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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…

[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.…