West Coasters Excel at USA Mountain Running Championships in New England

JUNE 28, 2009, NORTH CONWAY, NEW HAMPSHIRE– On a humid, overcast morning in the New England hamlet of North Conway, New Hampsire, Washingtonian Joseph Gray, 24, Lakewood, and Californian Christine Lundy, 38, Sausalito outpaced one of the deepest U.S. mountain running fields in recent memory to become the 2009 USA Mountain Running Champions today. The pair also led team USA to gold medal podium spots in the men’s and women’s division of the North American Central American Caribbean Mountain Running Championships.

The race featured two 5.5 kilometer loops and 2400 feet of vertical gain which included a mixture of steep climbing, single track terrain, super fast descents, and flat sections across open meadows. Spectators at the base of the mountain could watch the runners as they climbed in the distance and then cheered runners on as they passed the start/finish area for the second and final loop. Read more » »

Review - Zensah Compression Socks

Hi! Will Thomas here with another trailrunningSoul.com product review. This time it’s all about compression socks. For the past year or two it seems that compression apparel has been all the rage in endurance sports, so when I got the opportunity to test drive a pair of Pro Grade Compression Socks by Zensah I couldn’t resist. I wanted to see what all the hoopla was regarding compression apparel technology.

Now mind you, if it hadn’t been for seeing some of my favorite trail running athletes coming across the finish line in 1st or 2nd place and then hearing them give credit of their great performance to their new compression apparel, especially their knee high socks that looked really out of place lined up next to everyone else in their little ankle socks, then I myself would have a hard time being caught in public with a pair of these socks on.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about trying new things. I just had this idea in my mind that compression socks were for people like my Grandma to wear while recovering from her latest surgery; something about doctor’s order to keep blood clots at bay.

Giving in to the curiosity and hype surrounding compression socks, I went against my better judgment and ordered a pair. I made sure to order the color “sand” instead of white or black, hoping that they would just blend into my skin color and nobody would know I was wearing “Grandma Socks”. Read more » »

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Hal Koerner and Anita Ortiz Win the 2009 WS100

After being canceled last year because of California forest fires, the 2009 Western States 100 Endurance Run is back on what was one of the most impressive ultramarthon fields in years. The WS100 is considered the starting point of the whole ultra running racing scene and it’s still one of the toughest and most prestigious ultra trail races you can participate in (if you’re lucky enought with the lottery). The event is run along the Western States Trail form Squaw Valley to Auburn, a 100 miles of remote territory following the original trails used by miners in the 1850’s. Between medical personnel, river-crossing aides, trail sweepers and communications personnel, more than 1,500 volunteers help out, many of them in the 25 checkpoints along the course. Read more » »

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Salomon Introduces Customizable Backpacks

Salomon recently introduced their new ‘Custom System’ for all their backpacks in the XT and XA series. This new system allows the user to customize the bag’s features using the addition (or semoval) of different accessories. This will give the runner the possibility of customizing based on the caracteristics of each race or event.

More are to come, but the accessories already available on salomonrunning.com are the following:

Read more » »

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Emma Rogan, First Female Finisher of the Namibia 24hrs Ultra

This past month of April another edition of the Namibia 24hours Ultra was held in the northern Namib Desert, the oldest desert in the world and the largest and most remote National Park in Africa. 126Km through endless  gravel plains and mountains and under an unforgiving sun. All to be completed under 24 hours.

This year marked a feat in the event: Emma Rogan was the first female completing the race. 4th placed (with only 13 finishers out of 24 participants), the 32 year old woman from Oxford was interviewed by Sportsister, The Women’s Sports Magazine. The Comrades finisher goes through her training, motivation, how she managed to avoid overheating during the day and how she still has blisters on her heels. Interesting reading on what’s like to desert run.

And if this sounds like fun to you, registration for the 2010 race  is already open.

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Podcast - Western States 100

Gill and Francesca, owners of Bad to the Bone Endurance Sports and Charlottesville Running Company, are two active runners who host the radio show “Get Moving Charlottesville” on 106.1 “The Corner”. This upcoming weekend they will be participating in the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, and they have dedicated a portion of their weekly radio show to the race.

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GoMotion launches Waist Light Kit

[Press Release] WAREHAM, Mass., —  GoMotion, makers of wearable hi-output lighting systems for active lifestyles, announces its new, innovative LED light designed for waist packs of all kinds is now available.

Offered in both a 1-watt (currently available) and 3-watt (scheduled for release this autumn) model to fit any active lifestyle, the Waist Light Kit can be found at select outdoor retailers and online. The Waist Light Kit is designed for hydration belts, lumbar packs and waist packs illuminating the road or trail after the sun has gone down. GoMotion lights allow users to run, hike, walk or ski in the dark hours of the day without restrictions of carrying a flashlight or experiencing the discomfort of wearing a headlamp. The red flashing taillight provides additional road safety. Read more » »

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Tips for a Multi-day Trail Running Race

This weekend will take place the Rock/Creeck Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race. For three back to back days racers will struggle (or not) to climb a mountain, each day.  22 miles on Lookout Mountain on day one, 18 miles on Raccoon Mountain on day two and the 20 mile on Signal Mountain to close this year’s edition of the multi-day event. Though each of the distances doesn’t go further than a marathon, the race as a whole can be considered an ultra. This is where Kris Whorton, recent winner of the Umstead 100, shares her expertise on a sort of “how-to tackle a multi-day trail running race“.  She covers pretty much everything on preparation and recovery pre- and during the race: physical and mental training, pre-race week and each day completion and preparation for the next day.

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