Is a 50K even really an ultra?
I finished reading Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness by Scott Jurek and Steve Friedman this week (thanks again, Gina!).
The book is basically the story of how Scott Jurek was raised, got involved in ultra marathons, started experimenting with (and eventually switching over to) a plant based diet, and dominating ultra marathons (there are also some recipes, tips and facts thrown in). I knew a bit about Scott Jurek before, but this book really gave a lot more insight in to his life, the characters in it, and his personality. I was surprised reading this and thinking, “Wow, he deals with a lot of deep, sometimes dark, thoughts.” Yet he has so much control over his mind and body. And I loved reading about feeling connected with the earth when doing this long runs and that’s all it is – you and the earth. And also how we get to a point where we can no longer meet our goals and just have to run for the experience (unless you are him and you keep breaking records? ha ha)
These comments don’t make sense if you haven’t read the book, and hey, maybe they don’t make sense if you have. Has anyone read it?
But there were a lot of good things to think about in there, and maybe when I get more organized I’ll write about some of them. Maybe.
For now, the obvious takeaways are:
- Scott Jurek is a badass
- Scott Jurek knows how to run through pain (I mean, seriously, he has done some races with sprained ankles and broken toes and stuff like that. Cray cray.)
- Scott Jurek can do it all on a vegan diet
- Scott Jurek probably wouldn’t even consider a 50K an ultramarathon…
- Scott Jurek is confident and doesn’t doubt himself
Let’s say I was inspired.
Okay, really, let’s say I read this book about a man running 100+ miles through crazy conditions and then thought about how I have been waffling back and forth on my decision to run a trail 50K (31 miles) on a course the race organizers describe as (bold emphasis mine):
The forested area, massaged by monstrous glaciers many millennia ago, contains wake-up-call hill climbs of 200-300 feet and enough undulating terrain to challenge even those granite-legged mountain runners. Overall, the soft, forgiving course is 80% singletrack, with slightly wider, equestrian sections sprinkled in between. This is the least technical of all the Endurance Challenge courses.
Least technical? What is my problem? Why have I not signed up yet?
I am sick of telling people I am thinking about signing up for a 50K (I bet they are sick of hearing it). I know I can “run” it. It has a 9-hour time limit, for Pete’s sake. It’s less than 5 miles more than a marathon.
So I f-i-n-a-l-l-y signed up.
North Face Endurance Challenge 50K on September 15, here I come (slowly but surely – I just want to finish before the cut-offs at the aid stations!)!
Themocracy
Yay for signing up! That’s my only goal for all these crazy things too, just finish and meet cut-offs…still great goals!
Number 1 – a 50k IS an ultra! Think back to the finish lines of your marathons? Could you have then run 5 more miles? Number 2 – YOU CAN TOTALLY DO THIS (and do it well!) and I’m so excited for you! 🙂
Didn’t Scott Jurek grow up in Duluth? Or maybe Proctor?
He grew up outside of Duluth… not sure exactly where. 🙂 He does talk about Duluth a bit and all the trails there! Have you checked them out?
Yahoo, I am so impressed and totally in awe. Even though a lot of people say a 50k is no harder than a marathon they totally intimidate me
Congratulations! The 50k is on Saturday, the half marathon is on Sunday so I’ll be thinking of you as I run the trails!
Aww! Too bad we don’t get to see each other on the same day! I do love that they have so many events. I bet the relay option is fun too!
By definition, a 50k is definitely an ultra!! Not to mention that it’s on trails. I am not thinking of running a 50k any time soon but I do think this would be fun to run with you.
Congrats for finally signing up!!! Can’t wait to see how it goes!
Hooray! Least technical, but still plenty fun. Plus,it will be a good training opportunity for Zooma. 🙂
I just read the book and loved it!
That’s awesome that you signed up! You’ll be awesome!
26.3 miles is an ultra in my book!
I know it’s “only 5 miles more” than a marathon. But still. After your completion of this, expect me to bow down to you and hail you as queen.
Congrats on signing up for your first ultra. You can totally do it and I can’t wait to hear about your experience! 🙂
Congratulations for taking the plunge! That’s half the battle right there! As you train for the Ultra (YES, IT IS AN ULTRA), work on that confidence of yours! You got this! I am already so so proud of you!
Congratulations on signing up for the 50K!!! I knew you would and that it was just a matter of time. =D You are going to do AWESOME and I absolutely cannot wait to hear about your experience. The Chicago Half Marathon the weekend prior will be a fantastic warm-up for you for the 50K, too!!!
I hope it is! LOL! I was thinking that – should I race 6 days before? Ha ha. It will be nice and slow 😉
I agree with Gina. Work on your confidence! You can do this. Don’t downplay it, either. Your first 50K is a big deal. I’m thrilled that you are taking the plunge!
Hooray for my soon to be an ultra-marathoner friend!! 😀
Good for you! You can totally do this! Looking forward to hearing about it!
I like how you say it like “less than 5 miles more than a marathon” is no big thing. You are awesome – that is a long effing way, and I can pretty much guarantee you that I will never in my life be badass enough to tackle something like that.
I so want to read that book!
And anything over 26.2 is an ultra. There’s a marathon in Oklahoma that has an ultra option … which brings you up to a grand total of 26.4! I want to do it some day.
Yes, 50k is an ultra, especially for me who could not imagine running one foot past the 26.2 line! Congrats on registering, will be exciting to follow your journey to 50k!
Yay, you! 😀
you did register after all! I have no doubt that you can run it, but I am still so interested to hear your thoughts when you actually do it. It’s one of these things that I don’t think I will ever do myself. 🙂 This book has been on my to-read list forever. I need to read it at some point
Kim. Stop fretting my friend. A 50k is an ultra. An ultra is an ultramarathon meaning longer than a marathon. Sure some folks like to say it starts at 50 miles, it doesn’t. I’ve only done 50ks and call myself an ultra runner. Only running groups I belong to are ultra groups. Yes the NF Madison (not near Madison) is the least tech of all the NF races (besides Kansas which is a road ultra) but then the others are mountain races. Kettle Morane is very runnable on the only but still hilly and some areas of rocks and roots. I did the NF half a few years ago, great event. I am NOT running NF now but if they either reply to my emails I’ll be volunteering and will make sure I am on the 50k course. Scott’s book is a great read. Meet him one year at Western States 100 (I vacationed there for 3 years LOL). Go and trail run
I really need to proof my words but you get the idea LOL
Thanks for your input Ian! I hope I get to see you out there!!! 🙂
Congratulations Kim! What an awesome goal for yourself. I hope you have a blast and I know you will do great. And by the way, you are badass!!
this is awesome!
Awesome! Congrats on signing up! It sounds like it will be great experience!
I wish that my body could take the miles, but from what I know from my cousin (who has completed Leadville 6 times!), it’s not about running hard or fast.
And that is EXACTLY why I want to do it – not running hard or fast, nice and slow and easy 🙂
sorry i’m so late on the congrats for pulling the trigger! this is super exciting and i am PUMPED for you!!! sounds like it will be a blast! and yes, this counts as a ultra so OWN IT GIRL!!! 31 miles is far…like really really really far. what a great way to end the summer!
from now until then, just run your brains out and you’ll kill it on the course! so excited that we will get a chance to chat about it the weekend before at the chicago half too! eekkkk!!!! i’m giddy like a little girl about this for you!
Awesome!! Heck yeah – anything over 26.2 is an ultra!
I’ll be there to cheer you guys on:)
Yay! I am excited you will be there! 🙂
You are amazing. That is all!