Bad Ben's Trail Running Site is web central for Midwest trail and ultrarunning. "Bad" Ben Holmes and the Trail Nerds host low-price races, scheduled group runs for free, and offer great advice on running, shoes, nutrition and more. "Must visit" site for anyone who's ever thought of running on dirt or running anything from a 5K to a 100M. If you're going to be in Kansas City or Lawrence or environs, contact the Nerds to get a run done. Must love dirt.
Stan Jensen's Run 100-milers Site
Stan Jensen's Run 100-milers Site is the definitive web resource on hundred milers. It features countless race reports from hundred-mile runners going back more than a decade. Don't try to run a hundred without visiting Stan's site and reading the reports of all those who've run the race before you. Includes schedules, links to clubs and race websites, where to find running camps and coaching and TONS more. Highly recommended. The Kansas Ultrarunners Society sponsors the Rockin' K Trail Runs - 50-mile and Marathon, the first Saturday in April; and the Heartland 100, second weekend in October. Yes, it's Kansas, but these races run in two of the only hilly places in the state: The Flint Hills for Heartland, and the Smokey Hills for Rockin' K. Don't let the high finisher rates and incredibly nice people fool you -- both provide as grueling a course and brutal a race as you'll find anywhere outside the mountain states. The hills might make you think "We're not in Kansas anymore," but you are. The website of the Southern California-based UltraLadies is filled with great how-to training advice for both ladies and gents of all experience levels. Plenty of scheduled training runs -- the ladies welcome new members of all genders. These are experienced trail gals, though, so check out their trail guidelines page before showing up. Also check out their entertaining race reports on Southwestern races like Angeles Crest, Badwater and Javelina. Nice story about how to get through the Vermont 100 too. Not quite a Southwestern race, but evidently close enough for the inclusive UltraLadies.Planet Ultramarathon's social networking site
Phil Essam's newsy Planet Ultramarathon website has branched out with a social networking arm also called Planet Ultramarathon. It's a little confusing, but the url's are slightly different. Bottom line, though, PUM the social network is a great place to create your own ultrarunning page with space for photos and blog. Very easy to join and get started, for a price that's right in the budget -- free. Good job Phil!