Trail & Ultra running Journal
Training, nutrition, inspiration, tips and more…
Q+A: Nutrition and Gear
We know that as trail runners, the questions never end. No matter how many years we’ve been trail running–and no matter if we’re prepping to run our first trail 5k or our first 100 miler ultramarathon–there are always tons of things we ask ourselves.
The Dipsea Race – A fun Interview with Dipsea legend Alex Varner
We know that lots of you have heard of the famous Dipsea Race that happens in Marin County, California in the USA…and we thought we’d get to the bottom of what makes this race so special (and so addicting.)
To do that for you, we called up Alex Varner who’s not only an awesome trail runner, but also a good friend. Alex has been kind enough to walk us through some Dipsea training tips today and what it’s been like for him to run the race in the past.
The Ultimate Mountain Marathon Training Guide
My name is Francesco Puppi, I’m a professional trail runner for Nike and a head coach for Vert. In my athletic career I have specialized in any distance that is defined as “short trail”, or what in Europe we refer to as “mountain running”: short trail races, up to the 50k distance. But my favorite distance might be the mountain marathon. Why? Because they are a lot of fun to race and train for–and they are intense, various and generally not too hard to recover from, so you can definitely do more than one per year. In this post I will talk all about it!
10 smart Gifts for Trail Runners and Ultramarathon Runners – Under $100
What to get the runner who has (seemingly) everything?, here we have smart list of gifts that will make that person happy and at the same time help small business, so you can give and do good, at the same time!
Complete Nutrition guide for an Ultramarathon
Have you ever thought about doing your own personal trail or mountain adventure? (Also known as PFKT, or “Personal Fastest Known Time.”) Well, some nice news in this year of COVID: this is the perfect year for it!
Here’s how to winter train: according to the pros
Introducing our 2020 Winter season training programs – The best way to maintain all the work done through the year while improving key aspects of your trail fitness.
The Ultimate 100 Miler Ultramarathon Training Guide
Ok, so let’s start off by stating the obvious: running a 100 miler is HARD. (And we mean very, very hard indeed.) Training for and running 100 miles is just about as hard as it gets in the sport of trail running, actually, so if you’re thinking about running a 100 miler, you should first ask yourself these two questions: 1.) Do I want to run a 100 miles because I really want to? Or am I doing it because I feel like I’m “supposed” to as an ultrarunner? 2.) Do I have a friend or someone else who is pushing me to take on training for a 100 miler before I’m ready to?
We’re really serious about asking yourself these two things, because it’s actually pretty common for ultrarunners to feel obligated to try to tackle this distance before they’re ready. And while on one hand it can be good to have some “motivators” while training for or racing a 100 miler, the reality is that if you undertake this huge goal for the wrong reasons, it’s going to be much harder to actually achieve.
How to start running again after Covid: a Trail Runner’s guide to exercise post-Covid
A good aid station plan can make a great race out of one that you thought about dropping out of earlier on. A poor strategy can cause you to have to drop from lack of fueling needs, unattended injuries, or faulty equipment. Plan for what you can, train consistently, and anything else that happens is out of your control. Enjoy the process and learn forward!
Aid Station Strategies for trail & ultra runners
A good aid station plan can make a great race out of one that you thought about dropping out of earlier on. A poor strategy can cause you to have to drop from lack of fueling needs, unattended injuries, or faulty equipment. Plan for what you can, train consistently, and anything else that happens is out of your control. Enjoy the process and learn forward!
The Ultimate 50k training guide
Do you want the formula to train for a 50k or any Ultra marathon? even in a city. Learn how to train, nail your nutrition, race, stay injury free and more
Ultrarunning & Keto diet
Can I run a Marathon or even an Ultramarathon on a keto diet? If you’re here today, you probably have lots of questions about ultramarathons and Ultrarunning on a keto
How to become a faster runner Strides for Trail an Ultra runners
In this quick strides lowdown, we’ll go over two things: how to do strides, and why they’re important for you as a trail runner. No matter if you’re running short, fast distances or technical, mountainous ultras, strides are a major tool in any runner’s training kit.
How to choose a trail running watch
Our smart dashboard now includes three new indicators that will provide us a very precise idea of how an athlete’s training is proceeding, based on a self evaluation score (energy level rate) and two parameters related to the completed workouts and the overall running load. These indicators naturally adapt to each athlete’s training plan to provide a complete picture of his/her progress.
How increase your running performance during hot summer days
Our smart dashboard now includes three new indicators that will provide us a very precise idea of how an athlete’s training is proceeding, based on a self evaluation score (energy level rate) and two parameters related to the completed workouts and the overall running load. These indicators naturally adapt to each athlete’s training plan to provide a complete picture of his/her progress.
How to know if you’re on track with your training?
Our smart dashboard now includes three new indicators that will provide us a very precise idea of how an athlete’s training is proceeding, based on a self evaluation score (energy level rate) and two parameters related to the completed workouts and the overall running load. These indicators naturally adapt to each athlete’s training plan to provide a complete picture of his/her progress.
Tempo runs for trail runners
Tempos are moderately hard efforts that you can sustain for extended periods (up to an hour) without exceeding your “lactate threshold”— the pace at which blood lactate waste starts accumulating
What’s a Fartlek run and why it’s key for trail runners
Fartlek is the most natural and simple session you could think of: a game of speed. In this article, we will explore how to run a fartlek and why it
Easy days have to be easy
Easy days are just as important as workout days. Recover better to run faster: in this article we will explore how to find the appropriate intensity and the right approach
How to really take advantage of a recovery day
Sometimes we love them, other times we hate them, but we all know we need them every now and then. Rest days are a tricky topic, especially for trail and
Complete guide: how to plan a long trail & Ultra running adventure
Have you ever thought about doing your own personal trail or mountain adventure? (Also known as PFKT, or “Personal Fastest Known Time.”) Well, some nice news in this year of COVID: this is the perfect year for it!
Zach Miller best Stair + at home cardio workouts for trail & Ultra runners
How one of the best trail and Ultra runners of the world trained indoor during months? — Here Zach Miller gives you his favorites indoor cardio workouts
Best Trail Shoes: 2021
A quick note: I have absolutely no affiliation with any of these brands. Vert.run is the training platform for trail and ultrarunning, and we’re just passionate about great trail shoes.
When to run on an empty stomach and when to not to
I personally train 80% of my time without eating breakfast. It’s something that I have developed over the years, mostly because of need and not to be cool actually. I
How to become an Ultra runner – Complete guide + training
Are you dreaming of running an Ultra marathon? maybe don’t know where to start? Learn how to go from choosing to finishing your next Ultra marathon race.
