Photo Credit: Jesse Ellis / Photo Courtesy: Adam Ray from the Skyline 50K

It’s almost impossible to pinpoint when someone ran the first 50K. North Americans, including Indigenous groups, have been running long distances for hundreds of years. Pedestrianism, or competitive race-walking, predated ultrarunning in the 1870s and 1880s.

But when and how exactly did the 50K become the next big push beyond the marathon? We investigated this “gateway” distance and uncovered the story of ultrarunning in the United States.

Put shin splints, plantar fasciitis, calf strains, Achilles tightness, and knee pain in your past with the help of The World’s Only Kinesiology Sleeves!
                                  
Just pull them on and off you go! GO Sleeves® built-in kinesiology strips secure, correct, and support key ligaments, tendons, and muscles in and around your calf, Achilles, shin splints and knees, helping your body do what is designed to do — repair and recover from activity. Use them for training and post-workout to alleviate tightness, inflammation and fatigue. 
                    
Reap the benefits of kinesiology care prescribed by professional physical therapists and sports doctors without the time-consuming and expensive office visits. 

GO Sleeves are 
– Reusable
– Washable
– Latex-free

Use code ULTRASIGNUP30 to save $30 off your first pair of GO Sleeves and gain the recovery benefits used every day by Team USA, World Champion and Olympic runners Hillary Bor, Joseph Gray, Allie McLaughlin, Hillary Allen, Shadrack Kipchirchir and many others.

㊙️ Kilian’s Secrets: Is it true that he was born in an altitude tent in an alpine hut and was outpacing his mountain-guide father on 7-hour training sessions by the time he was 18 months old? You’ll have to read Athletics Weekly‘s take on what makes Kilian so dominant, to find out.

?‍? Ginger Gear of the Year: Every year, The Ginger Runner brings us his picks for the best gear that he’s personally tested over the past 365 days.

• Favorite watch: COROS APEX 2
• Favorite run nutrition: GU Energy’s Stroopwafel

? Mentor This: As trail running continues to professionalize, resources are cropping up to help aspiring pros navigate this evolving landscape. This week Andy Wacker announced The Trail Team, a new organization with the mandate to independently support and develop athletes into the best professional trail runners in the world through mentorship, skill development, and media exposure. Applications open Friday.

? The Most Nonchalant Save Ever Seen: A masterclass on the art of falling. ?

? Take a Stroll: Tifanne Thayme set a new Guinness World Record for the fastest marathon while pushing a double stroller. Along for the 3 hour, 20 minute ride were her three-year-old son and one-year-old daughter.

? Let’s Talk Environment: Kilian Jornet sits down with climber Alex Honnold to talk about being an athlete and a vocal advocate for climate action. Check out the Athlete Climate Academy, the Honnold Foundation, and read Alex’s book recommendations.

? Years in Review: Trail Runner magazine’s editors Nicholas Triolo and Zoë Rom list their favorite articles of 2022 and the team at iRunFar endeavors to look back at their annual highlights.

➡️ Lastly, here’s what we’re reading, watching, and listening to this week.