Everyone craves a big plate of pasta and tall glass of wine while running an ultra, right?! Sarah Lavender Smith of Colorado Mountain Running and Living chats about one of the most memorable aid stations she’s ever encountered, as well as shares her experience volunteering at mile 58 of the Hardrock 100 and how she used that experience to strategize for her own 100 miler, the High Lonesome 100. Even though Sarah has run countless ultra events, she still experienced a first at the High Lonesome 100!
“I took up ultras in the early 2000s after a decade of road running. I've done like 100 ultras. I've never puked. It's like losing your virginity, puking in an ultra. It's the thing everyone does at some point. And I finally, like the full on uncontrollable yawn. Just horrible.”
We paint lovely pictures on the podcast! ;-) Sarah is a great guest and follow, both on Substack and social media (IG and Twitter). She’s also written a book “The Trail Runner's Companion: A Step-by-Step Guide to Trail Running and Racing, from 5Ks to Ultras.” I reached out after she wrote “Anatomy of an Aid Station” and knew I had to chat with her about it!
“I would pinpoint one runner and latch onto him or her and say, “Hey, I'm your helper. Let me know what you need.“ I would stick with that person and do everything I could to help that person, whether it was helping them get their shoes off and change their socks and deal with their gross feet or getting them food or wrapping. Those were just some of the things that made it special.”
Check it out and let me know some aid station stories of your own in the comment section! Thank you to those that submitted your questions for Sarah, it’s always appreciated. We didn’t quite answer them all, but the best aid station memory that Sarah shared made up for it…
Next week the podcast is back! We’re getting ready for Squamish 50 and we’ve got the first multi-guest show coming to preview the weekend. This podcast will take place of the written piece that would usually come. Guests have been awesome and generous, so we’re gonna roll with it!
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Don’t forget to recommend your recent favourite races!
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Ep. 16 Why not stop and have pasta and wine at mile 16? With Sarah Lavender Smith