The Uniting Glue in Ultrarunning
When UltraRunning put out its first issue in May 1981, some doubted that the magazine would prevail. But the doubters were proved wrong as it has succeeded for 40 years. World ultrarunning historian Andy Milroy observed, “UltraRunning Magazine has demonstrated an admirable staying power. Over the long haul, it has been the most essential and uniting glue in our sport.” How did it make such an impact over the years? What was the state of ultrarunning in 1980 when the idea for a magazine was conceived by Fred Pilon?
Most of us probably imagine that ultrarunning in 1980 was a very small but growing sport. What likely comes to mind are the classic 100-milers that existed at the time in their infancy: Western States in California, Wasatch Front in Utah and Old Dominion in Virginia. After all, there were only a total of 146 finishes in those mountain trail 100s in 1980. What could fill the pages of a new
