In honor of this year’s Barkley Marathons, it seemed like a good time to revisit my ultra running post. I will never be fast enough, fit enough, or tough enough to play in the league of runners that dare to take on this daunting, demanding, and some would say irrational race. (The full, five-loop race …
If there’s anything that darkens an endurance athlete’s attitude and life, it’s racing and training in the rain. Dark, unrelenting rain that brings misery, foreboding, tests your determination, and brings on introspection. The kind of introspection that has you asking yourself why am I out here? As far as race day goes, you race in …
9 Stories About How Much Racing and Training in the Rain Sucks Read More »
We all look forward to race day, hoping that our training, hard work, and preparation will bring success whether that is a course PR, a place on the podium, or just a really solid, smooth swim, bike, or run. Unfortunately, sometimes the reality check doesn’t clear, or some weird, awkward scenario plays out. We call …
At the end of the day, there’s more room at the start line than on the podium. Many of us are completely satisfied to be part of the “herd” that finishes eventually. Pick a number! Which one sounds like you or someone you know? 1. Silently laughing at the out-of-shape guy with the …
The 15 Joys Only Back-of-the-Pack Runners Experience Read More »
You came home with a stray dog you found out on the bike course and you’ve named him “Wipeout.” She notices that instead of putting your bike in the rack in the garage you placed it in the recycling bin. He overhears you leaving a voicemail for a reality tv show called “I can’t believe …
There comes a time in every endurance athlete’s life when they realize that there are people who don’t get up at 5:00 am, only workout four or five times a week, and have never climbed a chainlink fence in the dark to do speedwork at the local high school track. Once this realization sinks in …
12 Catchphrases For Athletes Who Stopped Pretending to be Normal Read More »
What a difference a year makes! If I thought it was safe to go back to the gym I feel like I would actually be looking forward to the crowd of wannabe workout enthusiasts who always appear right after New Year’s and fade away sometime between Valentine’s and St. Paddy’s Day. As we watch the …
7 Preposterous Fitness and Diet New Year’s Resolutions Read More »
1. A runner won’t admit that he locked his keys in the car. No, he decided to run the extra six miles home to get more distance and was just checking to see if his spare keys were still stored in the fake rock next to the back steps. 2. A runner denies that when …
1) You ask the race director if she can move the swim to last so you can cool off after the run. She declines citing “rules.” 2) On the swim you collide with a buoy, overturn a kayak, and startle a mallard. 3) You use a helium balloon to find your bike in transition …
The year, 2020, was characterized by manic baking, improvised home fitness workouts, and baffling but rather specific hoarding. According to Reddit’s 2020 Year in Review, the sourdough subreddit showed a 378% increase in activity. The home fitness subreddit had a 612% increase in activity. I have this vision of men and women across the globe …
20 Observations about How Badly 2020 Sucked for Endurance Athletes Read More »
