I know that the concept of ultramarathons can seem pretty daunting, but you should run one anyway. For many of you, this might be a very tough sell, but really you should run an ultramarathon.
I know that the idea of running 50K, 100K, or even further could quite possibly not even have crossed your mind. More than likely it might not sound like something you want to do, but that is probably because you’ve never trained properly for those kinds of distances.
Remember back when you first started running, 5Ks, 10Ks, half-marathons, and even regular marathons sounded daunting. Somehow though, when you trained well you were able to get through them.
If you’re still not convinced, here are a few reasons why you should at least consider testing the waters of ultramarathons at some point in your running career.
Doing An Ultramarathon Gives You Bragging Rights
I’m not suggesting that the only reason that you do an ultra is that it might gain you some attention. The truth is that outside of your very limited circle of fellow ultrarunners the concept of ultrarunning will impress people.
The vast majority of non-runners are impressed if you tell them that you’ve run a marathon. Therefore you’ll blow their minds when you say you ran an ultra. Many people don’t even know what an ultramarathon is, and when they realize how far you ran, it will be just about beyond their comprehension.
Ultramarathons Teach You How To Overcome Mental Challenges
You need mental toughness for any long-distance running race. However, but the farther the race is, the more it will tax you mentally. There is an expression in ultrarunning circles that running an ultra is 90% mental and the other half is physical…
When you Venture past 42.2K will take you from what is a mostly physical endeavor with an increasing mental aspect to a mostly mental one. It is in these kinds of distances where you’ll learn more about yourself.
As you overcome the challenges of running ultras you’ll become stronger mentally. You can then apply that new mental toughness to every other type of race you enter in the future. Not to mention that mental challenges thrown up by everyday life suddenly seem tame by comparison.
You Could Become Obsessed With Ultramarathons
Some runners view the risk of getting obsessed with ultras as a valid reason not to try this aspect of the sport.
You might view the idea of running 100 miles as an unattractive prospect right now. However, after your first 50K, you’ll likely surprise yourself when you start to feel the need to enter another ultra-distance race.
During the event we all tell ourselves something like “Never again” but the finish line of an ultra will change you as a person. The part of you that said “Never again” was the part of you that doubted your ability to finish. Crossing the finish line makes you realize that you are capable of so much more than you thought was possible. I am pretty sure that you’ll be asking “When can I do that again?” after you reach the finish line.
Running Ultras Gives You More Racing Opportunities
When you start to include ultra distances in your list of options when picking your next trail race, you’ll be increasing the number of racing opportunities in your life. What’s more, outside of the really big trail ultras like the Western States or UTMB that have a qualifying system, you will usually be able to find a slot in one of the low-key trail ultras.
The moment you open yourself to running farther than 42K, you have more options to fill any weekend on your calendar with a race.
Ultra Runners Have A Strong Community Where Everyone Battles The Trail Together
Every runner that I have met who has run an ultra, always mentions the community and how great it is.
In general, the running community is made up of an awesome bunch of people. However, as you niche down into longer distances, that we’re-all-in-this-together kind of feeling only intensifies.
Also, since an ultra is such a huge undertaking, bonding with your fellow athletes is even easier than usual, because you’re all in for the same long and arduous experience. In addition “teaming up” with a fellow runner during an ultra helps both of you cope with the tough mental aspect of the event.
For Serious Athletes An Ultra Is Never Over Until The Finish Line
If you are the type of athlete who races to win, then an ultramarathon could be your perfect distance.
No gap is insurmountable. Even if you are an hour behind the race leader, it is still completely possible to chase them down and take the win. In an ultra, everyone hits a bad patch at some stage and there is nothing to say that the athlete ahead of you won’t hit a bad patch during the final hour.
In a marathon, on the other hand, even just a 10-minute gap can be impossible to overcome.
Switching Up To Ultra Distance Running Does Not Need To Be Permanent
Just the same with any other distance, if you do an ultra and decide that you don’t like it, you can move on and leave the world of ultras in your past and never try them again.
Years ago a friend of mine told me his love/hate relationship with running ultras. His preferred distance was a half marathon. However, once each year he would train for and run a 50-mile ultra. He’d do his ultra near the start of the season even though he didn’t really enjoy it. After his ultra, he’d be able to use his boosted endurance to run 2 or 3 half marathons a month for the remainder of the season and they would feel easy to him.
Maybe You Will Find That Ultra Distance Is Actually Your Forte
If you love trail running as much as I do, then there’s also the chance that you’ll fall in love with ultrarunning and actually be quite good at it. I’m not good at all at ultrarunning, but I do love it as it gives me even more time out on the trails.
If you don’t try, you won’t ever know for sure.