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Lead Stories: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Podcast 52: Running the Sahara’s Charlie Engle

Posted May 23rd, 2007 at 3:15 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Episode 52 of The Final Sprint Podcast features my interview with Charlie Engle; one of America’s top ultra- endurance athletes and Running the Sahara’s Expedition Team Leader. Charlie, along with Canada’s Ray Zahab and Taiwan’s Kevin Lin, successfully became the first humans to run across the
Sahara Desert this past winter. The statistics of their historic and life-changing adventure are almost incomprehensible. In average temperatures of 112 degrees Fahrenheit, these three men ran for 111 days, accumulated a total of 4,300 miles, crossed 6 countries and drank enough Gatorade Endurance Formula (3,300 liters) to fill an entire swimming pool!

This fall the documentary “Running the Sahara”, directed by James Moll and narrated by Matt Damon (both of whom are Academy Award winners) will chronicle Charlie, Ray and Kevin’s incredible feat.

In this in-depth interview Charlie talks about how the idea evolved, the drive to realize such a unthinkable goal, staying hydrated and nutritionally fueled, the critical assistance of partners like Gatorade and Magellan GPS, and the multitude of dangers and obstacles (such as scorpions, wind storms and a lack of water) that they encountered (and overcame) along the way.

Download the podcast to hear Charlie discuss these topics, as well as, how they were received by the local communities, H2O Africa (the charitable organization they created to raise awareness of and help solve the water crisis in Africa), the documentary, his plans for this year’s Badwater Ultramarathon, and much more!

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Host: Adam Jacobs
Guest: Charlie Engle
Producer: Greg Cherniet
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 25.7 MB
Length: 37:32

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Keeping it safe on the trails

Posted April 2nd, 2007 at 12:00 PM by Lisa Cieplechowicz

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Training Tips, Cross Training

Trail running can be a great workout and an excellent way to challenge your body and take your run to the next level. It can also be very mentally fulfilling by providing opportunities to enjoy nature and escape into a world of peace, quiet, and beautiful scenery.

Although enjoyable, trail running, like other forms of exercise, also comes with some inherent and potential risks. Rocky terrain, unknown paths, and unfriendly wildlife can make any trail run a challenging experience. So the next time you’re heading out to a trail, keep these helpful tips in mind to stay safe and have fun:

1) Get the low-down on a particular trail before you begin your run. Consult trail guidebooks, check the internet if possible, talk to people who have already run the trail you’re considering, or speak with the appropriate land-management agency to ensure the trail is safe and open to the public – whatever you do, make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into!
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Trails snowed over?
Then strap on some skiis!

Posted January 17th, 2007 at 1:00 PM by Paul Petersen

Section: Running & Training, Cross Training, Health & Fitness, Exercise

Since moving to northern Utah I’ve developed a bit of a trail running habit. During the summer months the local mountains frequently invite me onto their paths of dirt and rock, and I gladly accept. I love the adventure of trail running, and the vistas discovered through the thin air on peaks and ridges make my spirit soar. In comparison to road, track, or treadmill, my trail runs are not measured by speed or distance, but rather by vertical feet climbed, peaks bagged, and post-run calories consumed. Most trail runners would agree that leaving the roads and civilization behind opens a whole new aspect to our daily running and overall training.

But for those who dwell in the northern latitudes, precious trails become blanketed by several feet of snow and disappear from late fall to mid spring. We still need our backcountry fix, but the avenue to do so has disappeared…or has it?
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