Great article Sarah, as always! I empathize with Ali, big time! I ran my first ultra at 57, first 100 at 62 (Grindstone, paced by one Sophie Speidel), and just ran my 3rd hundred the 1st of June (Old Diminion, Sophie was my safety runner) at the ripe young age of 64. This was my 45th ultra in the last 8 years, so yay for getting older!
I’m thru-hiking the A.T. next year after I retire, the Lord willing, so won’t be racing as much in ‘25, but plan on a couple of ultras before I start and after I finish my thru-hike. Again- yay for getting older! Keep up the great writing!
Best of luck to Ali! I loved hearing her story. I've always thought of running ultras someday in the far future so it's nice to see that idea isn't farfetched
Great piece. Especially timely for me as I just did my big annual race yesterday, and was thinking about all these things like pacing and acceptance and enjoyment. My own newsletter about it will be coming soon :-)
Thank you so much Sarah for thinking my story might be interesting to your readers! I admire you and your writing so much and you've been inspiring to me as well. And I especially love the second part of the post about Western States and the changes in ultra running. While the speedy runners in the top ten are impressive, the Golden Hour is still the part I look forward to a never fail to shed a tear or three. Your words here said it so perfectly.
"I’m here with a simple but perhaps timely reminder that you don’t need to be fast to be successful at ultrarunning. You don’t need to be competitive to matter. It’s still a sport more about steadiness, perseverance, logistical strategy, and mental tenacity as it is about pure fitness and raw speed. The heart of the sport is still in each individual’s personal journey more than in the competition for podium spots."
Beautiful post, especially your words about having the courage to finish last. I know this well as a back of packer in my 30s, trying to focus on feeling gratitude to be able to train for an ultra and finish it knowing how many things in life have to go right to get to the finish. Best of luck to you in the Grand to Grand!
I always find the stories of the back of the pack finishers to be inspiring, even more than the podium finishers because they really have grit to continue running despite all the challenges.
I’ve been back of the pack at all the races I’ve done and even finished my first two ultras DFL (still ahead of the cutoffs) but I still came across the finish line smiling because I didn’t let the voices in my head telling me I’m too slow or can’t do it win. In the last two ultras I did in particular, I felt pretty strong for most of the race and then entered the pain cave in the last 10 miles or so which slowed me down significantly, and even though I know on a good day I could have finished a couple hours earlier, I’m still very proud of those finishes because I didn’t give up! Thank you so much for sharing these stories!
I love this weeks words. I have been fighting my head telling me I am too old and what am I thinking? I am the Michigan Bluff Aid Station captain - have been the last three years. I love it, I love helping the back of the packers to continue on and usually walk with them up to the exit to make sure they know they can keep going. Met Sally McCrae and watched her come up through the canyon, uncomfortable, and in GI distress, with a huge smile on her face and fist pump for all of us. Attitude, that is what its all about. My goal - for me, at 70, is to run a 100K successfully. Yes, yes I can.
Great article Sarah, as always! I empathize with Ali, big time! I ran my first ultra at 57, first 100 at 62 (Grindstone, paced by one Sophie Speidel), and just ran my 3rd hundred the 1st of June (Old Diminion, Sophie was my safety runner) at the ripe young age of 64. This was my 45th ultra in the last 8 years, so yay for getting older!
I’m thru-hiking the A.T. next year after I retire, the Lord willing, so won’t be racing as much in ‘25, but plan on a couple of ultras before I start and after I finish my thru-hike. Again- yay for getting older! Keep up the great writing!
Cheers!
Awesome Steve! How inspiring! And those are some pretty tough 100s and what a great pacer!
I love these details and especially the Sophie connection. Bravo! Thank you for sharing that.
Best of luck to Ali! I loved hearing her story. I've always thought of running ultras someday in the far future so it's nice to see that idea isn't farfetched
Thank you Ryan! And definitely not a farfetched idea....I hope!
All the best to you, Ali. Vermont is such a wonderful (and sometimes brutal) course!
Thank you Karen! Yes indeed !!! Brutiful is what I call it :)
Great piece. Especially timely for me as I just did my big annual race yesterday, and was thinking about all these things like pacing and acceptance and enjoyment. My own newsletter about it will be coming soon :-)
I can’t wait to read your post about it. Also, I’m happy to report that Ali finished the VT100 yesterday in just over 29 hours!
Thank you so much Sarah for thinking my story might be interesting to your readers! I admire you and your writing so much and you've been inspiring to me as well. And I especially love the second part of the post about Western States and the changes in ultra running. While the speedy runners in the top ten are impressive, the Golden Hour is still the part I look forward to a never fail to shed a tear or three. Your words here said it so perfectly.
"I’m here with a simple but perhaps timely reminder that you don’t need to be fast to be successful at ultrarunning. You don’t need to be competitive to matter. It’s still a sport more about steadiness, perseverance, logistical strategy, and mental tenacity as it is about pure fitness and raw speed. The heart of the sport is still in each individual’s personal journey more than in the competition for podium spots."
Thank you Ali :-) Taper well & stay healthy for VT100!
Beautiful post, especially your words about having the courage to finish last. I know this well as a back of packer in my 30s, trying to focus on feeling gratitude to be able to train for an ultra and finish it knowing how many things in life have to go right to get to the finish. Best of luck to you in the Grand to Grand!
Thank you!
I always find the stories of the back of the pack finishers to be inspiring, even more than the podium finishers because they really have grit to continue running despite all the challenges.
I’ve been back of the pack at all the races I’ve done and even finished my first two ultras DFL (still ahead of the cutoffs) but I still came across the finish line smiling because I didn’t let the voices in my head telling me I’m too slow or can’t do it win. In the last two ultras I did in particular, I felt pretty strong for most of the race and then entered the pain cave in the last 10 miles or so which slowed me down significantly, and even though I know on a good day I could have finished a couple hours earlier, I’m still very proud of those finishes because I didn’t give up! Thank you so much for sharing these stories!
I love this weeks words. I have been fighting my head telling me I am too old and what am I thinking? I am the Michigan Bluff Aid Station captain - have been the last three years. I love it, I love helping the back of the packers to continue on and usually walk with them up to the exit to make sure they know they can keep going. Met Sally McCrae and watched her come up through the canyon, uncomfortable, and in GI distress, with a huge smile on her face and fist pump for all of us. Attitude, that is what its all about. My goal - for me, at 70, is to run a 100K successfully. Yes, yes I can.
Yes you can! And bravo for captaining the aid station.