What ultrarunners think during an ultra run: 10 things – Red Bull

Unless you’ve done one, it’s impossible to know how your mind (and body) will react to running an ultra (aka 26.2+ miles, in a beautiful, far-flung location, often through the night, and with complete strangers).

One man who can give you some insight is ultrarunner Damian Hall. Having broken two speed records (Fastest Known Times) on two of the UK’s long-distance trails (and nabbed a fifth-place finish at UTMB in 2018), he’s had his fair share of tears, hallucinations and insatiable ‘runger’ during his long-distance jaunts. Here, he reveals some of the questions you might find yourself asking during your first outing, which thankfully, he has answers for…

1. “Why am I so effing grumpy?”

You’re grumpy because you’ve forgotten one of the biggest rules of ultramarathon running: low mood = eat food. Never mind the running, ultras are eating competitions. Check points could have everything from nut butter sandwiches, fruit and jelly babies to quesadillas and pizzas – and, just occasionally, beer or even tequila (at Hardrock Hundred anyway). Running a long way burns a lot of calories and you need to keep cramming them in. Around 200-250kcal/hour is a good ratio for most – think little and often. Sugar turns to energy the quickest, but the longer the race the more likely you are to get fed up of sweet stuff and hanker after chicken soup. If you start to get negative and sulky, you probably just need a quick snack. Or a tequila.

2. “Why am I crying?”

If you’re out on your feet for 24-hours-plus without sleep, you’ll likely feel increasingly tired and emotionally raw. Finishing a race distance you didn’t know was possible can feel overwhelming and sweaty eyes can ensue. Finish lines of ultramarathons can be amazing places, full of stories, uncontrolled emotions and humanity, with tears flowing freely. Be aware though that towards the end of longer races, tiny moments too can have a big emotional impact: a stranger picking up your sweet wrapper or passing you a cup of tea – or the frustration of going off route or realising you’ve run out of nut butter wraps. But you almost always feel ace after a power sob.

3. “Why won’t that unicorn share its Tunnock’s bar with me?”

If you are out all night, fatigue and sleep deprivation can do strange things to your mind and hallucinations are fairly common. On the Spine Race, I followed some large red Chinese lanterns… which led me wildly off course. And didn’t exist. But we all want some stories, right? And the chance to meet a unicorn?

4. “Why does it hurt?”

Probably because you didn’t train properly. Sure 100 miles in the mountains will stress your body, but if you’ve trained consistently and specifically, an ultramarathon shouldn’t be painful as such (uncomfortable, sure). But you don’t need to do a huge volume of training to be ready for most ultras. Many will get by just fine on a standard marathon training programme. The main difference is that those long runs are a bit more important than interval sessions and it’ll be useful to run 20 miles a few times beforehand. Most ultras have generous cut-off times and large parts can be hiked (which isn’t just tolerated but encouraged). A 30-mile ultramarathon on undulating, soft terrain won’t batter your body – especially joints – in the same repetitive way 26.2 miles on flat, brutal tarmac (the surface that’s harshest on your body) will. In some ways, ultras are easier than road marathons.

5. “Why does it feel so difficult?”

You probably started out too quick. And there’s no need to run all the hills – even the fastest runners power-hike the steep bits to preserve their muscles. Ultras are a sport where the tortoise beats the hare. So don’t be a prat in the first half of the race (this applies pretty much exclusively to men, as various studies have shown we’re much worse at judging pacing). And don’t be a wimp in the second half, either. Ultras do get tiring and there are sometimes new physical sensations involved and almost always a spell of self-pity. But it’ll all be over much quicker if you keep moving as efficiently as possible.

6. “Why am I cold and wet?”

Most ultramarathons have a mandatory kit list, items you must carry for the race, usually a waterproof, extra layer, phone, foil blanket, whistle, water bottles and similar items. Sometimes the forecast is for blazing sunshine yet you’re being told to carry waterproof trousers you know you won’t use. But if the race is up hills or mountains, or practically anywhere in Britain, the weather can often spring surprises and it’s not always smart to carry that 50g ‘waterproof’, especially if you’ll be out all night. Getting a bit cold could easily lead to a dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish), or worse. Though the easiest way to stay warm, of course, is usually to run faster.

7. “Will you be my new BFF?”

You run for many hours in beautiful places with strangers – all brimming with endorphins and raw emotions – so it’s almost inevitable conversations will ensue and new, lasting friendships will blossom. As long as you don’t ask which is best between Suunto and Garmin, the trail running community is largely a welcoming, inclusive place, of many ages, nationalities (it’s a much bigger sport in the US and Western Europe) and body shapes (though midlife crisis-male is the largest demographic). You’ll be swapping life stories with your new BFF before you know it. But the number one rule is: try to befriend runners who carry a good quantity of snacks.

8. “How come the women are better than the men?”

While we’re talking demographics, though many UK ultramarathon start-lines might only be 10-20 percent female (though participation is growing – in fact the whole sport is mushrooming in popularity), women are more successful than men at ultras. Men will usually win (because the top male athletes will have more strength and a higher Vo2 max), but they’re also statistically much more likely to DNF. Jasmin Paris’s extraordinary course-record-smashing win at the 2019 Spine Race was one of many examples of women excelling in endurance sports and there are several reasons why; both scientific (better temperature regulation, better fat-metabolism, better at pacing) and anecdotal (just tougher and smarter). It’s a sport that really suits women. Ultrarunning is much more about the size of your determination than the size of your muscles.

9. “Why do I feel so zen?”

This is a hippie sport. And we’re not just talking about the US men’s penchant for beards (and dodgy ’taches). Many elite ultra runners are more passionate about being in and protecting wild, green and mountainous places than they are the athletic and competitive side of ultrarunning. Many studies have shown how undeniably good for us nature is and exercising in natural surroundings feeds the biophilia effect – our innate need to be connected to nature and its ability to lift us psychologically. So being in pretty places is good for us. Run a bit and you get the endorphin hit too (and get to explore a wider area than hiking allows). Also, as running on trails means you often need to be more aware of your foot placings than on treadmill or tarmac, it keeps you in the current moment and fits the Buddhism idea of being present, making it a meditative experience, too.

10. “Why is everyone taking selfies?”

Ultrarunning is still too niche for TV, but it’s a sport that works well online, particularly on social media. But there are some rules. Finish-line selfies are obligatory and hashtags should be exhaustive (containing at least 17 products if you’re an amateur hankering to become a brand ambassador). Race blogs are also mandatory, going into rich detail about your pre-race breakfast, exactly who you met at registration and almost always including the phrase ‘that was when the wheels fell off’, even though using wheels in a foot race is technically cheating…