What I came to crave was the Zen-like calm of settling into your pace, safe in the knowledge that all you have to do is keep putting one foot in front of the other until the finish line appears. This pure simplicity clears the mind of the daily grind. Breaking through the harder moments - when your body is protesting and your brain is yelling at you to stop ? can be some of the highest points of ultrarunning, as you begin to realise your body is capable of much more than you thought. These highs are what keep ultrarunners coming back for more.
For Lizzy Hawker, one of the world?s greatest ultrarunners, the appeal lies in the ?wild countryside? setting. ?There?s an enthralment for me in journeying on a trail or through the mountains under your own steam, leaving nothing but your footprints,? she says.
While many ultrarunners are former hard-partying thirtysomethings, just as many are people looking for a new life challenge. And unlike many sports, which favour youth, success in ultradistance running requires maturity and mental resilience.
Sarah Hayes, 53 has been competing for two years after a health scare inspired her to pick up her trainers after a 25- year break. ?I started with a 5km event, then a full marathon. My ambition is to run 100 miles by the time I am 55.? She has hit the 31-mile mark already.
At 46, Stanley Edgar realised that he missed ?the athletic person he used to be?. He built up to 10k events and half marathons and at 48 managed a staggering 150 miles over five days. At 49 he wants to run the 150 miles again ? only faster.
Ultrarunning: the basics
Trainers: Gait analysis from a good running shop can help you identify the ideal shoe.
Backpack: Small and light is best. A water bladder inside is good for drinking over distance.
Heart rate monitor: Essential for learning to pace yourself and to monitor energy output.
Food: Hourly snacks or energy gels will help you run further than you imagined. Expect to burn around 10,000 calories over 50 miles
Training: Extend training runs first to an hour, then two hours over a few months. Run on grass when possible as road running increases injury risk. Concentrate on running smoothly and easily, not on running faster. Once the two-hour run is comfortable, aim for a long, slow run of four hours. After this you?re ready for your first 30-miler.
Injury prevention: Physio, plenty of stretching, and gentle strength exercises will have you back on your feet in no time.
Fixtures and training tips: www.runnersworld.co.uk; www.ultrarace.co.uk; www.gobeyondultra.co.uk
health advice for women health magazines for women www.womens-health.co.uk health forums for women www.womens-health-concern.org
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