Running ultras is hard. Training for ultras is time consuming. These are facts. In order to do hard things for a long time, you need to figure out how to make this sustainable. It’s a puzzle that everyone has to put together differently. This is how I’ve pieced it together for myself.
Passionate About Running
A lot of times we make things more complicated than they need to be. If you don’t love to run, you’re not going to last long as an ultrarunner. This can’t be a kinda like thing or a passing fancy. Getting out for an hour run needs to be fun and something you look forward to. If running is a chore or something you dread, then there’s no way you’re going to stick around for very long. This doesn’t mean you have to love every run (LOL, as if). And starting out, running for an hour is going to be hard. After a year or so though, you should enjoy going for an hour or two run.
Personally, it’s not necessarily the running that I love, but moving myself long distances through nature. This started way back in boy scouts as a teenager for me. Our troop would do a lot of backpacking and I loved nothing more than hitting the trails and going from point A to point B. In hindsight, we weren’t really traveling all that far (maybe 10-15 miles per day) or that fast (2-3mph) but it wasn’t really the distance or the speed that was the attraction. I had a gap of about 20 years were I didn’t do any hiking (I was very anti-running during this time) and didn’t stumble into running until I turned 40. It was almost by accident that I started running. I was training for a half and then full marathon and while the endurance aspects appealed to me, it was moving myself under my own power from one point to another that really resonated with me.
It doesn’t have to be strictly running either. I love to get out most days for an hour walk/hike (whatever) every evening. I get the same feeling of enjoyment as I do with my runs. And I’m content to be out of roads or trails. I am most definitely not a surface snob.
Bib Me
I can’t quite put my finger on why I love races so much, but the events themselves have definitely kept me interested and engaged with ultras. I’m not an overly competitive person in ultras. I’m not gunning for podiums or age group awards. The community aspect of the races is likely the biggest draw. I’m not involved in a nearby running club and don’t know too many people locally who are into ultras so this is where I can interact with likeminded lunatics. I was very anti-social media for the longest time, however after having finally gotten on it’s allowed me to be closer connected to the community. While this helps a little bit, there’s nothing quite like sharing miles and miles and hours and hours with someone else during a race.
Mixing Things Up
Variety is the spice of life and variety has kept me engaged and interested in ultras for the past decade. While I don’t mind going back and doing races multiple times if I absolutely love a course (I’m looking at you Eastern States) or it’s convenient (Devil Dog, C&O Canal), I make sure each year has a bunch of new races. Always having something new to look forward gives me something to daydream about as I’m cranking out the miles in training. I also like to include different formats (timed, backyard), course profiles (mountainous, roads), levels of support (fatass, larger established), and seasons (all). Each variation brings it’s own unique challenges and considerations which makes the planning and strategizing more interesting.
Staying Healthy (Both Ways)
Undoubtedly, part of my longevity can be attributed to staying healthy. I would be long gone if I was getting injured every year or so. Life’s to short to be frustrated by your body constantly breaking down. I’ve typically prioritized health over performance over the years. I’ve shied away from speedwork as I feel that’s higher risk. I make sure I get at least 8 hours of sleep every night and aim for 10+ hours after a long run. I cycle through 4-6 different pairs, styles, and brands of running shoes at a time under the theory that different shoes will work your muscles in slightly different ways. Almost a different kind of cross training if you will.
You can burn out mentally as well as physically so I always focus on my want to. Early on in the sport, it’s easy to lean into your inner Goggins as “being tough” is an aspect of ultras that is attractive to most of us. At some point though, you need to learn where your Good Enough is or you’ll push your mind beyond where it wants to go. It’s fine to push boundaries for a season or two, but this can’t be a lifestyle.
This is the general framework that I’ve used to not only make it this long as an ultrarunner, but to be more excited and stoked than ever to be a part of this sport. Stay flexible and you too can make it to greybeard veteran status.