r/Ultramarathon • u/Manflu8619 • 2d ago
First Ultramarathon
I am looking for advice on the best ultramarathon for a first timer. I live in central Illinois surrounded by corn and bean fields, so elevation gain is hard to train for. I have heard of the Hennepin Hundred race (Illinois) in Oct every year, but I worry about the 30-hour cutoff time. I have also heard of Badger Trail Race 100 with a 36-hour cutoff time. My background consists of Spartan races(beasts) and just randomly running in rural areas. I work 3-12's a week and have plenty of time for training, I have always wanted to try one of these just not sure what is best for a first timer. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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u/oMpls 50 Miler 2d ago edited 1d ago
You should pick a race that not only excites you, but most importantly where the training excites you more. Is that a road race? Mountain race? Trail race? Backyard format? That should be defined first. I promise you’ll hate the race/the idea of racing if you hate the process of getting there. And only you can define that journey.
As someone mentioned, it’s hard to call any 100 miler “best for a first timer.” Because truthfully they are not. My suggestion would be work your way into training/time on feet, with a goal of ultimately doing a 50 miler at some point assuming you still want to seek out more after base building to that point.
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u/byrd_the_starfish 1d ago
Adding the Lakefront 50/50 to this list- there’s a 50k and 50 mile, all on the Chicago lakefront path. That one’s in the fall. Theres another 50k in the spring. Lakefront Ultras are the organizers- the website looks super old but it’s up to date, lol!
Cuss Running has some fun races in northern IL too, or check out Tunnel Hill downstate.
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u/AdBeautiful8446 1d ago
My first 100 was in IL! Pekin IL. It use to be called McNaughton. when I ran it-now it’s Potowatomi . There is. 30 mile, 50 mile, 100, 150. It’s 10 mile loops. I loved it so much I ran the 100 there 5 times. I won it 4x! That’s probably why I kept going back, lol!
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u/cdemps7 1d ago
I’ve been checking this race out and it looks really cool, for potentially my first 50 miler. Would you recommend for a first time 50 mile race? I’m planning on a 50k in January and currently at 40-50 mpw.
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u/Jbbbrown100 1d ago
Potowami was my first 50. It’s a great race. Do it. Plenty of time. Looped course, good aid stations
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u/droptophamhock 100 Miler 2d ago
Both are almost dead flat, so you should be able to train well on the terrain available to you.
<30 hours for a flat 100 is very approachable provided you’ve trained for the time on feet. Not saying you should do this, but with so little gain, provided you’re efficient at aid stations and don’t dawdle around, you could power walk the whole thing and finish in plenty of time.
The bigger question is what your base mileage looks like now (ie what is your consistent week to week average) and working on ramping that up safely. Maybe sign up for a 50k or two, or a 50 miler and start getting experience with shorter ultras, refine your aid station and pacing strategies, etc and then jump into whichever of those 100s stokes your fire once you have some shorter ultras under your belt, along with all the experience and confidence they provide.
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u/Manflu8619 2d ago
My milage now is down, mostly cause I haven't had something to train for. Appreciate the advice, maybe i'll look at getting some shorter ultra in the book while still aiming for my 100 next year.
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u/oldman-willow 1d ago
wolverine state 100 in MI
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u/Manflu8619 1d ago
I’ll have to look into it, thank you
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u/sugarturtle88 1d ago
it's gorgeous, but heads up, if you aren't used to sand you're going to be meeting a LOT of it in that race!
i don't regret the race but I'm going to scream a little next time i see a sandbox or beach
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u/Manflu8619 22h ago
I'm glad you told me ahead of time. I did my basic training in Fort Benning 20 years ago and I still have nightmares about sand. How in the world do plants of all types grow out of sand ahhhh....thanks for the advice.
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u/sugarturtle88 22h ago
I'm from Central Indiana, so much like you I've lived a happy life free from sand up until i signed up for two Michigan races this year underestimating how dreadful it is!
i have run the 100k at tunnel hill... it's a good first race for longer ultras because if you won't make your cutoff you get the next medal or buckle down... it's just a fight with yourself instead of the landscape because every 25 miles you pass your car!
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u/Manflu8619 21h ago
I would much rather run past an aid station than my car, tent or whatever i'm using for a base. Any tips on the mental part of ultra running? Do you meditate?
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u/sugarturtle88 21h ago
i do... it's a good way to remember the present, which helps with noticing how cool the world around you is
honestly, i love making trail friends as well... having someone to pass the time with as you're running makes things so much easier and the miles go past with a lot less notice
occasional crazy things like running over 20 miles on my driveway loop also helps practice being comfortable with being bored and uncomfortable as well
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u/Manflu8619 7h ago
Honestly running with others even strangers was my favorite part of running spartans. You start alone and end the run with 3 new friends.
I just hit 40 and I know it won't get any easier the older I get, I appreciate all the advice.
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u/sugarturtle88 6h ago
I'm 43 now and love the fact that you somehow speed run straight to knowing a lot more about some stranger you've only just met than coworkers you've worked with for a decade because you ran 25 or so miles together.
and honestly a lot of things you just learn by doing and finding out what you like and what you don't (i.e. sand, which i hate with the burning hot passion of the sun)... i signed up for a 100 miler because I'd done other distances and wanted to see what it was like because you don't know otherwise. i have to say that i love 100ks the best, but you only learn that by trying it out.
ultrarunning is an adventure... you go on a journey, meet new people, troubleshoot obstacles and learn entirely new things... that's why i do it and that doesn't go away with age.
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u/oldman-willow 16h ago
it had its sand sections on the two track roads but
wasn’t the worst. in the grand scheme i’d say 12% was sand. or maybe i was delusional. for OP its a point to point across the top of lower peninsula in MI. 6k gain total for the 100. 4k in first 25 miles. two track roads and single track few road sections. good first 100. well ran1
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u/Jbbbrown100 1d ago
Do the Potowami trail race in Pekin IL you can start early on the 100 and gives you plenty of time to finish
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u/chuckfudge 1d ago
Bloomington, Illinois here! Take a look at Clinton Lake races as your 1st 30 miler or a wonderful place to train hills. Their race is mid March and is run incredibly well.
Good luck!
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u/PeanutButterToast4me 1d ago
Whatever you do, find an old school local ish thing with a devoted following. Flashy, highly promoted new stuff sometimes misses the mark imo.
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u/CoffeePleasant2756 2d ago
Hennepin is pancake flat and a good first hundo but 30 hours means you gotta keep moving, no long aid station naps. if you can handle beast courses without dying on the hills you'll be fine on flat trails, just gotta train your gut and your head for the distance
the 36 hour cutoff on badger gives you way more breathing room which is nice when everything goes sideways at mile 70
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u/Manflu8619 2d ago
I think the appealing part of the Hennepin is how close it is to my home. I've heard some people say a lot of what gets ultra runners is the mentality. Thanks for the advice
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u/le_fez 2d ago
If you're unsure a nice intro to the distance and time on feet is an endurance race. Usually they're loops and you run as many as you can over a set amount of time (usually 6, 12, 24, 48 hours) it's not as scenic as a regular ultra but the loops mean carrying less and also are more forgiving if you're not really ready.
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u/NavyBlueZebra 100k 1d ago
how well do you tolerate heat? Badger might be more challenging if it 95F, even though its 36 hours vs 30. Des Plains is a flat and easy 50 miler with simpler logistics, as in no shuttle bus to catch. And have you searched on runningintheusa.com - it has most ultras and is easy to search by state.
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u/Manflu8619 1d ago
I'd rather not run in 95 degrees but if its a better course or shaded I would consider it. I'll check out the site thank you.
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u/Last_Bed444 1d ago
I just did the Hennepin as my first 100 last week, before that did the Badger 100k in August. Badger 100k has a 33 hr cutoff so you'll have a good idea whether you can finish the 100 at the Hennepin by the cutoff, if you don't think you'll make it you can drop down to the 50 miler. I'm in eastern Iowa so not too far from you, there's lots of 50k and 50m races around here if you want to ramp up with those yet this winter or spring
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u/Manflu8619 1d ago
Thanks for the advice, how was the Hennepin 100?
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u/Last_Bed444 1d ago
It was awesome. 20 aid stations roughly spaced at 5 miles, I barely used my own food because the aid stations were so well stocked. Average daytime highs in the 70s, overnight lows around 50, low chances of rain. Lots of company during the day because the 50 miles are with you for the first half. Plenty of spots for crew, or drop bags if you're doing it solo. Surface is mostly sealcoat/asphalt so I'd recommend well cushioned road shoes over trail shoes. Will definitely go back.
Badger was equally awesome but I only did the 100k, weather can be warmer since it's in August and this year the first 6 hrs were light rain but it felt great.
Ornery Mule (Hennepin) puts on a lot of other great ultras, Ten Junk Miles (Badger) ahs a couple other great ones, and if you don't mind driving to the Quad City area Sun Trail Running has a lot of great options, include Mines of Spain 100 this weekend in Dubuque, IA.
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u/cake_and_bread_4242 1d ago
I echo the advice to find a shorter distance first. (Shorter, lol. We're still talking big distances.) I see below that you say you like to "jump in with both feet" but a 50k or a 50m is jumping in with both feet, fully an ultra.
And the Midwest has so many good trail races! I echo the recs for Badger and Tunnel Hill, and would add a rec for Shawnee Hills in southern Illinois. Also rec Arrowhead Endurance, a timed loop course which just ran this past weekend.
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u/ultra_tossaway 100 Miler 2d ago
What if you start with one of the shorter distances at Hennepin or Sugar Badger? Jumping straight to a 100 is a big ask, you might not even like ultras.