Relentless Forward Progress_ A Guide to Running Ultramarathons - Bryon Powell [1]
Get Me Outta Here: Navigation on the Trail 163
GPS Accuracy Tips 166
12 Racing Ultramarathons 167
Choosing Your First Ultra 167
Setting Goals and Expectations 168
Pre-Race Preparations 170
Travel Plans 170
Race Research and Planning 170
Sample: My To-Do List for the 2009 Leadville 100 172
Support Crews 173
Pacers 175
Drop Bags 176
In-Race Strategy 177
Go Out Slow 177
Maintain an Even Effort 178
Mental Approaches to Race Day 179
Race Day Problem Solving 180
Across the Highland Sky: A Story of In-Race Management, by Eric Grossman 182
Aid Station Strategy 185
Have Fun! 186
13 Environmental Conditions 187
The Heat Is On 187
Performance and Acclimation 187
Heat Performance and Acclimation, by William Henderson, MD 189
Tips for Beating the Heat 193
Hot-Weather Ultra Tips, by Jamie Donaldson 194
Heat Cramps, Heat Exhaustion, and Heatstroke 195
Avoid Being Low at High Altitude 196
The Effects of Altitude 197
Arriving and Acclimating at Altitude 198
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema and High Altitude Cerebral Edema 200
Chill Out with Cold-Weather Running 201
Clothing 202
Hydration, Fueling, and Other Tasks 203
Traction 204
Learning to Run in Cold Weather 204
Hypothermia, Frostnip, and Frostbite 204
14 The Ultrarunning Community 207
Join the Ranks 207
Call for Feedback 209
Ultrarunning and the Internet 210
Ultrarunning as a Family Affair 211
Conclusion 212
Afterword: The Sky Is No Limit by Meghan M. Hicks 213
Get Yer Adventure On 214
By Snowshoes We Endure 215
Fastpack It 217
Stage Races and the Art of Attrition 218
Dream It, Do It 220
Appendix: Barefoot Running and Ultramarathons, by Michael Sandler and Jessica Lee 221
How Does Barefoot Running Help? 222
Baby-Step Your Way into Running Light and Free 223
Barefoot Benefits 226
About the Author 230
Dedication
To all those who believed in me and gave me a second chance,
thanks for letting me make Relentless Forward Progress.
Acknowledgments
I could not have written this book without the support of Meghan M. Hicks. She has been my counselor, sounding board, cheerleader, and more throughout the year and a half between this book’s conception and completion. Meghan tirelessly edited each chapter (often more than once) and provided more substantive feedback than everyone else combined. I look forward to someday having the chance to edit her first book.
It’s a testament to publisher Garth Battista’s vision that he stuck with the idea of an ultramarathon guidebook for four years. Thanks, too, Garth, for having the faith to go with a first-time author and the patience to answer my many rookie questions. Like Garth, editor Neal Jamison was on this project from start to finish. It would not have happened without him. Eric Grossman contributed a wonderful foreword as only he could. Just as important, he’s the one who brought me into the project over a casual meal during the Outdoor Retailer show two summers back. Both Neal and Eric were invaluable in guiding the book’s early evolution and for providing sage advice once things got rolling.
A book is only as good as those who write it, which makes it fortunate for both you and I that so many outstanding individuals were willing to contribute their knowledge to this book. Among the experts and elites to whom I’m extremely grateful are: Adam Chase, Jamie Donaldson, William Henderson, David Horton, Dakota Jones, Karl King, Dave Mackey, Scotty Mills, Krissy Moehl, Geoff Roes, Michael Sandler, Ian Torrence, John Vonhof, and Michael Wardian. As a picture is worth a thousand words, a special thanks to PatitucciPhoto, Stephan “Gripmaster” Repke, and Glenn Tachiyama, as well as everyone who submitted a photo for consideration.
While they did so at a distance, my parents, George and Barbara Powell, and sister, Gretchen Kish, have never ceased to support me. They’ve been my crew for most of my 100 milers as well as for this book. I’d still be sleeping without their wake up phone calls from the East Coast to get me writing.
There are two large groups without whom