Operating has been a lifelong ardour of mine. From racing brief distances at college to tackling half marathons and marathons in my grownup years, I’ve at all times liked the sensation that the exercise provides me: Across the 3-mile mark, after I settle into my run, I start to really feel gentle on my toes and the whole lot clicks into place.
For years, I used to be content material to run brief distances, together with the 100-meter and 200-meter at college after which 5K and 10K as an grownup, till I began excited about marathons. I ultimately ran my first path marathon in 2014, the Glencoe Marathon Gathering within the Scottish Highlands, with an elevation acquire of 5,275 toes over 26.2 miles. From then, I used to be hooked on longer distances, however I by no means thought I might enterprise farther than 26.2 miles. Ultramarathons simply appeared a number of steps too far, and doubts would flood in, like, “You don’t have time to coach” or, “You don’t must run that far.”
Then, final yr, I began to suppose extra about ultras. I had already raced the traditional lengthy street distances, half marathons and marathons, and working an ultramarathon felt like the final word problem in my distance working journey. I like pushing myself, and when an concept takes root, I wish to see it via to the tip. (Distance runners are cussed!) One other thought was that subsequent yr marks a big birthday for me—the large 4-0—and finishing a really lengthy race seems like an effective way to have a good time the milestone. Some individuals would have a good time with a calming spa day (not that I’ve something in opposition to these), and right here I used to be excited about signing up for an extremely.
As soon as the seed was planted, I started researching races that may give me a delicate introduction into my first run of over 26.2 miles. After some digging on-line, I discovered Run to the Sea Bournemouth, which begins at Moors Valley Nation Park and ends at Hengistbury Head in Bournemouth, England. Following the Castleman Trailway, the point-to-point course winds via forest trails and coastal paths, and is marketed as “flat” and “fantastically scenic.” Overlaying over 50 kilometers (31 miles) and an elevation acquire of 1,010 ft (308 meters), the race claims to be the best introduction to ultramarathons. Excellent! Signal me up.
Coaching So Far
As I write this, the race isn’t for an additional 10 months, on October 3, 2026—however after I’m doing one thing, I like to present myself the greatest probability of success, which implies beginning coaching early. I have already got a strong working basis, with 4 half marathons and 5 marathons underneath my belt, however working an ultramarathon requires greater than my legs; I’ll additionally want psychological energy to get via plenty of miles that’s arduous for many to fathom strolling in a single go, not to mention working.
One other side I want to think about is that, with my accomplice, I’ve a younger household: two women aged 6 and a pair of, a working cocker spaniel named Chase (who loves working with me), 4 chickens to handle and all the opposite tasks that household life entails. It’s not like my life wants the rest to juggle, however at times I get an urge to do one thing a bit completely different, and I like a problem. After I ran the marathon in Scotland, I didn’t have kids to fret about and skilled six days every week. My life is loads completely different now, however the important work of ultramarathon coaching can nonetheless be achieved.
Proper now, I handle to coach three days every week—working between 30 and 45 minutes, with some energy coaching thrown in—and full an extended run on the weekend with Chase. Right here, we regularly take a round route right down to the seaside, which is round 12 miles, whereas my accomplice watches our women. These lengthy runs, which can develop in size over my coaching cycle, take me via forest trails and on roads right down to the seaside. I like the liberty they supply, giving me a much-needed stretch of time to let my thoughts go clean as an alternative of worrying in regards to the subsequent process on my inner guidelines.
Nevertheless, I’m discovering that my largest problem is getting up early to go for a run earlier than all of the day’s tasks start. There have been a couple of mornings after I’ve pressed the snooze button and stated, “Not at this time.” Usually, I stand up round 6am, earlier than the remainder of the home. However setting the alarm for a 5am run and working at midnight from begin to end isn’t preferrred at this chilly time of the yr. So I’m grateful for my weekend run, after I head out through the daylight and with extra individuals round.
However, I’m conscious of what’s coming. As I enhance my coaching, I’ll have to slot in excessive mileage alongside faculty drop off, serving to with homework, work deadlines and the whole lot else that life throws at me. That’s daunting.
Even now, after I need to prepare, different priorities pop up: my eldest wants assist together with her homework, my youngest needs to play dress-up or is having a day the place she solely needs me to care for her as an alternative of my accomplice. I’m discovering that I should be versatile and seize coaching alternatives as they arrive. These days, it’s not a case of claiming that I’m going to coach at set instances. I’m additionally studying to cease feeling pissed off with myself or responsible after I miss a day of coaching, or when it doesn’t go as deliberate. Coaching for a long-distance occasion requires months of your time and persistence, which finally comes right down to mere hours on the precise day. A day or two right here and there missed isn’t going to wreck my progress so long as I stay according to coaching the remainder of the time.
Thus far, rebuilding my working base has been going effectively. Most coaching plans I’ve seen counsel that I’d want round 4 months of constant coaching to achieve my purpose of a 4-hour 50K ultramarathon. Different plans say you’d want not less than a yr in the event you’ve not achieved a lot coaching earlier than.
Coaching might be so personally variable, and there are by no means ensures. An unusually sizzling or particularly wet day may fully change my race day plan or execution. I’m hoping that my coaching mixed with my a long time of expertise with road- and trail-running, will assist me not solely attain my time purpose, however really feel proud as I line up firstly this October—and triumphant as I cross the end. We’ll simply must run and see.
Keep tuned all through 2026 for extra of this sequence, Extremely Diaries, which follows Rebecca on her coaching journey for the Run to the Sea Bournemouth 50K ultramarathon.
The submit Extremely Diaries: Why I’m Operating My First Ultramarathon appeared first on Unusual Path – An REI Co-op Publication.
