The Runner's Trip: Run Long, Travel Far, Discover More
trail running and travel blog by Sarah Lavender Smith
This guest post is written by Jeff Kozak, an accomplished ultrarunner who trained and struggled mightily to reach the “Holy Grail of 100s”–the race where it all comes together. This is his bittersweet report of what happened to him while running the mountains between two towns in Southern Oregon.
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 […]
In six weeks I’m hosting a big event to extol the virtues of long-term travel and encourage people to think outside the box in terms of their career and life choices. Yet I find myself struggling to walk the talk. Taking a big, meaningful trip again is starting to feel impossible for a number of […]
I love how something as seemingly simple as running is in fact profoundly complex, providing limitless chances to learn. This post shares what the injury-induced break from running taught me—or in some cases, reminded me—about running-related injury recovery and prevention.
Tamara Johnson spent five days at an Alaskan camp directed by champion ultrarunner Geoff Roes. Here’s how this northern exposure boosted her out of her running depression. Plus … links to other great running camps.
Here’s why I became a convert to using ultralight trekking poles for trail running or hiking. They took some getting used to, but once I did, I didn’t want to let go.
I’ve been through a lot of injuries and have a sports doc and physical therapist advising me. Yet I remain confused about how exactly to work through this garden-variety muscle strain and return to running. And I’m frustrated as hell.
It’s close to 110 degrees, and Joe Osha is suffering through the Long Day, the 50-mile leg in the seven-day, 250K (155 mile) Gobi March. He’s carrying all his own food and supplies. What makes a foot race across a desert worthwhile, and how does he go the distance?
Snow, scree, summits and storms—the story of my most challenging, most unusual marathon: pacing Garett Graubins during the final 12 hours of his Hardrock 100.
At 6 a.m. this morning—Friday, July 8, 2011—some 140 runners started the extreme event known as the 100-mile Hardrock Endurance Run through the San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado. And sometime after midnight tonight, probably close to 2 a.m., I’ll join one of them, Garett Graubins, in Telluride at Mile 73. Together, we’ll alternately run […]