First your stomach goes. Then your energy plummets. Maybe you started the event as a “race favorite” and you even allowed yourself to envision winning the thing. Now, you are 85 miles in and 9.5 hours behind the leaders.

No one would have criticized Mike McKnight for dropping out of the Cocodona 250, and he seriously considered it.

Instead, he took a nap, watched a good movie, drank some milk, and staged a comeback for the ages, charging through the field to win the 2023 Cocodona in 69 hours and 41 minutes. Drew Dawson has the story.

For over a decade, Tailwind Nutrition has been crafting the leading fuel for ultrarunners. So what makes a simple and complete fuel source?

1. All-in-One Fuel: Say goodbye to juggling multiple nutrition sources on your run. Tailwind Endurance Fuel, is a complete source of calories, electrolytes, and hydration. It’s carefully crafted to provide sustained energy without the need for additional gels, bars, or drinks. With Tailwind, you can focus on your performance, knowing that your body is optimally fueled.

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? Paradise Paradox: For many, moving out west to a mountain town was a dream come true. But that picture-perfect rural locale won’t solve your problems and for some it’s caused what mental health experts are calling the “Paradise Paradox.”

? Who to Trust? Gear Junkie reports on how fake reviews are taking over the internet and whether AI is the answer.

? Blame Evolution: “Our basic biology can steer us toward bad habits and compulsive behavior,” writes Brad Stulberg. We are suckers for easy, less nutritious foods just as we are for superficial distraction and stimulation over deep-focus work and connection. “Overcoming these pitfalls requires effort and discipline,” but it is possible to be healthy in a dopamine-seeking culture.

⬆️ Freddie Mercury, anticipating the rise of ultrarunning, laid down this ballad for when your partner says, “Let’s talk before you sign up for another race.” ⬆️

?? Erica Goes for It! Sarah Lavender Smith profiles an Amazon manager’s journey to ultrarunning. “I had fun getting fat, now I’m having fun getting fit,” says Erica Moore. “I don’t have a sad story. I got fat the old-fashioned way. I drank too much, I ate too much, and I didn’t do any physical exercise. Now I’m finding joy in movement.”

? Celebrate the lives of Rick and Dick Hoyt who helped us all reframe what is possible. Icons of the road racing scene, the duo ran their first Boston Marathon in 1980 and completed 32 all told. 

? lulu LongRun! When a large non-endemic company puts their hard earned marketing dollars into our sport, we pay attention. Canadian apparel brand lululemon has announced an all-star cast of 10 trailblazing women who will attempt world and personal records at their FURTHER event on International Women’s Day 2024. We’ll let The Mirnavator explain further.

? Tweet of the Week: “Mom insists I can’t wear my Garmin during the wedding despite it being white.” ~ @karisjochen

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