In 2021, my partner and I moved from the overcrowded, materialistic South Florida in search of a more fulfilling life in Colorado Springs. The move was triggered from years of feeling disconnected from the values and lifestyle of South Florida and a hunger for adventure. When I graduated from business school and landed a job in corporate finance, I quickly learned that status quo was…

November 5, 2021 Pursuing a Fastest Known Time on the Tuckup Trail Some adventures are more involved than others. The Tuckup happens to fall on the ‘more involved’ end of the spectrum; traversing the entire route tests not just your endurance and navigation skills but also your willingness to suffer. Thankfully Ashly Winchester and I possess plenty of the latter, as well as some degree…

Running to champion health and wellness in the Latino community Participants at the 2021 Latinas Run Summit https://vimeo.com/638823506 Run Your Own Trail supports participation of women on the trails and elevates female voices in the outdoors. Emphasizing individuality of female runners, Run Your Own Trail tells the stories of female athletes who are strong on and off the trail. This year we partnered with Latinas…

By John Kelly I’ve made a bit of a habit of setting out to do things that I’m not sure are possible. Mike Hartley’s 31 year old record on the Pennine Way, England’s first national trail, fell squarely in that category – not just as something that I might not currently be capable of but as something that might not ever be within reach. I ended up…

A Blog By UD Athlete Kriste Peoples There's no relationship like a running relationship. If I weren’t a runner myself, I’d find it hard to believe the people I hit the trails with so often and rarely see in street clothes or formal wear would become some of my closest friends. Before I started running trails you couldn’t have convinced me that huffing up mountains…

I doubt anyone in the UK will get the Lee Corso reference, but up front I wanted to clarify my final thoughts on the never-ending “record” vs. “FKT” debate. To be honest, I don’t really care. If the person hearing the term knows what it means, and the person using it doesn’t mean to offend, then I don’t care. Like when I slip up here…

By Ultimate Direction ambassador, Nadia Ruiz. Nadia is a personal coach, the the youngest Latina to finish 100 trail marathons, and has completed over 500 races around the globe. Let’s face it – doing anything for the first time is a daunting task, especially taking on your first trail marathon. "How do I prepare, how do I ensure success, how do I overcome setbacks?" Mentors…

By Ultimate Direction athlete, Suzanne (Sunny) Stroeer On October 23rd, 2020, Suzanne Stroeer, Christin Healy and Lexi Miller set the Women's unsupported FKT on the Grand Canyon R2R2R-Alt in 22h 27m 20s. This is Suzanne's story. Suzanne Stroeer on the GC R2R2R-Alt. Photographer: Christin Healy I like goals that keep me on the edge of my chair: goals where I’m not sure if I’ll be able to…

2021 Apparel Athletes Include Amelia Boone, Jonathan Albon, Meredith Edwards and Jason Schlarb, with Joseph Gray for Outerwear Ultimate Direction proudly announces its elite athletes who will propel the brand’s spring launch of its new, head-to-toe trail running apparel line. Amelia Boone, Jonathan Albon, Jason Schlarb and Meredith Edwards have joined the overall apparel program, with Joseph Gray specializing in outerwear. “We’re excited to have…

When people ask me how I can push on during my extremely long Fastest Known Time attempts (Pacific Crest Trail 2016, Appalachian Trail 2018), my reply is always: nature. The eternal joy of spending time running on a singletrack, for hours on end, with curiosity to see what’s around the next bend. Seeing sunrises, sunsets, encounters with wildlife. I realized, by running those long FKT’s,…

What would you do with your life if no one was there to judge your decisions? If there was no concept of what’s the right way to live?   My name is Rea, and I’m a professional athlete living in Denver, Colorado. Most of the time, though, you can find me in my van exploring the mountains. I love my life; nights when I can’t fall asleep…

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong [woman] stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the [woman] who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is…

By UD ambassador, Kyle Robidoux The past few months have impacted everyone’s daily lives. Whether it is work, school, child care, or staying active, we all have had to adjust and adapt. Although issues like employment, housing, and one’s health is incredibly important, being active has tremendous impact on our physical and mental well-being. Arguable now more than ever.   Like everyone, I have had to adjust…

Whether I’m out training or just running in the mountains, I often repeat myself to "Be Present". I watch the lines of the distant landscape and peaks. I soak in the colors and the textures for each season. For me it’s not about just the run, it’s about bringing that experience home in all forms and sharing it with those around me. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmiJrrymRcs[/embed] I found…

Amelia Boone shares a powerful message of finding strength in vulnerability, her journey of recovery from an eating disorder and the incredible support she finds in the running community As long as I can remember, I’ve fought the feeling of being broken. Growing up, the most common question I asked myself was “what is wrong with you? Why can’t you be like everyone else?” It’s a…

Sometimes the most amazing trails aren’t trails at all. I should know: my proudest speed records and FKTs (Fastest Known Times) are on routes that barely deserve the title ‘trail’. They are remote, they are rugged, they are difficult, and many of them are barely runnable. For some reason, I seem to thrive in extreme environments. The higher, the steeper, the slower the terrain –…

Kelly Wolf talks inner strength and embracing our unique gifts with self-confidence Confidence is knowing that everything you need is inside of you. Confidence is believing in your power, your harnessed strength, and your unique abilities. It is trusting that your dedicated work prepared you for the challenge ahead and to share your value with the world. [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="http://udblog.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/UD_RYOT_Kelly-Wolf_062320_V2.mp4" preload="auto" autoplay="true"][/video] Even if you…

Listen in as Anna Frost talks motherhood & celebrating our own running victories We all have our own reasons to run, our own challenges in life and our own hurdles to jump. Sometimes, people talk to their friends and family about the hard times to help find solutions. But sometimes they say nothing and try to go on, day to day, hiding these struggles. It…

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjya6svTl3s[/embed] We're excited and proud to partner with talented female athletes to launch our Run Your Own Trail campaign! There's no one “right” way to be successful as a female - this 6-part series highlights individual stories of women athletes who are strong on and off the trail. Stay tuned to watch their interviews and read their stories. Each featured athlete made their own quote…

Going to the dogs! Why not outfit your dog with a pack that carries well and matches your Ultimate Direction running vest. Make them carry their own snacks and a few of yours. We always thought a vest for your fury trail buddy would be fun but we had no idea ya'll would love it so much. The initial response on social media has been wild, I mean…

The Signature Series has always represented the pinnacle of performance, and the 5th generation is evolved to do more. It's more durable, more comfortable, and more adjustable than ever before. There are 4 styles, each in a men's and women's specific fit. You can choose the best vest for your body type, running style and feature preference. PHOTO CREDITS: MATT THURK [gallery columns="4" size="medium" ids="4371,4372,4373,4374"]

For the 2020 season, we've added some incredible new athletes to our ambassador team. They come from all over the United States and even the U.K. The team includes two world champions, a visually-impaired Western States 100 attempter, a multiple FKT holder, and an amputee ultrarunner. Let's meet them! Jacky Hunt-Broersma  Jacky is an amputee ultrarunner who started running 3 and half years ago. Her goal…

As runners and ultra-distance enthusiasts, we are all well aware of the incredible time demands, physical challenge and mental grit it takes to complete our training. This also means we know that we are all too familiar with both the drive to do just about anything to give us an edge or prevent the little nagging injuries that sneak up along the way.    While running…

This book is a celebration of the joys that come from moving over easy rock. The Flatirons above Boulder, Colorado offer one of the finest arrays of easy rock climbs anywhere in the world. This guide reports on more than 20 miles of routes – not 20 miles along the base of the range, but 20 miles as measured with a rope!  –Gerry Roach, Flatirons…

Why do you run? The answers to that question are as wide and diverse as there are runners. Everyone has their own reason for running: I want to get in shape, I do it for the relationships, I do it to get away, I do it to push myself, I do it because I am good at it. Whatever the reason, everyone has one. I…

As athletes we spend a lot of time thinking about weekly mileage, training load, diet and how to fit it all in with work and friendships and family and spouses and, and, and the list goes on! Many of us prioritize running so the notion of resolutions, specifically at the start of the year, is perhaps a moot point. That said, it doesn't hurt to…

Setting a Fastest Known Time (FKT) can be an awesome adventure because you can make it your own thing with a personal approach. Unlike during a race there is no fixed time or date to start and there are no aid stations at fixed locations. You can create a plan that looks best to you personally. This can be challenging because it can take a…

I have always enjoyed the idea of developing and testing product. We wear it for so many miles, day after day. We want it to be right. To feel ‘that’ rub or the need for a pocket bigger, smaller, higher, etc. But this hasn't been the usual year of product use and testing for me. We have a firecracker of a baby. She doesn't really…

Weather is arguably the single most important aspect of a successful and enjoyable adventure in the mountains.  That’s because the weather in the mountains is more inclement and volatile: thunderstorms are more severe, winds blow stronger, and snow piles up higher. Weather can showcase the beauty of the mountains and can also make for a miserable experience for the unprepared. But what’s the reason for…

I had the opportunity last week to set the female unsupported fastest known time (FKT) on the magical Kalalau Trail in Kauai. The trail is a mind blowing, technical out and back shoreline bonanza that covers a little over 20 miles with around 9,500 feet of climbing. It begins at the island’s most northern point at Ke’e beach and continues onto the turnaround point at…

If you're a runner and your only activity is running, this is my "how-to" and "why" guide to cross training. As an ultrarunner myself, I absolutely include cross training in my regimen. As a coach, it’s essential to include cross training built into my athlete’s programs too. It should be in good proportion to the athlete’s strengths, base, as well as goals and race distances. For…

Like most runners, if someone asked me if I enjoyed a good challenge I’d say “of course!” without a second thought. However, if I would have given that answer a few years ago, that answer wouldn’t always hold true. If fact, that answer only held up when I had come up with the challenge myself and everything went right. If it was an unexpected challenge…

When the world's best runners gather in Chamonix each August, it can only mean one thing: Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). In the season finale of the adventure running and travel series "Run Around the World," UD ambassadors Jason Schlarb and Merejune Edwards (and son Felix) come together to attempt a career-best result at UTMB. With a fourth place on his resume, could Jason…

As athletes when asked "what's your favorite social media platform," many of us would excitedly reply: Strava. It's social (you can like and comment on athletes' posts), it's utilitarian (it's a digital training journal), and it's motivating to be able to follow the best athletes in the world right alongside your local friends in your feed. Many UD ambassadors have impressive digital trophy cases so we asked…

Late last fall something bit me. It didn’t hurt, but rather it fired me up. The previous two running season (2017 and 2018) were really good ones for me that included lots of steep and mountainous100-milers. I seem to do pretty well at this kind of event and was pleased to record wins, or top-5 finishes, at races like Hardrock 100, Orcas Island 100, Bighorn…

UD Ambassador Ashleigh Thompson is a trail runner, PhD student and member of  Miskwaagamiiwi-zaaga’igan (Red Lake Anishinaabe Nation). Ashleigh is committed to telling the stories of Native culture and sharing Indigenous perspectives, particularly on running. This story covers intergenerational trauma – an unfortunately too common affliction affecting Indigenous peoples – and how running has helped break the cycle in her family. “Do you think Alta will have a lift open…

Ultimate Direction ambassador Camelia Mayfield, a two time top-10 finisher at Western States 100, shares what it's like to sacrifice your own goals for the benefit of others. It's about trading the racer's mindset for the pacer's: how to motivate, when to push, and what it's like to cross the line with a friend whose own goals become yours. Of note, Camelia is helping us…

Ski mountaineering and Ultimate Direction have become synonymous. We are the only U.S. brand used by skimo athletes around the world including Europe where the sport has its strongest footing. We have just launched our next skimo vest called the "Skimo 20"; it's a one-size-fits-all, 20 liter adjustable vest, made for people who ski at the resort for fitness before work or people who find…

We have added versatile mountain athlete Meredith "Merejune" Edwards to our ambassador team. In related news, we are excited to become the newest sponsor for Edwards' and Jason Schlarb’s successful video series, “Run Around the World” produced by Ben Clark. Merejune is a former U.S. Ski Mountaineering Team member and podium finisher at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc’s TDS, the Javelina Hundred 100K and the Flagstaff…

Sanna and Lina El Kott Helander, Ultimate Direction ambassadors and twin sisters who stormed the 2018 Skyrunning World Series, have been notably absent from the podium in 2019. Were they detained for sneaking carrots across international borders again? (this is a great story...) or was it something more common to elite athletes? Sanna shares this update with us as she and Lina optimistically charge ahead... …

UD Ambassador Tara Warren Shares of her Ouray experience. The Ouray 100 is known for its big ups and downs. With over 42k feet in elevation gain running above 10k feet, there was bound to be some sturdy stories to fill up the blank pages of my book of memories covering the 50 hours spent on this breathtaking course. [caption id="attachment_4053" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] PC: @howiesternphoto[/caption] One…

One of the toughest most spectacular mountain races in all of North America in a little known mountain range near Beaver, Utah. The Tushar Mountains are a hidden gem of high altitude peaks, mountain canyons, alpine lakes and stunning terrain. The Tushars are among Utah's tallest mountain ranges, housing several peaks over 12,000 feet in elevation and featuring Utah's highest road at an elevation of 11,500…

UD Ambassador Gabe Joyes shares his thoughts on his Italian race experience. [caption id="attachment_4025" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] photo credit: Canofotosport[/caption] Everything was steep at the Lavaredo Ultra Trail—notably the 19k of long, grinding ascents and absurdly technical descents—but my greatest challenge in the Dolomites of Italy was the steep learning curve of international racing. Just about 1900 runners from 60 countries toed the line of the…

UD AMBASSADOR RACE REPORT: Maria Dalzot shares her pacing and crewing experience for Kaytlyn Gerbin in the 2019 Westerns States 100 . Running a 100-mile race has never been on my bucket list. The thought of running through the night and missing all three meals in a day is not something I consider pleasant or fun. So, when I had the opportunity to be on…

Ultimate Direction has re-signed Scott Jurek to its ambassador team for 2019. Jurek is the most successful ultrarunner of all time, previous holder of the fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail, and a New York Times best selling author. Jurek was fundamental to the creation of UD’s iconic Signature Series hydration vests. [caption id="attachment_3992" align="alignleft" width="1024"] Scott Jurek –– photo: Fred Marmsater[/caption] Karel Sabbe, current…

“You sure know a lot about a lot.” I glowed with pride after a befuddled looking sixth-grade student graced me with a compliment. I had delivered what I’m sure was an engaging lecture in my very first teaching position 7 years ago. Since then, I’ve expanded my knowledge and gone onto learn many things—especially about ultra running, largely through the exquisite discomfort of trial and…

UD ambassadors Sandi Nypaver and Taylor Nowlin, and Jade de la Rosa and myself (Sarah Burke) ascended the first major climb of the course as the sun was rising. It was just that kind of lighting where you could finally make out the trail below you without the aid of your headlamp. Joyful hoots of “WOOO WOOO” and “EYYYYYE EYYYE EYYYE” were heard as we…

Come to Mongolia they said! It will be a laugh they said! You will enjoy it they said!... 100 miles, on a frozen lake, in northern Mongolia - by any means. A RatRace "bucketlist" trip. My friend Marcus Liddiard told me about the RatRace site so we sat down over a beer and decided that the Mongol100 was about as much adventure as we could pack…

UD Ambassador Jason Schlarb lives near the San Juan mountains in Durango, Colorado. The San Juans are notoriously fickle with bouts of heavy snowfall and super cold temps. Even though Schlarb loves skiing in winter his primary focus is on summer trail and ultra races. So how do you manage to have a productive offseason in challenging conditions? Here are some tips from Schlarb with…

Justin Simoni calls fastpacking “the space between ultra running and backpacking.” If you're curious about fastpacking and want to know how to get started, read this excellent overview by UD ambassador Jen Segger. Jen has been planning and leading fastpacking trips for years, even running a dedicated company for it (Run BC Adventures). Here's how to pick the right gear and plan your first fastpacking trip.  Fastpacking is…

Comedian Jon Glaser, host of the show Jon Glaser Loves Gear, ran to the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last night to show off the gear he's using to train for a trail half marathon, including our Signature Series 4.0 Ultra Vest! Watch the segment and follow Jon Glaser.

Ultimate Direction Signature Races are ten events - from South Africa to Italy, New Zealand, Colorado and much more - celebrating the iconic places and people of the sport of skyrunning, ultrarunning, trail and mountain. Like the game-changing Ultimate Direction Signature Series vests and vestas, Signature Races are original and innovative. The first Signature Race this year was the Tarawera Ultra in Rotorua, New Zealand.…

Ultimate Direction ambassador John Kelly is known most for his multiple Barkley Marathons appearances and completion in 2017. A rarity in the ultra-running community, John also competed in Ironman triathlons. This year he is leaving the bike and swim cap behind for a more focused season of running. In typical John Kelly fashion this meant attempting something new and difficult: his first 200 mile race.…

Ultimate Direction ambassador Jessie Young recently won her 4th Ski Mountaineering National Championship in five years. She and husband Max Taam had their first baby in 2018. We asked Jessie about how she maintains a high level of performance while raising their son Ryder. How does being a mom-athlete work logistically? What are her strategies? Read on. Ultimate Direction: As a now 4x Ski Mountaineering…

Welcome to Part 2 in our series designed to motivate and inspire you in 2019. Next up: How to Prepare for an FKT.  –– It's the start of a new year. As runners we're busy conceiving new goals and challenges to motivate us in training and racing. Targeting and preparing for specific events will certainly occupy a percentage of your training but what about designing…

Among our ambassadors, Anna Frost is joining people like Jenny Jurek, Emma Roca, Tara Warren, Jessie Young and Michelle Yates in becoming a professional athlete with kids. A hallmark of Anna's career has been her willingness to race and travel almost constantly. So how does a person used to the flexibility of taking off on a whim and being concerned firstly with their own health…

I’ve always packed pretty light but rolling off a 15 hour flight with little more than a backpack took packing "light" to a new level.  As Ryan Ghelfi and I jogged toward the Geneva train station with everything we needed for the next week on our backs, I felt a new level of freedom, and just a little bit of fear. Did I pack enough…

Running is boring. Dreadfully. At least that’s what a young Gina Lucrezi thought when she imagined plugging away mile after mile, measuring time in worn layers of rubber and sweat. This was before becoming a collegiate All-American (10 times). Before becoming a collegiate national champion in the 1500 meter. Before the 10k’s and the half marathons. Before discovering trail running. Before the 50k’s, 50 milers,…

An important step in managing anxiety involves facing feared situations, places or objects. It is normal to want to avoid the things we fear. However, avoidance prevents you from learning that the things you fear may not be as dangerous as you think. The process of facing fears is called exposure. Exposure involves gradually and repeatedly going into feared situations until you feel less anxious.…

The Rut 50K is one of the most technical mountain races in the U.S. and in order to set myself up for success I made sure my training reflected both the steep, rocky sections of the course and the fast, runnable sections (as a mountain runner I realize I have a skewed view of what "runnable" means!). Here's how I did it. Road workouts These…

Ultimate Direction ambassadors took a clean sweep last weekend at Steamboat, Colorado's Run Rabbit Run 100 miler. We won the men's race with Jason Schlarb and won the women's race with Michele Yates. Right behind her in second was Emma Roca. Here are the Ultimate Direction products these ambassadors wore with some comments about the race. 1st place woman: Michele Yates UD products used: Ultra…

Ultimate Direction Ambassador Karel Sabbe today has set a new supported fastest known time (FKT) on the Appalachian Trail, breaking Scott Jurek and Karl Meltzer's by 5 and 4 days, respectively. After sleeping about 100 miles from the finish on the night of August 26, 2018 Karel ran all day on the 27th and through the night to complete his AT FKT about 2pm on August…

The typical Colorado Front Range trailrunner seems to operate off a fairly standard summer bucket list: High Lonesome, Pawnee Buchanan, Four Pass and a smattering of peaks that usually stem from these routes. There’s nothing wrong with these routes - they’re absolutely classics for many reasons: banger views, well-trodden trails and accessible enough that you could even knock them out before or after work. There’s…

The Mosquito-Tenmile Range Traverse has been in the "Incredible Things to Attempt" queue of my head since I've read (and reread) Peter Bakwin's own attempts at the line. Starting from Weston Pass at the southern end of the range, the goal is to make it to Frisco, Colorado following the very prominent ridgeline that continues unbroken until its terminus, around 37 miles from where you start.…

Story by Eric Carter: Ultimate Direction Ambassador, Ski Mountaineer, Alpinist and Mountain Runner I’ll never be a cutting edge climber or alpinist. I just don’t climb that hard. I’ll also never be a world class pure endurance athlete. All that leaves me is to search out a niche that requires the use of my endurance on relatively easy but still technical terrain. This has lead me…

Adventure racing is a complicated sport. You are navigating a course while participating in disciplines like running, trekking, mountain biking, paddling and whatever else the organizer might find fun and challenging. Your task is to get from one place to another, taking in the checkpoints printed on your route map. The races can last a couple hours or up to 10 days. New Ultimate Direction Ambassadors…

We’re excited to be working with professional runner and obstacle course racer Rea Kolbl. After finishing her graduate program at Stanford she decided to move to Boulder to pursue a pro career full time. She’s charging hard and turning heads and we’re excited to have her on our ambassador team. We've just released the Ultimate Direction OCR Vest and OCR Belt (designed with input from…

Adam Campbell joined the Ultimate Direction Ambassador Team officially this year but we have been friends and fans of his for a long time. He has been touring the U.S. this spring behind his chilling and inspirational short film "In Constant Motion." Beautifully shot in British Columbia and the San Juan Mountains, the film follows Adam's comeback from an alpine climbing fall that nearly ended…

Boulder, CO - 4:00am, May 17, 2018 -      Peter Bakwin and I hike out of Chautauqua Park, intending to climb 4 routes in the Amphitheater, then continue south and climb 29 more. Today.  Climbing 5th class rock in the dark with no rope wearing scrambling shoes can be alarming, but we’d rehearsed this section last week - a key parameter of this project…

Krissy Moehl doesn't stop. The ultrarunning icon is as busy as ever, running, traveling, racing and directing. This winter she trained diligently – usually with dog Piedra by her side – for China's Gaoligong 100 mile (which she won!) before returning to her home in Washington almost immediately to direct the Chuckanut 50K. Krissy has been training and racing in the new Signature Series 4.0…

North is the direction Scott Jurek went on the Appalachian Trail when he set his FKT in 2015, and the title of his new book describing that prodigious effort.  Scott’s first book, “Eat and Run”, published in 2012, was on the NYT Bestseller list for a month and was nominated for a Best Food and Cookbook award; “NORTH - Finding My Way While Running the Appalachian…

Trail runners around Utah (and all over the country on Instagram) know Tara Warren, the ultra-enthusiastic, always-on-the-move mom who, in any weather (good, bad or ugly), shows the world what it takes to be a committed athlete. A multiyear Ultimate Direction ambassador, Tara has put endless miles and development feedback into our vests. Now with the release of the Signature Series 4 Vestas, Tara has…

Many of us are searching for an adventure on our own two feet. Maybe it's a race, maybe it isn't. In the end what we want is exploration, challenge and a good time. Here's where fastpacking comes in. The "Highest Hundred" project's Justin Simoni calls fastpacking "the space between ultra running and backpacking." A strong resolve and endurance are requisite but how about gear; what's…

New Ultimate Direction ambassador Kyle Richardson is a young, hungry athlete who spends more time running Boulder's Green Mountain and scrambling the First Flatiron (and many more Flatiron classics) than nearly anyone else in town. He's motivated by the big, classic routes, whether on foot, on rock, or by bike. Last month Kyle took on a real cycling test piece: the White Rim in a…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 1, 2018 Ultimate Direction announces sponsorship of the Barkley Marathons Boulder, CO:  Ultimate Direction, a market-leading manufacturer of gear for runners, hikers, and skiers, is proud to announce a new partnership with the Barkley Marathons. This legendary race, held sometime in the spring at Frozen Head State Park, Tennessee, has grown in stature, with entries coming in from all over the…

It’s the eve of the Grand Traverse, a classic backcountry skiing race from the bottom of Crested Butte Mountain Resort to the bottom of Aspen Mountain. The course travels the Elk Mountains Range with around 8,000 feet of climbing over 40 miles. As a sponsor of the Grand Traverse and fanatic of the sport, we asked UD ski mountaineering ambassadors for advice on how to…

Ultimate Direction’s new Signature Series 4.0 trail running vests and Adventure Collection Fastpacks will be used exclusively by Carmichael Training Systems' (CTS) coaches during the organization’s ultrarunning training camps and “Bucket List” events this year. [caption id="attachment_3307" align="alignnone" width="640"] Kelly Wolf with CTS Director of Coaching Jason Koop (left) on the podium at UTMB's CCC.[/caption] CTS is one of the premier endurance sports coaching companies in…

Do you share your passion for adventure with your children? Longtime Ultimate Direction Ambassador Thomas Reiss is recently back from summiting Mount Kilimanjaro with his 12-year-old son, Luke. In this interview we ask both father and son how to prepare for and execute a big adventure together. What does training consist of? What are some tips for getting along together through adversity? Read it all…

We are VERY excited to announce that mountain running icon Anna Frost has joined the Ultimate Direction ambassador team. She needs little introduction, but just in case: Anna is one of the world's most accomplished mountain and ultra trail runners who has, in the past few years, transitioned into a yoga and meditation practice to complement her passion for exploring and racing in the mountains. She carved…

Did you see the January/February 2018 cover of Outside magazine? If so, you'll recognize our newest ambassador; it's Spartan Race World Champion and World’s Toughest Mudder winner Amelia Boone! Amelia is known for a commanding string of wins and podium finishes in obstacle course races (OCR) and ultramarathons and she joins our team with a full 2018 racing calendar ahead of her and a few to-be-named…

What were the most inspiring, difficult, fast, or just plain 'out-there' FKT’s last year?  A panel of 27 runners reviewed the 22 Nominees (selected from the hundreds of FKT's reported last year), voted for their top 5, and the Results are below.  A hot discussion this year was the widening gap between Unsupported and Supported efforts - some people did their whole route solo, while…

It's back! An Award for the most notable FKT of the Year.  There's no big prize - actually no prize whatsoever - but that's not why we do FKT's is it?  We want to do and read about what's cool, what's exciting and new, what has meaning for us.  So Peter Bakwin with help from Buzz Burrell compiles a list of the big standouts for 2017,…

Trail runners around the world hold a special affection for Colorado born-and-raised Hillary Allen. Her infectious smile and world-class skill in the most difficult skyraces launched a career that was set-back by a severe fall this summer. Hillary stopped by #UDHQ to fill us in on her recovery and how the injuries have impacted her physically, mentally and emotionally. Leave a comment if you can relate to recovering from…

We know you're eager to hear what's coming in 2018 from Ultimate Direction so we sat down with our icicle-haired designer Ally Juhasz (...don't worry, it has fully melted) to find out what's coming in the new year and what inspires UD product. Ally is a super talented designer with experience at sportswear brands Under Armour and Obermeyer. She's motivated to design the finest products for self-propelled athletes. Let's meet Ally... how…

“Skimo" - the word is now part of the ultrarunning lexicon. Killian has always done it, many ultra runners have taken it up, Mike Foote and Rob Krar are on their National Teams, it’s the coolest new thing … so what the heck is skimo anyway? Here is the best answer possible:  some of the top people in the sport will tell you all about it,…

How hard is it to set a new Fastest Known Time? Really hard as it turns out. In April we awarded four Grants to people undertaking interesting and ambitious projects. How did it go?  Some great attempts, some not so great … and none succeeded! But do any of these constitute a real “failure”?  Is learning, growing, and exploring a failure or a success?  Read…

by Michele Yates FOR GREAT IS NOT MEASURED BY HOW LARGE OR HOW MUCH, OR BY TROPHIES OR MONEY, OR STARDOM OR SUCH, BUT THE GREATEST OF THINGS ARE BY WHOLE OR IN PART, MEASURED BY HOW THEY AFFECT EACH ONE’S HEART.”  ~Michele Steinhauser It’s been awhile, so let me just back up to August where we had another successful, fun Rugged Running camp!  I…

By Lucas Onan Every part of it was so surreal to me. I've spent a good amount of time in the Tetons so they hold a special place for me. I was pretty giddy the whole time.  I was having way too much fun. (Editor's Note:  The "Teton Picnic" is biking from Jackson's town square to Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park, swimming across…

By Matthias Messner There is not much information about the LA Freeway. The most I ever found was in  Anton Krupicka’s Ultimate Direction blog post, Schemin’ and Dreamin’. According to Krupicka’s post, Buzz Burrell, who named the route, was the only one to ever complete it. In two days. Nobody had ever completed in one day. I thought, no wonder, after reading the specs for…

Ultimate Directioner Clare Gallager is about to toe the line at this weekend's Western States Endurance Run. This will be Clare's second hundo to date, as her first was a 1st place finish at the 2016 Leadville Trail 100. Before the "big dance" commences, we wanted to ask Clare a few questions about her trail running background, and her go-to mantras and methods. [caption id="attachment_3073"…

By Justin Simoni I'm just going to start out by saying it: I hate birthday challenges. Although, each year I get myself ramped up to try to do another one, they usually blow up in my face. My greatest-worst birthday challenge was the Arizona Trail Race: 750 miles of bikepacking across Arizona on singletrack from the Mexican to the Utah border. It includes a mandatory…

Written by the Crazy Mother Runners: Marnie, Carsen, and Sherry. The sunrise from the top of Lewis Peak glows soft pinks and purples. The crisp wind cools our foreheads as we enjoy the little reward after climbing the last 5 miles. We set down our hydration packs and take a picture together to remember this beautiful morning. The morning didn't quite start as peaceful as…

by: Eric Carter Looking back in my training diary, it is interesting remembering some of my early-season training sessions and realizing that they feel like they were so long ago. We were incredibly lucky this season to have snowfall in early October. It wasn’t long before we were able to ski down to the valley and by the end of October, ski training was in…

Fastest Known Times have become really popular - as we found out when Ultimate Direction, along with partners La Sportiva and GU Energy Labs, announced the intention to award four Grants to people attempting FKT projects - and we received 315 Applications!  After screening those 79 projects were still left - and each one was totally worthy and really interesting.  I planned to crush that down to 20…

Written by MAX TAAM Living in Aspen it's hard to not know about the Grand Traverse. I race the biggest skimo races in the world in Europe but when I am at home everyone is always asking about the Elk Mountain Grand Traverse. It's a one of kind race and on many Colorado (and beyond) residents bucket lists. The Elk Mountain Grand Traverse is a backcountry…

On April 10, Peter Bakwin and I ran from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to the South Rim. “R2R" of course is now quite normal; a bucket-list route for many. But this took us 11.5 hours. Why so long? Because we started on the North Rim of the Little Colorado River, descended the fabled Hopi Salt Trail, ran and thrashed down the LCR…

by: Buzz Burrell NEW ZEALAND ("Aotearoa" in Maori) is a fabled recreation destination.  Everyone you know has been there or wants to go.  Including you. One week into our 3 1/2 week trip to New Zealand this January, my companion said, “I can see why people want to move here.”  Indeed: great beaches, mountains, lakes, food, wine, and people - what’s there not to like?…

by Krissy Moehl I keep my hydration quiver relatively small these days. The Ultra Vesta, the Adventure Vesta and 2 Fast Draw handhelds. Having these options and being able to mix and match is really all I need to choose from on my training runs from the Fishbowl (my condo in Fairhaven). I run out the door to the Interurban trail and within 2 miles…

The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) recently recommended that the Outdoor Retailer Shows, the two major events (for Summer and Winter) showcasing outdoor recreation gear, be moved from their location in Salt Lake City to a new city. This was in response to the governor of Utah’s policy that some public lands be sold off to private interests, and that the recent designation of Bears Ears…

by Travis Macy It dawned on me a couple of years ago that although I’ve been lucky enough to see a lot of the world, I really haven’t spent enough time exploring and racing in my home state of Colorado.  My new, local ethic meshed well with the capabilities of my growing family, and we set our sites last spring on Lake City, which isn’t…

Miles and Miles of AMAZING SINGLE-TRACK TRAILS Ultimate Direction Dirty 30 Imagine yourself running on single-track trails through aspen groves, lush green meadows, and thick pine forests. After navigating up steep rocky ridges your reward is a majestic view of snow-capped mountains as the Continental Divide is practically within reach. No need to imagine: The Ultimate Direction Dirty 30—and all the sweat, grit, and dirt—can…

What was the coolest Fastest Known Time of 2016?? We compiled a list of nominees, recruited 21 experienced people to figure it all out, they voted, and the results are in!  Results with more info are also up at Ultrarunning.com, and all award photos are courtesy Ultrarunning Magazine. Appropriately, there was no run-away winner - instead, the voting was close, as the voters valued different traits and…

The “FKT” has arrived!  Runners all over the world now understand and use the term, and may expend more effort going for a Fastest Known Time than in a regular race. So the time has come for a "Fastest Known Time of The Year" Award!  Following the long-standing Ultra Runner of the Year (“UROY”) awards that have recognized and celebrated the sport’s best since 1981,…

By Peter Bakwin Living in Boulder, as I have for most of my life, can be strange. Nearly everyone here, young and old alike, is insanely fit. Everyone has set some outlandish running or climbing goal for themselves, something to keep the sense of adventure alive and to expand their skills and experience. I myself have set many, and even achieved some, and this has…

by Brandon Yonke As the new year approached, I knew I wanted to start the year up in thin air. I had freshly acquired a zero degree sleeping bag that needed to be  broken in; my urge to be in the mountains remains regardless of the how minuscule the temperature is. A drive to Breckenridge for a day of skiing doubled as an opportunity to…

Aire Libre's second great adventure, chronologically named AL-02: Sierra Norte de Oaxaca, took place in the heart of the Sierra Norte (North Sierra) in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The Sierra is also home to the Pueblos Mancomunados (Commonwealth of Villages), which is a circuit of 8 small towns that live within a shared communal system and also in close political and economic proximity. We…

“I’ve scouted the whole route except for the North side of La Plata, but that should be easy enough since it is all trail” Some 40+ hours later as I was enjoying a midnight walk along the banks of Lake Creek - which is more of a river than a creek - my comment to Meghan Hicks as we started our respective Nolan’s 14 journeys…

When June rolled around I was excited for my summer gig, a job that had me road tripping around the Western US with the #yourlead van for three months. I was going to run all the trails + pile on the miles. With two big races scheduled for my fall I figured I would have no problem getting in my training. Little did I know…

by: Chantal Warriner 18 Women from Ontario, Canada with One Goal 901.5 km / 563 Miles (with detours at time of relay) The Bruce Trail was built in the year 1960 and is known as Canada’s oldest trail. It also happens to be Canada’s longest marked footpath and provides access to the magnificent Niagara Escarpment. It is entirely built and maintained by volunteers who share…

On Tuesday, Stefan Griebel and I completed an unsupported Longs Peak Triathlon—biking 40mi from Boulder to Longs Peak, running the 5mi up to the base of the Diamond, climbing the seven-pitch Casual Route, continuing to the summit, running back down to the trailhead, and biking back to Boulder—in 9h06m. It was deeply rewarding, and super fun. I have a few thoughts on this. Almost exactly…

As a pretty weak climber, I tend to try and leverage my strengths that come from 22 years experience as a runner when I'm dreaming up mountain objectives. The problem is usually finding a partner that harbors a similar interest in mixing A) moderate alpine climbing, and B) linking together lots of it. Most of the climbers I know who are strong enough to move…

Remote on Vancouver Island hides one of Canada’s most incredible treasures.   For decades, people from around the world have come to hike the rugged and challenging West Coast Trail, one of 3 parts of the Pacific Rim National Parks System, originally called The Dominion Lifesaving Trail. It was built in 1907 to facilitate the rescue of survivors of shipwrecks along the rugged coastline. Today, the…

3:00am is a pretty early time to wake up for any sort of activity, but today was the Golden Gate Dirty 30! 2016 would be my second running of this race. My first was last year which was also my first sanctioned trail running ultra. That's a funny sentence to write; I've done so many self-supported style FKT challenges, I'm not exactly new to all…

The last time I’d been up Longs Peak—the last time I’d been to 14k’—was back in early March for a Winter Longs Peak Duathlon effort. Shortly after that, my iliotibial bands—in both knees—started giving me fits and haven’t really let up since. Late last week, an attempt to use a bike approach to a day of high-altitude scrambling was cut drastically short by a critically…

When I arrived to Leadville, I stopped to grab a late-afternoon cup of coffee from City on a Hill, partly for the roasted goodness, but more to bother the locals for beta on the proximate 14ers. Mt. Elbert, Leadville’s backyard mountain, and Colorado’s tallest peak, was just begging to be climbed as the sun silhouetted the mountain from the other side. The orange horizon was…

By: Stano Faban As I am listening to Prince’s Fury followed by Purple Rain for the 100th time in three days it reinforces one truth – that there are times to play fast and there are times to play slow, in the mountains that is. In ski mountaineering, there are occasions that call for the best ultra-light gear and then there are trips where a…

[caption id="attachment_2659" align="alignnone" width="692"] Discovery Falls[/caption] When I was in first grade my family moved to a home next to a greenbelt with a lush canyon and “The Creek” at the bottom. This perennial stream with a small salmon run was the source of my first adventures in creeks and I loved it.  It was an escape where hours exploring the canyon felt like minutes. I’ve…

Mothers Day is May 8!   Since there are now more female runners in the US than male - 21.8 vs 20.2 million - and 57% of race entries are women (!) - Mothers Day is more noteworthy than ever.  Obviously, mothers comprise only a percentage of these overall numbers, but we wondered:  What are the challenges?  Can you raise children and lower your race…

April 1, 2016 For Immediate Release Boulder, CO - Ultimate Direction, manufacturer of market-leading hydration systems, is pleased to announce the signing of a new Athlete, Katniss Everdeen. Katniss, a Tribute from District 12, is the Winner of the 74th Hunger Games, plus an entire civil war, and is well known for her extreme endurance, toughness, and problem-solving, in addition to archery skills. “The Girl on…

[caption id="attachment_2594" align="aligncenter" width="396"] The Legend: Jared Campbell PC: Buzz Burrell[/caption] Who are the silent badass athletes in the outdoor arena? Ultimate Direction Ambassador Jared Campbell comes to mind. Most outdoor enthusiasts have never heard of Jared (unless they have watched the new Barkley Marathons documentary on Netflix!) So, who is Jared Campbell, and why has he done more adventures than anyone you’ve never heard…

When I did a Longs Peak Triathlon last summer, I remember thinking it was only logical to apply the same tactics in the calendar winter season. Maybe unsurprisingly, there simply didn't seem to be many attempts at such a thing, let alone actual completions of the task. To be sure, even in the age of the Internet, we don't always know what exciting things people…

With Stephanie Ehret and Peter Bakwin "I think we met while drinking whisky out of a bottle and wrestling on the couch. I accidentally poured some in Peters eye.” “It stung.” That was in the 10th grade - 37 years ago - and this ultra couple has been together ever since, celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this last December. Peter Bakwin is of course, the…

Matt Trappe's World Premier of his running film, Kissing the Rock is kicking off in BOULDER COLORADO!  Join us for drinks and light snacks while you watch this inspiring film followed by a Q and A with Matt and some local Hardrock competitors. Watch the Trailer Now! FILM TOUR SCHEDULE March 24 - Flatirons Running Company - Boulder, CO April 2 - Twin Cities Running Company…

[caption id="attachment_2515" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Photo: Myke Hermsmeyer / @mykehphoto / mykejh.com[/caption] Well, that was worthwhile. It’s not like I’m realizing anything groundbreaking here—in fact, mountain and ultrarunners crossing over to skimo in the winter months is treading perilously close to the tipping point of being cliche—but holy shit, what an absolutely fantastic sport! If you like moving quickly and efficiently* in the mountains, this style and…

It's 2016 which means we have new pairs of speedy legs to add to our team. At Ultimate Direction we look for athletes that exude the UD lifestyle, have outstanding personalities, and who of course love the product! Our new cast and crew includes: Krissy Moehl, Nikki Kimball, Ashley Erba, Jessie Young, Devon Yanko, Kristina Pattison, and Hillary Allen. Krissy Moehl is a veteran in…

Ladies need a motivator or excuse to travel & run? Check out the Zooma Race Series and go on a race-cation! [caption id="attachment_2478" align="alignleft" width="987"] Zooma Women's Running Races[/caption] “Run by Women” ZOOMA is unique among other women’s races in that it is literally “run by women” (pun intended!)  ZOOMA’s Founder and Executive Director is a woman, mother, and runner, and the staff are all…

Last month I was out at dinner with some friends when my friend Roch started talking about his hope to one day ski the length of the John Muir Trail. The JMT—the classic 200+ mile route through the High Sierra from Mt Whitney to Yosemite Valley—is an extremely popular summer hike, but Roch figured it had only been skied a couple of times. This conversation was…

The timing of this couldn't be more perfect - we have partnered with Krissy Moehl at the beginning of her new book tour: Running Your First Ultra, and our new and updated Jenny Collection of women's vests and handhelds hit the shelves in one week. Krissy brings a vibrant new perspective to the team along with thousands of miles under her belt.  Moehl's positive and encouraging attitude and…

Twas' a great year for UD athletes and new records. We are proud that we have 2 super motivated ambassadors that both set unbelievable FKT's on the Appalachian Trail. Scott Jurek and Heather "Anish" Anderson should be very proud of their achievements as are we. Gear Junkie thought so too! "Few trail runners have generated publicity like Scott Jurek. The vegan ultrarunner’s speed record on the…

Meandering single-track through groves of aspen, green meadows and thick pine forests. Rocky ridges provide majestic views of snow-capped mountains. Golden Gate State Park shows off the BEST Colorado has to offer! There is a 12 miler and a 50 km, so no matter your distance there is something for everyone. Registration opens January 30th.  This race sells out - so sign up soon! Amazing prizes, incredible trails,…

The hardrock miners of Colorado experienced adversity on another level through the hardships they faced in the San Juan Mountains. When the mines closed and the jobs dried up the town of Silverton was in search of a new identity. The Hardrock Hundred Endurance Run epitomizes the community aspect of mountain running perhaps due to the grueling nature of the course and the adversity the runners face. The mentality of everyone vs.…

“What a great trip! We didn’t get injured or lost!” While Peter Bakwin enthusiastically agreed with this assessment, I noticed I was defining success not by how fast or far we went, the two usual objectives for runners, but by the fact we didn’t get hurt doing it. So either I’m getting old, slow, and conservative - which I actually am - or the 5th…

This summer, from mid-April to mid-August, I had a bone stress injury in my right tibia (reaction, fracture, it doesn't really matter, treatment is the same) that prevented me from not only running, but really, precluded almost any pain-free, bipedal perambulation. Because I was necessarily relegated to biking for those four months, I had a real awakening with regards to the wonders and merits of…

You may have seen this guy around... maybe at his 10 Hardrock finishes including a win in 2010, finishing all 5 laps at Barkley, finishing Nolans 14, setting canyoneering speed records in Zion ... or maybe you haven't seen him because Jared doesn't use Facebook, doesn't talk about himself, doesn't seek any limelight ... and doesn't run on roads. The Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup (WURL) is…

[caption id="attachment_2325" align="aligncenter" width="850"] The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc Starting Line. Photo credit: Michel Cottin[/caption] The thirteenth running of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc occurred last weekend, bringing roughly 2,500 eager ultrarunners to the quaint mountain town of Chamonix, France. Located at the base of Mont Blanc, Chamonix serves as the starting and finishing point for this grueling endurance race which spans terrain in France, Italy and…

Boulder's own Scott Jurek has, after traveling for more than two months, finally returned home. We are thankful to see that he made it through with minimal injuries and that he is making a solid recovery. We are still in awe of his accomplishments and are honored to have been a part of his "masterpiece". We thank all the supporters, whether you were following remotely,…

As FKTs gain more and more recognition in the sport of trail/mountain/ultra running, bigger, tougher, and faster routes are being established. The sky's the limit for the FKTs we have witnessed recently. The UD Team is proud to have some athletes that are creating and completing incredible routes. Scott Jurek [caption id="attachment_2293" align="aligncenter" width="665"] Scott stands within view of Mt. Katahdin, the last climb of…

UD is excited to support these California trail races! The Squaw Mountain run takes place on August 1st and is a point-to-point 3.6 mile run with 2000' feet of elevation gain. Runners start at Squaw Valley and wind up at High Camp, where they are greeted with extensive views of the beautiful California landscape, prizes, raffles, refreshments, and drinks. The Sierra Crest 30k and 50k…

Ultimate Direction had another great year at the Hardrock 100. We were glad to share a gathering with the athletes at our house in Silverton a couple of nights before the race. It was well attended by both first time Hardrockers and veteran Hardrockers. The chips, salsa, and drinks were complete with stories of past races, and the Hardrock family catching up about the past…

Legendary ultrarunner Scott Jurek has completed his "masterpiece". After 46 days, 8 hours, 7 minutes Scott emerged from the One Hundred Mile Wilderness, and took his final step on the Appalachian Trail, arriving at the northern terminus at Mt. Katahdin in Maine. Ultimate Direction joins the rest of the followers of Scott's remarkable journey in sending him a huge congratulations! Scott's efforts and resilience were matched by…

Hardrock. The name speaks volumes about this race. Tough, rugged, and remote, this race is a defining moment in the career of any ultra runner. Held annually in early July in the mountain town of Silverton, CO, world class athletes from around the globe and their crew can easily double the small town population of roughly 600 residents. The town starts shaping into an ultra…

UD athlete Scott Jurek continues his mission of breaking the FKT on the Appalachian Trail. Averaging over 50 miles per day, Scott is advancing ahead of record pace to the northern terminus of the AT at Mt. Katahdin in Maine. [caption id="attachment_2192" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Scott reaches the state of Connecticut.[/caption] Last week, Scott passed through Connecticut and Massachusetts. He passed over the highest point in…

Ultimate Direction has been catching up with our athletes over the past week, and after chasing after them for some incredible updates we are a bit out of breath. From the elevation, to the sheer endurance, to the speed, our athletes have been posting some big accomplishments that we are excited to share. -Scott Jurek has been on the 2,168 mile Appalachian Trail for the past 4+ weeks.…

[caption id="attachment_2144" align="aligncenter" width="469"] Justin Simoni, endurance athlete extraordinaire, conquering one of the many mountain passes on his Tour 14er.[/caption] UD Ambassador Justin Simoni, knows how to dream big.  Like, really big.  At a recent talk at Bent Gate Mountaineering in Golden, CO, Simoni (also known as The Long Ranger) shared with a wide-eyed crowd his story of conquering the Tour 14er last summer.  The…

If you haven't checked out the Another Mother Runner books they are worth a read. Dimity and Sarah are hilarious and their banter about running, being mothers and life in general will put a smile on your face. They are funny, down to earth, busy moms that fit in workouts where and when they can. Both ladies find time to write and tour the country going to…

Be one of only 300 people to get the UDXXX 30th Anniversary Handheld. Each handheld is numbered and unique making it truly a one of a kind. We used the excess Cuben Fiber Silnylon from our Signature Series packs for the pocket - which will fit most smart phones. We wanted to make something fun and unique to commemorate our time in the industry and my…

10 o'clock at night, standing alone on the bank of the Colorado River in full flood stage.  Can I swim across?  Theoretically, yes.  Emotionally, no.  I conducted an inventory of my emotional reserves and made a rational decision:  I’m not going.  I measured, and my cajones weren't big enough. This trip I had brought a Space Blanket, so wrapped myself up in that and slept…

I pushed through the Tamarisk thicket on my hands and knees, being careful to avoid puncturing my air mattress, then waded out up to my waist in the cold, brown, swirling water, my shoes sticking in the mucky bottom, and while wearing a backpack, tried to get on my yellow inflatable mattress. It was an awkward moment. Peter and I had discussed practicing the technique…

As the weather’s been heating up, so has the competition. The Ultimate Direction athletes have been hard at work though, taking home the gold and setting new FKTs! Wonder what your favorite athletes and ambassadors have been up to? Michele Yates Michele Yates conquered the competition at the Gorge 100k in Cascade Locks, Oregon, taking first place for women AND setting a new course record.…

[caption id="attachment_2030" align="alignright" width="194"] Travis Macy's Book- The Ultra Mindset[/caption] As if being a successful ultrarunner, adventure racer, cyclist, coach, and teacher weren’t enough, UD Ambassador Travis Macy recently added the title of “author” to his resume.  The Colorado native, most famously known for his Leadman win, has spent years competing as an elite athlete around the globe while still balancing responsibilities as a husband,…

APRIL 1 -  It’s spring; time for our Annual Shoe Review! The Shoe Review is a time-honored tradition - every running publication always does Shoe Reviews, seemingly every other issue is a Shoe Review, so it’s time Zola did one too. We will use the same format all the other top-notch magazines use, but since shoe companies don't advertise with us we're a little unsure…

Funny, that actually went about as well as I could've realistically hoped. TGC had been on my to-do list for a couple of years now. Friends' descriptions intrigued me, and I found the surface-level details to be attractive: a route that logically traverses a geographic feature (the entire island!), travel to a foreign land, high-level competition, a long but still sub-100mi distance. Nevertheless, I barely…

Guest UD Blogger: RunAroundaRoo's Heidi Kumm about Jeremy Ebel's Adventurous Training Run Over the Western Slope, essentially from Boulder to Winter Park as the crow flies! [caption id="attachment_1953" align="alignleft" width="200"] Jermey Ebel - West Bound[/caption] There are a few reasons to head into the wilderness with a pack full of gear, a compass and a map but this particular trip had a very specific purpose – navigation and misery…

In late October 2001 I was on I-70 driving east through the Eisenhower Tunnels with three fellow Colorado College freshmen. Our destination that evening was the Grays and Torreys trailhead, just a few miles down the hill (they would become only my 2nd and 3rd 14ers the next day; I'd been living in Colorado for all of two months), but as we emerged from the…

To celebrate our 30th we want to kick off ~The Retro UD Gear Photo Contest~ Post a photo in the comments below or on Facebook of your old, retro, vintage, or well-loved UD gear to be featured in our weekly #TBT #UDXXX post and for a chance to WIN a UD Prize Package. See the entries so far on Facebook and Instagram under the hashtag…

On a crisp early fall day Stephanie said, "Let's go someplace warm this winter and do a long hike." This seemed like a good idea, but didn't take root until a while later when I got the flu for 2 weeks, giving me nothing to do but dig into the details of a trip plan. I could think of only one thing that interested me:…

2015 marks our 30th year of making hydration products for the self propelled athlete, hence the UDXXX theme! We are really excited about this year and have a lot of new and innovative ideas percolating. Stay tuned for a year full of celebrating where we've been and also where we are headed. [caption id="attachment_1905" align="alignleft" width="379" class=" "] Take Moment to Watch our UDXXX Anniversary Video[/caption] If…

There’s a limit on how many grocery bags you can carry from your car to the house. (Though my pinky is stronger than I thought!) There’s a limit on how fast you can drive a car—even when there’s no police in sight, as Dimity recently relearned. (Dang those hidden cameras!) There’s a limit—thankfully—on how many Hershey’s Kisses you can eat before feeling slightly ill. And…

We often hear how "the sport is changing”. Some people devote inordinate amounts of time lamenting these changes and wondering about the future. I strongly believe in values – our values and vision drive our personal lives, our businesses, and then ultimately our individual lives translate into the state of our sport - these few and fundamental values do not change. However, everything else does…

Buying a holiday present is a total pain in the derriere, right?  It's probably why the suicide rate goes up during the holidays.  So what to do? You could buy that special him, her, or yourself (let's not kid ourselves about who's really special) a bottle of wine, but since you understand wine about as well as you understand the Higgs boson particle, that won't…

R2R2R is a world-class route, staring on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, running 5,000' down to the Colorado River, across a bridge, then 6,000'' up to the North Rim. Then back again - "Rim to Rim to Rim". I first ran it sometime in the 80's, and it was quite the thing back then, but in the last few years this route has…

UD Ambassador Ethan Veneklasen Shares: Ummm, duh! Everybody knows that. It’s one of the most oft-repeated maxims in running. But did you ever stop to think about why we all know this useful little nugget? One can only assume that it’s because most of us continue to do stupid things and thus, its repetition is warranted. As athletes, we like to think that our experience will…

The JMT, PCT, TRT, and lastly the AT ... what happened on the big trails in 2014? JOHN MUIR TRAIL (JMT) The JMT is one of the premier backpacking trails in the world, running 223 miles through California’s Sierra Nevada from Mt Whitney to Yosemite Valley. It is a fabulous route: remote, rugged, committing, but yet with generally good weather, excellent (though rocky) trails and…

Pregnancy is no joke! I don’t care how many Ultra Marathons you have run, or how close together they were… pregnancy will suck the life and energy out of you like nothing ever before.  Regardless of how tough I try to be, it still slaps me upside the head and knocks me right out (in bed for days at times!).  Your energy level is limited,…

I didn't commit to running UTMB this year until two weeks before race day. During the second week of July my historically-troublesome right shin became a worry once again, and I was able to do very little true running for all of July and August. In early August, in hopes of keeping my Hardrock Qualifier chances alive, but wanting to buy myself a little more…

Summer 2014 Mountain Madness Summer has wound down, and it was a hot one for FKT action in the mountains. Some people REALLY like climbing mountains ... LOTS of mountains! Let’s take a look ... [caption id="attachment_1721" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Andrew Hamilton on Capital Peak - photo Stefan Griebel[/caption] COLORADO 14ers Depending how you count, there are between 53 and 58 peaks in Colorado over 14,000…

The Wind River High Route is possibly one of the best backpacking routes in the world. It runs along the spine of the Wind River Range in northern Wyoming, probably the most wild and remote range in the Lower 48, is modeled after the famed Sierra High Route, and thus is mostly off-trail and above timberline.  I put together the great team of Andrew Skurka…

We were wondering, so we asked:  two weeks ago we sent a survey to everyone on our email list - the results are really helpful - thank you to the 1,798 people who responded! The answers you gave will help us design and build the gear you want. To be included in our next survey, definitely get on our email list - there is zero…

Ambassador Post Written By: Ethan Veneklasen I have run 100 mile races, but I have never truly “raced” one. I thought I had, but no. What I did was something entirely different. This past weekend, I had the distinct honor and privilege of pacing fellow Ultimate Direction athlete Vajin Armstrong of New Zealand at the Western States 100 Endurance Run. His time of 17:50 was…

While Hardrock is generally referred to as an "Endurance Run", and while it is very much that, each year there is unavoidably a competitive component to the event as well. Having been a part of the event five of the last seven years as crew/pacer, I definitely appreciate the community-oriented vibe that the Hardrock Board has so assiduously cultivated over the years; it's a huge…

"Hardrock".  The name evokes the unique aura of this challenging event.  The 21st running of Hardrock is July 11-13; let’s consider what makes it so special, mysterious, and, indeed, legendary. (NOTE:  The Author of this post is Peter Bakwin, who in 2006 began 48 hours before the race, ran the entire course, then did the regular race with the rest of the runners, finishing that…

After taking six of the previous eight months off, I finally started daily running again on April 23rd, the day I got back from a trip to Japan. The first week I began with 35-60min flat jogs, but only a month on I did my first race of the year---the Jemez 50mi---and after that knew that I wanted to find some kind of focus event…

June 21, 2014 - - - The “Tenmile Traverse” is a classic long mountaineering route near Breckenridge, Colorado, which links ten summits uncreatively named Peaks 1 through 10. But, the route covers only half of the Tenmile Range, and the lower, easier half at that. The true Tenmile Range Traverse” (TRT) is simply the entire range, which adds six high 13ers and some really gnarly terrain…

UD ambassador Ethan Veneklasen sheds light on the upcoming Western States 100 Race. It is just 3 days until the big dance. This annual pilgrimage to Squaw Valley brings together the top trail runners from around the globe. WS100 has been called the “Tour de France of ultrarunning”.  For most, the goal is simply to finish within the 30 hour time limit. For others, the coveted…

(Note: Amanda is a member of the Women's Collective, a group that helped Jenny Jurek design the first women's-specific Collection of hydration gear) I’m not your typical runner here in Boulder. I don’t call myself an ultrarunner, I rarely race, and running in groups gives me hives. I am a happy introvert by nature, and most days, running is my bestie. (Don’t worry, I have…

What sign are you? No, I don't mean Aries, Taurus, or Gemini; the following is a thorough, in-depth Horoscope Reading based on your "running sign". Determine which "sign" you are, and read the helpful advice for the upcoming week, plus predictions for your success and love life! TRACK RUNNER You go by the numbers. Which means unlike most other runners you probably have a job,…

A couple weeks ago I did a bit of a tester long run on my home trails in Boulder---31mi, 4h26min, 7k' vert---to see how/if my hip would hold up on a longer effort. It did, and afterwards I started thinking about what I could race on the upcoming calendar, despite the fact that I'd only been running pain-free for all of 16 days. Originally, I'd…

A couple weeks ago, a lot of my friends in my Facebook Feed were popping up with comments and results from the Colorado Marathon up in Fort Collins. It reminded me that, hey, I ran that race once. And that, holy shit, it was 10 years ago! In retrospect, that 2004 marathon---my third, at that point---and that spring in general, was a harbinger in a…

It's 5am on April 17, when a Ford F250 pulls into the dark parking lot. Peter Bakwin and I say hello to Elaine, who fills us in on local lore while driving an hour and half out to Pasture Wash, where we are dropped off by an abandoned cabin. We shoulder our packs and navigate straight west across the flat and featureless plateau until the…

Spring is in the air. This can mean many things, but for Peter Bakwin and I, spring means, "go to the desert!" This year we were going for full value: a 3 1/2 day, 110 mile backpacking route starting from the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park, thru the very remote country of Beef Basin and Fable Valley, and down into the bottom of Dark…

March 14, 6 AM, Canyon Overlook Trailhead Jared Campbell and I are in Zion National Park. It's a cool starry morning, and we immediately are enjoying scrambling up the white and red sandstone in the total darkness, our headlamps illuminating tiny circles in the smooth rock. Hey wait, it isn't supposed to be dark ... we timed our 6 AM departure based on when "Civil…

Grant Guise from New Zealand is our Guest Blogger this month - here's his report. The inaugural Motatapu event was held in 2005, with marathon and mountain bike options, and attracted around 1000 competitors. Fast forward 10 years and the event has over 3700 people taking part in over 5 different events - the original marathon and mountain bike, an Xterra Tri race, the 15km “Miners”…

We've put together a crew of runners from all over the country to help us test and represent Ultimate Direction. We are proud to have these talented ambassadors on board and want to wish them a great season of racing and adventuring. Keep an eye out for them on the trails!  We'd like to introduce you to the class of 2014 --> [caption id="attachment_1349" align="aligncenter"…

For the first month of 2014, I've been injured, again. Back in the first week of the year, I aggravated a hip flexor while shuffling my way up a mountain, and a month later it's finally showing signs of health. Injuries aren't unfamiliar to me, but after 19 years of running, they are no less frustrating. Especially when seemingly induced by an activity (skinning uphill)…

Deanne Buck is the Executive Director of the Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition and was apart of the UD Women's Collective that helped design and test the new Jenny Collection.  We got to sit down and ask her a few questions about the experience. [caption id="attachment_1310" align="alignleft" width="300"] Deanne Buck - Avid Runner. Member of the UD Women's Collective[/caption] How long have you been into running? I started…

Take a peek at the 3 new product videos about the new and improved 2.0 versions of our 3 Signature Series running vests. Anton Krupicka's Race Vest 2.0  -  Watch Now Scott Jurek's Ultra Vest 2.0  - Watch Now Peter Bakwin's Adventure Vest 2.0 -  Watch Now [caption id="attachment_1300" align="aligncenter" width="961"] Updates to the Signatures Series Vests are coming![/caption] The next generation of our Signature…

“Let your instincts guide your steps … he’ll take you where you most love.” – Kilian Jornet For several years I have maintained a simple website dedicated to recording and documenting Fastest Known Time (FKT) efforts on various trails, routes and mountains. “Fastest Known Time” essentially means the same thing as “Speed Record”, while acknowledging it is the fastest time that we know about, as some…

By Sage Canaday I’ve been training and racing year-round for 15 years. In the last year and a half I’ve been competing as a professional Mountain-Ultra-Trail Runner, and in that short time have become fascinated with the culture, community and history of this sport. I’ve already learned a great deal from long-time ambassadors such as Buzz Burrell and Scott McCoubrey, whose trail running roots go…

Michele Yates was one of the first gals we wanted to be apart of our women's collective. Over a year ago we asked her to help us out with brainstorming, fit reviews and product testing  - and she jumped right in! [caption id="attachment_1243" align="alignleft" width="350"] Jenny Jurek and Michele going over the fit and features of the Ultra Vesta[/caption] She was super keen to help…

DESIGNED BY WOMEN FOR WOMEN We brought together a group of talented female runners, both professional and casual runners that we paired with runner and lead designer Jenny Jurek (Yes, Scott Jurek's wife is a talented designer) to create a line of products that are designed specifically for female athletes, by female athletes. After months of brainstorming, patterning, testing,  tweaking and several "jump photos' we…

Since Landon Cooper was 15 years old he dreamed of running across America, he never dreamed it would be for such a worthy cause; Sarcoma Cancer Research. [caption id="attachment_1192" align="alignright" width="300"] Landon presents Buzz Burrell with his signature on the Access waist pack he wore from the start in California all the way to Boulder.[/caption] On his recent 157 day team running tour he witnessed…

My family moved to Boulder in the summer of 1968. On May 5-9, 1969, hard rains produced the biggest flood in decades. As a 7-year-old the 3 feet of water in our (unfinished) basement seemed super cool, sort of like having an indoor swimming pool. Growing up in Boulder the “100 Year Flood”, was part of the local lexicon, like fallout shelters were for families…

[caption id="attachment_1147" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Photo: Salomon Running (Damien Rosso).[/caption] I dropped from the 2013 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in Trient, Switzerland on Saturday morning---139km and 17hr after the start in Chamonix, France, but still 29km from making it all the way around the mountain. Curiously---despite the DNF---UTMB was one of the most pleasant, even serene, racing experiences I've had out on the trails. However,…

Last weekend's Leadville marked the return of Scott Jurek. Scott, as Anton told me last year, is "The Man" - 7 straight WS100 wins, Spartathlon, Badwater, 24 hours, etc - it is unlikely anyone will do that and hold that stature again. And he'd been out of competition for 1-3 years (depending on how you figure it). Can he come back? Is his time past…

I came into Speedgoat this year feeling primed after spending all month exploring new (to me) routes and mountains in non-Sawatch mountain ranges in Colorado. I'd gotten my fill of the Sawatch in June. I also came in with an undue amount of competitive angst. At my core, I'm a pretty competitive person (Joe might say, "The most competitive person I've ever met."), and racing…

Capitol Peak and Snowmass Mountain in Colorado's Elk Range are unique when compared to the range's other 14ers in that they are composed of fractured granite rather than the teetering piles of sedimentary choss that make up the range's even more famous 14ers (notably, Pyramid and the Maroon Bells). Because of its mandatory Knife Edge on the NE Ridge standard route, Capitol is considered by…

When I left the Leadville Fish Hatchery at 2am on Monday morning---setting out on the Nolan's 14 link-up---I suspect I thought I would have a much longer and more interesting story to tell about my journey than the tale I have in my head right now. The short of it is that I started out stupidly early in the morning, felt crappy already by the…

On the summit of Missouri Mt, I pointed out the rest of our day's objectives to Joe. From our vantage point, the summits of Belford, Oxford, Harvard, Columbia, and Yale were all clearly visible. Joe and I both had linked up the first five summits before, but tacking on Yale at the end was uncharted territory for us, and the night before I'd even forgotten…

 May 25-26, Zion National Park, Jared Campbell, Ryan McDermott, Buzz Burrell Jared conceived of Zironman two years ago while studying Google Earth during one of his typical four-hours-of-sleep nights; it was an ingenious route, going from the west boundary of Zion National Park to past the east boundary via the most "interesting" terrain. "Zironman" was a fun way of saying the route involved climbing, running,…

This week was my mom's 65th birthday and retirement party, on the same day. Mom has been an educator for 34 years and Friday was finally her last day of school. I drove the 9 hours home to Niobrara, NE to celebrate with her and my Dad, and the entire way I fought a vicious northerly headwind that left my ears ringing and my brain…

I never intended to become a runner. As a kid I hated running as a sport... I never really thought of myself as an athlete. I didn’t do organized sports at school. Fitness and “exercise” were things I associated with that old dude in the sweats on TV. But I grew up skiing, and have been doing it as long as I can remember. When…

"In a strange kind of way, lifeless landscapes have so much to say." --Porcelain Raft, Shapeless and Gone April on the Front Range had record snowfalls, so a trip south to the desert made sense. Joe had a planned rendezvous with his uncle in the Grand Canyon and my apartment sublease was up and I needed a long, hot run to get ready for Transvulcania next…

I knew it was a different morning on Longs when I left the parking lot with a bare head and bare hands. Usually I'm pretty chilly at the trailhead, but on this day the sweat was pouring off my eyebrows and nose on the very first steep cut up through the trees, and instead of dreading the breeze at treeline I welcomed it for its…

This morning was my 10th summit of Longs Peak so far this year, and the third this week. My previous two times up the mountain earlier in the week were both probably the toughest conditions I've experienced on the mountain. Temperatures weren't unreasonable, but on both Wednesday and Friday the mountain was completely socked in by unforecasted, heavily-snowing clouds, and whipping winds sent constant waves…

I recently visited the factory where Ultimate Direction products are made. This was extremely worthwhile: I met all the people we work with, saw the entire production process, reviewed prototypes for our completely revamped 2014 product line, then discussed the changes and improvements we wanted to make directly with the people who will be implementing them. And, since the factory is in the Philippines, my…

Getting up the hill this particular day wasn't going to be easy. When I awoke, the gently flaking sky seemed benign enough, but now, half-way up Green Mountain, my jacket is soaked through, I'm slogging through shin-deep powder and a raucous north wind is inducing periodic white-out conditions. Up here on the hill, the snow rate has officially crossed the line from "bucolic snow-globe scene"…

It almost always starts as little more than a twinge. You're shaking out the usual kinks in the first few minutes of an early morning run and you notice that one of those kinks takes longer to dissolve than all the others.  No matter, a couple hours later at the end of your outing, you've forgotten it even happened.  Except the next morning, maybe it…

"In the High Country" will be a new kind of mountain film featuring Anton Krupicka. Filmed and Produced by Joel Wolpert with the support of Ultimate Direction, this won't be the usual running film - no "loneliness of the long distance runner" - "High Country" will take you where you've never been before. Anton Krupicka's running has evolved from roads to trails to mountains and now…

The east face of Longs Peak presents a complex and intimidating visage.  This aspect of the peak, afterall, contains the 1700' shear wall known as the Diamond, the most important high-altitude big wall in the country from an alpine-climbing perspective.  However, lucky for unskilled climbing neophytes such as myself, there exists a relatively moderate line through this terrain that still offers some of the thrill…

I was fortunate enough to achieve many of my adventure running ambitions in 2012 (including three outings that were so good that I am determined to repeat them in 2013: the Ten Mile Range Traverse, the Glacier Gorge Traverse in Rocky Mt. Nat'l Park, and Gannet Peak IAD (in-a-day) in Wyoming), though I was just beginning to realize the potential for fun that exists when one…

The other day I was thinking about what it is that compels me to maintain Boulder, CO as my home base (i.e., my winter crash pad and touchstone of all things urban and civilized in the summer season). Aside from the fact that I have friends here and I enjoy the compact layout of the city, more and more my motivation has become the city's…

Running into the tiny village of Guipry, in France’s Brittany district, on August 31, 2002, I was feeling pretty worn. It was the fourth long day of La Transe Gaule, an 18-day stage race across France. I’d run maybe 25 km already that morning, and had another 45 or so to go – a typical 70 km day. This was beginning to seem like a…

Scott Jurek is "The Man" - other ultra runners consider him the king, the top of the heap. He won the Western States 100 seven times in a row - current winners acknowledge that will never be done again. Now he has switched sports - Scott has taken that same commitment and intensity and applied it to the business of running.  He has written a…

Being wedged into a mass of humanity is not a novelty in Japan, but the crowd my wife Stephanie and I were stuck in clearly wasn’t going anywhere for hours.  I had visions of a Who-concert-style stampede and trampling, but of course the Japanese are used to this kind of thing and take it in stride, with their seeming infinite patience and courtesy.  Us Americans,…

In one month the Signature Series will be released. This unique series of three hydration vests is being really well received.  And why not?  It was designed by three of the best ultra runners in the world! Retailers ordered the entire initial production run before manufacturing was finished. Working with these Athletes was great.  Other company's should do this as well: just ask the best…

"We focus on something external to motivate us, but we need to remember that it’s the process of reaching for that prize—not the prize itself—that can bring us peace, and joy." Eat & Run, p.177 We spoke with Scott Jurek while filming a Video (we'll put it up soon!) Scott has been uncharacteristically at home this summer, enjoying cooking and running in the mountains, as…

[caption id="attachment_474" align="alignnone" width="640"] Looking east from the summit of Gannet Peak.[/caption] A year ago, to the week, I climbed the Third Flatiron in Boulder, CO for the first time.  Legendary mountaineer and guidebook author Gerry Roach stridently proclaims its standard East Face route (5.2) "the finest easy rock climb in the world".  Back in June of 2011 I had broken my leg and last…

The Four Passes Loop (nicer name: "Ring of Bells"), is considered one of the best long trail runs in North America. Starting at 9,600' at the postcard-perfect Maroon Lake above Aspen, this loop is almost exactly Marathon distance, and transects the Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness Area while going over four big passes, each over 12,400'. The scenery is amazing. There are no signs of civilization; only…

CAPTION THIS PHOTO! We received an incredible response to that question on our Facebook Page - over 850(!) of you wrote what you thought they were thinking, over 100 people Shared it on their own FB Page, and over 20,000 people viewed the photograph and your proposed Captions, some of which were hilarious. Good job! The photo is from the Leadville 100, where Scott Jurek…

[caption id="attachment_437" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Grand Teton, South Aspect.[/caption] After a hot, mostly flat, nearly 5hr, post-Speedgoat 50K drive from Salt Lake City to Jackson, Frosty and I suffered through the downtown tourist traffic (such novices! take the side streets to skirt the masses!) and headed directly to Teton Mountaineering where, with nary a pause, I dropped $40 on A Climber's Guide to the Teton Range…

Wham Ridge is super-classic – the best alpine route in the San Juans.  While high and wild, the San Juan Mountains of SW Colorado are mainly giant gravel piles, consisting of massive talus slopes below crumbling ridges.  Wham Ridge is the opposite, being composed of beautiful, hard quartzite.  It is the north face of Vestal Peak, in the heart of the Grenadier Range, which is…

"Where did you find those people!?" Peter Bakwin asked me that in amazement at this year's Hardrock 100. We had been standing outside Registration, as runners marveled at the Signature Series prototypes - "You guys absolutely crushed it!" was a common comment - while Peter himself was marveling at the incredible team that had converted his, Scott, and Anton's ideas into actual products. "It seems…

The tribe has gathered; the race starts at 6 am tomorrow.  Considering only 140 entrants are allowed (by Forest Service Permit), this event is remarkably impactful on the sport of ultrarunning.  Here are some stray thoughts. I walked up to Karl Meltzer, one of the best 100 milers ever, and who has the course record in one direction (Hardrock is a loop, which alternates direction).…

THE MEN'S COURSE RECORD ... Kyle Skaggs left his indelible print on the event in 2008, when he blew away the course record by over 2 1/2 hours. Just four years previous, the race was won in 30:39 - Kyle did it more than 7 hours faster, and remains the only person to go under 24 hours. So how did he do that? Kyle was…

The Hardrock 100 mile race was started to honor the hard rock miners of the San Juans and the extraordinary mountains in which they lived and worked. The course is incredible – 33,992' of of elevation gain, with an average altitude of 11,186', including climbing over a 14,000' mountain - which is often done in the middle of the night, sometimes during a lightning storm. The…

July 1, 2012 - The Glacier Gorge Traverse, in Rocky Mountain National Park, is one of Colorado’s “hard man” classics.  It’s really difficult – 19 miles with over 10,000’ of elevation gain, most of which is above 12,000’, and all of which is gnarly and technical.  I had been wanting to do it for years, but was never able to wrap my head around the…

Bottles up front? As a women you may be thinking…..hmmm what about my girls? At first glance looking at the new designs of the Ultimate Direction hydration vests a female might raise an eyebrow as to how it will fit over one’s ta ta’s. Well, we thought the same thing and have designed it to accommodate many body types. Lots of runner gals of all…

[caption id="attachment_308" align="aligncenter" width="584"] The Ellingwood Ridge, from La Plata's summit.[/caption] While the Sawatch Range in central Colorado is impressively high--it's home to 15 peaks over 14,000'--it's not a very technical group of mountains.  Most routes are Class 1 or 2 walk-ups, and the mountains themselves have often been accused of not really being much more than giant talus piles.  (This reputation is not without…

Product testing is really important. This is how we make sure we create the absolute best best tools for the self-propelled person. It's also how we have fun in the mountains with friends. Last weekend, Peter Bakwin, Anton Krupicka and I went up to do the classic Kieners Route on Longs Peak. This involves a 5 mile trail run starting at 9,382' and ending at…

[caption id="attachment_267" align="aligncenter" width="500"] 5-time Zegama champ Kilian Jornet high on the mountain. Credit: SalernoPhoto.[/caption] Last weekend I was standing around in the pouring 45F rain in the town square of Zegama in the Basque Country of northern Spain.  Montana mountain runner Mike Wolfe had just crossed the finish threshold of the Zegama-Aizkorri SkyMarathon in 14th place as the top American and was still visibly…

After my 2010 attempt people asked me if I was going to give it another go. I always said, “Nope. Too hard. I don’t see how I can do it better.” So, why one year later, was I sitting alone on top of Gemini Peak in a total friggin' whiteout at midnight? Navigating this terrain at night is really hard - it's all above timberline,…

(Editors Note:  Peter Bakwin conceives and attempts the Mosquito Tenmile Traverse - the longest and highest ridge in the lower states - 38 miles continuously above timberline). My head was spinning as I sat on the summit of Fletcher Mountain just after noon on July 24, 2010. Was it the 13,951’ elevation? Or, was it the fact that I’d just gone straight through the night,…

"We arrived 35 minutes before the start of the race; perfect timing. I got out of the car, and told my friend, “Make sure you leave it unlocked; I’m going to warm up a bit, then come back here and drop my sweats”. We were at the Moab Red Hot, a point-point trail race; she was going to drive the car around and meet me at…

Being a Boulder based company brings many benefits; besides being able to lose yourself in nature on a lunch run, we are also surrounded by exceptional athletic talent.  Ultimate Direction is lucky enough to have nabbed Scott Jurek, Anton Krupicka and Peter Bakwin's expert advice on hydration gear. Tony, Scott and Peter have been working hard on a new project we have brewing up! These…

Last weekend I went to Utah to do Trans-Zion, one of the classic trail runs in the country. Traversing Zion National Park from one end to the other, all on beautiful trails, and with it's optimal season (March-May) coming before the classic mountain routes are snow-free, this 44 mile route is now run by dozens of people every spring, even though it was first run…

Ultimate Direction has partnered with three of the most renowned ultra runners in history to help design new cutting-edge products. We were the first, and we are the future – and we're going to tell you all about it. Welcome to our blog! Scott Jurek, Anton Krupicka, and Peter Bakwin will be bringing you their latest news and views, posting directly here.  Get the scoop. …

Local runner Tim Waggoner shares his philosophy on life and running. He ties his passion for running to so many other positive elements of his life. Run to Live.  Watch the video! Nick Name: Lucho Sport and Accomplishments: Triathlon and Ultra-marathoning 15 time Ironman. 16th over-all and top amateur at Ironman Hawaii in 2000. USAT Triathlete of the year in 2000. 12th professional at Hawaii in 2002.…

About Peter Bakwin: Physics minded and fit Peter is all about product testing, advocacy and adventures, with over 75 marathons and ultramarathon races on road, track and trail under his belt he's no stranger to endurance. Also an avid statistician, Peter created the Fastest Known Times website that was featured in Running Times Magazine. It tracks speed records for trails and routes around the world. Peter…

About Anton Krupicka:  Besides being a two time Leadville 100 champion Anton has created a name for himself around his trail style, (almost Forest Gump-esque hair) and minimalist attire. He often runs without a shirt and with very lightweight minimal running shoes. He ran his first marathon when he was twelve. During college and in his early 20s he often ran upwards of 200 miles a week. Krupicka…

About Buzz Burrell: A bit of a trail running legend you could say, not just because of the grey hair and thousands of miles under his belt. The former record holder for the Colorado Trail and the John Muir Trail is known for his adventurous spirit as much as his endurance prowess. The Boulder, Colorado resident prides himself on running trails where no one has run…