Gloria Takagishi has a long list of running accomplishments — Boston Marathon, Western States, etc. — but will always remember and treasure her first ultra marathon, the American River 50 in California.
Now 70, Takagishi has started the race every single year. In fact, she finished AR50 each of the first 30 years of its existence.
On April 1 of this year, Takagishi will again line up at the starting line in Folsom for the race that is close to her heart. Continue Reading →
My headlamp light was a DNF casualty a mile into the race. Fortunately, my Run Lites gloves kept the trail illuminated for the next four hours, allowing me to finish.
By Henry Howard
In the days leading up to the Winter Night Trail Marathon outside Indianapolis, Indiana, the forecast consistently called for freezing rain and/or rain.
But about 24 hours before the race on Jan. 14, the forecast changed. No precipitation and temperatures around 30 for the race. I figured my luck was changing and felt good heading into the race.
When I picked up my bib an hour before the race, I saw that it was number 300 — a perfect score in bowling. Another good omen, I thought. That thought would disappear soon after the 6 p.m. race start. Continue Reading →
Our friends at Runnerclick have put together an neat infographic to help you find the best trail running shoes.
I admit I had no idea that “wearable computing may be coming to your running shoes soon” (under #4). Just one of the things I learned from this graphic.
Scroll down to see it . . . Continue Reading →
Question: How can flatlanders prepare to run a marathon at elevation? Maybe your next race will be a mountain trail run but you currently train at sea level or in a place with no hills. We find ourselves in this situation living in S.E. Missouri. There is hope.
Here’s a question we recently received about how to live low and train high. Continue Reading →
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The 27th annual running of the Shadow of the Giants 50k was held on June 11, 2016 in Fish Camp, California.
We ran through forests of Giant Sequoias -the trails were beautiful, the weather was “magic”, and the race director was colorful!
Here is my race recap . . . Continue Reading →
TJ Wilkinson ran both cross-country and track in junior high and high school. He readily admits that he was not very fast but enjoyed the sports for the camaraderie.
“I also didn’t try very hard, which is probably why I wasn’t fast,” he says. “When I say I ‘ran track,’ I really mean I was a high jumper, and I spent many practices laying on the high jump mat watching the girls run by. Needless to say, my running didn’t transition to college.”
Wilkinson never did improve his speed. His friends like to tease him about a local 5k he entered. “I was beaten by a guy wearing snorkel gear, including the flippers. Seriously.” Continue Reading →
After 42 marathons and ultras I’ve gotten to the point where finishing a marathon is not in doubt.
Dare I say that I’ve gotten a bit overconfident about marathons because they’ve become fairly easy for me if I’m not trying to set a PR.
The New South Trail Marathon was a good lesson in respecting the distance and the course for me. Continue Reading →
Jameelah Abdul-Rahim Mujaahid is motivated by family as she completes endurance events nearly every month.
By Henry Howard
Jameelah Abdul-Rahim Mujaahid admits to being “hyper all her life.” The only thing that helps her keep focused is training.
“I have been diagnosed with ADD but I refuse to take medication; I just keep talking to myself so I can remember most things.”
To say that she is an ultra runner is an understatement. Glancing through her completed races on the Ultrasignup website, one will find six-day events, 24-hour races, 100-mile races and more. Mujaahid runs practically an ultra a month. Every month.
Even more impressive is that she is a single mother of five children and works full time. Continue Reading →
Over the river and through the woods will take runners on a journey often more satisfying than a road run. Here’s what to know before you take to the trails.
By Henry Howard
If you are like me, you started out running on the roads or a treadmill. Your first race was probably a 5K on a paved road or maybe a paved trail in a community park.
Since those early days, I have gravitated toward running trails.
In fact, three of my nine long-distance races this year were trail runs — my first full marathon on a trail in Wisconsin, as well as two half marathons, one at night and one during the morning.
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I recently finished the North Face Endurance Challenge 50 Miler at Kettle Moraine State Park in Eagle, Wisconsin, my first 50 mile ultramarathon.
Getting ready for this race required modifying my training to ultra distance and adapting to trail running.
Beautiful scenery, hilly trails and scrumptious aid station food await those willing to try a challenging course in race distances from 50 miles to 5K.
By Henry Howard
My 10th marathon was the most challenging, hardest and slowest that I have finished so far. It was also one of the most rewarding.
The North Face Endurance Challenge Series hosted an event Oct. 3-4 in Kettle Moraine State Park in Wisconsin. (Other sites included Utah, Washington, D.C., New York, Ontario and the series finale in the Golden Gate area of California in December.) Continue Reading →
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North Face Endurance Series tests runners on tough terrain in picturesque settings. MTA members and blog readers can receive 15 percent off entries into any race distance by using the code below.
By Henry Howard
The North Face Endurance Challenge Series presents six challenging courses to runners of all experience levels. In fact, runners can do any regular race distance from a 5K to a 50-miler. Continue Reading →
