As ultrarunners, we are used to planning months in advance. Training, travel and scheduling means penciling in blank spots on the calendar. It’s a process that builds strength, endurance and confidence – all of which are needed for running ultramarathons. Looking ahead also means getting excited about the future.
However, this issue is all about old school ultrarunning and remembering how the sport began. Whether you were running ultras before the early 2000s or just ran your first ultra this year, in this issue our columnists take you through a time warp back to the early days when hydration vests and GPS watches weren’t a thing. But it’s not just about technology – there simply wasn’t much hype around the sport, which meant the races were laid back and the vibes were mellow. Luckily, those old school, low-key vibes still exist today. Step away from the big events and you’ll find smaller races that have been around for years. Race day at these events usually offers a low-key atmosphere, homemade post-race food, local beer and a welcoming community of volunteers and runners, leaving the fanfare and race coverage on the sidelines.
As we look ahead to the upcoming year, take a second to remind yourself why ultrarunning is so important to your life.
Our final issue for 2024 includes columnist Ellie Greenwood’s thoughts on what racing was like back in 2010 – the year that Unbreakable was filmed at Western States following legendary ultrarunners Geoff Roes, Kilian Jornet, Hal Koerner and Anton Krupicka from start to finish. She talks about racing, nutrition, gear, shoes and more while reminiscing about a transition era in the sport on page 12.
Sean Meissner writes about the details that make old school races so unique and one of the best ways to experience running – from different formats to homemade finisher’s medals to cheap entry fees. With over 200 ultra finishes under his belt, Sean certainly knows a thing or two about racing. Read about his recent old-school race experiences on page 16.
Remember life before smartphones? Sarah Lavender Smith discusses the differences of running with phones vs. running without them on page 75. It’s technology that’s affected most areas of our lives, and we’ve seen the changes they’ve created in the sport of ultrarunning (good and bad). Sarah offers advice on the benefits of leaving our phones behind while training and racing.
Old school embraces simplicity, as it keeps stress levels low and anxiety about racing to a minimum, allowing us to embrace being part of a wonderful community. I often write about the ultrarunning community because that’s what holds our sport together. It’s easy to forget as we sit behind a screen and watch results come in from the frontrunners, but it’s why I’ll be heading down to my local turkey trot this holiday season and gathering with friends for winter fun runs on the trails—being part of this community is an honor I won’t take for granted.
As we look ahead to the upcoming year, take a second to remind yourself why ultrarunning is so important to your life. It’s the perfect time to invest in your ultrarunning community: connect with your fellow runners, volunteer at races, help make this incredible community stronger than ever and keep it old school.
Keep Moving,