Trail Running
Archive
Some people might be built for speed and others for distance, but everyone benefits from running faster. This is how you do it.
You'll never get close to the ultrarunner's 90-plus podium finishes, but his rules will help you run your best race.
Los Alamos, New Mexico, wins Liveability's "Best Small Town" contest
Hardrock veteran Kirk Apt has logged 2,010 miles and 680,000 feet of vertical ascent through the San Juan Mountains since 2000. Here's how.
Top shoe brands are racing to enter the super-cushioned fray. We review 2014’s corpulent shoe crop.
You’re likely to face some hot races, or at least some hot training days, this summer. So I asked five elite ultramarathoners what gear they recommend to keep cool during the hottest months of the year. Below, I’ve listed five gear hacks, tips, and products these men use to battle…
Taking your kids to an ultramarathon can be a distraction from the aches and pains of running long distances
Traveling light and fast up and down mountains—that’s the concept behind skyrunning, a sport that now boasts 200 races and 30,000 participants annually. In fact, the 2014 Skyrunning World Championships took place over the weekend in Chamonix, France. The event continued the valley’s reputation as a trail running mecca where…
Challenge your abilities with these iconic runs through the wilds of America.
When you enter the Western States 100—a day-and-night endurance run in the Sierra Nevada—you can "mature a lot."
When Matthew Inman shared his running motivation with the Internet, the creator of popular webcomic The Oatmeal started a fitness sensation.
If you're in it for the long haul, you might as well haul it in.
Full disclosure: I secretly wanted to love Lululemon's men’s gear when the company sent me a box of clothes to test. I just wasn't prepared to admit it. The company has become synonymous with women's yoga gear. If you close your eyes and think Lululemon, I doubt any masculine visuals…
None of the products on this list are necessary for a good time. But hey, partying itself is about indulgence. And if you’re already indulging, why not enjoy it all the more with these six pieces of summer gear? Miir Growler ($60) Miir makes you…
‘Tis the season for car camping and barbequing, which means grilled burgers, sunny days, and (hopefully) cold beer. But to keep your beverage of choice chilled, you’ll need a cooler that can withstand the heat. We reviewed four mini coolers—each 10 liters or smaller and each packed with a six-pack—to…
A growing number of trail runners are finding a new way to test themselves—without race fees, bibs, or finish line chutes—in search of virgin trail and new course records.
For years, I used to test how far I could go on day trips without eating. I don’t know if it was some unexplainable machismo or just laziness, but that mindset changed about six months ago. I’d gone on a four-hour run with an empty stomach and no food in…
It’s tough to tell how trustworthy a piece of gear is going to be when you first buy it. In fact, the only way to actually test your equipment’s longevity is to, well, test it. Thoroughly. So instead of having you, dear reader, put your gear through the ringer in…
Forget about rubbing two sticks together. Without matches, your only hope of getting a fire started in the wild is to take advantage of other tools at your disposal. Mykel Hawke—a former U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret and founder of survival school Spec Ops—recommends two easy,…
Yes, I write about gear for a living, I have access to the most sophisticated toys and tools in the outdoor world, and I’m constantly geeking out over tech details. But I’m keenly aware of the fact that the gear does not make the athlete. I was a much better…
Obviously, training off-road is the best way to get yourself ready for a trail race. But if you’re limited to your urban surroundings, says Colorado-based running and wellness coach Elinor Fish, it’s not critical. First, consider the race course: “Will it be rocky, rooty,…
While most new mothers are simply struggling to keep their eyes open all day, Liza Howard, winner of the Umstead 100-mile race, and a select group of athletes come back stronger than ever.
Regimented work on the track might tune up your speed, but unleashing yourself on scenic trails will feed your soul. Here are four U.S. trail-running camps that turn grueling practice into a vacation. Runners at PRS Fit Camp. Since 2010, PRS FIT Over the Divide Trail Running…
Gearing up for spring ultras takes patience—and heart.
The newest recruit to Nike's Elite Trail Team talks about speed work, core strength, and why parenthood is not an excuse.
In his 100-mile debut, the Sausalito resident wins the Huntsville, Texas, ultramarathon in an impressive 13:17:42.
Lighter and sleeker than any other racing snowshoe on the market.
Next week at Outdoor Retailer, Black Diamond will unveil jackets with a revolutionary cord management system that shrinks, hides, and embeds the technology needed to tighten hoods and hems. It’s called Cohaesive, and I’m excited about it for a few reasons. Cohaesive simplifies cord…
Over the past few decades, humans have developed some pretty high-tech synthetic fabrics, including membranes with nine billion pores per square inch and bi-layer wicking polyester. But in spite of our best efforts, the most advanced technical fibers still come from Mother Nature. Take merino wool, which is hard…
This is always a tricky question. There’s plenty of room for debate when it comes to choosing the “right” ski length, and a useful answer should entail a lot of research. Take the rocker revolution, which had people arguing about how the effective edge—or the length of metal…
The 2014 Consumer Electronics Show, a tech orgy that draws hundreds of thousands of people every year, wrapped up Friday in Las Vegas. And as usual, there was some pretty weird technology on the floor. Sensoria Fitness Sock A tattoo that measures your pH. A glove…
Kicking off the New Year at a kid-friendly adventure resort.
Exercise caution when you look for an inexpensive mountaineering pack. Remember, a well-built pack is going to last a lot longer than a cheap one, and you want to make sure it won’t fail at a crucial moment. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t good options out there that cost…
Outside staff members are always busy testing gear—we reviewed more than 600 items for the summer and winter Buyer’s Guides alone. We can’t cover everything in the magazine, so we asked 11 Outsiders to name their favorite piece of gear from 2013. And because our staff ranges from elk hunters to ultramarathoners,…
I ran my first ultra, The North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Mile on December 7. Save two missing toenails and a pinky toe that looks like it belongs on a cadaver, I think I am far enough away from the pain to write about the gear that helped…
You'll never forget the suffering of your first ultra gone awry—until you do.
An endorsement—and a eulogy—for the Saucony Xodus 4.0.
A peeping stroll is not an acceptable last outdoor gasp before winter. Presenting the best active autumn escapes.
Finish one of these nine races, and everything afterward will seem like a neighborhood fun run.
I’m racing the Leadville Trail 100 this August. I live at sea level, so I’m thinking about renting an altitude tent to get ready. I’ve read mixed reviews so far about their effectiveness. Do altitude tents really work?
Inspired by an infamous assassin's escape from prison, the Barkley Marathons just might be the toughest race on the planet: a 100-mile-long, unsupported slog through the Tennessee backcountry that only 14 people have ever finished. Madison Kahn spoke to three of the event's regulars to get the story behind the Barkley.
From a ridge run through the Montana sky to a marathon in the heart of Africa, these ten races have one thing in common: They'll push your limits in some of the most spectacular terrain on earth.
You love to run. You hate to get hurt. Even if injuries are inevitable, there’s plenty you can do about them. Here’s your guide to fixing the most frequent problems.
Katie Arnold's meditation on training for a 50-mile race
Or will I be totally out of shape this spring?
Len Stanmore, 60, is currently in Antarctica, competing in one of the world's most grueling footraces. If he completes it, he'll not only be a one-time overweight retiree who got sick of the golf course, but also the first person to climb the Seven Summits, ski to both poles, and complete the 4 Deserts Grand Slam.
Both Yaktrax and MICROspikes tout themselves as superior traction devices that keep you upright on snow and ice. Which product should I buy for winter running?
While it may not appear that way, Noah Davis thinks that Manhattan and ultramarathons might just be made for each other
On July 4, 2012, runners gathered in Seward, Alaska, for a three-mile trail race up the mountain that looms 3,000 feet over Resurrection Bay. By the end of the day, two were in the hospital with serious injuries and one had vanished. What happened?
Noah Davis takes a look at Wade Barrett's transition from professional soccer player to semi-serious ultramarathoner
What does the popularity of a zombie-themed obstacle race say about American society?
Like many fanatical sports, ultrarunning comes with its own set of vocabulary. Though it's nothing compared to baseball, here are a few words and phrases from the ultrarunner's lexicon.
When it comes to the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, one of the world's most grueling footraces, they say you should always expect the unexpected. And, this year, that couldn't have been more true.
Meaghen Brown, on the ground in Chamonix, France, for one of the world's most grueling footraces, looks at some of this year's top contenders
Meaghen Brown is in France, reporting from one of the world's most grueling footraces
A collection of facts and figures about what is widely considered to be one of the toughest footraces in the world
In early August, a 34-year-old record-breaking endurance racer died on a six-mile solo run in the 120-degree heat of Death Valley, California. Now friends in the community are left wondering how such a formidable athlete succumbed to heatstroke on
Born with scoliosis and a left foot that toes out, the running legend focused on distance, where length could forgive injury, fatigue, bad form, and illness. In an ultra, the most important thing is your mind—and your willingness to push on.
On Tuesday March 27, ultrarunner Micah True set off on a 12-mile run in the Gila National Forest and didn't return. Days later, writer Christopher McDougall took off on a not-so-unfamiliar quest, joining a crew of ultrarunners to search for the ever-wandering man nicknamed Caballo Blanco.
What are the best trail running shoes for handling spring mud and rain?
Outside picks the essentials for March, including the Arc'teryx Motus Crew.
A collection of the web's best running blogs, from journalists, fans, and runners
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2012 Winter Buyer's Guide, including the Saucony PowerGrid Cortana running shoe.
Best Foot Forward: From marathon trainers to minimalist trail runners, we've got the right shoe for you, including the Brooks Cascadia 6 trail running shoe.
Best Foot Forward: From marathon trainers to minimalist trail runners, we've got the right shoe for you, including the Salomon XR Crossmax Neutral trail running shoe.
Best Foot Forward: From marathon trainers to minimalist trail runners, we've got the right shoe for you, including the Montrail Rogue Racer trail running shoe.
Design and Technology Special: The world's most streamlined and innovative new gear, gadgets, tools and toys, including Hoka One One's Mafate running shoe.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Adidas Adistar Raven running shoes.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Asics GT 2160 running shoes.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including The North Face Double Track running shoe.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Hi-Tec V-Lite Infiniti HPI running shoe.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the La Sportiva Quantum running shoe.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Montrail Fairhaven running shoe.
Outside reviews the best gear in the 2011 Summer Buyers Guide, including the Saucony Progrid Peregrine running shoe.