Built to solve real problems. Shared because others have the same ones.
The Origin
Iron Miles started out of frustration, and a training plan. Like a lot of ultramarathon runners, I wanted a training plan that was built around my schedule, my fitness, and my race. Not a generic 18-week template I pulled off a forum. So I built one.
The race planner came from a similar place. Before my races, I'd spend hours trying to figure out split times for each aid station, not because I needed to hit them exactly, but because I wanted to give my crew realistic windows. When would I arrive? How long would I stay? What did I need them to have ready? Working all that out by hand was tedious, and getting it wrong added stress to the people trying to help me.
The irony wasn't lost on me: I was trying to reduce race-day stress by doing a bunch of stressful planning. So I automated it.
Why It's Online
Once the tools existed and actually worked, putting them online felt obvious. Every runner I know has dealt with the same problems: scattered training plans, vague crew instructions, gear research that takes forever. Iron Miles is an attempt to put all of that in one place and make it less painful.
The articles and Gear Guide exist to support the tools and share what I've learned along the way. Some of the gear links are affiliate links, which help keep the site running and the tools at a low cost.
That's it. No company, no team, just a runner who built something useful and wanted to share it.
Who Writes the Articles
Iron Miles is just me. Articles go out under the Iron Miles name because I keep my own name off the site on purpose. I'd rather the work stand on its sources than on who I am.
How Articles Are Researched
Training, nutrition, and recovery articles are built on published research. Each study I cite links to its source. Before an article goes up, I look up each paper to make sure it's real and says what the article claims. You can always read the study yourself. If the research is thin or mixed, I try to say so.
Gear guides use maker specs, recent prices, and reviews from other testers. Race listings link to each race's own site. I check both about every two weeks. Gear prices change a lot, and races move their dates.
Corrections
If you spot a mistake or a dead link, let me know and I'll fix it.
Ads and Affiliate Links
No brand pays for a spot in a gear guide. Affiliate links and ads help pay for the site, but they don't change what an article says.
Health Note
Articles on this site are general information, not medical advice. Check with your doctor before you start a new training plan or supplement, or if something hurts.