Mallorca –– On the Trail of La Vida Dulce
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT BRODEY I begin with a confession. The Spanish island of Mallorca (Majorca) in the western Mediterranean has never been on my…
Dreaming in Dolomiti
It has been a year and a half since I took the two-hour bus ride from the oppressive heat of the Venice airport up to cool…
In Praise of Non-Gifted Athletes (like myself).
I don’t like puking. Period. It’s for this reason I rarely push myself to the point of nausea while racing. On top of that, I’m an…
Use All Your Gears – to Maximize Fitness
In 2003-2004, I lived in the highlands of Costa Rica. I would often hop on my bicycle and head up into the outlying mountains. It was…
I’ll Admit It: I Don’t Like Road Marathons
In some running circles, the road marathon is considered the ultimate test of one’s fitness, but I’m honestly not a big fan of pavement. My ultimate fitness…
Writing and Running to the End of Time
Writing is a funny thing. For some of my writer friends, they feel like they have to force themselves to sit and write. And they can’t…
Over the Hill: Final Preparation for Running the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB)
It has been a busy few months, juggling projects, including big edits on my book project, Josef’s Lair, working the bread-and-butter job, cross-country training, and, of…
There Will Be Mud: The 2014 Sulphur Springs 50km Trail Run
“It’s time you stay home and grow up,” said an acquaintance, when I told him I was heading out of town to run a 50km trail…
Winter Training: The Indoor Option
OK, th winter of 2013/14 has been shaping up to be the most challenging one yet for outdoor training with temperatures dipping into the -20s and…
The Itch: What’s Next?
I truly thought after completing my first ultramarathon this past September that a switch would turn off, and I would never have the urge to train…
Post Script to a Second Marathon
I’ll admit, I recently broke rule #1 of long distance running, which goes something like, “Slowly build your mileage (10% per week with an easy week…
Feet First: Part Deux
I was originally going to update my previous running shoe post with some new dirt, but I thought it best to write something from scratch. So…
Whistler’s Meet Your Maker 82km Trail Ultra– And Why I think I Made It
First off, wow. I loved this race, and I loved having the ultra-off-road experience in such a spectacularly beautiful corner of the world. In fact, the…
Meet Your Maker – Or Live Trying
From what I understand, the DNA of a flower contains a blueprint for the potential of that plant. Whether the conditions are right for that flower…
Return to a Childhood Eden – A Cross-Country Run in the French Pyrenees
I can hear the low warm chime of cow bells before I see them. Then, as I round the corner in view of a gushing river, the…