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.

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.
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.
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.
Every race on these calendars presents an opportunity to take a detour and experience a little stretch of the country. If you plan to travel to a different region for business or vacation, then you might think about working one of these events into your itinerary.
Two words I’m loathe to utter: “I’m injured.” Acknowledging the pain, getting a diagnosis, and altering my training to manage it reminded me of five lessons I’ve learned repeatedly while developing as a runner for the past fifteen-plus years.
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 […]
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 […]
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.
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.
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.