guest post - wendy searle

I'm very excited to welcome my first ever guest blog post. Wendy joined the Running Adventures North Downs Ultra Run this past weekend and wrote the following blog post about her experience and what she learned. Wendy is an inpisrational polar explorer who is preparing to pioneer a new route across the Transantarctic mountains and will finish at the South Pole in 2020. Find to more here.

If you'd like to submit a guest blog post, get in touch.

Things you only know when you’ve run a trail ultra...

We joined Matt, from Running Adventures, in an unassuming car park in Guildford early on Sunday morning. There were a few nervous first-timers (including me) and some seasoned ultra-runners there for a guided run on the North Downs. Matt is very chilled. I was expecting a big fanfare, ‘this is it guys, your first ultra’ type thing, or even a kit check or something, but he just said hi, and we more or less got going. That laid-back attitude was exactly right, we just pottered off together and Matt was happy to chat as we went round, offering advice and stories. I was super-happy just to finish, having vision beforehand of ducking out and getting a taxi back, but once I was in, I was in 100%. I was surprised – having done a few marathons – how slow the pace was, but it was essential that the pace was sustainable. A really enjoyable day with a really good group of interesting people. Here’s what I learned:

• It’s not as far as you think. Even the word ultra shouts ‘extreme’ or ‘athlete’. Anything that’s further than a marathon is technically an ultra. Think of it more as a jog round the hills and it becomes an appealing day out, rather than a slog. 

• It’s slower than you think. It’s more about being able to run for hours. And hours. Without running out of steam. Start slower than your marathon pace, and slow down a bit after that. Enjoy the scenery. You should be going slowly enough to chat to whoever is alongside you.

• Nutrition is critical to preventing fatigue. You’re not going so fast that you hit the wall, but you use a lot of calories being on your feet for so long. Bring lots of favourite snacks; real food is good – cake, peanuts, trail mix. I used a few gels, but I felt like it was more a psychological thing as I’ve always used them on longer runs.

• You walk the hills. Yes, really. And given my half/ marathon stumbles uphill, I’m probably striding out in a walk faster than I could running. Running up Box Hill is for the insane only, and other, smaller hills were also tackled at a brisk walk.

• Downhill can be just as tricky. Fly downhill like you’re on the fells and your quads will soon be complaining. You have a long way to go, take it steady on the downhill, little steps, not out-of-control aeroplaning.

• You can really enjoy your surroundings. You’re going slowly. Your mind isn’t focused on pain or pace. You spot the goat sitting on a picnic table, pause to eat ripe blackberries, have the breath to say hello to passing walkers or runners.

• Off road is easier. And harder. It’s harder on the uphill, over roots and down tricky slopes. But the thought of trashing my legs on concrete for more than 26.2 (ok, anything over a 5k and I’m not keen) is in no way appealing. I’d swap that for dappled forest, wildlife and great views any day of the week.

​Sign up for your own running adventure here.