One of the things that I love about being an ultra runner is answering questions friends have about this crazy sport!  So this post is for the majority of people out there who are curious and probably confused about why anyone would put themselves through this.

1. Do you sleep during 50 or 100 mile races?

No, I personally don’t sleep. If I did, I most certainly wouldn’t make the race cutoffs. The not sleeping part of a 100 mile race is my weakness. During the Indiana Trail 100, I was a walking, shuffling, running zombie once my body realized that it was 3am and I should be in my warm bed. The amazing thing was though, once the sun started to rise, I felt so much better!

2. Do you go to the bathroom during an ultra?

Yes! There are usually porta potties, but if not, you just go along side the trail. You lose all sense of decency after running a certain amount of miles!

3. Do you eat during an ultra?

Definitely! Eating can make or break you in an ultra. I practice eating different foods during my long runs so that I can find foods that don’t upset my stomach. I prefer to eat Spring Energy Gels and drink Tailwind.  Anything longer than 20 miles, I usually start supplementing with real foods like mashed potatoes, rice balls, potato chips and pretzels. I also drink A LOT of Coke. I would never drink it in my daily life, but during an ultra, my body craves the sugar and caffeine.

4. Do you stop at all or sit down during an ultra?

There are chairs at the aid stations at most ultras, but the only time I ever sit down is to change my shoes. The second you sit down, your muscles tense up and it’s so much harder to get moving again! I get in and out of the aid stations as quickly as possible. I grab what I need and keep moving. Every minute that you stop is another minute added to your time. I learned this the hard way.  At the Outdoor X 12 hour Run, I stopped at the main aid station on every single loop and at the end of the day it added up to an entire hour!

5. Why?

This answer is different for everyone. For me, most days , it’s curiosity.  I’m curious about my limits. How far can I run, how far can I push myself both mentally and physically? When I reach my physical limits, how far will my mind take me from there and what will I find on the other side of the suffering that one experiences after running for hours and hours?  Ultra running may seem extreme to some, but to me, that’s where life is in it’s simplest form.  Put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward. 

“The only limits you have are the limits you believe.” – Wayne Dyer