Member-only story
BEGINNER ULTRARUNNING SERIES ARTICLE #1
So You Want to Run An Ultra
A guide to getting started
“To be a great ultrarunner, you need to have three things. First, a high threshold for pain. Second, a short memory. And the third…I forgot.”
— Unknown.
I could barely move when I woke up. My body ached, and my feet were swollen. I lay in bed, mentally preparing for what I knew would be coming. With stiff, barely cooperating legs, I slowly made my way to the bathroom.
I was in my third year of ultrarunning and had just completed (and won) my first 24-hour trail race (on a motocross track). And even though my body ached, my coordination was slow, and my mind was foggy, I knew I would recover in a couple of days, the pain would be forgotten, and I would start researching a new challenge to complete.
Ultrarunning has become my passion. It has taught me about life, love, and how our minds shape reality. I’ve learned that these races are as much about mental fortitude as physical capability.
