The Blog
Tips, ideas, and true stories to build your ultra confidence.
Embracing the Hard, Miserable Miles
You entered an ultra to do something hard (remember?).
But halfway through the race, you’re tired, defeated and barely plodding along.
This isn’t how you wanted it to be.
The miles still left to go will be long, miserable, and exhausting. Your all might not be enough.
Are You Done…Or in a Low?
In the deep of night, I finally make it to the light, noise and bustle of the Crosby Manitou aid station 62 miles into Superior 100.
I retrieve my drop bag and grab an empty chair by the fire to get out a heavier pair of gloves, fresh headlamp, and more gels. Maybe a hat.
Even with the fire, I have to be quick. Only a few minutes and I’ll get too cold to go back out.
A fellow runner sits bundled up motionless in the next chair, quietly listening to the others around the circle talk…
Are You Done…Or In A Low?
If you’re a female ultrarunner, you face an extra barrier between you and your full capability - what society expects of you.
How you as a woman are expected to think, behave, and look.
Unspoken beliefs like:
Your worth is based on what others think of your achievements and since you’re not an elite runner, thinking well of yourself is embarrassing.
The Smartest Race Strategy
When you’re preparing for a challenging race, you face two big questions.
“Can I finish?”
“How hard will it be?”
Together, they create a load of uncomfortable anxiety.
Using Belief to Defeat Negative Thinking
You spent months and trained harder than ever to make this your best race ever.
Your mind has to be on point. No negative thinking this time.
You’re excited about the race and training has been great.
Until one day you hear that negative voice in your head say “you’re too slow,” “you don’t know what you’re doing,” or “you aren’t training enough.’
Real v. Pretend Belief (Re-Post)
No one at the starting line of a 100 mile race knows for sure they can finish.
There are so many variables outside our control, like weather.
But runners with the best chance of finishing have at least one thing in common.
Problems Aren’t A Problem
Recently, I changed a burned-out brake light on my car.
I’ve never done it before but I had the new bulbs and I’ve changed headlamp bulbs several times with no problem.
But like an ultra, this was harder than I expected.
Resilient Thoughts About Aging
You can’t run like you used to.
So you reluctantly seek out flatter races with generous cutoffs…and complain.
“Getting old sucks,” you tell people, and they agree right back because it’s the truth.
You Control More Than You Don’t
Race day is almost here and you’re on edge.
You’ve trained hard for this one and expect the finish you want.
But still, you have doubts.
Consistency
How do you break a cycle of inconsistency?
Where you’re missing runs and it bothers you enough to finally get out there for a solid week or two of running but you lose focus, miss a day or two…and find yourself back missing runs.
Where you just can’t get out the door and the more runs you skip, the harder it is to get out there.
Use Your Future to Drive Your Race Year
You’ve seen so many other runners talk about the amazing year they just had.
You want one too.
Not a big race in the ‘same old’ kind of year - a big year.
How to Guarantee Your Best Year Ever
If an expert could give you a custom, personalized improvement plan built specifically for you that was 100% guaranteed to improve your ultrarunning, wouldn’t you want that?
Of course you would.
And you can absolutely get that - right now.
How To Create Your Own Miracle
The race you want is such a crazy reach it’s going to take a miracle.
Maybe it’s a finish after a couple of DNFs.
A tough race you couldn’t train for.
Why Ultrarunning is More Than a Hobby
You click the final button and sign up for an ultra, lean back, and imagine yourself running it the way you dream you can.
You feel every stride - strong over this rock and that, flying up every hill and gliding through every mile.
You want to accomplish something amazing you’re proud of.
Miracles Are Always On The Table (Copy)
“I never took miracles off the table.”
One of my fabulous clients recently said this in a session and it took my breath away.
Because it means miracles are always on the table, unless you take them off.
More Perfect-er
A last-minute race change can be the best thing that could have happened…no matter what it is.
The pandemic introduced epic race changes and cancellations to our sport, and while races have returned to normal, last-minute changes seem to be sticking around.
This year, three of my 100s made last-minute course changes…
Feel Better About Your Race in Minutes
Last weekend, I was running a 100-mile race and did something I’ve never done before - I dropped down to the 50-mile option.
It wasn’t what I showed up to do.
It got me wondering - what happens when you don’t feel good about your race?
How Even Small Strategies Affect Your Race Finish
Strategy makes getting to the finish line simple.
Even a little makes a difference.
In an ultra, your most basic goal is to get to the finish line…ahead of cutoff time.
Distance matters but time matters too. You don’t get an official finish if you get there after cutoff, so the faster you go, the better and the less stressful it is.
Drop or Keep Going?
At 71 miles in the dark at Javelina 100, I came down the rocky hill into the Jackass Junction aid station feeling uncharacteristically a mess.
My body felt like lead all day and was grinding to a halt, and I was only 30 minutes ahead of cutoff.
I know what to do to reset and get back on course and decided to invest a moment in sitting down to stretch my back before moving on.
“I Felt Bad For Him”
Imagine yourself at night in your first 100-mile race, standing in the 63-mile aid station.
You’ve dropped off your favorite pacer and your crew has helped you eat, drink, and fill your bottles.
You’re ready to head out on the next section and the clock is ticking.
Grab your copy of New Thoughts to Believe
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