“Pure stoke” said Josh of last weekend’s Dipsea Race (?: 1, 3). Ann (?: 2) seemed to agree with her 10th 100mile finish and a new PR at Kettle Morraine 100. Get even more weekend racing updates with iRunFar’s complete coverage. 

Want more racing? Check out these upcoming events still open for registration:

• Moosalamoo Ultra, July 30 (VT)
• Midnight Squatchapalooza, June 26 (NJ)
• Dark and Dirty Miles, July 9 (OK)
• Enchanted Forest Trail Races, July 30, (NM)

How has trail running changed since you got started? The shift from minimalist threads to full-cush gear was a popular reply. See more community comments and add to the conversation here.  
 

I fall down a lot more than I used to. ?
– Seth Hennessey

Fewer handhelds. More vests and poles.
– Hank Dart

I miss the days when the starting line used to be two sticks on opposite sides of the trail and a foot drawn line.???
– Darin Lewandowski

All the runners got younger! ?
 – Allan Schoenberg

Middle of the pack has become a LOT faster. ??
– Garrick

Shoes and equipment! I started in 2010 at a race that had Anton, Jurek, and Tim Olsen… No one had thick-soled Hokas. I don’t think anyone had vests. Barefoot Ted was there wearing sandals; minimalism was still big.
– JustSomeRunningGuy

The hard truth is that I still deeply want both – to explore my next threshold and to be with my son.  – Peter Bromka

How do you balance being a devoted parent and a driven endurance athlete? This is the essential question that most running moms and dads encounter at least once in their journey.

This week, in honor of Father’s Day, elite marathoner Peter Bromka writes about his own struggle with this tension and beautifully addresses our need to pursue adventure and challenge while still being present for our children.

LEKI poles are designed not only to enhance trail running performance by maximizing propulsion, but to provide improved stability (four points of contact instead of two) and reduce impact to the joints. All of which helps athletes arrive at their destination faster and fresher. Our new Trail Shark grip is the first ever grip system designed 100% for trail runners.

The benefits are real, but so is the cost and we understand that. We have designed poles that you only need to replace once a decade instead of once a season like shoes. 

We are proud to have been making poles since 1948 and be the world’s premier manufacturer of ski, trekking, and trail running poles. Learn more about why the pros love LEKI poles on the Trail Runner Nation podcast. Listen here.

? Body Doesn’t Lie: What happens when we run 100 miles in a day? Spoiler: it’s not pretty. This Professor of Physiology outlines the intense bodily breakdown but concludes that, at least for him, the personal accomplishment is worth the physical adversity.

? Head Games: Second guessing, giving up too soon, having a pity party – Ian Torrence addresses these common ultra “head games” and why mental conditioning should be a critical element of your training block.

? Going Up: When to employ shorter steps, when to use a longer stride on the ups? Kilian Jornet, Emelie Forsberg, Dylan Bowman, and more top athletes offer advice on optimal uphill technique in this resource-packed article.

??‍? Adapt: What does trail running in a wheelchair feel like? It’s full of community, inspiration, and big doses of heart at the first ever Born To Adapt trail race put on by Zachary Friedley and Luis Escobar of AllWeDoIsRun and showcased in this uplifting video. 

? Horse Race: Can a human run faster than a horse? Yes, but not often and maybe only in quirky, rural Wales. Congrats to Ricky Lightfoot on becoming only the 3rd runner in 42 years to run 22.5 miles faster than a horse. 

• Q: What do sprinters eat before a race? A: Nothing, they fast.
• Q: How do crazy runners go through the forest? A: They take the psycho path.
• Q: Why can’t you take a nap during a race? A: Because if you snooze, you lose.
• Q: Why do dogs run in circles? A: Because its hard to run in squares.