find your #accountabilibuddies and possibly give them a shoutout on social media. Having a community and the support it brings is what makes a running club so special.

5. Build community connections. (They may even help you find a job!)

When I first moved out to Pocatello, I brought my job with me remotely. While a ton of change was going on with the company, it was nice to have that job security.

When I started to get a little frustrated with the direction the company was moving, I started to look for a new job. Now job hunting can be really scary, but by being in the running club, I got insider knowledge from locals about what companies were great to work for. I even got a reference from an employee at the company I work for now because we were both members of the running club. We got the opportunity to get to know each other and find out the type of job I was after. Then later, I got my current job because of that reference. I’m forever grateful for the connections I have built over the few years of being in Pocatello.

Our running club, like most running clubs, has close connections with the running stores in town. We work with the city to help with the local fun runs. If you are active enough in the running club, you might even get to try out some demo shoes or get free entries to races! Don’t be afraid to make connections. A running club is basically an in-person LinkedIn. You never know when you might need their help or advice.

6. Running education and advice on different training styles.

One thing that has helped me since joining a running club is the advice I can get from many different experience levels or training styles. A lot of clubs have a very diverse array of runners, from total beginners to seasoned veterans who have been running for 40 years.

For newer runners, a club might even host training programs to help with getting started. For example, the Pocatello Running Club has led “Couch-to-5k” plans in preparation for the local 5K fun run series. You might have a local running coach or physical therapist in the group that can give you advice or help you overcome an injury. I had a running coach that was also a physical therapist when I first moved out to Idaho, but over the years, I was able to learn from those around me in the running club to find a style of running/recovery that works for me.

Joining my club motivated to me to get certified and become a running coach with Team RunRun. This allows me to share even more advice with my local running club about different running styles or programs. Team RunRun also strives to help people improve their knowledge by offering blog posts about relevant topics. We can always improve our running IQ and ways to better take care of our bodies.

*Several members of the Pocatello Running Club at Beaverhead 100k in July 2024.*

7. Training for the same race with teammates, or intel from previous race finishers.

Another great thing about being in a local running club is having teammates running the same race as you. Last year, eight members of the Pocatello Running Club (including myself) had the same goal of completing the Idaho 208k challenge, where you run River of No Return 108k in June and Beaverhead 100k in July (a little less than 1 month apart). We were able to join each other for long training runs, talk logistics, camp or drive together, and basically motivate each other for the entire journey. A few of us even ran the entire race from start to finish together, making the experience that much more special. Club runners who had completed these races in the past offered up crucial advice and tips about the course. Members of the Pocatello Running Club even formed their own relay team for the Le Grizz race in Montana!

One thing I love about coaching with Team RunRun is the feeling of being a part of another virtual running club with the other coaches and athletes. I can ask the Team RunRun community for advice about races across the world, and I know they can go to me if they have any questions about local races in Idaho. Team RunRun even has meetups and group runs for major events, allowing you to connect with the Team RunRun community before the race. So, whether you need help training for a race or simply some advice, consider joining a local running club or get a coach through Team RunRun and join their virtual running club.

8. Petting all the running doggos!

An added bonus for us dog lovers: meeting all of the various running dogs on group runs. Plus, your dog gets little play dates and social time with other local dogs while you run! A huge win-win! Check out this blog by Team RunRun Coach Ryan Williams about Running with Your Dog for all the tips..

9. Intellectual or silly conversations. Whether it’s at a running club’s book club or philosophical ramblings on the trail.

Do you ever have deep thoughts about life on solo runs? Or perhaps you want to stop annoying your non-running friends with constantly talking about running? Then it might be time to join a running club.

From talking about whether certain animals would win in a fight, to discussing the lifestyle/training of elite distance runners, a running club can satisfy all of your crazy needs! Seriously though, I feel that some of the best conversations in life come on long group runs. Conversations that make you laugh or think. Conversations that will give you inside jokes for the rest of your life. The suffering seems easier when you have friends around you and you are not actually thinking about running sometimes. A running club helps facilitate such spaces and conversations.

10. Sweet swag and running club discounts.

Like I mentioned in benefit #5 above, most running clubs are associated with the local running stores. This can come with awesome benefits and discounts for running club members. Some running clubs host races to help pay for club activities or merchandise for members to enjoy. Others come with a small membership fee, but you get swag and access to discounts on local races that make up for the fee you paid. Communities like Team RunRun offer members discounts on races (like Orca Running and Evergreen Trails races), clothing, nutrition, and more. Being a part of a running club, even virtually, has its perks!

The Pocatello Running Club Saturday group long run in early 2025. — *The Pocatello Running Club Saturday group long run in early 2024.*

Conclusion

Running clubs offer so many more benefits than simply being a way to meet people. These few years in Pocatello, Idaho have been some of the best years of my life. I’ve grown both personally and physically, thanks, in large part, to the Pocatello Running Club. Whether you are living in New York City or Topeka, Kansas, consider joining a running club. And if your town doesn’t have a running club yet, or one you resonate with, consider starting a club yourself! You’ll never know who you might meet or what goals you can achieve in your running career until you do.

Brian Lettner is a Pocatello-based running coach training runners from the 5k up to ultras, on both roads and trails. He helps runners fit training into an already busy lifestyle, and has knowledge of strength and menstrual cycle training.

Beaverhead 100k Race Report – Margaret B.

January 4, 2024July 20, 2021

Beaverhead 100k just might be the race for you if you’re looking for a beautiful, challenging race that also happens to be a lesser-known Western States qualifier.

Race: Beaverhead 100k

Runner: Margaret B.

Race Date: 7/10/2021

Location: Salmon, ID

Results: 18:17:30

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/5608596361

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

Amazing views from the Continental Divide Trail (and seeing through hikers along the way)
Fun, challenging terrain (scree, talus)
Low key, old school race vibe

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

Air quality was not so good due to fires in ID and MT (but it was fine a few years ago when I did the 55k — just depends)
Aid stations were pretty basic and ran out of gels (as with any race, carry anything that you consider essential!). They also were not located quite where they were supposed to be (up to a mile off).
Due to fires in the area in the past couple of years, there are some stretches of trail that are burned out, but not for too long.

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

They served Pepsi instead of Coke! What’s up with that?!

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

Being up on the CDT was amazing. There’s nothing like standing on a ridge with a sheer drop of hundreds of feet into MT on one side and a scree field dropping down into ID on the other. And I got an incredible feeling of accomplishment from stretching myself out of my comfort zone to do this race.

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

This race is at 8,000-10,000′ altitude. If you live at sea level like me, work with your coach on training strategies to help deal with altitude. Better yet, do a training run/race at high altitude so you know how your body responds.
There’s only one spot for a drop bag, at about the half-way point (Lehmi Pass, where the 55k starts). Stock up on anything you need for the second half, which will take longer than the first half because the course is a lot more technical.
There are no pacers and only limited places for crew access. Best to be fairly self sufficient.
It’s cold at 4:00am in the mountains when the race starts. The shuttle dropped us off at 3:15, and I was glad I had a packable jacket with me.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

The best lesson I learned is anything is possible if I just keep moving forward — whether steep climbs, thin air, hot temps, smoky conditions, or scrambling up rocky peaks.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The first half is gently rolling but the second half has some tough, technical sections including around 4 miles of loose rock (scree, talus). That’s followed by a steep downhill to Bohannon A/S, then the last 5-ish miles to the finish are the easiest (with a few water crossings here).
If heights freak you out, this might not be the best race for you. Besides being technical, the trail takes you along some ledges and steep drop offs.
Although there is no finish line cut-off, there are three internal cut-offs. The 2:30 pm cut-off at Cut Out A/S was the tightest (plus that aid station was almost a mile farther down the trail than I and others were expecting). But after making that cut-off, the others were no sweat and it was no problem finishing sub-19 to get the WSER qualifier.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

There are some pretty areas, but what I remember most are the rocky terrain, the views, and the exhilarating feeing of being up on the CDT.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Yes, the factors that make it tough include high altitude, heat, possibly smoky air and technical terrain in the second half.

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

I’d say it’s organized well enough, but it’s also a little old school in that there’s minimal hand-holding and they expect runners to be aware of what they’re getting into and prepared for the challenge. The RD posted some videos on Facebook when they were marking the course a few days prior to the race, which were helpful. Pre-race communications were good, not over-done.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Although it’s a WSER qualifier, it didn’t seem like the race attracted many folks from too far away.

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.

Beaverhead 100k is not a hard race to get into — the only requirement is to have run a 50k in the prior three years. Logistics require more planning. Salmon, ID is a small town and not near any major airports. The town has limited lodging options, and hotel rooms can be scarce. Book a room at the Stagecoach Inn as soon as you decide to do the race. Second best is the Super 8 across the street. Neither are fancy, but you’ll be glad you’re there when it’s time to hop on the 2:15 am shuttle bus, which picks up runners at the Stagecoach Inn parking lot. That’s also where the post-race shuttle drops you off.

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

Aid stations were pretty basic (tailwind, water, Pepsi, PBJ, chips, bananas, watermelon, M&Ms, other candies). Janke Lake had hot food. Bohannon had smoothies. Gels were scarce and I was glad I packed my own. There were ice buckets for dipping bandanas and hats. Later aid stations had ice to put in packs and bottles too.

Weather and typical race conditions

Expect intense sun, heat, and possibly smoky air. There also could be thunderstorms (not this year). There might be patches of snow on the course too (not much this year, but more when I did the 55k a few years ago).

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

Because the race starts at 4:00 am, a headlamp or flashlight is necessary. I kept it with me since I knew I’d be finishing after sunset. Someone faster might not need a light for the second half. But… be very sure about that before ditching your light in your Lehmi Pass drop bag. There are no later drop bags.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

No, there are only a limited number of places where crew can access the course.

How’s the Swag?

Nice sweatshirt and rabbit race shirt, plus a metal souvenir license plate thingy, a buff, some SNB, and a string bag.

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

So hard to say… really depends on what you want out of a race! For me, this was a 4/5. One of the races that I’m most proud of for sure.

Prepping for your next race? We’ve got you covered with a checklist on how to prep for it.

Pocatello Marathon Race Info

August 27, 2020August 19, 2019

Date: 8/31/2019

Location: Pocatello, ID

Start Time: 6:15am

Avg Temps (f): 83/47

Time Limit: 6.5 hours

Lessons Learned from Race Reports

Runners must ride the bus to the start – no personal vehicles at the start. Be sure you know the shuttle information.
Small out and back around mile 7-8; otherwise, minimal turns along the course, which can be faster but also hard mentally on a rural course
With the first half losing so much of the elevation, be sure not to go out too fast so you don’t burn out and have less loss in the second half of the course. Have patience and it will pay off later!
Some of the downhill in the first half can feel steep – do downhill training if possible and know that your quads will have extra work in the first half
Small field of runners, so be prepared to be running alone
First half of the course is much more scenic than the second half, so be prepared for that mentally
Much of the course is open to traffic, so stay aware of cars on the road, and know that traffic noise and exhaust can be tiring
Course is very exposed and likely to be sunny – bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen and have a plan for cooling off with water/ice at the aid stations
Even with the early start, it gets warm and sunny throughout the race
Course isn’t every spectator friendly since it’s rural and out on country roads, so be prepared for quiet miles along the way!

Course

Type: Point to Point

Start/Finish Info: Different locations; shuttle to start

Hills: Net downhill course with small pop ups around miles 6.5, 16.5, and 21.5. Out of the ~1,550 feet of loss, the first half drops approximately 1,400 feet, and then the second half only drops about 150 feet.

Course Map/Elevation

Aid stations

Locations of water/electrolyte stations: Miles 3.3, 5.3, 8, 10.4, 12.7, 14.4, 16.2, 18.6, 19.7, 20.7, 21.7, 22.7, 23.6, 24.6, and 25.3.

Electrolyte offered: PowerAde and Clif Shot energy gel available at miles 12.7, 20.7, and 22.7. Bananas and oranges at miles 5.3, 16.2, 19.7, 22.7, and 24.6. Assorted wrapped hard candy at miles 8, 14.4, 18.6, and 21.7.

Spectator access

Access Locations: Minimal

Boston qualifier?

Yes

Race reports

https://www.bibrave.com/races/pocatello-marathon-reviews#.XVtr8uhKg2w

https://raceraves.com/races/pocatello-marathon/

http://www.dizruns.com/pocatello-marathon/

Strava links

https://www.strava.com/activities/1812504808

Race Website

https://pocatellomarathon.com/

Race the Wolf 25k Race Report – Keith L

August 14, 2020July 15, 2019

Race: Race the Wolf 25k

Runner: Keith Laverty

Race Date: 07/06/2019

Location: Schweitzer Mountain Resort, ID

Results: 3rd, 2:44

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/2509719743/overview

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

I loved the high country terrain and the ski resort as the main staging area.
For a skyrace with tons of off-trail power-hiking, I thought it was very well marked compared to other similar races I’ve done in the past.
The versatility needed for the big, technical climbs and the faster, runnable descents.

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

I kept saying to myself, “This is crazy” or “Whose idea was this” on those gnarly, steep uphills but that was just me complaining a bit and nothing against the race itself : )

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

Fortunately, I never took a wrong turn but it sounded like several runners out there in both distances took wrong turns at the main Sky Haus aid station or at a few other junctions nearby. In the 52k, the 1st and 2nd place runners were accidentally directed off course by a volunteer at Mile 20 and they ended up doing the steepest climb on the course for a 3rd and unnecessary time — OUCH. However, the RD talked to all runners after the race and ended up awarding those two guys with a 1st and 2nd (after they finished 5th and 6th with the wrong turn).

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

This was far from one of my best race performances but I’d say I did a decent job of pacing it out, not starting too fast and being able to run the downhills strong. I’d say I did well in grinding and staying in the hunt.

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

The race is advertised as 25k but after seeing everyone’s GPS data, it’s definitely closer to 27k.
It kind of seemed like the power-hiking over off-trail terrain could make or break a race. Practicing uphills after a long, runnable downhill would be helpful too and being ready to change gears. Before the longest climb at Mile 7.5, there was a 4-mile downhill on forest road.
Finally, you do get rewarded with a really fun, singletrack downhill from the final aid station to the finish line.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

I incorporated a ton of climbing during long runs, hill repeats and some speedwork into my training but for next time, I probably would’ve practice a tad more power-hiking and heat training on easy runs to attempt to acclimate to the race’s altitude better.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Of all of the 4,100′ of climbing throughout the race, only a tiny bit of that is what I’d consider “runnable”. The mass majority of the ups are so steep that it requires a lot of power-hiking – so practice that! There are three power-hiking climbs including the shortest one to start off the race (straight up the ski slope), the longest climb starting at Mile 7.5 (2,000′ over 2 miles on off-trail), and then the final climb at Mile 11.4 from Lake Colburn, which is even steeper than the 2nd climb but shorter. A few parts may even require scrambling on this final climb with somewhere around 30-40% grades and a brief section with big rocks and boulders to navigate up.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Most definitely – You get to run through Idaho high country including tons of bear grass and an epic view from the race’s high point (6,300 elevation) near a ski terminal.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Anything in the Skyrunner USA series is going to be tough! “Extreme Trail Racing” is a part of their tagline and this race in Idaho met that expectation. The altitude can be a factor with the course between 4200′-6300′. Again, tons of “sky-hiking”, in addition to the “sky-running”.

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

For the first-year event, they did a great job! There were a few minor snafus but I’m sure they’ll address these for next year.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

The 25k and 52k options both earn you points in the Skyrunner USA Series. Both races were quite competitive up front but maybe not particularly deep fields compared to a race like Broken Arrow. In my race, I wasn’t able to match Timmy Parr’s 10,000′ lungs from Leadville and he gapped us the most on the climbs.

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.

You can register up until the week of the race. However, I’d look into lodging at least 6 weeks out at minimum, especially given it was the weekend after the Fourth of July. If looking to reserve a room at the ski resort (can get expensive) or even a campsite more near town of Sandpoint, they’ll be booked up quickly.

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

The 25k gets 3 aid stations with all standard fare including Tailwind and Coke.

Weather and typical race conditions

We lucked out on the weather with a mix of cloudy and sun. Temperatures were plenty comfortable and probably should’ve applied a little sunscreen. For a mountain race like this one, conditions can change quickly though.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Fairly friendly – Just take the ski lift up to the Sky Haus aid station and you can assist your runners at that point. In the 25k, I came through that aid station twice (coming from two different directions).

How’s the Swag?

Race entry came with a really nice long sleeve shirt and tickets for a free beer and BBQ afterward. For getting on the podium, I got a bottle of local red wine and coffee beans. The race had advertised Altra gift cards for the top 3 male/female finishers in the 25k but they ended up only awarding the winners – I didn’t really care but it was a little odd.

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

4.4 out of 5 stars – This was my first race in Idaho and it was a unique place to run and experience!

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

Coeur d’Alene Ironman 70.3 Race Report – Angela S

August 10, 2020July 3, 2019

Race: Coeur d’Alene Ironman 70.3

Runner: Angela S

Race Date: 06/30/2019

Location: Coeur D’Alene, ID

Results: 7:45;41

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

The location is so beautiful
The volunteers were incredible
The course is tough but fun

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

Really no downside, it was a good race

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

The finish line!! It was so incredible

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

I forgot chaffing cream for the back of my neck for during the swim so just going over your gear would be what I recommend

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Be ready for anything the bike course throws at you!

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The swim is cold but it’s clean, nice water
The bike is very hilly! Know how to climb and do lots of it!
The run is hot and does not have a lot of shade

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Very beautiful course

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

It has one of the hardest bike courses
The run is pretty easy just hot

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, Ironman has it all down very well!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

Yes

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 registered about 7 months in advance, that was nice and easy, I didn’t need a hotel but know that it books very quickly! Parking can be very hard to find at times.

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

The aid stations were perfectly placed, well manned and had tons of yummy stuff! They had themes and fun music and water to cool you down etc they were awesome!

Weather and typical race conditions

It was hot and not a lot of shade!

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

With triathlons take tons of gear, so know what you need and triple check that list

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Such a good crowd!

How’s the Swag?

Loved the medal, not so much the shirt, the bag was amazing!!!

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

6 out of 5 stars!!! Definitely recommend! Can’t wait to do it again!

IMTUF 100 Race Report – Mark Cliggett

August 11, 2020September 23, 2018

Race: IMTUF 100

Runner: Mark Cliggett

Race Date: 09/15/2018

Location: Burgdorf, Idaho

Results: DNF

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

It’s TUF.
It’s remote.
Running for 20+ miles with my friend Ather as we both struggled to the point where we could drop.

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

Being underprepared for camping during a 27 degree night, and showing up at the start line cold and exhausted from a night of no sleep.
As I faded, I started hitting aid stations that weren’t stocked enough to handle back-of-the-pack runners. The race grew 50% from last year and I think the aid didn’t quite keep up.

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

There’s nothing really weird. For me, maybe it’s that although there’s a ton of wildlife there, I didn’t see experience any during my race.

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

The best part for me was when my wife showed up unexpectedly at the aid station at mile 48. The second best was spending many miles with my friend Ather, who is much faster than me but was injured.

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

Aid is sparse at this race. Plan to use the full aid stations well, and figure out how to fill in the gaps between those aid stations.
I wouldn’t stay at Burgdorf again – stay in a warm comfortable place in McCall even though it means driving an extra hour in the morning before the race.
Consider running in the counter-clockwise years. Clockwise, the course gets more difficult as you go.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

Make my own aid station miracles via drop bags, e.g. pack cans of Ensure or some kind of liquid nutrition.
When you start a race already injured, tired, cold, hungry, under-educated about the race, and with a bad attitude, it affects performance.

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

Running clockwise, the course gets harder and harder as you go. There are two full aid stations to get you to mile 43 in the course.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Yes, although not pristine. You are in a wild place but it’s burned in recent times and although it’s alpine it’s not as beautiful as the truly wild places near Seattle.

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Yes, it’s darn TUF.

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

Well run and the organizers obviously spend a huge amount of time, effort, and love ensuring it can be the best possible race. There may have been some small growing pains this year but I’m sure they notice those and fix them the next year. This race was probably perfect at 50 people. At 180 people, it was close to perfect.

Competition – Is there a strong field?

I wouldn’t know – I spent a lot of time with the not-so-strong part of the field.

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 start is very remote, e.g. no running water. Easy to get into, but getting yourself to the start 100% ready and in good shape takes effort. If you are a great camper, you’ll have no problem. If you are an ultra runner because you’d rather run through the night than do that crappy camping stuff, you might have trouble at this race like I did.

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

Sparse, as mentioned above. The aid stations are all as good as the aid chart says they are, but if you depend on significant calories from aid stations you have to sit and take advantage of those when you get there.

Weather and typical race conditions

My bite valve froze at 8:20am, more than an hour after the sun came up. It was a sunny morning in mid-Sept. It rained and was cold in the afternoon. Expect cold.

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

Not really – pretty remote.

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

This is a great race. As I was running, I asked myself why I didn’t just run Plain again – it’s similar and a lot closer. So I have mixed views, but I don’t think anyone who picks this race is making a mistake.

For a more detailed race report and many more pictures of the course, check out Mark’s full race report here.

mccall trail running classic race report

McCall Trail Running Classic 40m Race Report – Rich L

August 12, 2020July 20, 2018

Race: McCall Trail Running Classic 40M

Runner: Rich L

Race Date: 07/14/2018

Location: McCall, Idaho

Results: 13:42:05

Strava Activity Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1703148410

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

This was a true mountain race, which is exactly what I was hoping for!
The RDs and all of the crew were amazing – it really had a family feel to it and that the racers were a part of the extended family.
The terrain and views throughout the course – wow!

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

There is nothing I didn’t like about this race.

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

The goats! The Buckhorn aid station is so remote that they use goats to bring in the supplies. Everyone gets their picture taken with a goat. They are super docile and friendly.

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

There was so much to love about this race. One of the things that really stood out for me was the descent off of Jug Handle Mountain. It was a steep granite boulder/talus field – the rock was grippy and the views were epic. I love boulder hopping!

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

Train for heat and elevation if you can.
Train on rocky terrain.
There is nothing too steep but quite a bit of long grinds.

Lessons you learned that will help you next time around

The heat and elevation took a harder toll on me than I anticipated.
Had I known I would have spent more time training on very rocky trails.
Don’t quit! I learned in the Army that you can get through just about anything if you just hang in there. However, my quads blew just before the Buckhorn aid station and I was ready to throw in the towel. With encouragement from some awesome volunteers and those crazy goats I realized that I could literally walk the rest of the way and still make the cutoff so that’s what I did!

Most important course specific knowledge to know about the race

The elevation plus heat is challenging.
There is a fair amount of off trail travel and there is not a whole lot of the trail that is very smooth or even.

Aesthetics – Is it a pretty course?

Very beautiful!

Difficulty – Is it a tough course?

Very tough!

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

Organization was great!

Competition – Is there a strong field?

It’s a small race – there were only 40 entrants. It didn’t feel competitive to me but maybe I’m just not tuned into that.

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.

For the time being there is not much competition for getting a spot. McCall is a mountain resort town so there are a lot of great places to stay. They had a big field reserved for camping just off the Jug Mountain Ranch where the race is held. I made the ~7.5 hour drive over then camped. You could also take a quick flight to Boise then have a 1.5 hour drive to McCall.

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

More or less standard racing fare. One station had bacon, which is awesome (unless you are vegetarian!). They also had salt tabs, which I belatedly took advantage of.

Weather and typical race conditions

I think it’s typically pretty dry and hot over there although I heard they had a brief thunderstorm last year. It’s very similar to Teanaway.

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

All of the finishers got some kind of medallion. The winners were long gone by the time I crossed the finish line so I have no idea what they got. 🙂

Spectators – Is this a friendly course for your friends?

It’s not super spectator friendly because most of the course is pretty remote.

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

Five stars for sure! Despite having some problems on the course I had a great time. I learned some great lessons out there that are only going to make me better going forward.
I am definitely going back next year and it would be great having more Seattle folks make the trek!