Tag: Trail Running
-
Being the best is overrated
Let me tell you a secret. I’ve worked with professional athletes across a few different sports now. There’s something that they all share in common. They all think they’re not good enough. Guess what? Being the best is overrated.
-
Why perceived skill on uphills & downhills is all in your head
You are probably capable of being amazing at both uphills and downhills, and it’s probably your confidence holding you back more than anything. The binary that exists in the sport to create storylines is so fun, but less true than it’s made out to be. Most professional trail runners are professional trail runners for a…
-
Hidden Gem #3 – UTMB Indexes are so freaking weird
Out of all the ranking and scoring systems in our sport, UTMB’s somehow happens to be the best. I say somehow, as there is so much that still doesn’t make sense about it. Not to mention the fact that UTMB is fraught with controversy. But for all intents and purposes, it’s the best. What a…
-
How I dress to impress myself & the coyotes on the trails
Running in something snazzy and looking fly, will help you legitimately fly. These days, there are so many accessories that trail runners can customize to handle long days on the trails, and look good in the process. After all, fashion is one of the three most important things when it comes to trail running. Here…
-
How I trained for Squamish & Quebec Mega Trail without any mountains
Two weeks ago, I finished as the top Ontario athlete at the Canadian National Championships – Squamish 50K, behind a host of names from Quebec, BC and Alberta. Of the top twenty-one finishers, Steph and I are the only Ontario outliers. One of the reasons why it’s such a rarity to see any athletes outside…
-
Lessons from the 2024 Squamish 50K
According to Strava, I’ve never raced harder. Racing toward a near top-ten finish at a National Championship through injury, I shouldn’t be surprised. But with so many positives to take away from the race, I wanted to detail a dossier of what worked and what didn’t. It’s a library of information for myself, that hopefully…
-
How to win The Bad Thing 50K
A year ago, in the midst of my Zombie mode recovery from Falling Water, I started training for my final trail race of the year – The Bad Thing 50K. The race fascinated me in so many ways, and entered the frame as the first ultra to catch my eye when starting my journey into…
-
Squamish 50K Recap – Front row seat
For the past two weeks, I had two main concerns: Not starting. Not finishing. I just did both. & had the most fun I’ve ever managed to do when racing on the trails. Here is my recap of the Squamish 50K – including my front row seat to the battle for first in the women’s…
-
Tips for running on technical terrain
Technical trail running is my favourite style of all. I’ve thrown myself into the wolves with some of the most technical races I can find, and the bulk of my training is spent on some of the most technical trails around. I hope that these tips can help you to become a confident technical trail…
-
The art of patience in trail and ultra running
It comes from knowing your body. Knowing your strengths. Playing to those strengths at exactly the right moment. It comes from remaining silent when others have chosen to be loud. It comes from hot-doggin’ it when you feel good in the early miles, so that you can fire up the grill later on. In trail…
Rhys Desmond 