10 reasons why you need to enter a multi stage ultra marathon (even if you’re starting from almost zero)
Need convincing that a once in a lifetime experience that will challenge you, has bags of adventure and breath taking views should be on your race calendar in 2024?
Let’s look at the 10 reasons why you need to enter a multi stage ultra marathon (even if you’re starting from almost zero):
1. Your body won’t feel as beat up as it would after a road marathon
This was a genuine comment from one of the women in my Breaking 250 group who went to complete RacingThePlanet Lapland 2022 last year. We were chatting after the race, reflecting on what worked for her and how her expectations compared to the reality of the event. One of the things that really stuck with me was when she said, “I would have expected the body to be a bit beat up after.”
Amy was totally new to ultra marathons but had previous completed some of the big city road marathons and she was absolutely right. In a single stage race, where you’ve got a set distance to complete in one day, the only thing that matters is getting to the finish line. It doesn’t matter if you end up having to drag yourself over the line and then sit on the sofa watching Netflix for the next ten days. You can’t do that in multi stage events, the intensity is much slower. You have to be cautious and be prepared to do it all over again tomorrow.
2. You don’t need to dramatically scale your training
One of the biggest myths about training for a multi stage ultra marathon is that you must dramatically scale your training but I’m going to show you what you thought would be a massive jump is closer to dialling in and being more specific so you can make your dream a far more realistic reality.
I asked three of my athletes from the Breaking 250 group who went out to complete Atacama Crossing (Chile) last month about their training schedules, head to the blog post below to hear what they said.
How to Write a Multi-Stage Ultra Marathon Training Plan - Read the Blog
*These answers are based on 8-months of training data in the lead up to their goal event.
The 2022 cohort had a similar experience too, the group averaged 9 hours of training weekly across running, strength training etc. Of course, there were weeks when this was much lower. And in the later stages this averaged out at 1 hour 45 minutes with the peak week topping out at 2 hours daily for 4 consecutive weeks.
3. It’s one big vacation
At the end of each stage, competitors gather in incredible campsites, typically located in spectacular places with clear views of the glittering night time skies. You’ll sleep in tents with other competitors and hang out around campfires when not out on the course.
It’s a week to simply focus on getting from A to B each day, eating, recovering, and sleeping. There are no emails to read, children to watch or dogs to forget to feed. Instead, you’ll focus on the simple pleasure of putting one foot in front of the other each day with an incredible group of likeminded people.
4. Friends made in the desert, jungle or mountains will stay with you forever
These are international events with approximately 40 countries represented in each event. Your tent mates are carefully chosen by the race organisers and will become your closest family.
Through my Breaking 250 program, you’ll have access to a supportive community of likeminded women to share the highs and lows of training. You meet with the other women in the group (virtually) every month so it will never feel like you are alone, and you’ll go on to explore a new part of the world and build lifelong friendships with the inspiring women you have trained with virtually. What more could a girl ask for?
5. The scenery will take your breath away
Multi stage ultra marathons take place in quite simply some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring landscapes on earth with rich culture, places you would never normally think of visiting on a regular vacation. The 4 Deserts Ultramarathon Series, which takes place in the four largest deserts in the world, the driest, oldest, coldest, and windiest places on earth.
Gobi March (Mongolia) is known for it’s raw wilderness and natural beauty as far as the eye can see. The event takes place in the culturally rich and visually stunning area of Karakorum within the Orkhon Valley, a UNESCO World heritage region.
6. It’s not just about running all of the miles
When it comes to training for a multi stage ultra marathon, the running is only one piece of a very large puzzle. From the Breaking 250 group who went out to complete RacingThePlanet Lapland earlier last, 30% of their workouts were either strength training or cross training and on average everyone had two planned rest days each week.
Recovery, strength training, nutrition, your mindset are just as important when you are training for a challenge of this size. That’s why when you come inside the Breaking 250 programme you’ll hear from a handpicked selection of guest experts in various topics to support you along the way.
7. Life-enhancing for all, life-changing for many
I’ll let the testimonials speak for themselves from the lovely ladies who were a part of Breaking 250 and went out to complete RacingThePlanet Lapland last year. You can read more here.
“Since being a part of Project: Breaking 250 I feel an inner confidence and contentment.”
“Project: Breaking 250 made me feel like I got a part of myself back!!”
“ I developed the belief that I could do it, and it never wavered. I do not think this would have been the case if I hadn’t been part of Hannah’s group.”
8. It’s 90% mental
Many competitors will tell you that completing an multi stage ultra marathon has more to do with your mental strength than the size of your muscles. Despite this, I still see so many people making the mistake of spending more time preparing physically and focusing on what they are doing than why they are doing it. You’re going to encounter extreme highs and lows throughout the week so aside from the myriad of physical of preparations you’re going to need a damn good reason to push through the hurt locker and get to the good stuff.
One of the things we talk about at the start of the Breaking 250 journey is your “why”. To put it simply this is your purpose, cause, or belief. The very reason you signed up for this crazy event in the first place. It doesn’t need to be anything grandiose. It could be raising money for a chosen charity, visiting a part of the world you’ve never been to before or challenging yourself to do something new and completely out of your comfort zone.
9. You can hike the entire way and still finish well within cut-off times
The events are set up to allow for generous cut off times. Approximately 20% of competitors will walk the entire course, 60% combine running with walking and 20% will walk the entire way. If you can maintain a walking speed of 2-2.5 miles per hour, you should be able to finish well within the cut offs.
From the Breaking 250 group who went out to complete RacingThePlanet Lapland last year, a third of the group set out to walk the entire course and this is what they did. The rest of the group wanted to combine walking with running, some running more than others.
I’d argue that walking the entire course is somewhat harder, you’re on your feet for longer, have less recovery time but there’s no question you’ll get the biggest cheer coming into camp.
10. It will make you stronger for what’s to come
Most multi stage ultra marathons follow a similar format, participants will cover 250km /155 miles on foot over a week, the equivalent of a whopping 6 marathons in 6 days. The gruelling non-stop double marathon day covering 80km / 50 mile, dubbed the long march in the ultra-running world is the most anticipate day of the entire week.
In the four days leading up to the long march, you’ll have already covered four marathons in four consecutive days, the equivalent of 160km / 100 miles. The sheer amount of willpower it takes most to get through those final km of the double marathon day is something else.
But coming out the other side and knowing you are capable of getting through some tough sh** if something pretty special.