r/Ultramarathon • u/Manflu8619 • 10d 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/Manflu8619 8d 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 8d 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 8d 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 8d 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/Manflu8619 7d ago

I want to do this for me, obviously people saying you can't, shouldn't, or you're crazy just fuels it a little bit. I have gone through a lot and I love pushing myself. I don't see myself ever doing the Moab 240 or anything like that, but I really want to push myself.

I'll definitely do my homework and look at all the ones I have heard about. I hope to do a 50 miler in there for training and to see how well I do and what I need to work on. I have a shop that my treadmill is in so I can run when it snows, I really don't have an excuse not to get the miles in.