How To Combine Yoga And Running Effectively

Yoga and running are complementary activities.  Yoga is a Hindu spiritual practice of unifying the mind and body through breathing and moving through poses (or Asanas). Now, in the West, the practice often diverges from its spiritual origins, and it is practiced widely as a way to calm the mind and develop overall fitness.  Whilst … Read more

Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra: How the Last-Person-Standing Race Works

Big Dog’s Backyard Ultra, also known as Big’s Backyard Ultra or Backyard Ultra, is the original backyard ultra, invented by Gary “Lazarus Lake” Cantrell of Bell Buckle, Tennessee in 2012, the mastermind of the famed Barkley Marathons and more recently, CRAW. Since its founding, Backyard Ultras have popped up all over the world, especially gaining popularity during … Read more

Who Is Kilian Jornet? An In-Depth Bio

Kilian Jornet (or Kílian Jornet Burgada, in his native Catalan) is a 33-year-old Catalan mountain climber, ultrarunner, ski mountaineer, and self-proclaimed ‘lover of mountains’.  And he is arguably the most famous, prolific, and dominant mountain athlete of all time.  He has won pretty much every major ultrarunning race, smashed numerous endurance records, and pushed at … Read more

The Benefits of Trail Running: 6 Reasons To Hit The Trails Today!

Curious about trail running?  Not everyone is lucky enough to live in a trail running mecca; The Scandinavian Mountains, along the US’s Appalachian Trail, or along New Zealand’s rugged coastline.  But do not fret! Trail running is more accessible than you may think. But what exactly is trail running? Trail running is essentially off-road running, … Read more

Who is Dean Karnazes? An In-Depth Bio Of The Ultramarathon Man

Dean Karnazes, also known as the “Ultra Marathon Man” and the “Perfect Human” popularized ultramarathons with his book Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner. Karnazes once ran 50 marathons, in 50 states, in 50 consecutive days and has run 350 continuous miles. Karnazes is the recipient of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and … Read more

The Marathon Monks: 1,000 Days of Running for Enlightenment

The Marathon Monks (gyoja) of Mt. Hiei, Japan take on kaihōgyō, a spiritual challenge of endurance in pursuit of enlightenment.  The journey lasts over seven years and the stakes are high.  If they fail, the monk must perform Hara-kiri – ‘honourable suicide’.  If they survive, they become a living saint. They wear white, the Buddhist … Read more

Side Stitch While Running – How to Prevent, Treat, and Beat It!

Reviewed by Thomas Watson, RRCA-certified running coach & Marathon Handbook founder. Key Takeaways Side stitches happen to almost every runner at some point. The most likely cause is diaphragm spasm triggered by shallow breathing, eating too close to running, or weak core muscles. Quick fixes: deep belly breathing, mid-run side stretches, and slowing temporarily. Long-term: … Read more