Posts

Showing posts with the label ultramarathons

What does it take to participate in an Ironman?

Image
  More than most people imagine. The finish line is only the last fifteen yards of a journey that begins months—sometimes years—before race day. An Ironman isn’t just a test of endurance; it’s a test of logistics, discipline, humility, and the ability to stay steady when your body and mind start negotiating with you. It takes time , first of all. Training for an Ironman means carving out hours each week for swimming, cycling, running, strength work, recovery, and the unglamorous tasks like gear maintenance and nutrition planning. It takes consistency , because the body adapts slowly, and skipping too many sessions means starting over. It takes technical skill . You don’t just swim; you learn open‑water sighting. You don’t just bike; you learn pacing, fueling, and how to stay mentally present for 112 miles. You don’t just run; you learn how to run on tired legs. It takes emotional steadiness . Ironman athletes talk about “the dark mile”—the moment when everything feels impossible...

Publisher's Pride: Books on Bestseller Lists - Racing against Time (Weiss)

Image
  Today's publisher's pride is Racing against Time by Jeffrey Weiss, which has reached #67 in triathlons on Amazon and #121 in cycling. Book Description: In Racing Against Time , Jeff Weiss shares the story of his late middle-age transformation.  Weiss went from running a first 10K race at age 48 to becoming an Ironman and ultramarathoner by his late 50s.  Along the way he discovers the extraordinary physical and emotional benefits that flow from chasing ever-increasing fitness goals.  Weiss’s journey shows us that we have the power to influence how we age, that goal-setting and adventure are not solely the province of the young.  At a time when so many of us are looking for ways to increase our health span – that portion of life that we spend in good health – Weiss’s story shows us one way to get there.   Keywords: midlife fitness transformation, running after 40, Ironman after 50. ultramarathon training in your 50s, late bloomer athlete, healthy agi...

Publisher's Pride: Books on Bestseller Lists - Racing against Time (Weiss)

Image
  Today's publisher's pride is Racing against Time by Jeffrey Weiss, which has reached #67 in triathlons on Amazon and #121 in cycling. Book Description: In Racing Against Time , Jeff Weiss shares the story of his late middle-age transformation.  Weiss went from running a first 10K race at age 48 to becoming an Ironman and ultramarathoner by his late 50s.  Along the way he discovers the extraordinary physical and emotional benefits that flow from chasing ever-increasing fitness goals.  Weiss’s journey shows us that we have the power to influence how we age, that goal-setting and adventure are not solely the province of the young.  At a time when so many of us are looking for ways to increase our health span – that portion of life that we spend in good health – Weiss’s story shows us one way to get there.   Keywords: midlife fitness transformation, running after 40, Ironman after 50. ultramarathon training in your 50s, late bloomer athlete, healthy agi...

The Distance beyond Distance: Ultramarathons

Image
  An ultramarathon is what happens when the finish line stops being the point. It’s any race longer than the classic 26.2 miles — usually 50 kilometers, 100 miles, or, for the truly curious, several days across deserts, mountains, or city loops. The idea isn’t new. Ancient Greek messenger Pheidippides ran 246 kilometers from Athens to Sparta to summon help against the Persians — the original “ultra.” In the 19th century, endurance walking contests filled arenas. By the 1950s, runners began testing how far the human body could go before the mind took over. Today, ultramarathons span continents: South Africa’s Comrades Marathon , Japan’s Ultra‑Trail Mt. Fuji , America’s Western States 100 , and Morocco’s Marathon des Sables through the Sahara. Distances range from 50 km to 3,100 miles — yes, miles — around a single block in Queens, New York. Ultrarunners don’t chase speed; they chase continuance . They run through nightfall, weather, and doubt, discovering that endurance isn’t abou...