Run Woodstock Recap: The Good, the Bad, and the OFI

I'VE HEARD THAT FOLLOWING AN ULTRAMARATHON, a runner can experience a letdown. No such problem here. I'm enjoying the recovery period after a summer of long mileage and many hours of training. And this was not a "once per lifetime" event for me, as another 50-mile finisher told me it was for him. Assuming I …

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Run Woodstock: The Big Five-O! (Miles)

I CROSSED THE FINISH LINE AT RUN WOODSTOCK around 4:30 p.m. Saturday (thrilling photo on order). After ten and a half hours on the trails I was tired, sore, and thoroughly sick of looking at trees and dirt. But when I emerged from the woods the campers lining the road cheered me on, and a …

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Getting Loaded

REASONS TO LOVE ULTRAMARATHONS #74: It's actually a good thing to GAIN a little weight before the race. Last time I wrote about how my plan for Saturday's 50-mile race is different from running shorter races (up to and including standard marathons). But what about the week before - the final taper, rest, and fueling …

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Countdown to Woodstock: 50 Miles, Ready or Not

ONE WEEK TO RUN WOODSTOCK and my first 50-mile ultramarathon. This weekend is my final long-mileage prep. Saturday was a 59-mile bike ride at an easy pace, and Sunday will be one more long-ish run of 13 to 15 miles. Then it's a few days of rest and carbo-loading with just a couple of short, …

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