GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Wow! We just got our first magazine—we’re new subscribers. I was a bit skeptical about the worth of another running magazine in my life. I thought the price was a little high, too. My expectations were greatly exceeded when I opened the envelope and laid my hands on the magazine. It’s a book! I can see why other readers say, “Don’t throw it away.” Your magazine is a running resource, book shelf material. What a great guide to provide motivation, training information, and just plain fun reading for years to come. Do I really have to wait two months for the next edition? Keep up the great quality of your publication.

Keith and Wendi Marsicola
via e-mail

YOU MISSED THIS TOUGH MARATHON

Although I have yet to do any of North America’s 25 Toughest Marathons listed in your January/February 2001 issue, I have done the Monster Marathon in Virgil, New York. It’s aptly named, and I know one member of the 50 & D.C. Group who will readily verify its difficulty. It’s the only marathon I know that has age/gender handicap staggered starts (based on the National Masters News Age-Graded Table Factors). The marathon is a double out-and-back of the half-marathon course. The race application states, “This is the toughest marathon course in the East with 5,700 feet of total climb. No one will ever qualify for Boston here. But the beauty of this section of the North Country National Scenic Trail and the Finger Lakes Trail is worth the effort.” Included in the various “warnings” is the statement that “those running the full marathon must be trained for an ultramarathon effort; add 1 to 2 hours to your road marathon time.” This is one marathon that should make the next list of toughest marathons. I suspect that few, if any, of your panelists for this first list have run the Monster. If so, it would have been included in the first list. By the way, great 25th issue. I can’t wait to see what you do for the 25th YEAR!

Cathy Troisi
Senaca Falls, New York

YOU GO, GIRLS!

I’ve been a subscriber for several years, and I really enjoy your magazine. I was particularly pleased with articles in the last two issues: “Marathon Mom” by Shannon Holley Nadalini and “My Most Unforgettable Marathon” by Gordon Bakoulis. How nice to read about women who successfully nursed their babies while training for a marathon! I completed the Chicago Marathon 10 months after our baby girl was born, and I can’t count the number of times I was told I shouldn’t be trying to train for a marathon while I was still breastfeeding. It’s nice to know that other women out there are successfully balancing both facets of their lives. Now I don’t feel quite so crazy!

I’d love to see articles in the future about women who run through their pregnancies. I have searched high and low for any available research on pregnancy and running, and there doesn’t seem to be much out there. I ran up until I was eight months along and have lots of running friends who have done the same, often against their doctor’s wishes. We continue to have the healthiest, happiest babies around, so I know we’re doing the right thing.

Tiffany Grosspietsch
Madison, Wisc.

ANOTHER “MUST-HAVE” BOOK

I can’t believe The Complete Book of Running by James Fixx was left off your list of 25 books every marathoner should own (Jan/Feb 2001). I started running in 1991 as a 210-pound couch potato, and it was chapter 19 of Jim’s book that motivated me to go for a marathon. I did London ’92 in 3:30 and managed a 3:01 there in ’94, but the most memorable run ever was retracing Jim’s steps in the 100th Boston, an experience I will never ever forget. This year’s Mardi Gras Marathon was my 55th full marathon and a very enjoyable experience.

Mike Gaunt
Tring, England

PROCEEDING WITH CAUTION

I learned about your Web site through an online ultrarunning mailing list. I currently subscribe to Ultrarunning magazine, and also I receive Runner’s World as a gift subscription from a friend.

I clicked on the link to your site to learn more about the magazine, and I liked what I read. Then I clicked on the link for the “Sneak Preview” of your March/April 2001 issue, and I have to tell you I was really turned off by the excerpts of an article by Joe LeMay, who is apparently now one of your regular columnists. I was about ready to get my credit card out to subscribe to your magazine, but after reading this excerpt from a man you’ve hired as a regular columnist, I’m reconsidering!

First of all, I think LeMay has a lot of guts making the statement that “what Cosell was to NFL football I am to the ultramarathon.” I seriously question what a person who’s never run an ultra is doing reporting on ultras in a magazine that purports to be a publication for serious runners.

When I was considering my first ultra, a 50K, I remember feeling apologetic that it was “only 50K.” I thought that ultrarunners probably might not consider a 50K to be a true “ultra.” I posted this question to the online list and received unanimous and overwhelming support from the ultrarunning community that 50K is, indeed, considered an ultra distance by those who actually run ultras, everything from 50Ks to 100 miles and beyond.

Mr. LeMay makes the statement that “50K is only 5 miles longer than a regular marathon, so that distance is not putting your body through much more suffering than a regular marathon.” I would invite Mr. LeMay to run the Glacial Trail 50K in Wisconsin early next October and see if he might not revise his opinion after that experience! Mr. LeMay needs to remember—or perhaps learn—that while marathons are typically run on roads, many ultras are run on trails, often quite difficult and challenging trails. Glacial Trail, for example, is run on single-track trails in Northern Kettle Moraine. The footing can be quite tricky, as you dodge and scramble over endless rocks and roots and tackle numerous hills. I found it put my own body through quite sufficient “suffering,” thank you!

Mary Fredricks
via e-mail