#50miler

[runnersnz]

“Hmmm, that elusive Why? Pretty sure the answer I would have given at silly o’clock in the morning on 1st June 2018 would have been very vague and involved something along the lines of “I’m not sleeping anyhow” and “Why not?”, to something with a bit more self awareness, given the benefit of time and a good few thousand foot fuelled kilometres of reflection.

In all reality I’ve no idea why that morning was the morning. It really didn’t seem special at the time, but it was the first step and any change starts with a singular first step, right?

I’d become unsure of who I was anymore, as being ‘Mum’ had been a massive part of my identity. My teenage daughter was managing stress in ways I struggled to understand and didn’t know how to help with, my job (whilst I love it with a passion) was swallowing me whole, sleep was continually elusive, maybe some degree of freaking out about getting older and wanting to live to 100, and give my body and mind the best chance of complying, not just existing.

Running, even from the first half a kilometre jaunt to the end of my road and walking home, provided something that was just mine, with results being determined only by me. Clocking over the kilometres provides the chance to either not think at all beyond breathing and moving forward one step at a time, or space to let things settle and to think more clearly. It’s funny that it can do both.

Right from the start running made me feel better, even when it was ridiculously hard (and still is sometimes). About six months in, I convinced my daughter to join Heart and Sole, an incredible ladies run group in Tauranga. To say it’s changed my world doesn’t even come close to summing it up! The tribe of wahine toa that it connected me with are like none I’d ever had the privilege of being part of and I’m blessed to name many of them among my besties now. We laugh together, cry together and build each other up without reservation. So many of the crazy ass goals and adventures we sign ourselves up for start off as ‘any given day run chats’. My first ultra (Tarawera 50km 2021) came about exactly that way, after Robyn M (she’s signed up many, many unwitting victims) said “You could totally do the TUM50, it’s like a giant party.”

The road to get there was far from friggin smooth and that doesn’t even include Covid. Like many rookies I nudged up the mileage too quickly and had what appeared to be a calf tear in my right leg, rehabbed that, and back on the horse. Here is where I’ll have to admit to being a slow learner I guess, as what felt similar happened in my left leg not long after. Turns out though it wasn’t a calf tear it was a stress fracture just below my knee. A little more investigation, including bone density scans brought to light osteopenia, thankfully not an end to my ultra journey but a serious kick in the butt to train smarter. I joined Squadrun, expanding the tribe of awesome people in what I was fast learning was an epic trail community in NZ, and strength work through Beyond Physio and Fitness – yes you guessed it even more fab peeps!

Trail running builds and restores every facet of my hauora, from simple dog jogs with our two rescue pups, Hilli (she’d run until she died) and Archie (the social runner who wants to chat to everyone), around our local Buffalo Girl trail at Tect Park, to events and adventures across our gorgeous country.

Ultra running has been and continues to be the most humbling of experiences – pushing to see what the body and mind is capable of, friends and family and often relative strangers banding together to support one and other, and encouraging people to do way more than they thought they’re capable of. My incredible partner Phil thought he might max out around the half marathon mark, and he is now two 50km ultras down, with a 50miler in mind and well within his capability. 

It’s commonplace for my running bestie, Ruth, and I to cross the line and cry happy tears, quite possibly having cried a few tears (and used a few choice cuss words) earlier in our runs too. I’m very lucky to have found a run-bestie who is a similar pace, loves crazy adventures (at least once she’s had a bit of time to think about ideas thrown her way and the very real risk of FOMO) and who can spend hour upon hour upon hour flowing between solving the problems of the world to companionable silences. We are a couple of 50kms, a 70km, two 100km and multiple other adventures in with many more to come. I think if I could offer any sort of useful life advice to others it would be something like this: Find your tribe, find something that builds as many aspects of your hauora as possible, and look up and see the world around you.

Today my ‘why’ is much clearer. Running, especially trail running, makes me a better person; connected, calmer, happier, healthier and better able to navigate the ups and downs that life throws my way. In 2022, when one of my favourite people lost his battle with mental illness, I worked my way through the grieving process by running miles for him, for his wife (my childhood friend of over 40 years), for his beautiful children, and for myself. My attempt at the TUM Miler in 2024 will be a celebration of life, of seeing what’s possible, of working through the shite stuff, of supporting and being supported and of whatever else comes. I’ll be running the miles myself, but I know I’m not alone.”

Katreena @kitkat_running_wild (Tauranga) Photo taken at Tekapo – Portraits of Runners + their stories @RunnersNZ

[jamesdavey100]

#hopton10k Trial Race with @sykes.stuart, Esther, Dave and @tammygainesrunner1 ....... guess who had to be different with her special teal coloured winners t shirt #special #tommytopper #50miler #elevenerife 👕🙄🙈🤣 (at Hopton Primary School) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjTlpu-rGgFqVunr6hu2gjDJCRnlK0qfddLO0I0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[itsryanharvey]

10 Miles @ 13.5mph. Let’s have ourself a season @bikevelosano @focofondo @pelotonia! @iamspecialized #bikelife #50miler #ohio #colorado (at Avon Lake, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CdcAwLQJnEO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[bennycoubs]

Another weekend of running #GNW #50miler coming up. . . Getting the opportunity to hit the trails with the #creamofthecrop #motivation #pushed #setup #timetolay #suuntorun. . . . . #achieveyourimpossible #desiredeterminationdiscipline #bestversionofself (at Congewai) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmqLmunhknQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1sekytoryfcxz

[andynoise]

#2014 @norcalultras #americanriver #50miler https://www.instagram.com/p/CNXSmq8HBTb/?igshid=xl0c2yov1o0i

[lutternoodling]

A 50 Mile Metaphor

What my first trail ultra taught me about kindness

I ran my first ultra a few weeks ago. For fifty miles, I listened to the birds and my steps and my breath - steady or crying or winded or strong - and the forest and the cheers from the runner just ahead just behind just passing by and mostly just my thoughts.

One thought I kept returning to was that races are magical places because they are more perfect, compassionate microcosms of life. In a race, we are all running the same course. The distance (stupid), the elevation (absurd), the geography (beautiful sometimes brutal) are the same. But even on the same course, ✨none of us assume we are all having the same race.✨

For some of us, it is our first ultra, for some our second that month alone. Some of us have been running for decades, some of us are recovering from injury, some of us love the uphills and hate the downs, some of us are great at positive self-talk, some of us beat ourselves up, some of us haven't been able to stomach food all day, some of us couldn't fit in the training we wanted, some of us knocked this training cycle out of the park, some of us are dealing with something else entirely, some of us are having the day of their life.

On the part of the course where I'm flying and feeling my strongest, someone else is considering dropping out. On the part of the course where I can't bring myself to do more than walk or cry, someone else is smiling at how fresh their legs feel. Every runner out there recognizes that we show up on race morning completely differently. Every runner out there knows that on the same course, we are all having a different race. And we treat each other accordingly.

We tell each other we've got this, we're looking strong, we're so close, keep it up, almost compulsively. And we mean it. We know we will always feel better and we will always feel worse. And you never know when hearing someone say those words will help you believe it.

Thank you to everyone who made the Georgia Jewel #covidsux edition miraculously happen this year, and for giving me a full day in the woods to wonder at how nice it is to give each other and ourselves the benefit of the doubt, trust in the process, and as many keep it ups as we can.

[fitlyrun]

50k preparation. A couple FLASK400 are part of it. Yeah!! . . . . . . . . #softflask #softflasks #flask400 #fitlyflask#runningpack #drinkwhileyourun #50k #50miler #ultradistance #runultra https://www.instagram.com/p/B4XMIAknSGv/?igshid=sli5x8144ut0

[warlordblade]

Wow! #tbt to FOUR years ago when I ran my first Fifty Mile race! Definitely a reminder I've got a 50k coming up I gotta get ready for!! Also good luck to anybody running tomorrow in this Pony Express race!! #ponyexpress #ultrabling #wmwranglers #50miler #flex #trailrunning #getoutside #adventure #desertfun

[runningkitten]

Saturday I attempted Squamish50, and DNF’d. This was such a crazy experience. From getting lost, damn pink ribbons! 😜To twisting my left ankle on a loose rock. I think my ankle is fine, just very tender. My bestie @peachiev wanted to try this super dooper technical course with numerous uphills, 😂 and invited me along. So I jumped in with no doubt. I don’t regret it, these types of experiences hit me the hardest, not only bc of the humbling experience but bc it pushes my limits and gives me the opportunity to over analyze and plan better for next time! We are going back... unfortunately, I am somewhat out of a few races to allow my ankle to heal. In addition, I realized I am worse than I thought and need to back off a few events for now. Never easy to let go, def going to take it a little (just a little) easier. On an awesome note 📝 I spent some needed time with my bestie. It has been awhile since we spent time together, just enjoying the present. McDonald’s after DNFing was pretty f’ng awesome 😂 plus our awesome shenanigan fun in Canada 🇨🇦 Can’t wait for next year! 💕 Thank you for letting me tag along 😘😍💕🙌🏾 #ultrarunning #ultra #running #sq50 #squamish50 #50miler #dnf #shenanigan #besties #whatarefriendsfor (at Squamish, British Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1aO3vSgEL5/?igshid=v5m8b1p3h5f4

[coachvinfram-blog]

Comin in HOT for the last 2 miles of the Dirty German 50 miler 🙌 >> VinRuns.com. . #teamrun2empower #50miler #raceepic #ultrarunning #happyhourrunclub #cttrailmixers #runninghotcoaching #runninghot #ultratraining https://www.instagram.com/p/BxXKUAHAef8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fkoosvy5uxf7

[2spry]

Been a bit MIA for past few days! Registered last min for the #minnesotavoyageur 50miler and got my finisher bowl!!! First 50 & First #ultramarathon 🙆 I cannot believe it's over! I had a blast and am ready to tackle more! Will be going through footage from the best cheerleaders and aid station gurus, my hubs @leddstudio and girl @2spry.eats so should have pics and vids soon along w/ a race report!!!But for now... I'm recovering like a BOSS cuz... #winteriscoming 😂😂😂 #likeaboss #laceupandexplore #poweryourpassion #upformore #ultrarunning #ultra #50miler ##womensrunningcommunity #instarunners #optoutside #forceofnature #recovery @roadrunnersports @jaybirdsport @garminfittness

[ultrarunnersean]

Alex cruising right along #saltflats #50miler (at Bonneville Salt Flats)

[carinakoolrunnergal]

Videos of my taken throughout the day at #AR50 including my finish of the #50miler. #teamolympicfootandankle #teamloco #trailrunning #ultrarunning #pushyourlimits #optoutside #altrarunning #altrashoes #athleta #motherdaughterultrarunners #runhappy #instarunners #famfit

[200milemonth-blog]

The 55 mile week- Mission accomplished. Break until Tuesday! . . . #ultratraining #ultrarunning #ultramarathon #50miler #50milertraining #runrunrun #runningmotivation #runningaddict #obsessedrunner #runlife #runners #running #runner #runtoinspire #runhappy #happyrunner #gulfcoastrunning #gulfcoastrunner #gulfcoastrun #cactusrose #texasrunner #texasrunning #morningrun #longrun #longrunsunday #roadrun #roadrunner #roadrunning (at Galveston County, Texas)

[bennycoubs]

#GNW #50miler Race Day Check !! . . . . Gear Ready for the race / Crew Ready ! . . . #timetoplay #planforeverything #wetweather #shoes #clothes #nutrition #hydration #failing to plan, plan to fail ! https://www.instagram.com/p/BnaEGX1Bufa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ed7m9qeodwbo

[andynoise]

#2016 #leonadivide #50miler was the race that lead to @alisonsunshinebassett @wser and #ac100 finishers that summer. @andynoiseexperiencepodcast @keirahenninger (at Green Valley, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ES2HEH5Sm/?igshid=komnvwyyaznj