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.
Tag Archives | trail running
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.
Northern Italy: Races and Places to Run and Hike, Dolce-Vita Style
Everyone should see Italy’s cultural and historical treasures, but I’d also urge any visitor to explore the countryside. Here are lots of suggestions on where to run or hike, with several links to Northern Italy races recommended by my Italian trail-running friend.
How to Run and Go Green: Eco-Friendly Lessons From An Earthy 10K
I have run many 10Ks but none quite like the European XC Challenge in Ventura, the inaugural event by an eco-conscious upstart company called Compete Green. I signed up to walk the talk (or better, run the talk) of this blog’s message to keep improving and to cultivate meaningful experiences as a runner by trying […]
An Ultrarunning Mom Faces Costa Rica’s Coastal Challenge
How does a fortysomething suburban working mom prepare to spend six days camping and running 155 miles through Costa Rica’s jungles and mountains? I found out by getting to know Tamara Buckley Johnson. She’s one of 67 runners doing the strenuous six-day Coastal Challenge Rainforest Run starting Jan. 30. She talks about why she’s doing […]
Interview with Bart Yasso, Running’s Ambassador and World Traveler
Bart Yasso has what many would consider a dream career. His title is Chief Running Officer at Runner’s World (how cool is that?). Over three decades at the magazine, he became a high-profile and well-liked ambassador for the sport, getting paid to travel and run races in remote areas all over the world. When I […]
Running In the Rain Down Under: An Aussie Ultrarunner’s Tips to Deal With the Flood
Imagine living in rain-ravaged Queensland, Australia. Would you keep your commitment to run if you lived in those conditions? Ultrarunner Andy Bowen of Noosa, Queensland, is sticking with his training plan even if he has to build an ark to reach land to run on. He offers good advice for dealing with drenching conditions.
My New Favorite Way to Run In Snow
At around the same time I lost my snowshoes, I discovered a traction device even better for snow running: Kahtoola Microspikes. They’ll let you run on icy and snowy trails as naturally and easily as running on a dry road. Check out this video post.
The Epiphany
The Epiphany Ultra is more like a loosely organized escapade than a race. I wondered again, “Why am I doing this?” No answer came. Epiphanies take time.
Another Reason to Visit New Zealand
Maybe you, too, dream of a running- and adventure-oriented trip to New Zealand in 2011 or ’12. When I hear Americans talk about New Zealand, they tend to focus on the South Island, so I decided to spotlight a fabulous Kiwi destination and event on the North Island instead: Rotorua and the Tarawera Ultramarathon.