5 mistakes I made when I ran my first ultra marathon
In 2014 I ran my first ultramarathon.
It was a total disaster and I had absolutely no clue what I was doing. A 100km non-stop slog along Britain’s oldest road finishing at the Iconic Avebury Stone Circle.
And to add to the excitement, I managed to break my wrist only weeks out from the race which meant I had to endure over 15 hours of sweltering heat with a plaster cast on my arm.
Running your first ultra can seem like the obvious next step if you’re tired of pounding hard tarmac with the same relentless and repetitive foot strike over and over again. If you’ve ever thought you’re too slow to get a decent marathon time and will never be the next Kipchoge. Or if you want to take the focus off time and simple want to enjoy the trails but there is no denying this kind of endurance event ramps things up to a whole new level.
I wanted to share with you the mistakes I made running my first ultra to make sure you don’t do the same and learn these lessons the hard way.
1. I didn’t know why I was running
Forgetting to pack your why is one of the biggest mistakes I see runners (including myself) make in endurance events. Aside from the myriad of physical preparations you’ll undergo to run an ultramarathon, often half the battle is in your head.
You’re going to encounter extreme highs and lows. Your first ultra is probably going to suck so you’re going to need a pretty damn good reason to pick yourself up and carry on pushing through the hurt locker.
Why are you really running?
Looking back as I stood on the start line, I genuinely couldn’t answer this question. And the further I got into the race the harder it was to push through every obstacle that came my way and provide some sort of justification to my inner critic that I was going to get myself across the finishing line, whatever it took.
2. I didn’t do any strength training
It is common knowledge that runners generally tried to avoid any type of strength training at all costs.
I was no different.
My first ultra like many others out there was on undulating trails, nothing too technical but it meant strength training was even more invaluable.
In the latter stages of the race as the inevitable fatigue started to set in every weakness and imbalance, I had in every ounce of my being was fully exposed. I felt clumsy as I tried to navigate the uneven terrain, worrying about where I was placing one foot and trying not to trip over the other. I felt my pace slowing until eventually I came to a standstill, my legs didn’t have the strength to power me up another hill.
Training was no different.
Every week there was another niggle.
Endless trips to the physio, which ended up costing me more money than everything I invested for race, including entry fees, kit, travel and so much more!
3. I didn’t hire a running coach
My marathon time was nothing to shout about. I had the odd 10km under my belt, but I definitely wouldn’t be telling Dave down the pub about those either.
The reality was, I didn’t believe that I was good enough to have a running coach.
Back then I’d never really considered myself much of a runner anyway. I suppose the idea of a coach had crossed my mind, but it was quickly forgotten.
Running coaches are just for fast runners, right?
So, I decided to go it alone. And deep down I knew I was missing out. Big time.
I didn’t know what type of sessions I was supposed to be doing, how long my longest run should be or what weekly mileage I should be clocking up. I felt totally overwhelmed as I wasted endless hours trawling through articles online about all of this stuff.
And on the day’s, I couldn’t quite muster up the motivation to run I didn’t because there was no one there to hold me accountable.
4. I didn’t test out my kit before race day
I remember looking at my watch, it was midnight the night before I was running 100km and I was still wondering what the hell I was supposed to pack, let alone how on earth it was all going to fit in this tiny rucksack or vest as runners like to call them.
I didn’t do a single training run with the thing. I remember trying it on that same night and pulling on the straps as far as they could go, it was still too big. But it was free.
How bad could it be?
When it came to food, I decided to rely entirely on the checkpoints along route so ended up taking as little as I could get away.
I never actually tried to eat any of this stuff whilst running either but how wrong could it go?
Throw in the heat and everything just got ten times worse.
5. I didn’t give myself enough time to prepare
I signed up at the start of the year, it was still winter, and the race was at the beginning of July. That was barely five months to go from basically nothing to 100km.
Most runners who are training for this type of event will typically spend six months to a year preparing for this type of event.
Who was I to think this didn’t apply to me?
Should I do more than and cram everything into five months, maybe even come out with an overuse injury?
Or should I do less and go into the race knowing full well I was completely underprepared for the challenge I was about to embark on?
I went with plan B and stood on the start line lacking the confidence and doubting my abilities because I knew I hadn’t done enough.
So, there we have it. 5 mistakes I made running my first ultra marathon.
What about you? Which of these mistakes have you been guilty of making? Let me know in the comments section below or drop me a message!