Sharing the beauty of running Lake Tahoe & Truckee, California
by Helen 7 Comments
The 50k trail race is also known as the “gateway drug” to ultras. Runners looking to move from road marathons or perhaps trail half marathons to their first ultra frequently ask me for 50k race recommendations.
Here are five 50k ultramarathons that I recommend for Tahoe trail runners. Not all are in the Tahoe Basin, but close enough to drive race morning and train on course. They are listed in calendar order.
by Helen 8 Comments
Five minutes in and my lungs are tapped. I have to stop to catch my breath. I’m so focused on the snow a few feet ahead on the trail that I can scarcely enjoy the amazing views. That was me learning to skate ski almost ten years ago, before I was even a runner.
Skate skiing is a form of cross-country skiing that utilizes a skating motion rather than a parallel striding motion (think: ice skating on 6-foot long skinny skis). It generally requires groomed trails, and is therefore best practiced within a cross-country ski center. The skating motion allows you to climb up hills and fly on flats all while giving your balance, core and glute muscles a major workout. And, yeah, you get to ski down those hills, too.
by Helen 3 Comments
We have winter in Tahoe after a long, long dry spell. The options for snow sports activities are dizzying. I spent the last bluebird morning in decision paralysis because my body needed a rest day but I felt obligated to “enjoy” some downhill powder skiing. I went for a massage, instead – lucky me!
This brings me to a few habits (mine and others) that have been nagging at me this winter. And I pledge to change on my part.
Strava is an excellent tool for logging your training runs. Last time I wrote about getting your feet wet with a free Strava account. Now let’s dive into the power of Strava as a training log.
I started using Strava at the request of my running Coach (Peter Fain, Run on Dirt) – it is one of our primary communication tools. I was instantly hooked by the ease of viewing my activities and overall statistics.
Strava is fundamentally a social competition tool. Step 3 in their own How it Works guide reads: “Analyze and compare your data against yourself, friends, and pros.” That being said, it also offers a host of FREE tools that are excellent for tracking and analyzing your runs, and that’s just the beginning.
Our running club, the Donner Party Mountain Runners (DPMR), is approaching its second birthday. Last year my fellow board member Gretchen Brugman reflected on her favorite moments from our first year. I recently found myself wanting an excuse to write about my very favorite DPMR experience, the Hilloween Hill Climb. Since that was over two holidays ago, it seemed a bit dated.
In the context of reflection and gratitude, I’m happy for the opportunity to share my favorite running club experiences of 2015. In chronological order: