Coach's Corner - Ultra Enjoyable? Yes! By Skipp Phoenix

Put your hand up if you enjoy trail running? I’m assuming everyone’s hand is up as you’re reading this month’s edition!

Now leave your hand up if you are one of the elite trail runners, one of those that is regularly in the top 10 finishers and sometimes find themselves on the podium.

Yep, my hand went down too and that’s okay – they don’t make space on the podium for all of us. So, if we aren’t winning, on the podium or close to it, we might as well make these ultra running events enjoyable. Right?

Start with this self-imposed reduced pressure…at the start!

Larger events could have six to seven different waves, so if you find yourself in something other than wave one don’t get caught up in the hype and feel the need to show Usain Bolt-pace in the first 100 meters whether you still have 49,900 or 99,900 meters to go.

Enjoy the start line experience - there is nothing wrong with being intentionally at the very back of your wave, especially given that your time won’t begin until you cross the timing mat anyway.

Bring a friend

A friend can also double as an on-course therapist, someone to listen to your inner whining over many hours and provide you with phrases that upon reflection two days later you know were probably lies, like “You look great,” and “It’s mostly downhill from here!” Alternatively, make a friend on course. You are probably an introverted soul, but a 5 minute discussion whilst in the pain cave with a complete stranger could be the pick-me-up you’re looking for.

Make Good Choices

Avoid events that have sections in them with names like “Death’s Pass,” “Hell’s Hole,” “Relentless,” The Pit,” or “Dragon’s Back.” If it sounds like a place you’d find somewhere in the land of The Lord of the Rings, make other trail life choices.

Take Photos

One of the techniques that I also have those that I do training plans for is to take a minimum of 3 photos during the event, and this excludes the start and finish line! We are fortunate to be able to find ourselves in some truly picturesque places – mountain mountain views, waterfalls, sunrises, sunsets. You never know if you’ll be back at that location, so why not take a permanent memory? It also gives you a chance for a short breather, and some time to reset before you get going again. Some places even take on a spiritual feel: Ironpot Ridge on the UTA100 course anyone?

Also on the photo topic, remember that suffering is temporary, but race photos are forever. Event organisers rarely hide photographers around technical bends or behind bushes on a steep climb (so I’ve been told). If however, this does happen, keep your “photographer wits” about you so that you can run for that all important 20 meters whilst in lens range and give a thumbs up. Or two thumbs up if you are feeling really energetic. None of your non-running friends or family need to know that as soon as you passed that spot, your thumbs definitely went down and you returned to another half an hour of hiking.

No Pressure

You’ve trained for months to get here, so don’t be pressured on technical single trails to push faster than you know you are capable of doing because the person behind you has the genes of a trail fairy and can somehow float on loose rocks. Let them pass. It might add a few seconds to your time, but that is the preferred option versus losing focus, tripping on the “invisible” tree root, falling, injuring yourself and DNFing.

Going Uphill

Hills are meant to be hiked! What’s the point of trying to run them when all you are doing is flattening your battery like you’ve got 57 apps open on your phone all at once?

Conserve energy, get your heart rate down and be more content knowing that there’s a better than even chance your strategy might mean a slightly higher finishing position at the end after you pass them later when they’re tired.

Whether you finish in 6th or 656th place, keep in mind that the bling you’ll receive is the same! Like the starting chute, make the finish chute memorable – throw your arms up, high five anyone who is willing to oblige, bust out your best dance moves like no one is watching, or why not even try to do a highland fling kick as you cross the line and then instantly cramp when you hit the ground, leaving spectators unsure if they should be cheering or calling for a medic.

Then, a couple of days later when the DOMS kick in and you require a 12 point turn to get off the lounge, ask a loved one to get you a coffee, sit in quiet contemplation and swear that you’ll never put yourself through this again. Then, a few days after that, register for your next event because, truthfully, they’re all just training runs for the next one, and deep down you know they are enjoyable.