This is the story of how I became friends with and virtually coached an unlikely ultrarunner in her first 24-hour endurance event. The story begins one month ago, and I admit, I was a little drunk.

This is the story of how I became friends with and virtually coached an unlikely ultrarunner in her first 24-hour endurance event. The story begins one month ago, and I admit, I was a little drunk.
Researching and fantasizing about ultra runs made me moody and distracted. This post describes being in a funk and snapping out of it. Also included: a list and links to 17 self-supported stage races around the globe.
Every time I run Mount Diablo in the Contra Costa region east of San Francisco, I want to return for more. Here’s why—along with info on an upcoming running & hiking event on the mountain, a suggested long-run route, and an unusual race report from its muddy trails.
As I’ve pondered running events and goals, I’ve wondered what makes one event “harder” or “tougher” than another, and is “harder” always “better”? I know I derive pleasure from the challenge that training for races presents—that is, from the thrill of competing with others and with myself to set new PRs. But what kind of […]
The Buenos Aires Marathon and Half Marathon will be held October 9, 2011. I loved running this race two years ago and highly recommend it as a destination marathon. Here’s the story of how those 26 miles helped me feel like a “porteña,” a person who calls Buenos Aires home.
Windmills, wine and fast times characterize this scenic destination race on the outskirts of Santa Barbara.
I thought about writing a race report on the Oakland Marathon but decided instead to spotlight 26 reasons why Oakland is a city that runners—and tourists—would love. Besides, I boiled my race report down to a haiku (click through to read the three-line poem).
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 […]
This guest post from a roving European runner spotlights the Fim da Europa, a 17K race where you can enjoy in a single day one of the best national parks in Portugal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the westernmost European place.
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.