An Ode to Hills
Odds are you’ve heard of Sisyphus, the mythological Greek figure who was sentenced by the god Zeus to push a massive boulder up a hill, time and time again, only for it to roll back down to the bottom whenever it neared the top. Now, from what I’ve read, Zeus was a crankpot who loved to sentence people to torturous fates for all eternity if
Managing Aid Stations with Food Adversions
Racing season is here, and for many of us, that means we have at least one ultramarathon or trail race on the schedule, most of which will include visits to aid stations along the way. This can mean making tough decisions about nutrition, balancing how much you carry in with what you can find at aid stations, while minimizing your risk of exposure. For runners
To Hell and Back
“Hey man, if the race is that important to you, then go for it. It’s your call.” He delivered the response with expert-level diplomacy, honed over years of treating patients with the same fanatical glow in their eyes as that which possessed mine. I was asking for my PT’s blessing to race the upcoming St. Luke’s Half Marathon in Allentown, PA. And while he might as
The Joy Of Running Ultramarathons
Kuwanna running the English Ridge Rumble Recently, I was reminded of my joy for running ultramarathons.For me, it is a joy of simply moving through these spaces, a joy independent of time, pace, place,and performance.It is a joy of camaraderie, of gratitude for simply being able to toe the line, for connecting withothers, a joy of simply being.Sure, with each race comes the opportunity to run
When The Mountain Wins
I heard a quote recently that stuck to my brain like a prickly burr to blue jeans. It’s originally attributed to Lao Tzu, the ancient Chinese philosopher: “those who flow as life flows know they need no other force.” On its face that may seem ridiculous, even unattainable, not to mention more than a little cryptic (seriously, did these guys ever just say stuff like
Imposter Syndrome
We evolved in the outdoors.In fact, we evolved in the back country.There were few trails, likely no trails, when hominids first walked out of Africa to settle Europeand Asia around 2 million years ago.We ran to hunt. We ran to escape.Our children ran to play. They still do.As climate cooled for a time, forests gave way to open grasslands, and our ancestors evolvedfrom tree dwellers
Introducing: Thinking On Your Feet
Pssst, let me tell you a secret. Just by reading this sentence, you’re now part of an exclusive group of runners, one whose number is likely tallied under the total number of Western States 100 winners. You’re one of the lucky few who have stumbled across my first-ever monthly column for the Trails Collective, and I couldn’t be happier that you did! I’m Vincent Behe (that’s
Introducing: Running Back To Basics
My name is Kuwanna Dyer-Pietras and I am a trail and ultrarunner. I first started running competitively during my sophomore year in high school when I joined the cross country team. In my senior year, I also competed in track, including the 200 m, 400 m, and the pole vault. After high school, I continued running through my twenties and my thirties. In recent years, I
