3 Tips To Becoming A Better Ultra Runner
I want to PR my Shore 2 Shore 50k time. Here’s a start to how I plan to do it!
Two years ago I finished my first ultra marathon. It was something that I always wanted to do, but just could never find the “time” for. Looking back in hindsight, the real answer was I was not willing to put the work in to get it done! After starting a run streak in early 2022, I found a new love for not only running, but training. I found the trails and my eyes were opened up to a whole new world. This simple run streak was the stone in the pond that would ripple to many other aspects of my life.
Although I had run marathons before, I had never really trained. I was always able to get by with the basic fitness I had. But now, with the consistency I had with the run streak, I was able to commit to a training plan. After not missing a training day November through March I was 4 weeks out and ready to rock! During a training run, I rolled my ankle very badly. My running streak was over, and possibly my dream of running a 50k was crushed. I stayed off the ankle for 1 month and showed up at the start line of the Shore To Shore 50k. I waddled and walked my way to my first finish! It was not the time that I wanted, but the goal had been achieved. I was an ultra marathoner.
Since then, I have continued with my ultra marathon journey. As of this day in early March 2025, I have completed races all the way up to the 100 mile distance. Last year in 2024 I passed on Shore 2 Shore to train for the Canyons Endurance Run, which was only 2 weeks after. This year I am coming back to Shore to Shore not just for redemption, but to showcase what I have learned over the past two year. I want to share some of those things with you over the next 6 weeks as we go for a PR at Shore 2 Shore in mid April!
The first thing I have learned about training is the power of a run group. I tend to be an introvert by nature and don’t really love to run with others. This goes back to even my ironman triathlon days. Leading into my first few races I did all my training alone. I have found over time that training alone can only take you so far. With training partners, you learn training philosophies, about gear and nutrition, as well as other events that are going on. Training partners for you to commit to being at a certain time and place. This is a huge benefit on those early morning days when getting out of bed can be a struggle! Lastly, training partners will just make you faster, especially if they are way fitter than you. I was always embarrassed to run with people that were fitter than me. What I know now, is that you will never find hater doing better than you. Most want to help! They want you to be there with them. Please dont be intimidated to run with people. It will help so much!
Next is the power of long runs. Early on, I only looked at total volume and time. I didn’t really have a structure. Training for my first 100 miler taught me a lot about structure. I think the piece I was missing by having a coach was the “why”. Why were we doing certain workouts? For my second 100 miler I did not hire a coach. I figured I would just follow a similar plan that I had for my first. But I didnt follow the structure. I just followed the volume. What I found out after that race was I missed the structure! Looking back, I would make sure I would get to my mileage and time, but would scatter the workouts here and there just to get the volume. The number of runs over 22 miles significantly decreased for my second 100, even though my mileage volume was similar. I did PR that second 100 miler, but the terrain was much different and I was stronger mentally. My muscular endurance was definitely less. This muscular endurance you can really only get from a long run! Going into Shore 2 Shore I am prioritizing my long runs. If you are newer to this and not using a coach, try and target 25-30% of your total weekly volume as a place to start and build from there. These can be nice and easy “All Day Pace”, that can develop into more structured workouts. Get out for a long run. Call some people to come with you!
The last thing, which I know isn’t possible in all situations, is to train on the course you are going to race on. Shore 2 Shore is a local race for me so it is so easy for me to get out on the course. This will give you the opportunity to see what the terrain is going to be like, work on navigation, see how long it will take you to get to aid stations, find out where you can push the pace as well as pull back and recover. I try to get out on the course at least once a week. If you can get to the race course you are racing on, I would highly suggest you study up on the race. Unlike road races, trail races are very different from one race to the next. Find out what the trails are like and try to train as much as possible on similar terrain.
This past weekend I put all three of these things to work. I got out with some of my best friends here in the running space. We got on the Shore 2 Shore course and got a really nice long run in. Below I will link a YouTube Video of that training day as well as a long form podcast episode talking more about these tips in greater detail. If you have any questions please leave a comment here, on the YouTube Video, or in my free discord (also linked below).
Thanks so much for reading!
Keep er Lit!
YouTube Vlog: https://youtu.be/edmtSW9wp8M?si=Zt4XU7hc-oFOtLbq
Podcast Episode: Link Coming Soon
Discord Link: https://discord.gg/4QMxjFyQGJ
