Training for your first ultramarathon is quite the undertaking. You can totally do this. I promise. Whether you are a seasoned marathoner or a newbie jogger, it is possible. The two most important factors in completing your goal race are your determination (aka your mindset) and how you set yourself up for success. We’re giving you our favorite training and mindset tips that will get you started on your journey to the finish line.
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- Enjoy the process. I am dropping this tip first because there will be moments during the process of training when you curse your life and wonder why the hell you wasted money on this race registration. You are going to wish you could just go for a cute little 3 mile run like your friends instead of running a solo marathon as training. There are going to be days when work is crazy so you have to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to get your run in. Enjoy it. Cherish those 15 mile runs when you feel like you are a literal unicorn sliding down a magic rainbow. Post the heck out of that solo marathon long run. Enjoy eating hundreds of extra calories. Realize how badass you are for even considering running an ultra. You’ve got this. Enjoy the process.
- Find your “it” shoes. If you are going to run an ultra, you need to invest in a good pair of shoes. My advice? Find what feels good to you. That’s right, find what feels good. This is controversial, but comfort is way more important than fancy features. If you can’t stand the stiffness of trail shoes, run in road running shoes. If you like a lighter cushion instead of a three inch piece of foam under your foot, go for it! Think of it like dating for your feet. It may take several pairs and several hundred miles before you find “the one,” but I promise in the end it will be worth the effort.
- Build a solid base. Be patient. Let me say that again. BE. PATIENT. Unless you are 23 years old, ramping up from a 5k or half marathon too quickly will likely result in overtraining or injury. Ultras require hours upon hours on your feet. Alongside your training, gently build your stress tolerance in non-running ways. Use a standing desk. Walk the dog an extra few minutes each day (even on run days). Stand at Billy’s soccer practice instead of sitting. Challenge yourself to build up to five, ten, twelve, hours on your feet without sitting. These lower intensity activities will accumulate and allow your body to adapt and will prevent injury in the long run (see what I did there?).
- Invest in a trusted training plan. The world is full of both good and horrible training plans. When training for your first ultramarathon go ahead and spend the money where it matters. When you purchase a training plan, you are paying for the experience that others have learned over the span of years. It is kind of like a non-cheat short cut to success. Training Peaks has a ton of options based on race distance and the amount of time you have to train. They vet all of their coaches for legitimacy and offer options for one on one coaching. You can also go old school with a book. For my first ultra I used Kristy Moehl’s book Running your First Ultra and I dominated those 50 miles.
- Use less gear. Now that you have dropped significant cash on shoes and a training plan, its time to learn to run with less. There is something about running primitively that can’t be conveyed over the internet. Wait to buy gear until you can’t stand running without it. A running watch and hydration pack might be the last big purchases you will need but then stop buying gear! Trust yourself. Don’t complicate this. Heart rate monitors and electrolyte infused leggings are way overrated.
- Cross train. We recommend two things here. First is non-impact cardio cross training. If you are one of those runners who just can’t handle huge amounts of volume (which is totally normal) or if you are feeling burnt out, jump in the pool or on a bike and give your joints a break. As long as you are getting your key runs in each week swapping an easy run for a bike ride will not compromise your fitness. Second is to hit the gym. Single leg exercises, plyometrics, and upper body work are going to help you prevent injury, produce more power, and look damn good out there on that race course.
- Learn to love your body. Use caution when using race prep as a way to lose weight. Increasing your running load will make you feel more hungry than you normally do which can cause your diet to backfire. Starting a weight loss phase while training for your first ultramarathon is risky in terms of energy needs and recovery. If you want to lose fat, our coaches can help. On the other hand, consider that maybe you don’t really need to lose any fat. Oftentimes being at peak fitness means you don’t look like an instagram fitness influencer. Get your mind around that. Do you want to be able to run fast and far? If so, you might want to reconsider your dream of having visible veins in your glutes.
- Just start running. Seriously. Put down the phone or get up from the computer and go for a run.