Category: Trail Running
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The Bad Thing 50K – Race Recap – Racing Smarter, Not Harder
I almost quit running altogether. From 2009 to 2018, I did well in school. But I struggled to be smart when it came to running. After hitting the final straw with a torn hamstring in 2018, I took four years to fall back in love with the sport. Normally love like this would be doomed…
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Falling Water Trail Marathon – Race Recap – “Rocks!”
It’s the first year of trail for the both of us, we’re both mid-twenties, and we’re both podium finishers at two of Ontario’s craziest trail races now. I think Dylan will be a great training partner to have in the coming months, and I’m so pumped now for The Bad Thing in October, knowing that…
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Visualization and race-specific training
I’ve always had a wild imagination. Growing up, I’d play hockey and soccer in my basement for hours on end. Every single time, I’d visualize being the best in the world. I’d break all the records, score the wildest of goals, and mesmerize the commentators every time. When I quit hockey at age 12 and…
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The art of downhill running
Much of the advice comes down to training with someone else that is good and watching their lines of travel, doing downhill intervals, or the very true facet of confidence. But you rarely here an elite runner discuss what they do from a technical perspective to run better at downhills. I discuss how to get…
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The power of reframing negative thoughts
As the self-conscious individuals that we are, it’s impossible to go an entire day with zero negative thoughts entering the mind. Despite the difficulty of that task, I used to subscribe to a ‘no-negativity’ mindset. It’s incredibly important to always think on the bright side and come up with the positives in any situation, but…
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How to run faster downhill
From high school running experiences, I’ve long known the secrets to not only successful uphill running, but successful downhill running from watching my friend. The secret sauce is this: lose control. Like Eminem, you just have to lose yourself in the movement. Ben would stop at the end of the downhills and wait for the…
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Bandera, Black Canyon, and the future of ultra-trail running
Golden Ticket races have kicked off with a bang this year, with both Black Canyon and Bandera reaching the two largest audiences Aravaipa Running has ever produced. As far as live streaming of running goes, both events also hit some serious highs (even despite some patchy footage at Bandera), with much in the way of…
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How to run on icy terrain
running on ice and snow can be worthwhile if taken with caution. For one, it’s more of a strength-based exercise. For another, you can often get some technical terrain training prep in large forests at times when no one else will be out on the trails! Here is how to run on ice safely -…
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What you need to bring when travelling for a training run
Travelling to new and exciting places is one of the best ways to keep the act of running fresh and fun. But without the right gear and preparation, your training run can suddenly turn into a nightmare. With that, here is everything you need to bring when travelling to a new place for a run.
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What I’d want in an ultramarathon crew
As I’ve battled with injury the past few weeks, I’ve familiarized myself with several ultramarathon running documentaries. One thing that’s stood out to me across the board is watching how different runners approach the parts of the race in which they are no longer running, when the focus turns instead to those around them. This…
Rhys Desmond 