Chug-along-chica!

Hi Lybia,

As a master runner I have found that a small break from running in the middle of the week has helped me recover. I started going to a spinning class a few months ago and found it to be alot of fun. We Spin with music and the instructor controls the tempo and tells us to turn up the resistance. The class lasts one hour. there is usually about 4-8 people in each class. great job on your last race.

Hi Lybi,

Why do I prefer ultras? Hmmm, several reasons. First, not many people do them, only around 1500 people in this country will run a 100 mile race this year. Contrast that to the over 400,000 that will run a marathon and the untold millions that will run something shorter. I like to be just a little different and not follow the crowd. Second, there's ego involved. I like it when people are impressed with the running I do, even though it's slow. It's fun to be able to do something that very, very few people can do or want to do. Third, I think they are actually easier. You typically aren't running as fast as you can, thus you aren't breathing hard for what seems like forever. My heart rate typically will remain at around 80% of max for the race, with short stretches higher going uphill. Fourth, the places to run. I would never run Salt Lake marathon because who wants to run in the city when there are fantastic, beautiful trails thru gorgeous mountains, with fantastic scenery to look at. Fifth, I think of ultras as adventures. A 100 mile race takes me from 24-34 hours, that's an adventure, not a race. Sixth, the people at ultras are a completely different crowd than at road races. It's a smaller crowd and you'll see the same people at different races all across the country. Much nicer and more outgoing. We help each other out on the trail, hang out after the race and share stories about other races. Even the winners will many times hang out at the finish line and congratulate everyone as they cross. Try to find that at a marathon. There's along answer to why I like ultras better than road races. You should try one. Don't let the distance intimidate you.