Competitiveness Versus Fun: Why Does It Seem All Runners Are Performance Fanatics or Slap-Dicks?

In the running world, there seems to be two polar opposites.  One group is hyper-competitive.  The other group has a good time.  The fast runners scoff at the idea that running is a recreational activity.  The fun runners shun any hint of competitiveness.  It would seem there’s not a lot of middle ground.

In reality, the vast majority of runners fall somewhere between those groups.  We try to do our best and take steps to maximize our Read More...

Events Worth Doing

Just a quick note from the road- here are two events worth checking out if you’re even remotely close to the respective areas.  I know both race organizers and each should be absolutely awesome!

Boston Barefoot Running Festival, April- 14-15.  The event will feature a symposium with Ken Bob, Michael Sandler, Irene Davis, Theresa Withee, Daniel Howell, and James Stoxon, and a timed 5k.  Celebrity barefoot runners Preston Curtis and Theresa Withee are organizing the Read More...

Barefoot Runners Society Update and West Coast Tour

Here’s an update on the state of the Barefoot Runners Society.  The team that has been managing the site and organization are in the process of setting up the new site.  There are two significant hurdles:

The old hosting software (Drupal) sucked, which was a frequent complaint.  Unfortunately it is difficult to move anything from Drupal (further demonstrating its suckiness quotient).  It was important to everyone to preserve all member forum and blog posts.  I was originally in favor Read More...

Very Tentative 2012 Schedule of Clinics, Races, and Events

We’ve been working on our schedule for about a month.  It looks like we have a pretty good grasp on the tentative schedule.  The exact , time, and location of clinics will be announced here, on Facebook, and on Twitter.  Additional clinics will be added as we get closer to the events or races.  This is what it looks like as of right now:

Series of clinics in Southern California, Northern California, Seattle, Boise, and Portland (tentative, Read More...

Across the Years 72 Hour Footrace Race Report: Junk Food, Alcohol, Sex, and a Wooden Ball

Across the Years is a timed loop ultramarathon held annually in the Phoenix, Arizona area.  The race spans the end of one year to the beginning of the next… hence the name.  There are three options- a 24 hour, 48 hour, and 72 hour.  When Shelly and I were planning our schedule, this event fit nicely.  It would place us in Phoenix for the new year and would give me an opportunity to put up quite a few Read More...

Minimalist Shoe Runners: Stay Off Your Damn Heels!

Shelly and I ran the Dallas White Rock Marathon a few weeks ago.  As I often do, I spent most of the time watching others’ running gait.  I saw some people that ran with great form.  I also saw a load of people that had horrid form.  So goes road racing.

One particular brand of bad gait stood out, though.  The vast majority of minimalist shoe runners (approximately 20) I saw were overstriding with a pretty Read More...

Across The Years: How Do You Plan to Run 72 Hours?!?

A few months ago, I was looking for races in the Southwest around New Years.  I knew I needed a long-distance race to help keep maintain endurance base.  As it turned out, there weren’t as many options as I anticipated.  One particular race intrigued me: Across the Years.

It’s a timed race, which I really dislike.  It’s run on a flat, short loop which I dislike even more.  Yet I was drawn to the race.

Read More...