Read before You Ultra
@readbeforeultra.bsky.social
Sharing fun-sized quotes about running crazy-sized distances. Subscribe to my regular-sized newsletter!
✍️ → readbeforeultra.substack.com
💙 → buymeacoffee.com/ReadbeforeUltra
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
✍️ → readbeforeultra.substack.com
💙 → buymeacoffee.com/ReadbeforeUltra
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
Pinned
Inspired by Ultrarunning × Occasional × Free
A short introduction to 100 lessons
open.substack.com
👋
I’m here to share useful, insightful, or simply relatable writing about (ultra)running.
My other goal is to tempt you to check out my newsletter. It’s about #running, in a way; in a different way, it’s about anything that’s a part of running but isn’t running.
open.substack.com/pub/readbefo...
I’m here to share useful, insightful, or simply relatable writing about (ultra)running.
My other goal is to tempt you to check out my newsletter. It’s about #running, in a way; in a different way, it’s about anything that’s a part of running but isn’t running.
open.substack.com/pub/readbefo...
The article doesn’t say much about descending, so I’ll just add: If your race has it, for God’s sake, train for it.
❝The fitter you are, the better your body can cope with the demands of the race. Period.
—Anne Tisdell
trainright.com/how-to-train...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝The fitter you are, the better your body can cope with the demands of the race. Period.
—Anne Tisdell
trainright.com/how-to-train...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
How to Train for a 200-Mile Ultramarathon - CTS
200-mile ultramarathons are getting more popular. Coach Anne Tisdell, podium finisher at the Moab 240, provides training advice for 200s.
trainright.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:42 PM
The article doesn’t say much about descending, so I’ll just add: If your race has it, for God’s sake, train for it.
❝The fitter you are, the better your body can cope with the demands of the race. Period.
—Anne Tisdell
trainright.com/how-to-train...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝The fitter you are, the better your body can cope with the demands of the race. Period.
—Anne Tisdell
trainright.com/how-to-train...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝Yesterday we chased buffalo, today we chase circles.
But why do we entertain such rituals? Why are they so cherished? Because rituals resist an inherent feature of time: its nature to smooth.
—Jacob Grant
open.substack.com/pub/jacobgra...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
But why do we entertain such rituals? Why are they so cherished? Because rituals resist an inherent feature of time: its nature to smooth.
—Jacob Grant
open.substack.com/pub/jacobgra...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
The Complexity of Simplicity
And how running helps me lift the veil
open.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:22 PM
❝Yesterday we chased buffalo, today we chase circles.
But why do we entertain such rituals? Why are they so cherished? Because rituals resist an inherent feature of time: its nature to smooth.
—Jacob Grant
open.substack.com/pub/jacobgra...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
But why do we entertain such rituals? Why are they so cherished? Because rituals resist an inherent feature of time: its nature to smooth.
—Jacob Grant
open.substack.com/pub/jacobgra...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
1/2 When I hear “oral hygiene and endurance sports,” I automatically think “sugar, cavities.” This article goes deeper. Like root-canal deep. Sorry.
November 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
1/2 When I hear “oral hygiene and endurance sports,” I automatically think “sugar, cavities.” This article goes deeper. Like root-canal deep. Sorry.
Last week, I wrote about baby cows. Okay no, I wrote about running and being a runner, but look how cute baby cows are.
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝Stripped of the meaning the runner attaches to it, running is purely instrumental. A sum of parts. A thing we do. There is so much more to being a runner than that thing we do.
open.substack.com/pub/readbefo...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning #writing
open.substack.com/pub/readbefo...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning #writing
He Runs, She’s a Runner
In this pursuit, as in many others, doing and being are qualitatively different. And for the doing to evolve into being, it matters greatly *how* the doing is done.
open.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Last week, I wrote about baby cows. Okay no, I wrote about running and being a runner, but look how cute baby cows are.
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
It’s been a while since I sat down to write. And when I did, it was about what it means to be a runner.
❝Stripped of the meaning the runner attaches to it, running is purely instrumental. A sum of parts. A thing we do. There is so much more to being a runner than that thing we do.
open.substack.com/pub/readbefo...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning #writing
open.substack.com/pub/readbefo...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning #writing
He Runs, She’s a Runner
In this pursuit, as in many others, doing and being are qualitatively different. And for the doing to evolve into being, it matters greatly *how* the doing is done.
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:11 PM
It’s been a while since I sat down to write. And when I did, it was about what it means to be a runner.
❝Stripped of the meaning the runner attaches to it, running is purely instrumental. A sum of parts. A thing we do. There is so much more to being a runner than that thing we do.
open.substack.com/pub/readbefo...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning #writing
open.substack.com/pub/readbefo...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning #writing
He Runs, She’s a Runner
In this pursuit, as in many others, doing and being are qualitatively different. And for the doing to evolve into being, it matters greatly *how* the doing is done.
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:11 PM
❝Stripped of the meaning the runner attaches to it, running is purely instrumental. A sum of parts. A thing we do. There is so much more to being a runner than that thing we do.
open.substack.com/pub/readbefo...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning #writing
open.substack.com/pub/readbefo...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning #writing
❝It’s easy to think of running as a beaded necklace; as a series of beautiful treasures, hard-earned through effort and attention, but what if running is actually the thread?
—Peter Bromka
open.substack.com/pub/bromka/p...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Peter Bromka
open.substack.com/pub/bromka/p...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
The Running Ground
A memoir by Nick Thompson, out today.
open.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
❝It’s easy to think of running as a beaded necklace; as a series of beautiful treasures, hard-earned through effort and attention, but what if running is actually the thread?
—Peter Bromka
open.substack.com/pub/bromka/p...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Peter Bromka
open.substack.com/pub/bromka/p...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝when that last athlete,
completes that last yard,
alone
it will be the cumulation of the efforts of everyone.
—Laz Lake/Jonathan Turner
run247.com/running-news...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
completes that last yard,
alone
it will be the cumulation of the efforts of everyone.
—Laz Lake/Jonathan Turner
run247.com/running-news...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
Aussie rules as Phil Gore wins Laz Lake's Backyard Ultra World Championship
'The race with no finish' is over and it saw the current world record holder win the World Championship for the first time.
run247.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:16 PM
❝when that last athlete,
completes that last yard,
alone
it will be the cumulation of the efforts of everyone.
—Laz Lake/Jonathan Turner
run247.com/running-news...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
completes that last yard,
alone
it will be the cumulation of the efforts of everyone.
—Laz Lake/Jonathan Turner
run247.com/running-news...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
1/2 A comprehensive, richly sourced analysis of the limiting factors in #ultramarathon performance:
October 25, 2025 at 8:07 PM
1/2 A comprehensive, richly sourced analysis of the limiting factors in #ultramarathon performance:
❝[T]he one who slows down less in the final third of a race almost always comes out on top. That resistance to decline, or durability, is what muscular endurance ultimately buys you.
—Cliff Pittman
ultrarunning.com/featured/mus...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Cliff Pittman
ultrarunning.com/featured/mus...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
Muscular Endurance Revisited: What Actually Works - Ultra Running Magazine
Muscular endurance, what many in the endurance community now more accurately refer to as durability, is a cornerstone of ultrarunning performance. It reflects the ability to sustain movement, resist b...
ultrarunning.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:17 PM
❝[T]he one who slows down less in the final third of a race almost always comes out on top. That resistance to decline, or durability, is what muscular endurance ultimately buys you.
—Cliff Pittman
ultrarunning.com/featured/mus...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Cliff Pittman
ultrarunning.com/featured/mus...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
Very informative article with not a single gross foot picture.
❝[T]here is no single ‘best’ [shoe] drop for every athlete. What matters most is what the body is adapted to—and how any transition is managed.
—Dr. Jeff Hammond
uphillathlete.com/recovery/foo...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝[T]here is no single ‘best’ [shoe] drop for every athlete. What matters most is what the body is adapted to—and how any transition is managed.
—Dr. Jeff Hammond
uphillathlete.com/recovery/foo...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
Foot and Ankle Care for Endurance Athletes: Practical Guidance from the Ground Up
Discover practical foot and ankle care strategies tailored for endurance athletes—from biomechanics and injury prevention to recovery tactics and footwear insights—to support your training, performanc...
uphillathlete.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Very informative article with not a single gross foot picture.
❝[T]here is no single ‘best’ [shoe] drop for every athlete. What matters most is what the body is adapted to—and how any transition is managed.
—Dr. Jeff Hammond
uphillathlete.com/recovery/foo...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝[T]here is no single ‘best’ [shoe] drop for every athlete. What matters most is what the body is adapted to—and how any transition is managed.
—Dr. Jeff Hammond
uphillathlete.com/recovery/foo...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝We disagreed about things socially, theologically, and politically, and our conversations were constructive because we were friends, bonded by shared miles. Our common love of #running humanized these differences to me.
—Sabrina Little
www.irunfar.com/the-civic-va...
#trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Sabrina Little
www.irunfar.com/the-civic-va...
#trailrunning #ultrarunning
The Civic Value of Sports
Sabrina Little examines how we learn lessons in civility through our running.
www.irunfar.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:15 PM
❝We disagreed about things socially, theologically, and politically, and our conversations were constructive because we were friends, bonded by shared miles. Our common love of #running humanized these differences to me.
—Sabrina Little
www.irunfar.com/the-civic-va...
#trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Sabrina Little
www.irunfar.com/the-civic-va...
#trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝All it takes is one athlete who doesn’t worry in a situation where everyone else does to prove that a problem can be recognized and addressed without interference from negative emotions […].
—Matt Fitzgerald
open.substack.com/pub/enduranc...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Matt Fitzgerald
open.substack.com/pub/enduranc...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
“Should I Be Worried?”
The answer is always no. Here’s why.
open.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:29 PM
❝All it takes is one athlete who doesn’t worry in a situation where everyone else does to prove that a problem can be recognized and addressed without interference from negative emotions […].
—Matt Fitzgerald
open.substack.com/pub/enduranc...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Matt Fitzgerald
open.substack.com/pub/enduranc...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
Interesting.
1/2 ❝While ice baths or cold water immersion aren’t great additions to typical training because the cold can temper inflammation, blunting adaptations,
1/2 ❝While ice baths or cold water immersion aren’t great additions to typical training because the cold can temper inflammation, blunting adaptations,
October 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Interesting.
1/2 ❝While ice baths or cold water immersion aren’t great additions to typical training because the cold can temper inflammation, blunting adaptations,
1/2 ❝While ice baths or cold water immersion aren’t great additions to typical training because the cold can temper inflammation, blunting adaptations,
Or, just as good—prove ourselves *wrong*.
❝But what are we here for if not to step into the arena and give ourselves the chance to prove ourselves right? How else are we going to find out who we are?
—John Maynard
open.substack.com/pub/runandge...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝But what are we here for if not to step into the arena and give ourselves the chance to prove ourselves right? How else are we going to find out who we are?
—John Maynard
open.substack.com/pub/runandge...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
The Cuyamaca 100k: Underprepared but undeterred
The joy of running 61 miles on just 6 weeks of training. Seriously.
open.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Or, just as good—prove ourselves *wrong*.
❝But what are we here for if not to step into the arena and give ourselves the chance to prove ourselves right? How else are we going to find out who we are?
—John Maynard
open.substack.com/pub/runandge...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝But what are we here for if not to step into the arena and give ourselves the chance to prove ourselves right? How else are we going to find out who we are?
—John Maynard
open.substack.com/pub/runandge...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
1/2 ❝There will always be people faster than me in these races. There will always be longer distances that others have mastered. There will always be something else that someone else is doing.
October 15, 2025 at 8:59 PM
1/2 ❝There will always be people faster than me in these races. There will always be longer distances that others have mastered. There will always be something else that someone else is doing.
❝We like to think of progress as linear: faster, farther, stronger, better. But sometimes progress is quieter. Sometimes it’s what used to scare you that doesn’t anymore.
—Jenn Collins
open.substack.com/pub/onthetra...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Jenn Collins
open.substack.com/pub/onthetra...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
I kind of hate Strava.
When the competition is all in your head. And it won't leave.
open.substack.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:09 PM
❝We like to think of progress as linear: faster, farther, stronger, better. But sometimes progress is quieter. Sometimes it’s what used to scare you that doesn’t anymore.
—Jenn Collins
open.substack.com/pub/onthetra...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Jenn Collins
open.substack.com/pub/onthetra...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝Fear of losing fitness prevents a lot of athletes from taking a meaningful break from training. […] The reality is, a prolonged (3-4 weeks) period of rest and unstructured exercise can be very beneficial […].
—Ryne Anderson
trainright.com/better-ultra...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Ryne Anderson
trainright.com/better-ultra...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
7 Keys to Being A Stronger Ultrarunner Next Season - CTS
There is nothing more powerful in endurance sports than accumulated training time. You can be a better trail and ultra runner next season because the season
trainright.com
October 9, 2025 at 7:23 PM
❝Fear of losing fitness prevents a lot of athletes from taking a meaningful break from training. […] The reality is, a prolonged (3-4 weeks) period of rest and unstructured exercise can be very beneficial […].
—Ryne Anderson
trainright.com/better-ultra...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Ryne Anderson
trainright.com/better-ultra...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝Sure, I knew there’d be things out there that I couldn’t predict that would almost inevitably happen… but as my mantra (picked up from Stephanie Case) dictated, ‘what if it all goes right?’
—Rachel Entrekin
blondeidiotrunning.wordpress.com/2025/10/04/m...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Rachel Entrekin
blondeidiotrunning.wordpress.com/2025/10/04/m...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
Mammoth 200: Go Big or Go Extinct
I am exactly one week removed from the inaugural running of the Mammoth 200. What a ride that was. A race this long deserves a long blog post, so grab a cold one and let’s get started. GAME T…
blondeidiotrunning.wordpress.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM
❝Sure, I knew there’d be things out there that I couldn’t predict that would almost inevitably happen… but as my mantra (picked up from Stephanie Case) dictated, ‘what if it all goes right?’
—Rachel Entrekin
blondeidiotrunning.wordpress.com/2025/10/04/m...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Rachel Entrekin
blondeidiotrunning.wordpress.com/2025/10/04/m...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝To me it’s about curiosity. I’m just deeply curious to see what’s possible. Can I do The Thing? How can I do it? What will it feel like?
—Damian Hall
www.ultradamo.com/blog/25-solo
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Damian Hall
www.ultradamo.com/blog/25-solo
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
2.5 Solo: This Splendid Defeat — Damian Hall
When is a failure a success?
www.ultradamo.com
October 6, 2025 at 8:13 PM
❝To me it’s about curiosity. I’m just deeply curious to see what’s possible. Can I do The Thing? How can I do it? What will it feel like?
—Damian Hall
www.ultradamo.com/blog/25-solo
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Damian Hall
www.ultradamo.com/blog/25-solo
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝I have immense respect for the outdoors […].
And so I prepare.
I do research.
I listen to seasoned professionals and educate myself.
—Sally McRae
open.substack.com/pub/theyello...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
And so I prepare.
I do research.
I listen to seasoned professionals and educate myself.
—Sally McRae
open.substack.com/pub/theyello...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
Afraid of it all.
Since I started trailrunning (15 yrs ago) I’m routinely asked about fear.
open.substack.com
October 2, 2025 at 8:12 PM
❝I have immense respect for the outdoors […].
And so I prepare.
I do research.
I listen to seasoned professionals and educate myself.
—Sally McRae
open.substack.com/pub/theyello...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
And so I prepare.
I do research.
I listen to seasoned professionals and educate myself.
—Sally McRae
open.substack.com/pub/theyello...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝Know that running will evolve with you, throughout your life, and it doesn’t have to be static. […] It doesn’t always have to look the same. That in itself is really exciting.
—Mattie Webb/Alison Wade
open.substack.com/pub/fastwome...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Mattie Webb/Alison Wade
open.substack.com/pub/fastwome...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
Fast Women: The shifting identities of competitive runners
Katie Schide, Tove Alexandersson, and Nina Engelhard win world titles
open.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:33 PM
❝Know that running will evolve with you, throughout your life, and it doesn’t have to be static. […] It doesn’t always have to look the same. That in itself is really exciting.
—Mattie Webb/Alison Wade
open.substack.com/pub/fastwome...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
—Mattie Webb/Alison Wade
open.substack.com/pub/fastwome...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
Midpack FTW!
❝As the half-marathon club runners stretched their athletic legs, led by an elite Kenyan no less, we girded our middle-aged loins.
—Craig Lewis
open.substack.com/pub/runningt...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝As the half-marathon club runners stretched their athletic legs, led by an elite Kenyan no less, we girded our middle-aged loins.
—Craig Lewis
open.substack.com/pub/runningt...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
Is there such a thing as a ‘vulnerable’ race? And could an average runner win it?
Imagine if an everyday runner could actually win an event… this mid-packer set out in search of the seemingly impossible
open.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Midpack FTW!
❝As the half-marathon club runners stretched their athletic legs, led by an elite Kenyan no less, we girded our middle-aged loins.
—Craig Lewis
open.substack.com/pub/runningt...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝As the half-marathon club runners stretched their athletic legs, led by an elite Kenyan no less, we girded our middle-aged loins.
—Craig Lewis
open.substack.com/pub/runningt...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
A short and sweet guide to recovering better.
❝Recovery isn’t just about taking a day off. It’s about giving your body the resources it needs to repair, adapt, and come back stronger.
—Alyssa Leib
uphillathlete.com/nutrition/nu...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝Recovery isn’t just about taking a day off. It’s about giving your body the resources it needs to repair, adapt, and come back stronger.
—Alyssa Leib
uphillathlete.com/nutrition/nu...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
Nutrition Strategies to Aid Recovery for Mountain Athletes
Learn how proper nutrition supports recovery and performance for mountain and endurance athletes. Tips on carbs, protein, supplements, and sleep.
uphillathlete.com
September 17, 2025 at 7:01 PM
A short and sweet guide to recovering better.
❝Recovery isn’t just about taking a day off. It’s about giving your body the resources it needs to repair, adapt, and come back stronger.
—Alyssa Leib
uphillathlete.com/nutrition/nu...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning
❝Recovery isn’t just about taking a day off. It’s about giving your body the resources it needs to repair, adapt, and come back stronger.
—Alyssa Leib
uphillathlete.com/nutrition/nu...
#running #trailrunning #ultrarunning