A Q&A with Scott Dunlap, Master Trail Runner & Blogger

Training & Racing

A Q&A with Scott Dunlap, Master Trail Runner & Blogger

3 Comments 18 May 2013

Longtime trail-running blogger Scott Dunlap was named USATF Masters Ultrarunner of the Year in 2010, and has won Masters titles in the 10-mile, half marathon, marathon and 50k distances. Then he went and set a new marathon PR last month (2:44:35). He also has a very full career and family life. How does he do it?

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Lake Sonoma 50 Race Report: It Worked!

Training & Racing

Lake Sonoma 50 Race Report: It Worked!

11 Comments 22 April 2013

It really mattered to me to have a strong, solid 50-miler this season to build confidence in advance of the 100-miler this September. If I had another inordinately difficult 50-mile effort, then I might pull the plug on the 100-mile-debut plan. This post details the key things that worked for me for the Lake Sonoma 50.

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Road Marathon vs. Trail Ultra: Which Is Harder?

Training & Racing

Road Marathon vs. Trail Ultra: Which Is Harder?

17 Comments 31 March 2013

The Oakland Marathon followed by a long run on Mount Diablo gave me an apples-and-oranges kind of comparison between road marathoning and trail ultrarunning, making me contemplate, which is "harder"? Which is better for me, and which do I like more?

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Way Too Cool 2013 Race Report: A Few Crappy Miles, But Overall Just Right

Destinations, Training & Racing

Way Too Cool 2013 Race Report: A Few Crappy Miles, But Overall Just Right

7 Comments 15 March 2013

I decided it was finally time to run Cool, which is widely viewed as the spring kickoff to the year's ultra racing season. Could I make it a PR?

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Comfort Running

Training & Racing

Comfort Running

15 Comments 03 March 2013

Sometimes it's important to shelve a rigorous training plan and use running simply for solace. Last month was one of those times for me. This is the story of how I said goodbye to my dad, and how running helped me through it.

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Running the Ridge in Ojai: A Long Trail Takes Me Above and Beyond the Familiar

Destinations, Training & Racing

Running the Ridge in Ojai: A Long Trail Takes Me Above and Beyond the Familiar

9 Comments 07 February 2013

From my perspective as a child growing up in Ojai, the mountains that make up the Nordhoff Ridge always looked so big and far away. I could only reach them on horseback. On my last visit, I decided to step out of my comfort zone of running familiar streets and go up and along the ridge. It gave me a whole new perspective on my hometown.

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Fateful Steps in 1995

Training & Racing

Fateful Steps in 1995

8 Comments 20 January 2013

Inspired by Cheryl Strayed's memoir Wild, I look back at the year 1995 when I was 26. I understand more fully now why I got hooked on running and racing marathons that year: it gave me something my fizzling career didn't.

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What’s Behind the Smile and Stamina of 71-Year-Old Ultrarunner Eldrith Gosney

Training & Racing

What’s Behind the Smile and Stamina of 71-Year-Old Ultrarunner Eldrith Gosney

20 Comments 02 January 2013

A profile of a 71-year-old ultrarunner who inspired me and gave me a lot to think about regarding aging and running.

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Merry Christmas from Kauai and Hello 2013

Destinations, Training & Racing, Travel & Gear

Merry Christmas from Kauai and Hello 2013

6 Comments 25 December 2012

Taking a break this week from regular life—from work, chores and even running—gives me a chance to reflect on the past year and set some goals for 2013.

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2012 North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Mile Race Report: From Reroute to Burnout and Back

Training & Racing

2012 North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Mile Race Report: From Reroute to Burnout and Back

7 Comments 04 December 2012

How a disappointing day turned worthwhile after all.

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My 2013 Race & Family Travel Calendar

mid-February: Telluride
Way Too Cool 50K Mar. 9. Race report.
Oakland Marathon, not racing but volunteering as leader for the 3:40 pace group, Mar. 24
Lake Sonoma 50M Apr. 13. Race report.
mid-April: exploring Vancouver for Spring Break
East Bay Triple Crown Series: Tilden Tough 10M May 19, Lake Chabot Half June 2, Woodminster 9M June 16.
mid-summer: 6-day Maine biking trip and 8-day Colorado River rafting trip! Details.
Aug. 11: Skyline 50K in the Oakland hills
Pine to Palm 100M Sept. 14

My 2012 Race Calendar

Brooks Falls Trail Run 30K, Jan. 22, report & commentary
Oakland Marathon, Mar. 25, race report
Miwok 100K, May 5, Race report (it's a doozy!)
Marin Ultra Challenge 50K, June 30
Geoff Roes Alaskan training camp, July 24 - 28. Read about it.
Skyline 50K, Aug. 12. Pack training run.
The Grand to Grand Ultra, Sept. 23 - 29. Amazing.
Save Mount Diablo Half Marathon, Nov. 4.
Piedmont Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 3-mile (1st age group, 4th F).
North Face Endurance Challenge Championship 50M, Dec. 1. Race report.

My 2011 Race Calendar

Epiphany Ultra, Jan. 2. Did it! Here's the writeup.
European XC 10K in Ventura Jan. 30. Here's the writeup.
San Francisco Half Marathon, Feb. 6. Ugh, a hard one! Race report became "How to Recover from a Race that Sucked".
Montaña de Oro 50K, Feb. 13. Did it! Here's the writeup.
Oakland Marathon, March 27. So fun! My race report became a haiku.
American River 50M, April 9, race report
Santa Barbara Wine Country Half Marathon, May 7, race report
Tilden Tough Ten 10M, May 15, and the two other races in the Triple Crown trail series, too: Lake Chabot Half and Woodminster 9M. I ended up winning the women's 2011 East Bay Triple Crown trophy for the fastest cumulative time in the three events! (news blurb & pic)
Ohlone 50K, May 22, Unforgettable!
Pacing the last 25 mi of Hardrock 100 in Telluride! Here's the pace report.
Skyline 50K in Oakland Aug. 7. Bummer, no go because I'm injured.
Piedmont Fall Fest 5K Sept. 24: Placed 2nd
North Face Endurance Challenge 50M, Dec. 3. Race report.
PCTR Rodeo Beach 50K, New Year's Eve. Nice to end the year with a win! Race report.

Proud to race on the team of Inside Trail Racing. Check out their calendar of great trail races.

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