How to run an ultramarathon

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Disclaimer: I received a free entry to The North Face Endurance Challenge Wisconsin as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

If you're looking for a training plan, this is not it. There are tons of resources out there from pros to help you with that. If you want to know a way to mentally make it through an ultra, I can possibly help. Here's a quick answer: Food. And I'm your girl.
Hi, my name is Dye and I'm motivated by food.
Running 50k and up may seem daunting. 31 miles? 50 miles?! "That's bullsh*t..." followed by "How??"

It's pretty simple. You run 3-6 miles (sometimes less, if you're running a well-organized race like The North Face Endurance Challenge), hit up the food aid station and repeat until you reach your destination.


If you're not familiar with ultra aid stations...


Here's a typical spread: pretzels, PB & J sandwiches, chips, cookies, potatoes and salt, bananas/oranges, pickle and juice/shots, candy, soda, endurance drinks, water and gels.  I've also seen pizza, mac and cheese, jerky, twinkies and when it gets cold, chicken noodle soup and/or broth.

Ice Box 480 

The question is, why isn't everyone running ultras?

The atmosphere is laid back. It's unlike any road race. There is usually plenty of joking around with volunteers and runners. When you've filled up and are ready to go on, you grab your choice of "fuel" and head back to the trails. One aid station at a time and as long as you're good on cut-off time(s), you can enjoy day doing what we runners love doing: eating and running.

IG now dye_ultrarunner
Inevitably, I panic before each ultra. I tend to look at each race in total mileage at first. Then I play  my own version of "pub crawl" but using my own legs instead of motorcycle or bicycle. So yesterday, I pulled up the 50M course guide and got my game plan ready.  I've put in the miles and rest days. It is all a mental game at this point. And perhaps, if I put the fork down and walk away from the cake, my nutrition would be on point as well. But that's another post for another day...


Here's the North Face Endurance Challenge 50M course guide (full info here)



Since this is a bigger race with several cut off times, I will have those miles/cut off times listed along with the usual miles to the next aid station.

My usual race tat - how many more miles before the next food stop?


For an idea of what it's like to run 50k, here's a video I made during our first North Face Endurance Challenge WI back in 2014. 

How about you? Seasoned long distance runners, what gets you through the miles? For you ultra virgins, are you ready to step it up and train for your first ultra? One donut at a time. Wait, nope, it's "steps". One step at a time.
Towards that donut.


Hope to see you out on the trail soon!!
  ~~Dye

**If you haven't signed up yet for the North Face Endurance Challenge, you still have time! Use code BIB15 for 15% off your race entry.**


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