This post comes from Monica Scholz, who traveled around North America to set a record of running the most 100-mile races in one year. She managed to travel, on average, every other weekend and complete these endurance events while holding down a demanding full-time job. Here’s her advice, which is targeted at ultrarunners but in […]
Archive | Training & Racing
Another Weekend, Another 100-Mile Run: How Monica Scholz Ran Ultras Around North America to Break Her Own Record
Imagine running a 100-mile race. Now imagine doing it every two weeks, and sometimes on consecutive weekends. That’s what Monica Scholz, a full-time attorney from Canada, did in 2010. I profiled her to find out how and why she set a record of 25 100-mile races in a year. “Running was not the hardest part—it […]
Born to Run Barefoot: Christopher McDougall Talks About Writing the Book That Changed the Running Shoe Industry and Changed His Life
I interviewed Born to Run author Christopher McDougall, who’s touring the country and talking about the barefoot running debate in advance of his paperback release. He opened up about his running, the experience of writing his bestseller, and his belief that the running shoe industry hawks a lot of “junk” that causes injuries. Here’s our […]
Yoga for Runners by Caitlin Smith: How Yoga Helps A Top Ultrarunner Find Balance And Win
I was skeptical about whether it’s worth the time and effort to work yoga into my training routine. Then I took a six-week class with top Bay Area endurance runner Caitlin Smith, who’s back to winning races and training for the Olympic Marathon Trials after recovery from injury. In this interview and video, she demonstrates […]
Your Training Plan Fell Apart and You’re Not Ready to Race. What Should You Do?
The best-laid plans of runners oft go awry. The other day I studied the American River 50 Endurance Run website and had a minor freak-out because I felt woefully unprepared, under-trained, and uninformed about this race on April 9. Then I made a list of do’s and don’ts to get ready and banish the thought […]
Ultrarunner Lisa Smith-Batchen Talks About Her Amazing Journey Through America and Through Pain
In an extreme sport filled with athletes who keep redefining “extreme,” Lisa Smith-Batchen stands out as a superwoman whose accomplishments and setbacks chart a course as steep and painful as the ultras she won. She talks about running 50 miles in 50 states in 62 days, breaking her foot, and planning a comeback.
What’s Up With This Blog
Two months ago, I launched this site. The other day, I caught myself wondering what I’m doing and whether it’s worth my time. It seems like a good time to assess what The Runner’s Trip has accomplished, how I hope to develop the site in the coming weeks, and how I hope you will consider […]
Running California’s Central Coast: Why a Painful 50K Made a Romantic Getaway
The Montaña de Oro 50K near Morro Bay was an excuse for a weekend getaway to a state park and small town we never had visited. Then the trail race took the weekend to emotional and physical extremes.
Tamara’s Extreme Challenge at Costa Rica’s Coastal Challenge
The 46-year-old from Pleasant Hill, California, survived severe heat, extreme nausea, fever, bugs, and blisters in Costa Rica’s jungles and mountains. Here’s her report of mud, sweat, and fears.
How to Recover from a Race that Sucked
If you identify with the symptoms of Post Personal Worst Disorder, a clinical form of post-race blues marked by dwelling on a lackluster performance and wallowing in loserdom, you might benefit from this perspective drawn from my time at the Kaiser San Francisco Half Marathon.