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Interview with the Indomitable Jenn Shelton

By on July 31, 2018 in Elite Runner, Interview, Podcasts, Ultramarathon


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Jenn Shelton is an American ultra marathoner and running nomad. She spends her winters ski mountaineering in the Italian Alps and her summers trail running on far-flung mountain ranges.

In 2007 she set the women’s U.S. 100-mile trail record at the Rocky Raccoon Ultramarathon. She has also won numerous trail and road races and has run a 2:45 marathon, which qualified her for the Olympic Marathon trials.

She is perhaps best known from Christopher McDougall’s best-selling book Born to Run in which she is one of the main characters. Get the book! Continue Reading →

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Interview with Scott Jurek

By on July 10, 2018 in Books, Interview, Podcasts, Trail Running, Ultramarathon

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In this episode we speak with Scott Jurek, legendary ultra runner who ran all 2,189 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 46 days!

In 2015 he set the record for the FKT (fasted known time) on the rugged Appalachian Trail averaging 50 miles per day. He tells his story in a new book which he co-authored with his wife Jenny called, North -Finding My Way on the Appalachian Trail. Continue Reading →

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Interview with Amelia Boone, The Barkley Marathons

By on April 12, 2018 in Elite Runner, Interview, Podcasts, Ultramarathon

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Amelia Boone is a world-class obstacle racer and full time corporate attorney. In March of this year she competed in the infamous Barkley Marathons -the race that eats its young. Since the race was started in 1986 only 15 people have successfully completed all 5 loops of the course. Continue Reading →

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How to Train for Your First 50-Mile Race

By on May 19, 2017 in Guest Perspective, Ultramarathon

Henry Howard, runnerBeyond the physical training, be sure to train your mind, lock in your nutrition and adhere to good recovery methods.

By Henry Howard

As the participation in marathon running continues to grow, the popularity of ultra marathons also is increasing.

Last year, I completed my first and second ultras, both 50Ks. As I planned out my race calendar for 2017, I set a goal to finish my first 50-miler and found the American River 50, a beautiful, well-organized race in California.

Registering for the 50-mile race on www.ultrasignup.com was the easy part. As I looked ahead to this challenge, Marathon Training Academy Coach Angie Spencer and I set out to craft a solid plan to get my body, mind, nutrition and recovery in prime shape. Continue Reading →

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Race Review: American River 50 Miler

By on April 23, 2017 in Guest Perspective, Review, Ultramarathon

I’ll never forget my first 50-miler, its amazing views, helpful aid station workers or the final 3-mile uphill slog.

By Henry Howard

The American River 50 proved itself to be an epic race, an ultra where mid-packers and back-of-the-packers can literally line up and run next to well-known ultra runners.

The AR50 was my first 50-miler and one I would recommend to others looking for their firsts finish at that distance. (The event also offers a 25-mile distance.) Continue Reading →

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Finding Jenn Shelton

By on March 16, 2017 in Elite Runner, Guest Perspective, Interview, Ultramarathon

photo credit: Jenn Shelton @sheltonjenn

She was the gifted, fearless wild child featured in “Born to Run.” Fourteen years later, Shelton still leads a “crazy life,” following her passion in pursuit of the next endurance challenge.

By Henry Howard


Jenn Shelton became well known for her appearance in Christopher McDougall’s best-selling book about ultra running, “Born to Run.”

In the years since the book was published, Shelton has matured but still embraces a Bohemian lifestyle as evidenced in the new documentary, “Outside Voices.” 


At the end of the documentary, Shelton is in her small van under a moonlight sky. She’s on her cell phone, learning Italian. It concludes, with her repeating a translation, “You do not know who I am.” Continue Reading →

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From Baseball to Ultra Running

By on February 23, 2017 in Guest Perspective, Interview, Ultramarathon

Former major leaguer Eric Byrnes was known for his hustle and speed. Now he has transformed himself into a passionate endurance athlete.

By Henry Howard

Baseball fans who saw Eric Byrnes play recognized his exuberance for the game — chasing after line drives in the outfield, sprinting around the bases and playing with an enthusiastic abandon for the game.

“Authentic is a word that I use a lot when I talk about Eric,” said Tarah Byrnes, describing her husband, now an analyst for Major League Baseball Network. “And it can be an overwhelming concept, if you think about who Eric is. His intensity as a baseball player, his intensity as an athlete, his intensity as a broadcaster — all of those things show it’s true, it’s authentic.”

His authenticity and athleticism are on full display in a 45-minute documentary, Diamond to the Rough, which chronicles his transition to ultra running and completion of the Western States 100. Continue Reading →

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American River 50 Combines Roads, Trail for Spectacular Ultra Race

By on February 7, 2017 in Guest Perspective, Trail Running, Ultramarathon


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 →

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Interview with Dean Karnazes, The Road to Sparta

By on December 2, 2016 in Interview, Podcasts, Ultramarathon

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Dean Karnazes is a New York Times Best Selling Author and was named by Time as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

His new book is called The Road to Sparta -Reliving The Ancient Battle And Epic Run That Inspired The World’s Greatest Footrace.

Here’s what I didn’t know before reading this book . . . Continue Reading →

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My Next Ultra Challenge — American River 50 Miler

By on November 30, 2016 in Guest Perspective, Ultramarathon
Photo credit: Keith Facchino

Photo credit: Keith Facchino

“If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.”

I have been thinking quite a bit about that quote, attributed to Fred Devito, as I plan my racing calendar for 2017. Sure, it’s a little early, but I want to continue to challenge myself and build on my first two ultras, the Buckeye Trail 50K and the North Face 50K in Wisconsin, which I finished in 2016.

Completing my first two ultras was a goal this year. For 2017, my major goal will be to finish my first 50-miler — the American River 50 in California. Continue Reading →

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An Inspired Ultra Challenge 

By on September 26, 2016 in Guest Perspective, PR, Success Story, Ultramarathon

img_4006My first two 50Ks, just 10 weeks apart, met a goal a year in the making and also paved the way for new challenges.

By Henry Howard

Last year, I had the opportunity to interview one of the most inspirational people I have ever met, Noah Galloway. 

Best known for his amazing performance on Dancing With the Stars, Galloway is a double amputee from injuries he suffered in the Iraq war. 

During our interview, Galloway told me “everyone should do something that scares them.” I decided to accept his challenge, upping my ultra ante — doing my first two 50Ks just 10 weeks apart.  Continue Reading →

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Ultrarunner Ian Sharman – What to Tell Yourself When the Going Gets Tough

By on September 17, 2016 in Interview, Podcasts, Ultramarathon

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In this episode we speak with Ian Sharman the winner of the 2016 Leadville Trail 100 Ultramarathon -a race he’s won three times.

In this interview you will hear Ian describe what it’s like to run 100 miles, tips on recovery and nutrition, and what to tell yourself when the going gets tough no matter what distance you are training for. Continue Reading →

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