Ultramarathoners

[rosiebear]

I don't even want to drive 100 miles.

[AHappierHour]

No I haven't yet but the LA Marathon is on my list list for my 40th bday.

[starlily]

I know a guy who has done one, and while I've talked to him about why he's into it, I still don't get it.

[liverandonions]

I have a few friends who are ultra runners. One is a police officer and his k9 was shot in the line of duty protecting him. The first ultra he did after the shooting the dog met up with him for the last tenth of a mile and ran with him. It was so sweet. Beyond that I think they're crazy...I have trouble running a 5k lol

[tacokick]

My husband's uncle did these for a while and I found it odd, he did ones where they just ran around a stadium for 100 miles which seems super boring.

[duff]

I've only ever run two marathons (Denver and NYC) but had plans/delusions of running the Chicago Marathon the year after NYC and then a 50k ultra the following year. But my body fell apart after NYC and my brain healed up along with my body and I realized that that was dumb. Now the only running I do is from the couch to the fridge.

I keep saying I'll get back into it and do a half, but see above re body falling apart.

[mrs.jacinthe]

I am a marathon swimmer and people call me crazy too. I do it because I can and why the hell not? I think most of the ultra runners I know would say the same thing.

[meganew]

I've done one marathon so far, and I'll probably wind up doing more. I've thought about giving an ultra a go, especially a "fat ass" (basically a race that's not sanctioned- no chip times, no aid, no time limit, no road closures- just a big group run) because it would be easier to start and stop as needed. But that's just not realistic for my body and what I can handle.

My H had an old coworker who was an ultra runner and to him it was just like breathing- it's just something you do. H said there were a few times when he'd see the guy leave work in his running gear and find out he was running to their family's house in Jersey (20+ miles away) from their center city Philly office. He said he'd rather run than sit in traffic.

[peachy]

It must be so hard on the body, my joints hurt just thinking about it.

[PatBenatar]

I ran 1 marathon and never again. I'm glad I did it but the training was so time consuming.

I have a good friend that ran marathons a couple times a year and did a few ultras. I was always in awe. She's burnt out now too so she's taken a step back and is just doing halfs and other shorter races

I also don't understand how anyone is able to do an Ironman. They must have super powers for sure

[eddy]

I love the Barkley Marathons. It was a really great documentary.

I have no desire to even do a marathon, but I find people who do ultras fascinating.

[kicks]

I've done a few marathons and thought about doing an ultra but changed my mind. I like having goals to motivate me so that's why I do them.

[rockpaperscissors]

I have a cousin who runs Ultras. She started running after a brain injury as part of her therapies and she really took to it. It ended up being a wonderful outlet for her. She started running smaller distance races but was never very fast. She prefers running for longer distances rather than shorter distances for faster times. She'll still run a 5k/10k/half if the mood strikes. I wish my body could do that but I huff and puff my way through a 5k lol

[gilmoregirl]

I admire the people who do any of the sports - running, swimming, cycling. It takes dedication!

I loved running so much. I had just started training for my 1st marathon and I was injured in an accident. I'll never run again but I will always admire those that do!

[jinkies]

Not me-- my knees revolted after I trained for a 10-miler, so I don't think I could even do a half.

I'm just here to recommend the book Born to Run, which is about american ultramarathoners and a reclusive tribe in Mexico who run ultramarathon distances just as part of daily life (wearing sandals).

It is fantastic-- so fascinating. Ultramarathoners are a different breed.

[brooke77]

I see the appeal. I've done a few marathons and love it. It's nice having a new goal. That being said, I think I'd stick with a shorter ultra (like 30 v 50/100 miles).

[spedrunner]

I kinda agree, for myself personally i was never an ultra marathoner, but I was a running addict. It was actually very unhealthy for me, bc I pushed myself and felt so much guilt for not running, missing a run, etc. I noticed most (not all) runners easily get obsessed and get injured, suffer ed's among-st other things

My friend is an ultramarathoner, she is on a mission to complete a marathon in every state. There are times she has several maratons in a row

yikes

Not for me anymore , but to each his own!

[clseale]

I've done 10 marathons so far and have yet to have the desire to do an ultra. It's not the distance so much as the environment. A large majority of ultras are on trails. Maybe if I lived in a place with more enjoyable trail running, but until then I am good.

[laurack]

I would love if my body would allow it but for some reason it really seems to resist running, especially as I age. I did run a marathon when I was about 25 and it was great, I'd love to do it again but every time I increase mileage I get injured.

I've mostly given up on running for now and gotten more into mountain biking, easier on the body (unless you fall of course).

But I do have a goal to some day do an IM, when the kids are older. There is a lady at my Y who I would guess to be 60ish and she does ultra runs and IMs. It's amazing. She's this little grandmother. It amazes me. I would love for that to be me some day

[laurack]

also my uncle is 70 and every year he runs at least one marathon. his time has crept up to the 5 hours range but man, seriously? it is amazing to me. Once a month he goes out and runs 20 miles so that he can always be ready.

[lilafowler]

I'm really in awe of people who have this much drive and dedication. Hats off to them!

[kicks]

Dec 29, 2016 8:30:56 GMT -5 laurack said:

I would love if my body would allow it but for some reason it really seems to resist running, especially as I age. I did run a marathon when I was about 25 and it was great, I'd love to do it again but every time I increase mileage I get injured.

I've mostly given up on running for now and gotten more into mountain biking, easier on the body (unless you fall of course).

But I do have a goal to some day do an IM, when the kids are older. There is a lady at my Y who I would guess to be 60ish and she does ultra runs and IMs. It's amazing. She's this little grandmother. It amazes me. I would love for that to be me some day

I watched my friend finish her 2nd ironman last month in Mexico. There were definitely athletes of all ages. Plenty that seemed to be in their 40s and 50s and one of her teammates was close to 70.

Definitely motivation to retire early or go part time in 10 years to have more time for training!

[melodramatic26]

Dec 29, 2016 9:29:11 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

I have mad respect for Ultra runners.

I've done a few marathons, and a ton of other endurance events. The only thing that keeps me from Ultras is the time it takes to train. I'm not stubborn enough to keep my head in the game that long.

The time. I can't imagine the hours it takes to train for one.

I did one marathon (trained during the summer of 2015) and just that was so time consuming. I'm a slower runner so it takes me longer than others to do the runs, but still ...

It was literally hours of every day were spent on running or foam rolling or cross training or nutrition planning. And then it's the other part of getting to bed early every night to have the energy for the runs. Getting up hours before anyone else and then still having to cut into family time to get all the training runs in.

I like the challenge of the distance of the marathon but there is no desire in me to do an ultra. Not ever.

[fryjack2]

I've done a few marathons including NYC where my garmin said I ran over 30 miles when it was all said and done. Thanks to weaving in and out of way too many people for 26.2 miles.

My body felt fine after NYC. After Chicago I could have kept running for a long time. San Diego was my first and my knees were dead due to poor training. Boston was so emotional that I was done running a few steps over the finish line.

I love to push myself so I think I would have been open to an Ultra if i had a training partner when I was younger. Now that I'm 37, my body feels a lot different.

I worked with a resident years ago that signed out after working all night, headed to the airport to fly to California to run an ultra. She amazed me. That kind of human is rare.

[wambam]

Dec 29, 2016 9:55:09 GMT -5 melodramatic26 said:

It was literally hours of every day were spent on running or foam rolling or cross training or nutrition planning. And then it's the other part of getting to bed early every night to have the energy for the runs. Getting up hours before anyone else and then still having to cut into family time to get all the training runs in.

It's completely life consuming to train for a marathon. Or at least it was for me. 

Having to run more than a marathon to train for an ultra? Oof. 

[ladyk]

I've completed 2 Fulls and 1 half. I "run" in the loosest sense of the word. I tell people that I'm more thunder than lightning. I've always wanted to do a half IronMan but since I've not competed in any triathlons, I should probably start with the sprint (.47 mile/12 miles/3.1 miles)or the super sprint (.25 mile/6.2 miles/1.6 miles) distances first.

As for running a full marathon again? No thanks. My last 10 miler about wore me out.

[fryjack2]

Dec 29, 2016 9:29:11 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

I have mad respect for Ultra runners.

I've done a few marathons, and a ton of other endurance events. The only thing that keeps me from Ultras is the time it takes to train. I'm not stubborn enough to keep my head in the game that long.

The amount of money I spent on babysitters and the gym daycare was equal to the small fortune I raised in fundraising for Boston.  I actually saved money when I ran Chicago because I ran during the hours the boys were in pre-school.  But the time. Man.  Hours and hours dedicated not only to running, but all that goes into prepping for a good marathon run as well. 

I don't think I want one thing to take up that much time out of my life.  Marathons take up enough.  

[fryjack2]

Dec 29, 2016 9:56:55 GMT -5 wambam said:

Dec 29, 2016 9:55:09 GMT -5 melodramatic26 said:

It was literally hours of every day were spent on running or foam rolling or cross training or nutrition planning. And then it's the other part of getting to bed early every night to have the energy for the runs. Getting up hours before anyone else and then still having to cut into family time to get all the training runs in.

It's completely life consuming to train for a marathon. Or at least it was for me. 

Having to run more than a marathon to train for an ultra? Oof. 

Half marathons are my favorite distance.  Long enough that you have to train, but short enough that its not all consuming. 

[calamity]

I have a friend who ran ultras and was amazingly good at it. It wore her body out though, and she had to give it up.

[kicks]

I'm not super competitive in regards to training for marathons so it wasn't too all consuming for me. My schedule only allowed me to do 1-2 shorter runs during the week and then I always did a long run typically on the weekend. It definitely didn't feel overwhelming. On my day off I would run for a couple hours in the morning and then have the rest of the day to do whatever I wanted.

I'm getting more regimented with my training now that I'm taking up triathlons (I'm a weak swimmer) but as far as time goes I think it is possible to definitely have a life outside of training. When it's not fun anymore and more overwhelming then I know it's not for me.