10 Things to Know About Your First Ultramarathon

Photo bySana UllahonUnsplash

I did my first ultra-marathon, (anything more than 26.2 miles) in 2016. Shortly before that I had laughed when someone had suggested a race longer than a marathon, but now it is my favorite distance. The ultra community is the most inclusive, helpful, and friendliest running community I know. I love ultras because you can ultra your way which means you choose which kind and what distance, and you choose how you are going to cover that distance.

Ultras have taught me a lot about running and about myself. I have made a ton of mistakes, but they have all taught me lessons. Recently, several people have asked me what to expect at your first ultra. I am giving advice for the average runner. I know at every race there are people who inspire us to do better, and never seem to stop. Here are 10 things that most of us need to know at our first ultra.

· It’s not about speed. At least it’s not for 90% of the people in the race. There are always super fit people who can run fast for what feels like forever, but for most of us it is more about endurance and pacing.

· Walking counts and is a great idea most of the time. An ultra is more about the distance covered than it is about how you got there. A mile is a mile, and you won’t receive judgment on how you choose to cover it.

· Eat something every hour. I always eat half of a peanut butter sandwich before the race, and then I eat 200-300 calories every hour.

· Take care of your feet and your stomach. I rub my feet with Vaseline before I put my socks on to avoid blisters, and I reapply it around the 50K (31 miles) mark. I had to stop several times because of nausea, and I learned the importance of regularly drinking electrolytes. I also have ginger chews, but I don’t normally need them.

· It’s okay to take a break. This is one of the mental hurdles you will face at your first ultra because a runner who does smaller distances doesn’t understand the concept of resting, but when you hit a wall, you can probably get a second wind after a few minutes.

· Ask the veterans for advice. You will meet some of the coolest people at ultras, and they all have great advice and stories.

· Be mentally tough. I had imposter syndrome at my first ultra. I didn’t think I belonged. I didn’t think I was good enough to be an ultra-runner. You are good enough, and if you believe you can run an ultra, you can.

· Know what terrain you will be on. Ultras are run on all types of terrains, so that will determine training and what kind of shoes you wear.

· Pickle juice is a game changer. Pickle juice is available in any sports store, and it is used to decrease muscle soreness.

· Have a first aid kit. There are quite a few things that might happen which will require a basic first aid kit.

· Run with someone. This makes the time go by faster, and it helps you develop your connections with the ultra-running community.

There are a few others I could add, but the most important is to have fun and learn from the experience. During my first race, I asked everyone for advice and I came away with some important tips.