Ahhh… the Lake District. Full of emerald fields, moody fells, sparkling lakes and… people.
Lots of people.
Guide To Ultrarunning: What’s Next?
Emily Cartigny
In the third and final instalment of her Guide To Ultrarunning series, Emily Cartigny asks ‘What’s Next?’. Whether its throwing yourself straight into bigger and better challenges or just throwing your trainers in the bin, the key is not to be too hasty.
As you cross the finish line, stopping your watch as you do, there will be a few certain things to happen. Your legs will be tired. You’ll be ready for a bath and your favourite meal. You’ll be congratulated by your supporters, and, without a doubt, someone will ask you: so, what’s next?
I remember being asked this before I’d even returned to my car after completing the Bob Graham. After running for close to 24 hours, “What next?”, was not a question I was ready to answer. But, I have to admit, with my feet up on the sofa, considering the running-shaped void in my life, it only took a few days until I was asking myself: What do I do now?
Whether you’ve got your first ultra lined up this coming 2024 season, or you completed one last year, here are a few Dos and Don’ts of what to do next.
Physically, your body needs rest. But your mind does too. Pushing yourself can take a toll on both.
Don’t make any rash decisions.
“Don’t ever let me enter another race” or “I’m never running again” are highly common phrases to leave the lips of Ultra-runners in the darkest stages of an event. Yet, most people will break this promise before too long. So, before chucking your trainers in the bin, let the muscle pain subside and the blisters heal. Before too long, you’ll forget all the bad bits and just remember the highlights.
Don’t run.
Before diving straight back in, it’s crucial to give yourself some time to rest. Put your feet up, jump in an ice bath, eat as much steak (or vegetable alternative!) as you possibly can – you know the drill. Physically, your body needs rest. But your mind does too. Pushing yourself can take a toll on both. Giving yourself a mental break is a crucial part of the process.
Once you’re physically recovered, you can think about picking up those trainers again.
Do anything else.
Training for an Ultra-marathon can be time-consuming or, if you’re like me, you might have become so hyper-focused on your goal that you refused to do anything else in the months leading up to the event. This is your chance to do all those things you let slip.
See friends you’ve not seen in 6 months, ride your bike, go for a swim, read that book you’ve not opened, maybe even try something new – enjoy a little time off for a while to balance out the scales.
Do re-find your love for running.
Once you’re physically recovered, you can think about picking up those trainers again. Following a training plan can get intense, leaving you feeling like you “have to” go for a run rather than wanting to. By taking some time to re-find your love of running it can make sure you’re mentally fully recovered from the hard work. So revisit your favourite places, stop when you feel like it or explore that route you’ve not done in ages.
This whole process can take as long as you need. It took me 18 months.
Do re-find your motivation.
It’s finally time to answer the question of: What next? Do you want to go longer? Or faster? Explore a new location? Or maybe a different format (we’ve got a blog for that too – here)? It is time to find the next thing that will kick-start the motivation to go again.
Don’t worry if it takes time.
This whole process can take as long as you need. It took me 18 months.
After my Bob Graham, I ran, I exercised, I spent more time on my bike, but with no real direction or focus. Nothing fueled the fire enough to commit to. I entered races but usually ended up not training for them and bumbling around. Until one day – I entered a race and felt the fire burning to push myself once again. Whether it takes weeks, months, or even longer, trust that your passion for pushing boundaries will resurface eventually.
And with that, we’ve reached the finish line for the beginner’s guide to ultra-events!
If you’re a newcomer to the world of 26.2 and beyond, I hope you’ve found my tips over the three series useful (find the other two here: Finding Your Format and Getting Prepared).
Over the series, I’ve tried to share some of the mistakes I’ve made so that you don’t have to make them too. But, ultimately, the journey of an ultra-runner is one of continuous self-discovery. So, don’t be afraid to make a whole load of your own mistakes along the way.
In the third and final instalment of her Guide To Ultrarunning series, Emily Cartigny asks ‘What’s Next?’. Whether its throwing yourself straight into bigger and better challenges or just throwing your trainers in the bin, the key is not to be too hasty.
As you cross the finish line, stopping your watch as you do, there will be a few certain things to happen. Your legs will be tired. You’ll be ready for a bath and your favourite meal. You’ll be congratulated by your supporters, and, without a doubt, someone will ask you: so, what’s next?
I remember being asked this before I’d even returned to my car after completing the Bob Graham. After running for close to 24 hours, “What next?”, was not a question I was ready to answer. But, I have to admit, with my feet up on the sofa, considering the running-shaped void in my life, it only took a few days until I was asking myself: What do I do now?
Whether you’ve got your first ultra lined up this coming 2024 season, or you completed one last year, here are a few Dos and Don’ts of what to do next.
Physically, your body needs rest. But your mind does too. Pushing yourself can take a toll on both.
Don’t make any rash decisions.
“Don’t ever let me enter another race” or “I’m never running again” are highly common phrases to leave the lips of Ultra-runners in the darkest stages of an event. Yet, most people will break this promise before too long. So, before chucking your trainers in the bin, let the muscle pain subside and the blisters heal. Before too long, you’ll forget all the bad bits and just remember the highlights.
Don’t run.
Before diving straight back in, it’s crucial to give yourself some time to rest. Put your feet up, jump in an ice bath, eat as much steak (or vegetable alternative!) as you possibly can – you know the drill. Physically, your body needs rest. But your mind does too. Pushing yourself can take a toll on both. Giving yourself a mental break is a crucial part of the process.
Once you’re physically recovered, you can think about picking up those trainers again.
Do anything else.
Training for an Ultra-marathon can be time-consuming or, if you’re like me, you might have become so hyper-focused on your goal that you refused to do anything else in the months leading up to the event. This is your chance to do all those things you let slip.
See friends you’ve not seen in 6 months, ride your bike, go for a swim, read that book you’ve not opened, maybe even try something new – enjoy a little time off for a while to balance out the scales.
Do re-find your love for running.
Once you’re physically recovered, you can think about picking up those trainers again. Following a training plan can get intense, leaving you feeling like you “have to” go for a run rather than wanting to. By taking some time to re-find your love of running it can make sure you’re mentally fully recovered from the hard work. So revisit your favourite places, stop when you feel like it or explore that route you’ve not done in ages.
This whole process can take as long as you need. It took me 18 months.
Do re-find your motivation.
It’s finally time to answer the question of: What next? Do you want to go longer? Or faster? Explore a new location? Or maybe a different format (we’ve got a blog for that too – here)? It is time to find the next thing that will kick-start the motivation to go again.
Don’t worry if it takes time.
This whole process can take as long as you need. It took me 18 months.
After my Bob Graham, I ran, I exercised, I spent more time on my bike, but with no real direction or focus. Nothing fueled the fire enough to commit to. I entered races but usually ended up not training for them and bumbling around. Until one day – I entered a race and felt the fire burning to push myself once again. Whether it takes weeks, months, or even longer, trust that your passion for pushing boundaries will resurface eventually.
And with that, we’ve reached the finish line for the beginner’s guide to ultra-events!
If you’re a newcomer to the world of 26.2 and beyond, I hope you’ve found my tips over the three series useful (find the other two here: Finding Your Format and Getting Prepared).
Over the series, I’ve tried to share some of the mistakes I’ve made so that you don’t have to make them too. But, ultimately, the journey of an ultra-runner is one of continuous self-discovery. So, don’t be afraid to make a whole load of your own mistakes along the way.
Emily is a freelance writer on a mission to unlock the outdoors for underrepresented groups. She’s particularly passionate about sharing female stories of adventure and the outdoors. When it comes to running her strengths are enthusiasm and pure stubbornness rather than talent. You'll usually find her getting lost in the Lake District or on her local fell, Farleton Knott.
Emily is a freelance writer on a mission to unlock the outdoors for underrepresented groups. She’s particularly passionate about sharing female stories of adventure and the outdoors. When it comes to running her strengths are enthusiasm and pure stubbornness rather than talent. You'll usually find her getting lost in the Lake District or on her local fell, Farleton Knott.
If you have a story to tell, whether it’s from the OMM, another race or challenge or just how you use our kit, get in touch! Just pop an email to james@team-ark.com and who knows, you might just earn yourself some free kit!
More Like this
Runs in the Family: A Generation of OMM
Emily Cartigny explores a Generation of OMM and why the passion for this event runs in the family, from volunteers to competitors.