Advice for Finishing an Ultra-Marathon from a Non Ultra-Marathoner - The Rock the Ridge 50 Mile Challenge

If you are like me, you saw the videos and photos of all the smiling, happy racers at the starting gate and the finish line of The Rock the Ridge 50 Mile Challenge.  Splashed in, you saw the spectacular views that were calling your name.  Like me, you pictured yourself running The Challenge.  This is true for almost any ultra-marathon - the marketing lures you in.

The videos and photos always show the top finishers and they are practically sprinting to the finish line.  You will see all those happy, smiling people at the starting gate. While watching all that is inspiring, if you are like me in the middle of the pack in two races and towards the back of the pack in another, you should erase that video from your mind because that (most likely) will not be your race.

That was me four years ago -- a 57 year old man who had never run anything longer than a half marathon and thought he could do 50 miles easily.  The crazy thing is, I did it not once but three times!  While it is not easy, it is certainly possible as my accomplishment can attest too.  First of all, there are 49 other miles that are not on the video highlight.  Those 49 miles are between the beginning and the end, which highlight videos don’t always capture but should not be taken lightly at all.  While I did finish the race, I saw many people who did not.  I observed that there are lessons to be learned from them as well.

Meet the Doubters – While you will be excited and pumped up after signing up for the ultra, others will not share your enthusiasm.  As I did The Challenge, I talked with other runners and almost all of them had someone tell them they couldn’t do it.  Stay away from those people because those seeds of doubt may crawl into your head as you run.  I met one woman, Linda, who was an avid runner and a marathoner, who was told by an ultra-runner that a 50 mile run was too big a jump and that she should do a 50k.

It may be impossible to avoid all the doubters.  If that is the case, what I did was use the doubters as a motivational tool.  They are the ones who I want to tell first that I did it.  I also kept going because I did not want to go back to work not finishing the run, as that feeling would be awful.  I met another woman, Jen, whose (almost) entire office told her that she couldn’t do it.  Yet when we met up, I told her let’s finish this race no matter what, so you can show your co-workers your medal.  I think that helped get her to the finish line.

Mother Nature is Not Your Friend – I know that the purpose of the race is to preserve land and most ultras are in beautiful areas.  It may seem counter to the purpose, but be prepared for what Mother Nature has in store for you.  The three times I did the race it rained and was cold.  Especially the second year.  This was without a doubt the main reason people did not finish.  It is one thing to run 10K in shorts and a t-shirt on a cold, rainy day but quite another to do 50 miles.  Instead of being out in the elements an hour or two, you will be out in the elements 10 to 15 hours and you can easily get hypothermia.  I know because I saw so many runners ill prepared for the cold and rain.  Linda, who I mentioned earlier, brought along garbage bags with cut-outs for her head and arms so she could stay dry, and it worked.  I packed a poncho and it was amazing how much warmer that thin poncho kept me.

I brought something for all different types of weather, and then the night before decided what to wear and put in my drop bag after viewing the weather reports.  While I did not have the opportunity to run in sunny, warm weather, if it was warm I was prepared.

Prepared for Mother Nature

Stay Confident – One of the reasons why the weather is such an obstacle is that it plays tricks with your head and your confidence.  You not only wonder if you can go another 20 miles or so, but you wonder if you can tolerate being cold, hot, sore, wet for another four or five hours.  Negativity has a way of creeping in when things are not going well, and believe me, somewhere along the line something will go wrong.

You need to develop mind games that keep you focused and staying positive.  For me it was breaking the race into finishing the various legs, not finishing the entire 50 miles.  So when I got to the last leg (which was at mile 37), I could say that now that all I have to do is a half marathon, which I have done before.  When I was cold and wet despite my gear, I told myself that I have been colder during the numerous Tough Mudders I had completed.

On my first race, I made a wrong turn that forced me to run an extra six miles.  The hard part of that was not the extra mileage, but the way it shook my confidence, which did not come back until I met a new friend.

Meet Trail Angels and Take in the Views –As I previously alluded to, I made a wrong turn during my first race.  My confidence was shaken, and it was like a cloud of negativity following me (as were actual rain clouds).  It was not until I met another racer, Jen, did my spirits lift and my confidence return.  I would also mention that she was in just as bad shape, if not worse than I was, but having another person just to talk with helped her as well.  We later met up with another woman whose race partner could not finish.  We all became close through the end of the race.  I called them my trail angels.

The next year when I did the race, I made it a point of starting conversations with fellow runners, which was a very positive experience.  You will be surprised that for miles you will be running with the same people, so why not talk with each other?  In fact, everyone was so encouraging to each other that we, in essence, kept each other going.  I ran with one man for several miles just because he liked my pace.  I ran with a complete stranger for 15 miles who really kept a good pace.

I should also mention that there were numerous day hikers and rock climbers on the trails, and almost all of them were cheering the runners on. Not to mention the race volunteers who are so positive. You must and I can’t over emphasize this enough always thank the volunteers. Without them you will not make it to the finish line.

While my fellow racers kept me positive and confident, so did the beautiful landscape.  Even in the rain, the views were inspiring.  Awosting Falls made me stop to take in the sights and sounds of the water.  I know, believe me I know, that you just have to keep going to finish, but every once and a while you also need to slow down and take in views of a truly beautiful place.

Be a Trail Angel – As I have run this race three times, I have been a trail angel to others. During the first race, I gave away one of my water containers to a runner who was not prepared.

The last time I ran, I brought along some Ibuprofen, (I had tweaked my knee a few days before the race so it was hurting) and twice near the 37-mile mark, I overheard two runners looking for aspirin from the medical staff, only to hear they had none.  I told them that I had Ibuprofen and they eagerly accepted it.  They both thanked me profusely at the finish, indicating that they were not sure they would have been able to finish without it.  Can’t tell you how great that made me feel.

Keep the Pace - The first time I did The Challenge, I walked the last 20 miles because my new best friend, Jen, had hurt her knee and could not run.  I figured a regular walk was not much slower than a slow run -- boy was I was wrong.  The second time I ran almost the entire time, albeit not very fast but consistently.

I mentioned Linda before, she had a timer, running four minutes and walking one minute.  I stayed with her a long time, but eventually at the hills could not keep up.  I continued that ratio and actually found a second wind the last 13 miles, which was one of my faster legs.

The second time (in much worse weather) I was able to finish in daylight, while the first time it was closer to midnight. A slow steady run really helped.  I didn't linger for long at the aid stations.  The first time I ran, I sat to rest and it took my body a long time to get going again.

Bad Weather Training – As I stated, the longest I ever ran before the Rock the Ridge 50 Mile Challenge was 15 miles the first time and 20 miles twice since then.  With my schedule, it's difficult to do very long runs of 20 or more miles with any regularity.  I did however, run often and completed two long runs on back-to-back days.  What I found extremely helpful was running in any kind of weather whether it was snow, rain, frigid temperatures or even sunny, hot days.

This accomplishes several things.  It gets you accustomed to dealing with all types of weather conditions, and I soon realized that once I started running I was fine.  You don’t want the first time you run in a cold rain, to obviously be in an ultra-marathon.  It also helped me overcome the weather as being a factor in breaking my confidence, and I could honestly say that I have run in worse weather.  As far as I know, you can’t simulate the weather on a treadmill.

Just as important as the mental aspect, is the physical.  If you brave the elements, you will find out how to dress for the different weather conditions and what gear works best.

I am also noting that you should train on hills.  Running on flat ground is one thing, but the hills drain your energy.  I would also recommend that you do some trail running because it's a lot different than running on a road.

Use a Drop Bag and the Aid Stations – If you plan it right, you do not have to carry much food or water with you because there are aid stations frequently available.  I was able to refill my water supply and graze on some snacks as I went along.  The first time I did it, I was carrying too much food and found that I could get by solely on the aid stations for food, though I did carry some.  This is a matter of preference.  There may be certain foods that you are partial to, so bring them.  I have to say that the hot chicken broth with brown rice at one aid station really lifted my spirits, and the second time I ran was really looking forward to the aid station because I knew what food was there.

Since I am not an ultra-runner, I found that the drop bag was great.  I changed my soaking wet sneakers and put on warmer, dry ones for the second half.  If you will be ending in the evening like I did the first time, you will greatly appreciate your flashlight or headlamp.  The drop bag definitely helped me prepare for the poor conditions.

The Challenge will Stay with You a Long Time – Some things are hard to explain unless you have experienced them, and I believe that completing your first ultra-marathon or any ultra for that matter (if you are not an ultra-marathoner). Technically, I suppose that I am now an ultra-marathoner since I have completed it for three years in a row.  I have also completed three 50ks since my last one.

There are very few instances during a lifetime when you feel you can accomplish almost anything, but that is how I have felt each time I finished the Rock the Ridge 50 Mile Challenge.  Every time I complete The Challenge, I carry the finisher medal in my pocket for a couple of weeks. This is unusual for me because normally I am thinking about the next event, but for some reason, this one is makes you feel great for a long time. 

I was at the farmer's market where I am a regular, and the woman behind the stand saw my shirt that had imprinted “Rock the Ridge 50 Mile Challenge” and she asked, “You really did 50 miles?” I said yes, and before I knew it she was putting a free soup in my bag.  It is that sense of awe that you get from others which gives you a tremendous sense of pride (I have to admit having gray hair and doing 50 miles probably helps impress them as well.).

You will get remarks like I got several times -- "50 miles! I get tired driving 50 miles.”

Not to make it too idyllic, you will most likely be very sore for a week or so.  To top it off, on two occasions I have lost toenails, but not to fret they do grow back.

As I was slowly but steadily trudging along at about mile 40, a person walking in the park said to me, “You are killing it man!” Now I know that while I was not walking the race, I was hours behind the leaders and told him that I was not killing it.  He replied, “Only about 1% of the populace can do this so you are killing it!” You know what? He was right -- I killed it, and so can you.