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
Mason’s Breakneck Point Marathon Race Recap
To be honest Breakneck is a bit of a blur to me. Maybe it is because I was out there for so long that I can can't remember the entirety of it. Or maybe it is because my brain has decided to block out the trauma of the event. But here is what I do remember. The ram horn blew signifying the start of the race
Matt Lipsey is FIT: A Recap of April Victories
April was a great month for me (some might say it was because it started with my birthday, but I digress).I've found I have a great selection of climbs on single track, jeep roads, and pavement right out my front door. The Darlington Trail, the Appalachian Trail, a mountain bike single track system, and several extended gravel and paved roads are all accessible from the front
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
The Aid Station: Hydration and Endurance Performance
Hydration and Endurance Performance Author: Lauren Burdick Miles and Macros Hydration plays an important role in your body’s functions – during exercise and day-to-day. Water is needed to maintain adequate blood pressure and it delivers blood to the brain, liver, and kidneys. If fluids are restricted your exercise performance can be negatively affected. During exercise fluid demands are higher so that oxygen and blood flow can be delivered to
HollyAnn’s Gorge 100k Race Recap
Pre-race thoughts: Nearly a year and a half that I’ve been apart of the sport of trail running. This sport is raw, gritty, relentless but immensely rewarding. Running has always been an integral part of my life but nothing yet has touched the joy that I feel as I venture off the asphalt and sidewalks. The quiet of the woods, the burn of a climb, the
Your Trail: The Enchanted Mountains of Ellicottville, NY
Vishal Gupta on the 171 mile Conservation Trail in Allegany State Park - Photo Credit Mark Valites from @Buffalotrailandultrarunners Tucked into the far southwestern corner of New York State on the border of Pennsylvania lie the Enchanted Mountains of Cattaraugus County and the trail town of Ellicottville, NY. With a permanent population of less than 300 people, there are two ski resorts, miles of cross-country ski and
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
Caleb Bowen’s March Training Recap
March is always one of my favorite months of the year. I love it for a multitude of reasons. First, you get all sorts of fun weather. It could be snowing one day and then 70 degrees the next. It’s wild and I love it. Secondly, the first part of March is a break between the Indoor track and field season and the outdoor season
