Feeding the Mass's Curiosity and Perplexion of Ultras

This post is part of Trail Runner's Blog Symposium which questions if there is too much of a media emphasis on Ultra trail running.

So, I've had some time to think about what it really means to have too much media emphasis on ultra distances.  Part of my mind was against it, the other part was for it.  This battle of the perceived good vs. evil has been continually raging in mind, even in times when I really didn't want to be thinking about running, which wasn't too often.  

After several weeks of mind wrestling, here's the side that 'won':

This is freakin GREAT!  I mean here I am a runner who loves to run trails.  In the past I would be out running in the foothills of the Northern Wasatch Mountains and view the looming mountain tops above me and wonder if there was a way for me to run peak to peak?  I would wounder if there were people who did this, and how could I become a part of that? 

Twenty years ago, I had a co-worker who talked about running a 5o miler and running the Grand Canyon's rim-to-rim trail.  I was mesmerized, interested, and someday thought I'd like to do something crazy like that.  

Then ten years ago, I started really getting into long distance running.  Of course the media shined on road races, so that was the shining star I chased.  According to the media, the marathon was the 'ultimate' high one could possibly ever reach in running.  So I followed that mecca of road running, and completed a couple of marathons.  Yes it was great, but I wanted more.  I wanted to see what my body was capable of and I wanted off the roads and in the mountains, however I didn't know what was available out there.

Slowly, ever so slowly the media started to tap into trail running life and the individuals who challenge themselves beyond human understanding.  That mass amusement, perplexion, and confusion as to why someone would run 100 miles in the heat, across the mountain peaks, alone, and at night started to catch on.  People wanted to know more, see more, find out more.  As the masses began to get their whistles wet with various small interviews, roadless terrain, and pictures of 100 mile winners - they wanted to more.  

Soon ultra icons started to receive sponsors, races started to receive an increase in cash prizes, therefore increasing the amount of advertisement.  This advertisement helped soothe the increasing interest among the growing masses on the life of an ultra runner, their performance, and races they run.  This increase in advertising was just like the perfect run, always leaving you wanting more, and luckily for me those sponsors spoon fed the masses like me with more information.

Through this increase in media awareness, I have been able to connect into the ultra distance world of trail running.  I found that there were races just above me that have been going on for years!  These weren't figments of imaginations, they were real, and they were being ran on the peaks above me.  

This increase in ultra distances helped me realize that I needed to learn to be a more proficient runner.  For example, last year I realized that, I needed to fix my gait and learn to run like a native.  My first gait change I worked on for 6 months!  I took 6 months changing from the road running 'heel strike' to the native 'mid-foot' strike.  After 'perfecting' this mid-foot strike, I decided that I needed to follow through with this gait change.  I went to a professional and had them analyze my gait.  They found I had some hip and ankle weaknesses that over long distances would increase my possibility of injury.  I received exercises to strengthen these weaknesses and also found the optimal  foot turn over tempo for my body.  

So, no I don't think that there is too much emphasis on ultra distances, because through this increase  I have been able to locate the Wasatch 100, fix my gait with the help of Mountain Land Rehab, and become a better runner. Go ahead and keep on sponsoring the ultra gods, because I have peaks I want to run up and over.

A Forgotten Primal Passion Re-Ignited. Why It's Good to Feel Like a Rat Running on It's Wheel

I've spent the last 10 years or so learning to love to run long distance outdoors.  Now don't get me wrong, I love to run, but not too far (like 1/4 of a mile max)!

I have been blessed with a very powerful and strong body (thanks to genetics) that helps me excel at running sprints.

In high school, I was AMAZING (the older I get the more amazing I was)! I was a better then average, almost collegiate quality sprinter, however the man that was in my life at the time persuaded me to not apply and then turn down the scholarships I did receive - that's a story for another time.

I remember spending hours, upon hours after school with my great runner friend, Melissa. We'd run the stairs, the track, do strides, lift weights, massage out each others' knots from such hard work. 


We streamlined our bodies into musclular, lean, power packed, sprinting machines!  

We could outperform anyone on our team, and we liked that!  

I remember one of my favorite things to do was see how much weight I could lift on the leg press. My goal was to be able to lift at least 300 pounds - almost 3 times as much as I weighed. This one day I remember a football player came to use the leg press after I just finished. It was pretty ego-tistacal when he had to take off over 100 pounds in order to uses it. I had the most muscular thigh quad muscles (looking back that wasn't the best strategy) and I was proud of them!

Now back to the reason I told you about my love affair with the high school gym. I recently got a killer deal on a gym membership that's only minutes from my house. At first I was a bit hesitant since I love the outdoors and I love running outside an being in the mountains. I just love having them as my personal gym. However, I have started to notice that when I run outside, my knees hurt longer and more then usual.

I decided to go for the membership, knowing that some of my knee pain is due to a weakness or imbalance in some of the my leg muscles.

While meeting with a personal trainer, I was telling her that my main goal was to strengthen a few key muscles for the knee so that they don't hurt as much while running. I also explained that I'd use the gym when the weather wasn't ideal outside for me to play in. After our meeting she helped create a plan that would fit my needs and still leave lots of outdoor play time.

After going to the gym for a couple of weeks, I can tell you why so many people run on treadmills for hours at a time. No, it's not because of the TV they watch (but that does help you take your mind off of the fact that you're esentially a mouse on one of those rat wheels), but because it doesn't hurt your knees!




After running on the treadmill, I'm still able to walk down the stairs without shooting pain up my leg, and then walk back up!

I've also found how much I truley LOVE lifting weights. 

There's something so primal about maxing your muscles to near exhaustion, that really pumps me up. I forgot how much I LOVE it! I feel so at home on the weight machines that sometimes I find myself transformed to 20 years ago!


Lifting weights, running stairs, sprinting around the track with a great friend, knowing we were all that, and laughing at ourselves along the way.

I can't wait for my gym day - tomorrow.

BTW, I still play outside 1 or 2 days a week so I can still maintain that base fitness, but man can my knees hurt some days.

Jane? Who? Me? Runner?

So today's form of athletic 'inspiration' came from Active.com's facebook page: "You must begin to think of yourself as ... the person you want to be." - David Viscott.

I read this as on a December day that feels more like March.  Yet, unlike March, there's no wind to bring down the temp.  The sun is hidden behind a cooling veil of clouds, which helps keep the temperature a perfect running 49 degrees.  Mother Nature has lined up everything for the perfect running day. 

I walked outside to get the mail, mentally tallying everything that will make today the best day back to running (after some healing time for a tendon flair).  While I walk out to the mailbox, my zealous mind has already created the perfect run: I've already ran 6 miles along a tree lined single track trail.  My dogs following.  I could feel their fur rub against my calf, their tongues lopping to the side, their eyes focused ahead anticipating the next turn of the trail.  It was perfect!  As I walk back from the mailbox, I had convinced myself that this mental trail run surely did happen.  I was so close, close to the elusive "Runner's High". 

Oh, that Runner's High is magnificent! I turn into Super Woman.  I become everything my mind says I am.  I'm invincible, I can leap over buildings (or logs) in a single bound, I run faster then Paula Radcliffe, (a 2:15 marathoner).  No mountain can make me huff as I run up it.   The runner's high is like the musician Muse; elusive, coming and going, just out of reach, sometimes allowing me to catch it - just for a moment - never staying long enough. 

I leap up the front steps, still grasping for the coat tails of Jane (that's what I'll call her - Jane, my Runner's High).  When suddenly I feel the churning reminder of an ankle not yet ready for running.  I stop at the top of the stairs (which is only 3 steps), and watch Jane - as she keeps running, taunting me, haunting me until the day I can catch her.

So here I sit, waiting for Pilate's to start, mourning the loss of my perfect December run and my elusive Jane.  Wondering if this still makes me a runner?    

My ankle had been feeling great, or so I thought...