Ultra-Marathoner

How to complete Ultra-Marathoner

An ultra is any organized race past 50km, usually on trails with climbing, so it rewards endurance and fueling more than raw speed. Finishing one means you can keep moving for hours and manage your body, not just run fast.

1. Arrive with a marathon's worth of base before you start ultra-specific training.
2. Build back-to-back long runs on weekends (e.g. a long Saturday then a medium Sunday) to train running on tired legs.
3. Practice a deliberate walk-run strategy, especially power-hiking the climbs.
4. Dial in fueling and hydration on every long run until eating mid-effort feels routine.
5. Train on terrain that matches the race: elevation, surface, and altitude if relevant.

Tips

• Walk the uphills from the start; even elite ultrarunners hike steep grades to save energy.
• Eat early and steadily: aim for 200-300 calories per hour before you feel empty.
• Test your exact shoes, pack, and nutrition on long runs; race day is no place for new gear.
• Think in vertical gain and time-on-feet, not pace per kilometer.

What counts as done

An official finish (you appear in the results) of a sanctioned race of 50km or longer.