Running an ultra: I will not stop until I meet my goal

Why not? The further you go up in distance, the more it's rational simply to be moving. As long as you can move forward, there you go.

I spent a lot of 2020 doing very long hikes, but running when I could. I guess that's no different than how some people "run" trail ultras. I wasn't fast, for sure, but unless you're a world-beater nobody else is, right?

I’ve run about 5 ultras. Make sure you understand both the trail surface and elevation change. It’s not uncommon for a 50k race to have 5,000 feet of climbing. Also, there is a huge difference between a rail trail and some courses in ultras where you might have a lot of rocks or uneven surface and you need to pay close attention to the course. It is not relaxing or chill when you have to watch every step

I'm thinking I will just be trotting along if I ever accomplish this. Ironically I wonder if it might be easier on my body than the track/roads? Would be looking for a flat one definitely, maybe a little sandy surface/trails but not rocky or mountains like you said. Currently at 0mpw so certainly have room to progress.

Naperville Runner wrote:

I’ve run about 5 ultras. Make sure you understand both the trail surface and elevation change. It’s not uncommon for a 50k race to have 5,000 feet of climbing. Also, there is a huge difference between a rail trail and some courses in ultras where you might have a lot of rocks or uneven surface and you need to pay close attention to the course. It is not relaxing or chill when you have to watch every step

This is a good point.

I remember an acquaintance of mine running his first 50k...which I knew well because I had run it. It's about 95% flat and on a technical scale maybe a 1 (out of 10). I think he ran like sub 4:45 and was gung ho about the distance...honestly thinking he was hot sh*t now.

When he told me he signed up for one of the 50Ks in the western part of Virginia and he was looking to go sub 5 hours at that one, I just laughed and said "Good luck with that". He got pretty snotty and replied with something like "Why did you laugh and say it like that?"

I remember saying: "Dude, listen man, you ran one flat, non technical 50K in a pretty good time. That trail is pretty technical and some of the climbs are intense. You're a flatland road runner ". He just said "Whatever" and walked away.

He finished in over 7 hours. Next time I saw him, he looked at me and said "I should have listened to you. I just thought you were being a dick." I replied with "Well, I usually am, but I was being real with you". We shared a good laugh.

+1

My first and only ultra so far took me over 7 hours with 7-9000ft of elevation according to the race description. Very rugged parts of the trail were simply unrunable and had to be treaded carefully. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION!

Ended up not doing exactly that and broke my nose and got pretty banged up from falling on sharp terrain.

This has sort of devolved into a trail ultra talk, which I don't think is what the OP asked.

Regardless, OP, I've got issues of my own, but still hope to do the Badwater 135 at some point - even if it's just me out there doing it when I can. In that event, I'm summitting Whitney, too, or at least trying.

stand by me wrote:

Anyone built up to an ultra from a crappy position? Or should I just hike the Camino del Santiago?

No and no.

The idea for ultras never was that slow beer belly guys with a beard slog along slower than average walking speed. The idea for ultras was to give very fit runners another challenge.

Honest question. Why not run a Sunday morning 10K road race instead? You can eat breakfast afterwards, be home in time to watch the football games and be good to go for running on Monday. It would also be so much healthier. A lot of people run 5/8/10Ks so you will have PRs that mean something to others. An occasional marathon would also provide a meaningful time.

Why would you want to torture your body by running ultras?

Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood wrote:

stand by me wrote:

Anyone built up to an ultra from a crappy position? Or should I just hike the Camino del Santiago?

No and no.

The idea for ultras never was that slow beer belly guys with a beard slog along slower than average walking speed. The idea for ultras was to give very fit runners another challenge.

Not sure about that. I recall, long ago, a Runners World piece on a Death Valley Ultra from before Badwater was a thing. The two or three who did it were British, and the corny photos showed then with top hats and canes while running, and stopping for tea in the desert. No doubt staged idiocy, but there was no assumption of speed in development of these 'races,' it was simply doing it.

stand by me wrote:

I'm thinking I will just be trotting along if I ever accomplish this. Ironically I wonder if it might be easier on my body than the track/roads? Would be looking for a flat one definitely, maybe a little sandy surface/trails but not rocky or mountains like you said. Currently at 0mpw so certainly have room to progress.

Where are you located?

This is Jim Kiler wrote:

Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood wrote:

No and no.

The idea for ultras never was that slow beer belly guys with a beard slog along slower than average walking speed. The idea for ultras was to give very fit runners another challenge.

Not sure about that. I recall, long ago, a Runners World piece on a Death Valley Ultra from before Badwater was a thing. The two or three who did it were British, and the corny photos showed then with top hats and canes while running, and stopping for tea in the desert. No doubt staged idiocy, but there was no assumption of speed in development of these 'races,' it was simply doing it.

I might have read the same article and there was mention of a runner that had had all of his toenails removed to make the race less painful for him.

Isn't that how a lot of races got started? Just simply a person or small group saying " How much you wanna make a bet I can throw a football over them mountains?"

except it was "How much you wanna make a bet I can run 26.2 miles in Central Park?" or something similar

Yes, there are plenty of people that run ultras with all sorts of issues. That's one of the things I really enjoy about running ultras is all the different kinds of people I end up meeting. Generally the community is very supportive and I imagine will you meet some other folks with similar issues.

As far as picking events you will want to research different events and make sure you understand their cut off requirements. Some RD's more than others are accommodating for slower runners. For example there is a race local to me put on by a guy in his 70's, hes sort of a local legend who has run something like over 400 marathon+ distance events. Anyway, he allows an early start for runners who know cut offs will be an issue for them. Bottom line is do your research and even consider contacting the RD to make sure you understand all the requirements. While ultra community is very supportive there is an expectation to be prepared, the worst are the folks that line up without the slightest clue what they are getting into.

SDSU Aztec wrote:

I might have read the same article and there was mention of a runner that had had all of his toenails removed to make the race less painful for him.

That must have been Marshall Ulrich. He has done Badwater back and forwards umpteen times.

SDSU Aztec wrote:

Why would you want to torture your body by running ultras?

Because I enjoy torturing my body. I am not removing all of my toenails though.

I am in the UK right now to the person who asked.

Thanks beardy, what got the idea to me was something similar to that. I would be considering doing this in two years from now to be honest with you, it is not a goal for the summer for example! I also would have had to have gone very far on my own to considering entering a race.

This is Jim Kiler wrote:

Why not? The further you go up in distance, the more it's rational simply to be moving. As long as you can move forward, there you go.

I spent a lot of 2020 doing very long hikes, but running when I could. I guess that's no different than how some people "run" trail ultras. I wasn't fast, for sure, but unless you're a world-beater nobody else is, right?

+1 to this.

I had a coworker who was super into ultras. He was a former marine, so it was some sort of thing for him related to that background. He was really proud one Monday to report he had run a 50 mile ultra that weekend at a race near us. He said his time was about 13 hours, so a little under 4 mph. I assume he stopped for some meals, water, bathroom, etc, so maybe his moving time was more like 12 hours? That is still like 4.2mph, so it obviously involved a fair bit of walking mixed with slowish jogging.

OP, don't feel embarrassed to just go do it if you want to. There will be plenty of people out there who aren't fast, they're just there to finish. If you enjoy it, thats all that matters.

stand by me wrote:

I am in the UK right now to the person who asked.

You have some great options locally, from almost flat towpath to very hilly courses.

I think those races along the canals would be a good option for a debut because of all the complications you mentioned in the first post.

This is Jim Kiler wrote:

This has sort of devolved into a trail ultra talk, which I don't think is what the OP asked.

Regardless, OP, I've got issues of my own, but still hope to do the Badwater 135 at some point - even if it's just me out there doing it when I can. In that event, I'm summitting Whitney, too, or at least trying.

I think those warning the OP about the difference between road run and trail runs are making a crucial point. I am the furthest thing from a hardcore trail runner. All my events have been on non technical trails with v little elevation if any. Having said that, I've fallen way too many times to count. Big difference once you get off the roads. Rocks, roots, wet leaves......

Deer fellow letsrunners,

It has been a week and I thought I would update.

I've been physioing away. Well, the left arm problem (severely tight tendons) is about 40-50% resolved. It still hurts, but it doesn't hurt all of the time (it was hurting all through the night before). My quad muscle tearing is a little bit better as well. I am hoping it 'knits' together as the people in the know have suggested.

I am trying to stay positive so I will not type in about the rest.

My hope is to get the injuries resolved one by one, and then to start walking (as in, hiking around). This will build a proper base for anything further to that.

The weather is a lot warmer so I went outside for quite a while today. My heart sang!

Thank you all for your kind words.