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Who is the UltraMortal?
THIS SITE IS 4 YOU!
“Ultra” means “far beyond the norm.” Funny thing is the majority of “ultrarunners” are quite the opposite – the Everyman or Everywoman dipping his or her toe in a sport populated at the top by other-worldly, gifted athletes who take to the trails for mile after mile unbound by gravity. I know I am the Everyman because I have my share of intimidation when toeing the line in ultra distance footraces. Much of the available resources are steeped in the exploits of the few, the ultra gifted, but weak on what the Everyman can use. Reading about the exceptional is amazing, it is motivating, but when I lace up my shoes and head out the door, I am a flatlander who lives in a city and has a day job. The sport of ultrarunning is growing fast. Seeing the elite levitate up the side of a mountain is a joy. But back here on Planet Earth, we mortals need to know how we can live out our dreams and compete in a sport that brings many opportunities to feel just that – the joy of the long run. This site is for us!
by The Mortal in Chief
Latest Podcasts
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Mandy Miller talks about running the Keys 50 and 100 with Ashland Dave from Running in the Center of the Universe.
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Mandy Miller talks with Mike from Dirt Dawg's Running Diatribe about a variety of topics, including running, racing, and Ultras4Mortals.com.
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Latest Articles
Relays are busting out all over. The popularity of ultra distance relays is growing exponentially. What follows is a checklist I out together last time pout for my team "Cougars and Cubs " - 4 women over 40 and 2 under 40 :-)
Of course, you'll have your own likes, dislikes, needs, and wants, but this may be a place to start.
By Mandy E. Miller, PhD
There are two kinds of runners – those who have been injured and those who will be. So, with some time on my hands due to a recent foot injury, I have been thinking a bit about the psychology of injury – nothing fancy, nothing academic, just the psychological stages I now realize accompanied my recent down time. You may see yourself in these ramblings, or maybe not, so take them for what they are worth to you.
by Bob Becker
A "Fixed Time Race" what you get when you turn a long “fixed-distance” race, like a 50 or 100 miler on its head! In a 50-mile race, for example, the winner is the person who has the fastest time to the finish line. The variable is how many hours, minutes and seconds it takes to get there. In a “fixed time” race, the winner is the person who runs the greatest number of miles in the time allowed.
What is it about ultrarunners that leads so many to run for a cause? Maybe we’re just a philanthropic bunch? More likely, in my view, it’s because we are well acquainted with the notion of something out there bigger than ourselves – something WAY bigger than ourselves. Be it the distance itself, the friendships found on mountain tops in the depth of night, the tenacity required at sea level in the sweltering heat of summer, or the fortitude that found us in the dry dusty, wonderful sands of the desert. The specific reason really doesn’t matter that much, what does matter is that runners all over the world keep on thinking up new ways to try to pay it forward one step at a time.
So, you’ve decided to go beyond. Beyond 26.2 miles. Beyond your comfort zone. Good for you! You’re on a quest for a new adventure, one that has less certainty of outcome than your ___th marathon where you’ve been chasing those 5 minutes off your time to get to Boston for the last 5 years. Not that marathons are bad – they are fabulous and have united a community of runners, many of whom now are dipping toes in the ultra waters. Ultra distance races are popping up all over running calendars as the sport experiences a growth spurt. Marathon runners, triathletes, adventure racers, and myriad other athletes, weekend warriors and elites alike, have apparently drunk the Kool Aid and are signing on for a new challenge.
