The Aid Station
A regular stop for runners who think about why. The Aid Station is Zoë Rom’s monthly column for UltraSignup — essays on trail running mindset, ultramarathon culture, doing hard things on purpose, and the philosophy of going long. New issues land in your inbox on the second Friday of every month with curated training & nutrition tips and cover everything from race-season planning to the strange quiet that follows a finish line. Brought to you by UltraSignup, the world’s leading trail running registration platform.
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The Importance of Celebrating Microwins
It’s good to set big, ambitious goals. Just make sure you celebrate the little wins along the way.
Zoë Rom
May 5, 2026
Embracing the Uncool as Trail Running Evolves
Trail running is suddenly cool, but you don't have to be. You just need to keep showing up however you are.
Zoë Rom
April 10, 2026
Retracing Steps: Why You Should Repeat Races, Workouts, and Anything That Makes You Happy
Here's why repeating a race is less like running it again and more like actually running it for the first time.
Zoë Rom
March 13, 2026
In Praise of Doing it The Hard Way
In a world where we constantly strive to make things easier, automated, and painless, Zoë Rom ponders her love of ultrarunning, a sport of maximum inconvenience.
Zoë Rom
February 13, 2026
The Case for Not Starting Over
It's tempting to look at your calendar early in 2026 and, in the gaping expanse of the future, only see the things you have yet to do. But here's what I've been thinking about: What if January isn't a reset? What if it's just... a continuation?
Zoë Rom
January 9, 2026
An Immaterial Gift Guide For Runners
Holiday gift guides are inescapable, insufferable, and mostly useless. So instead of hawking stuff you don't need, here are eight immaterial gifts every runner should put on their wish list this season.
Zoë Rom
December 12, 2025
How To Build A Race Season Without Burning Out
Building a race season is like pacing an ultra: if you go out too hard, you’ll blow up before the finish. Start conservatively. Trust the process. Give your body the recovery it needs to adapt.
Zoë Rom
November 14, 2025
The Space Between Seasons
After crossing the finish line of my big 100-mile race this summer, I expected pure joy. Instead, I found myself in that quiet, disorienting space that comes after a big goal—the moment when purpose fades and rest feels strange.
Zoë Rom
October 10, 2025
Do It Scared.
Discover why fear never truly goes away in running (or life) and how learning to “do it scared” can help you grow. From ultramarathons to everyday challenges, this issue of Aid Station explores the power of running with fear in the passenger seat.
Zoë Rom
September 10, 2025
Do You Remember Your First Mile?
So if you’re stuck, plateauing, or overwhelmed, pause and ask: What was your mile one? Your mile ten? What did it take to get there? And what would it feel like to carry that same raw belief, or disbelief, into the next big thing?
Zoë Rom
August 8, 2025