Ultra North 55:
When I started running again a couple of years ago, I never thought I’d run a distance longer than a half marathon. While I liked the idea of being able to say I’ve run a marathon. People of my age, size and weight didn’t run marathons. That was reserved for skinnier, fitter, or younger types. Yet this year, I dared to believe and have completed two and was about to attempt my first Ultra-marathon. I didn’t think that was a thing that anyone outside of elite athletes or adrenaline junkies did.
I decided to attempt Ultra North, a 55KM Ultra Marathon in and around Newcastle. The course follows paths, trails, fields and what seemed like small mountains were steep, energy-sapping hills.
I didn’t stumble into this challenge with too much naivety, or at least that’s what I thought. I’d read many books and articles, listened to experts, and understood this adventure was completely different.
All the advice from “start slow and get slower” and “respect the distance” to quips such as “an ultra is an eating race with some running & walking thrown in.”
I did as much training as I could given some injury niggles, and yes, I had the utmost respect for the distance, but I’d already run two marathons this year at 42 KM each; how different could it be adding another 13 km on top? In hindsight, I had forgotten how broken I felt after running a marathon. But that’s the thing about running: you remember the highs far more than the lows, and then you crave more highs.
The weather on the day was awful, with thunder & lightning storms, just miserable, but such a varied terrain course helped keep you distracted from the distance that you still had to go. I remember arriving at the checkpoint immediately after passing the marathon distance (26.2 miles) and the realisation hitting me that the job was far from over. Who runs a marathon and doesn’t take the time to appreciate the achievement? I’ll tell you: me and a bunch of people running an ultra.
That was the biggest shock of the run, and I’m sure it affected me over the last hour or so. Like running the marathon, I felt like there was a constant battle with my brain to keep going. Yes, this is a huge physical challenge, but the mental one is tougher.
For me, completing the marathon distance in the Ultra was like hitting the wall in the marathon. You know, you’re in for a rough few miles at that point, but you will learn something about your resilience.
I even caught a couple of FYBs from fellow cult club members (Bad Boy Running Club) along the way.
Running for me is a pretty solitary thing, where I gather my thoughts and take stock of things, but in these long-distance events, the camaraderie and banter are great, and it’s welcomed as it gives you a real boost.
I’m pleased that I finished my first Ultra and could now call myself an Ultra Runner. This challenge was always about completing it rather than any time target. The organisers even called me a “legend” at the finish for completing my obligatory Bad Boy Running Club finish line press-ups.
At the end of it all, after I’d completed my press-ups and received my medal, I sat down with a beer in hand. I said, “Never again”, although as the pain subsides and the high begins to fade, I’m not so sure.
Chip time: 8hrs 39mins 09 secs
Placing: 221 (out of 235)