In 2 months time, Dom will be taking on his first ultra marathon, running 50
miles from Glasgow to Edinburgh. Having never run further than a marathon
distance before, take a dive into his preparation and mindset, you never know,
you might be able to learn… or even help!

How have I ended up running an ultramarathon?

I never thought I would be the kind of person who would want to run an
ultramarathon, or even dive into the world of ultrarunning. But when Raccoon
Events CEO, Mike Seaman, signed me up for the 50-mile race from Glasgow to
Edinburgh -which takes place in October – I suddenly found myself with the urge
to go for it. Ultrarunning had always seemed like such a daunting challenge. To
be honest, before I began my running journey, a marathon distance seemed too far
away for me to consider, but suddenly it felt like the perfect way to push my
limits.

I signed up for this event back in January at the National Running Show in
Birmingham, and at that point it seemed so long away that I could just park it
and worry about it later in the year. Well… here we are… later in the year… and
feeling no more confident with just two months to go until I arrive at the
start line.

Okay, I may be over-exaggerating, but it is still quite a daunting
experience knowing that you will be running 50 miles in around 2 months’ time.

I have run a few half marathon distances, a couple of marathons and plenty
of 5km runs. However, I have never taken a step towards ultrarunning, which
challenges you far more than any of the popular race distances previously
mentioned, do. Having seen and covered many ultramarathon events for my job, I
can see the effort and anticipation that goes into each of these ultra-running
events.

Just how far is a 50 mile running event?

Most importantly for me, it is the distance from Glasgow to Edinburgh, and
exactly how far I plan to be running in October.

50 miles equals around 80km, which means if you headed down to your local
parkrun on a Saturday morning, it means that you would have to run around that
course 16 times to complete 50 miles.

Let’s look at some more comparisons. The island of Guernsey, located off the
south coast of England, is just short of 10 miles, meaning that if you ran from
end to end 5 times, you’d almost be at the distance of the race.

To add more pressure to myself, the average time it takes to complete a 50
mile race distance is about 10 hours. Meaning I would need to run an average of
12 minute miles to reach that goal.

My ultra running preparation

So, the key question is how have I been preparing for this ultramarathon
event? I wish I could say I have been following a running plan from the
internet that details every bit of training I do per week to gradually build up
the miles and strength in my legs to be able to confidently take to the start
line. Unfortunately, if I said this then I would be lying.

However, I am very fortunate that working on The National Running Show means
I have had access to some of the best ultra runners in the world. At the show
in January, I was able to sit down and interview ultrarunning legend, Scott
Jurek. I took advantage of this interview by asking him for any tips, tricks,
and advice for my first ultra marathon event. You can check out the full
podcast interview here, you may be able to pick up some advice for yourself!

Alongside gathering advice and information from some of the best ultra
runners in the world, I have also been preparing my body and mind to be able to
complete the 50-mile race. Hitting the gym 3 times a week has allowed me to
build my strength and improve some key exercises which aid long distance
running, such as deadlifts, squats and Romanian deadlifts. I am hoping that by
building the strength in my body, it allows me to push further when times get
tough during the race.

I have also been watching some ultra running documentaries. Barkley Marathon
films always fill me with motivation and adrenaline, but it was the documentary
about Iwan Thomas running the South downs way which really made me believe that
I could complete this race distance. You can watch the full documentary here.

Keeping myself incredibly active is another way in which I have been
training. Playing sport 3-4 times a week keeps my legs moving and improves my
general fitness. Cricket and Football are the main sports but I also try and
run a couple of 5km distances during the week whilst endeavouring to run a
longer distance every other distance.

A huge part of this race is going to be how I battle against the demons in
my head that will be telling me to stop. Everyone talks about the ‘wall’ that’s
hits people during a marathon. Well, if you double the distance you’re also
doubling the amount of figurative walls that you are going to hit. The best
advice that I have been given is to make sure I am running the race for
something other than personal pride, such as a charity or fundraiser. This
means that when you hit those dark times in the race, you have something other
than self-will to pull you through.

What are some key tips for running an ultra marathon?

I am no running expert, but I have searched the internet and centralised
some of the key running tips that may help you if you are also planning to run
your first ultramarathon event. Take a look at this comprehensive list and see
what you can implement into your training.

1. Train smart. An ultramarathon is a big undertaking, so it’s important to
train properly. Make sure you build up your mileage slowly and give yourself
plenty of time to train. Also try and practice on similar and difficult terrain
to what you might face during the race. Find some off road routes near where
you live and give them a go.

2. Pace yourself. An ultramarathon is not a sprint, so it’s important to
pace yourself accordingly. ultrarunning is all about conserving your energy and
making sure you finish strong. I have learnt from the running community that if
you set off too fast then you often set yourself up for failure later down the
line.

3. Fuel up properly. An ultrarunner needs to consume more calories than the
average person, so make sure you’re properly fuelled for your race. Eating a
nutritious diet and carrying energy gels or bars with you on the course will
help you keep your energy up. I am a massive foodie and often get very hungry
after running, so this will be a testing experience for me to make sure I keep
my nutrition right.

4. Stay hydrated. ultrarunning takes a lot out of your body, so it’s
important to stay hydrated during and after the race. Be sure to drink plenty
of fluids and replenish any electrolytes you lose during the race. During the
race, there will be checkpoint breaks allowing you refill your water and take
on some food if you are hungry.

5. Listen to your body. ultrarunning can be tough on your body, so it’s
important to listen to your body and take care of yourself. If you’re feeling
tired or sore, slow down or take a break. And be sure to see a doctor if you
have any injuries.

Hopefully you have taken something from this post, whether you are an
experienced ultra runner or someone who is just dipping their toe in for the
first time!