If you build it, perfect temps and walk there

Hi all,
The Cocodona 250 and associated races are on this week, WHY SHOULD YOU CARE about a bunch of people shuffling for 250 miles across Arizona? You don't have to, and if you don't want to be convinced, move along to the next topic. But, if you are curious about people foot hustling for a very long time, I have some reasons to care as someone who thought it was the DUMBEST the first year it started. 

• If this isn't proof of a "if you build it, they will come" style project, I don't know what is. This race with over 250 entrants has a live stream, I mean, who wants to watch a bunch of slow-moving people travel for DAYS across the desert? Well, I went to click on the livestream yesterday and could not get through because of too much web traffic. A website crashing amount of people want to watch. Don't let people tell you your ridiculous idea is ridiculous. A 100+ hour livestream of a trail race may be the most ridiculous idea I have heard of and it is working because passionate people are showing absolute humanity and a triumph of the human spirit when other news right now drenches your soul fire. Watch the YouTube livestream, get a note to give to your boss for slacking off while you watch. 
• Here is a video of the third-place female at mile 36. She looks like she is running the pace for a 50k. Races that are farther and harder and steeper and longer are pushing the sport. We can all learn something from the new places trail running is going (even if you don't want to go there and want to run it real chill) 
• The course goes through deserts, mountains and down the main streets of towns. In Europe it is common to see finish lines in a town square where people can cheer, gather inspiration and trail running gets normalized. In the US we tend to have a sizeable distance between our trails and towns with most trail races ending in a small patch of open space far from civilization. Cocodona is a cool format that brings exposure to the sport and brings the sport into town. When towns have an Ironman there is an uptick of local people who join the race, start triathlon clubs and "create more racers within 300–500 miles of that location" Again, if you build it they will come. 

I will have more reflections next week after I have crewed and paced at the Sedona Canyons 125, one of 4 races held this Cocodona week. Also, if you are thinking, MAYBE I could run farther than 100 miles, but 200+ sounds looney tunes, the Sedona Canyons 125 has a 75-hour cut off! 

STRENGTH TRAINING FOR RUNNERS
But first, don't skip strength training. I will be somewhere between Sedona and Flagstaff on Wednesday night, so no live class this week, but no reason to skip when you can do this one from the archives. 

A PERFECT MARATHON TEMPERATURE
Do you have a perfect running and racing temperature? Researchers studied this and came up with 48 degrees F and low humidity as the perfect marathon temperature. Full article here summarizing the data, but in general, you are better to be racing a marathon in cold than heat, humidity isn't a real problem for most runners until it is over 65 degrees and there is a lot of individual variation so don't freak out if your next marathon is 70 degrees and 80% humidity. 

ALTITUDE NONRESPONDER
Research shows that when it comes to altitude "some athletes struggle to acclimate or adapt and see no positive impacts of altitude training. These athletes might be seen as nonresponders to altitude." If you feel like you have friends who tackle summits with no problem but you always struggle, it may not be your work ethic or training. Read on. 

And a podcast with the How To of training at altitude.

A LONG WALK
Can I walk there? The answer is, how much time do you have! This guy is on a 27 year walk around the world. When I saw the headline, I had so many questions.  For some quick answers, the start was southern tip of Chile, through to Alaska where he crossed the Beiring Straight ON FOOT. He has been jailed, laid up for the pandemic and has had some serious visa red tape. In total it has been 13 years of active walking, 27 days of swimming and it looks like there is another year to go to finish this thing. He has two self-imposed rules: he cannot use any form of transportation on his route, and is not allowed to go home until he is finished. At this point, what is home?