Perfect Pacing: The Numbers Behind Optimal Racing at UTMB
Can the data from past UTMB races give us optimal pacing strategies for this year’s UTMB?
It’s UTMB week! Read our women’s and men’s previews before following our live coverage starting on Friday.
Zander Chase
Title: Running the Numbers writer
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Social Media Links:
Instagram
Expertise
- Topics of Expertise: Trail running, data science, data visualization, nutrition, food systems
Education & Certifications
- Education: Bachelor of Arts, Computer Science and Latin American Studies, Brown University
- Other Relevant Positions, Current or Past: Executive Director at Wander Project; data science at Meta and climate tech startup; Climatebase Fellow specializing in food systems and ocean health
A Word from Zander Chase
I aim to inspire and motivate others by connecting them to nature through trail running to give back to the areas we recreate in and promote a sustainable lifestyle to preserve our wild places. My personal interests include trail running, windsurfing, gravel biking, backcountry skiing, bagel making, and poetry.
The Western States 100, by the Numbers
A dive into the treasure trove of data available on the Western States 100.
From Shakeout to Shakeup: Artificial Intelligence and Trail Running
A look at how AI can impact the world of trail running and ultrarunning.
Are Trail Runners Getting Faster?
A look at the progression of trail race performances, and how it manifests in the mid-pack as well as at the front of the field.
Winter is Here: Maximizing Winter Training with the Help of Data
A statistical look winter training and racing, and ways we can use data to maximize our winter training block.
Fast, Faster, Fastest: Decoding the Data Behind Appalachian Trail FKTs
An analysis of Appalachian Trail FKTs through the lens of data.
The Changing Geography of Trail Running and Ultrarunning: A Look at Nations Represented at UTMB and CCC
A look at the nations represented on the finishers’ lists at CCC and UTMB, from 2009 to 2023, as a case study for the changing geography of trail running and ultrarunning.
The Numbers Behind Getting Into the Western States 100: Lottery and Qualifying Races
A look at the numbers behind the Western States 100 lottery and its qualifying races.
Ultrarunning Growth in the U.S. Through a Geographic Lens
A look at the growth of ultramarathons in the U.S. from 2000 to 2024, including overall growth in events and their locations, and changes in participant travel.
