by John Shumacher

Jamie Frink fell in love two years ago on a trail in Lone Pine. Chad Long took the plunge that same spring in Cool. And Patrick DellaPace found similar joy last year on a challenging ascent to Auburn. The object of their affection? Ultrarunning, which lures people from the road racing world with the promise of testing their physical limits, savoring nature’s beauty and sharing in a laid-back culture that emphasizes camaraderie over competition.

The sport’s popularity keeps growing. Ultramarathons – any event longer than a marathon – have filled up faster and faster in the past several years as newcomers join veterans on the trails in search of physical, emotional and spiritual payoffs.

Check out the Way Too Cool 50K, a 31-mile trail run that serves as a popular portal into the ultra world. The race filled its 450-runner field in three days in 2002, three hours in 2003, 30 minutes in 2004, 15 minutes in 2005, 18 minutes in 2006, 7 minutes, 33 seconds in 2007 and 11 minutes, 18 seconds in 2008.

Registration for the Miwok 100K Trail Race, held Saturday, filled in about 10 minutes in January. The Western States Endurance Run, the storied 100-mile race from Squaw Valley to Auburn set for June 28-29, hit a record 1,350 entries, meaning there were a lot of disappointed people in December when the annual lottery was held to fill the field of less than 400.

Why the surge in ultra interest? Greg Soderlund, the race director for the Western States, American River 50-Mile Endurance Run and Way Too Cool, said Dean Karnazes’ 2005 book, “Ultramarathon Man,” and television coverage have boosted the sport.

“More and more people are discovering the trail,” Soderlund said. “What’s feeding this is the marathons. … They come into the marathons, they’re not there for long. They’re looking for another adventure.

“We’re in a second running boom.”

John Medinger, the publisher of UltraRunning Magazine, said specific reasons for the increased popularity of longer races are elusive.

“It’s one thing to read a book, it’s another to go out and run 50 miles,” he said. “(Karnazes) might have inspired some people to give it a go.

“I’ve always thought it was a great sport. Obviously, it’s not for everyone.”

Folsom’s Frink,35, said she knew ultrarunning was for her when she camped out at the starting line of the Wild Wild West 50K in Lone Pine and then savored “an awesome course.”

“I got hooked,” said Frink, who is married and has a 6-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter.

“It was a blast … I fell in love.”

Frink grew up at Lake Tahoe, so the outdoors are nothing new to her. The challenge of pushing herself beyond the limit, the beauty of the trail and the friendliness of the ultra community create an irresistible appeal.

“It’s kind of interesting to me to see just how far you can go,” she said. “I love being in the mountains and on the trails. … It’s a little more fun that just being on the pavement.

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