Bryon Powell

Hi, my name is Bryon Powell and I’m the Runner-in-Chief here at iRunFar.com. It should come as little surprise that I love running, especially trail running. I’ve now been passionate about trail running for more than half my life and, since 2002, I’ve focused on ultra-distance trail running. In fact, I enjoy trail running and ultramarathons enough that in April 2009 I quit my job as a Washington, DC-based attorney to make trail running my career as well as my passion. Let me share how I got to that point including my running history, my current professional pursuits, and a bit more about me.

My Running History
During my 17+ years of running, I’ve gathered varied experience. When I entered high school I joined the cross country team and was the slowest guy on the team… by far. Three years later, after receiving much encouragement and support, I was a three-season team captain and relatively successful distance runner. I next ran for Haverford College, first as a middle distance runner (800, 1500, 3000, steeplechase) and then, oddly enough, as a sprinter (200, 400, 400 hurdles). After college, I quickly returned to distance running. Within one year and two years after graduation, respectively, I had logged my first marathon and my first ultramarathon.

My Writing and Coaching
In recent years, I have followed my growing passion for trail running by focusing more on trail running when I wasn’t running. This engagement led to me launch the iRunFar website. Since late 2007, I’ve written nearly 500 of iRunFar’s articles and edited another 100 articles by columnists and guest writers.

Over the past two years, I’ve also been freelance writing for national running magazines and major online media outlets. I’ve recently been named a contributing editor to Trail Runner Magazine and will be providing most of the magazines “Trail Tips” articles going forward.

Here is a sample of my recent publications:

• Run Quietly and Carry Two Big Sticks: Trekking Poles Take off with Trail Runners – Trail Runner Magazine (June ’10)
• The North Face Endurance Challenge: Competition Rules – UltraRunning (Mar ’10)
• Running and Politics: Trail Running Races in Wilderness Areas – Running Times (Dec ’09)
• Profile on Caitlin Smith & Devon Crosby-Helms – Trail Runner Magazine (Nov ’09)
• Deluge in the Desert – UltraRunning (Aug ’09)
• Presidential Race – JFK 50 – Running Times (Sept ’08)
• Tips For Running Your First Ultramarathon – Competitor Running ( Sept ’09)
• Do I Really Need a Trail Shoe? – Competitor Running (July ’09)

I’ve also contributed a three page “Equipment Tips” section to the second edition of the book The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running by Adam W. Chase and Nancy Hobbs published in 2010. (Pages 134-37)

In addition, I’ve been quoted in and provided video content for major running outlets. For example:

• Growing Pains – Trail Runner (Dec ’08) (quoted)
• Overcoming the Ultramarathon Mind Game – Runner’s World (Mar ’08) (quoted)
• Interview with Ultramarathoner Anton Krupicka – Competitor Running (Aug ’09) (produced video)

Finally on the writing front, I am also trail running field tester for Outside Online and a contributing writer at The Gear Junkie.

Beyond pursuing web publishing via iRunFar.com and freelance writing, I now coach trail runners and ultramarathoners. While I enjoy coaching very much, I won’t expand upon it here. Instead, I will suggest that you explore my separate coaching page if you would like to learn more.

More About Me
Well, fancy that, you’re still reading! As alluded to earlier, I was once a food and drug attorney in Washington, DC. I had a great job, but it wasn’t what I wanted to be doing at this point in my life. That’s why last spring I quit my job, sold my house, and moved to the Sierra Nevada foothills less than an hour from Yosemite National Park.

I must admit that my life couldn’t get much better. I test a plethora of running shoes and gear – not all of which you’ll read about on iRunFar. I travel to great races and spectacular trail running destinations. I spend my days reading, writing, and thinking about trail running. It’s my sincere hope that my immersion in the trail running life can help provide you with the highest level of informed commentary about the races, places, people, and gear that you want to hear about.

I guess this would be a good time to fill you in on my pseudonym, Trail Goat. Way back at the dawn of my ultrarunning career, a couple of good friends in the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club tagged me with the name “Trail Goat” or just “Goat,” for short. The name stuck and that’s why you’ll occasionally see a “Trail Goat Note” on iRunFar.com. That’s just my way of interjecting a note into another writer’s post.

If you’re still looking to find out more about me, take a look at the video interview Flatlandultras.com conducted with me in December 2008.

Last updated August 15, 2010