Laura Clark reviews the book, Chasing the Grid: An Ultrarunner’s Physical and Spiritual Journey in Pursuit of the Ultimate Mountain Challenge, by Kenneth Posner. Velo Press, 2025. Laura is a trail runner, snowshoer and children’s librarian based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast — US Navy Seals Like most of us,… Read more »
Laura Clark reviews Running Past 50: Your Guide to Running Longevity and Success, by Caolan MacMahon. Human Kinetics, 2025. Laura is a trail runner, snowshoer and children’s librarian based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Is 50 the new 30? One could only wish. When I was younger, I figured that if I just kept running, I… Read more »
Trials of Miles for the Legs and Mind It’s not about how many miles you run but about how and why you run those miles that determine the kind of runner (and human) you are becoming. In her first book, The Examined Run: Why Good People Make Better Runners, philosopher, assistant professor at Christopher Newport… Read more »
Trail Runner’s Book Review: Ultra Running for Normal People “I believe ultrarunning is not only possible but profoundly beneficial for most Normal People.” Sid Garza-Hillman, author, coach, and trail race director based in Mendocino, CA, aims to “demystify” ultramarathon trail running to the general population in his fourth book: Ultra Running For Normal People. Garza-Hillman,… Read more »
Trail runner and children’s librarian Laura Clark reviews The Resilient Athlete A Self-Coaching Guide to Next Level Performance in Sports & Life, by Andrejs Birjkovs. Hatherleigh Press, 2023. According to Andrejs Birjukovs, a coach and multisport competitor, the resilient athlete needs to perfect three interrelated areas: mindset, lifestyle and training. As such, his book is… Read more »
Laura Clark reviews Long Run to Glory: The Story of the Greatest Marathon in Olympic History and the Women Who Made It Happen, by Stephen Lane. Lyons Press, 2023. Laura is a trail runner, snowshoer and children’s librarian based in Saratoga Springs, NY. In August, 1984, four of the greatest marathoners joined forces at the… Read more »
Ultimate Guide to Trail Running, by Adam W. Chase and Nancy Hobbs. Falcon, 2023. Reviewed by trail runner Laura Clark. Laura is an avid mountain, trail, and snowshoe runner who lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is a children’s librarian. You can read more about Laura on page 15 of this book. Now in… Read more »
Choosing to read Des Linden’s Memoir Choosing to Run We’ve all read self-centered sports memoirs. Athletes who struggle writing (even with help from their editors), hastily craft stories that read like Wikipedia summaries of their superhuman medal-winning moments. Often the “book’s” purpose is to earn a few extra bucks for the athletes and their sponsors… Read more »
Feature Photo: Peter Maksimow. When Good Trails Go Bad: Planning, Surviving, & Being Rescued From Your Worst Day on the Trail, by Stephen W. Littlewood. Littlewood, 2022. Reviewed by trail runner Laura Clark. Laura is an avid mountain, trail, and snowshoe runner who lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is a children’s librarian. As… Read more »
A Mile at a Time: A Father and Son’s Inspiring Alzheimer’s Journey of Love, Adventure, and Hope, by Travis and Mark “Mace” Macy and Patrick Regan. Charlesbridge, 2023. Reviewed by trail runner Laura Clark. Laura is an avid mountain, trail and snowshoe runner who lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is a children’s librarian…. Read more »
Colorado Alpine Trail Runs, by Annalise Grueter. Colorado Mountain Club Press, 2022. Reviewed by trail runner Laura Clark. Laura is an avid mountain, trail and snowshoe runner who lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is a children’s librarian. The operational consideration for this guidebook is the phrase, “trail runs.” The 45 scenic adventures described,… Read more »
Oregon Running Legend Steve Prefontaine, by Paul C. Clerici. The History Press, 2022. Reviewed by trail runner Laura Clark. Laura is an avid mountain, trail and snowshoe runner who lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is a children’s librarian. Some people create with words, or with music, or with a brush and paints. I… Read more »
SOLO: What Running Across Mountains Taught Me About Life, by Jenny Tough. Aster, 2022. Reviewed by trail runner Laura Clark. Laura is an avid mountain, trail and snowshoe runner who lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is a children’s librarian.. You have to be really tough to imagine the page-turning adventure that Jenny Tough… Read more »
Running and Returning: Seeking Balance in an Imperfect World, by Vicki Ash Hunter, PhD. CG Sports Publishing, 2022. Reviewed by trail runner Laura Clark. Laura is an avid mountain, trail and snowshoe runner who lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is a children’s librarian. It is often observed that runners tend to be addictive,… Read more »
Pliability for Runners: The Breakthrough Method to Stay Injury-Free, Get Stronger, and Run Faster, by Joseph McConkey, MS. Hatherleigh Press, 2022. Reviewed by trail runner Laura Clark. Laura is an avid mountain, trail and snowshoe runner who lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is a children’s librarian. If you are like me, you turn… Read more »
Naked at the Knife-Edge: What Everest Taught Me about Leadership and the Power of Vulnerability, written by Vivian James Rigney. Forefront Books, 2022. Reviewed by trail runner Laura Clark. Laura is an avid mountain, trail and snowshoe runner who lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is a children’s librarian. “It’s not the mountain we… Read more »
GO FAR: How Endurance Sports Help You Win at Life, written by Jennifer Strong McConachie, Hatherleigh Press, 2021. Reviewed by trail runner Laura Clark. Laura is an avid mountain, trail and snowshoe runner who lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is a children’s librarian. Notice that the above title, GO FAR, is all in… Read more »
Trail Running Illustrated: The Art of Running Free, written by Doug Mayer and Brian Metzler, Mountaineers Books, 2021. Illustrated by Schreiber Marion. Reviewed by trail runner Laura Clark. Laura is an avid mountain, trail and snowshoe runner who lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is a children’s librarian. You’re off to Great Places, Today… Read more »
Yoga for Runners, written by Christine Felstead. Second Edition, Human Kinetics, 2022. Reviewed by trail runner Laura Clark. Laura is an avid mountain, trail and snowshoe runner who lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is a children’s librarian. I must admit I approached this review with some trepidation. In fact, I tried to hand… Read more »
Runner’s High: How a Movement of Cannabis-Fueled Athletes is Changing the Science of Sports, by Josiah Hesse. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2021. Reviewed by trail runner Laura Clark. Laura is an avid mountain, trail and snowshoe runner who lives in Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is a children’s librarian. From the moment I picked up Josiah… Read more »
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