10 Unexpected Lessons From My First Ultramarathon

I ran the Canum 40mile ultramarathon in south Wales and learned a thing or two in the process. Full race vlog coming soon.
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[@MCHall]

I've been at this for a while. Here's how I do it: No headphones, ever. Never pass an aid station without getting something (even if it's only water). First half must be slower than the second half and first half effort should feel almost too easy. Don't not check your watch (just not too often). If you can time it right, poop just before the race starts. :D

[@StephenJReid]

My problem is I get nervous guts before a race. I pooped twice in the morning, including 1min before the start 😂

[@MCHall]

@@StephenJReid run so many races you don't get nervous anymore and you're more off put for having paid to run than showing up to the start. Lol 🤣

[@thecrowfliescrooked]

Amen. The less distractions the better NO UNNECESSARY GADGETS. Eat often run steady.

[@StephenJReid]

@@thecrowfliescrooked All my gadgets are necessary 🤣 I had 2 cameras, a phone, headphones, microphone and a charger. but then I was being paid to make a video

[@thecrowfliescrooked]

@@StephenJReid I get it. They had a purpose but if you ever do it again and it's for only yourself. Well I guess you know what to do, don't you?

[@BeckyM87]

This is why I watch your channel, the tips you didn't know you needed. I'll make sure I don't drink puddle water! 😂

[@StephenJReid]

😂 providing a valuable service I am!

[@HillPhantom]

My first one, I could barely walk, for a week. Second one, I was running the next day. Well done!

[@StephenJReid]

Thanks! Sounds rough, I was ok 2days after but felt awful the day after

[@conradburdekin722]

I really enjoyed this and found it super helpful. I did my first ultra last November (54km) and my second - also last November (46km). I’ve got my first ever 100km end of May and I’m nervous - ankle injury meant me recent 3 ‘peak weeks’ actually had very little running. I’m hoping for the best but certainly much less confident than I was 😳

[@lesley1484]

LOL about drinking the puddle water. My worst nightmare!

[@markkfitx]

I’m 2 weeks out from my first …. Sprained my ankle two days ago so now I’m like 😅

[@Abyss_end]

Really enjoyed this sir, doing my first half in a few months!

[@craigan]

Stubbed my toe about 6 miles into my first 50 miler. Not a good thing. Best part was the distance was incorrectly marked on the road at 48 miles, so when I thought I two miles left I only had 2k left, a gift at the end!

[@StephenJReid]

Ouch. Opposite issue on this race, officially it’s 40miles, but it’s closer to 43

[@damedavidfrith55]

I swear by fig biscuits as my go to food for running and banana but an ultra is basically a long picnic with some running,just don’t over eat at aid stations nowt more harder to run on then a full belly ,yes take wet wipes or tissue pack for those moments and save a treat for those last few miles

[@StephenJReid]

Fig rolls? I do like those, they are nice and soft, might try them for a run.

[@markpatterson575]

Brilliant Stephen and full of laughs as always , looking forward to seeing the race video ! Have to say your ultra experience has got me thinking about trying similar distance 🙈

[@StephenJReid]

As long as you aren’t after a particular time, the training is no harder than training for a marathon.

[@jenc1984]

I can't wait to see the race flog! Love all your videos. I'm running my first marathon on Sunday and my number one goal is to enjoy it and savour it as much as I can, and not get passed by the sweeper bus 😂

[@stephengraham6194]

When I done an Ironman I was scared to use the portiloo in the last 2 mile of the run incase I cramped up and needed rescued. By the time I got to finish line I didn’t care about a medal or time just where the closest toilet was.

[@StephenJReid]

😂 I sat down for 15secs at around 30miles and nearly couldn’t get back up

[@stephengraham6194]

@@StephenJReid the puddle water is hilarious 🤣

[@steventurnbull7273]

So funny you mention the playlist! I was banking on my playlist getting me through the last 10km of the Belfast marathon last year but within 30 secs I suddenly found I hated every song!!

[@StephenJReid]

Yup that’s the feeling!

[@MichaelODonoghueMOD]

I'd consider it a golden rule in ultras not to use gels at all. Use solid foods and Tailwind. I like stopping for salty chips personally. Have sweets for near the end and full sugar coke.

[@StephenJReid]

Everyone is different, I know people do much longer distance on purely gels. I’m still trying to find a solid food I can face eating, I get heartburn really easily. But I think having something like a sandwich for the middle would be good. I did enjoy some crisps from the checkpoint.

[@evachjourney]

I really admire this and is my goal one day….so far I managed half marathon but got an injury and had to stop running a,most all together….but one day….running is great, but trail running is just amazing! Well done for finishing 👏

[@mikehooley6398]

RE: The sleeping thing - I actually think banking sleep is best. Regardless of whether that's lying in or going to bed early or both - getting as much sleep as possible in the run up to ultras seems to have helped me the most!

[@StephenJReid]

Yeah I definitely made a big mistake in depriving myself of sleep for a week before

[@Kelly_Ben]

Congrats on your first ultra! Educational and hilarious, as usual! I'm a slow runner, so my stomach can easily handle real food during ultras- and honestly, the yummy food is one of my reasons for doing them! 😂 I tried gels every 30-45 minutes for a trail marathon, and it's the only race I had GI issues with. I save them for topping up my energy between aid stations. The pokey nail corners are a nightmare! Can't wait to see the full video!!

[@marierunsultra]

Well done on your first ultra. I always try and bank sleep the week leading up to the race as I know I won’t sleep well the night before. So early nights all week. Make sure I have the day off work the day before. Have a long lie in on that day and do as little as possible. Usually just pack my race stuff and go to register if it’s open the day before. For ultras my biggest learning - squirrels nut butter (or equivalent) everywhere. You chaff in many more places than you think you will!

[@kevinmcallister2938]

great thumbnail lol... well done for finishing that bad boy...:-)

[@lifesahobby]

Gels are madness Stephen . Eat everything the day before . Swim underwater . Glad you made it through alive . Thanks for the tips

[@StephenJReid]

I like the gels as I find I don’t feel like eating solid food when I’m running and I can take a gel in seconds. They worked great during training, did 30miles with zero issues. But maybe I need to mix it up a bit next time.

[@SafeMotions]

Congrats for your first ultra and great to watch your videos again! Great tips and brings back so many good and bad memories. My first 150 mile race, halfway through, a nurse poked a hole with a needle through my toe nail to let the blood ooze out from the blister that was building up under it. Nice. For motivation when I was running alone, I remember singing (screaming) up the top of my lungs, and that helped a little. Keeps the beat and pace going. All your tips are really useful for first timers. For sure! Will wait for the vlog, keep em coming!

[@martharunstheworld]

Congratulations on your first ultra!!!!

[@michaelbatterbee448]

Good representation of what you will look like after an ultra I looked exactly like that Great channel

[@alanrobertson5497]

Your amazing, brilliant video. Well done.

[@StephenJReid]

Thanks Alan

[@kevinging6427]

Enjoyed the video ...thanks Stephen....

[@raymart86]

Ran a marathon that turned into my first ultra when I took a couple wrong turns! Ended up at 28 instead of 26.2. Pretty messy day in the rain and I missed little signs and sidewalk chalk arrow directions.

[@StephenJReid]

Bonus ultra!

[@tobilemoine9604]

Looking forward to the full race, looks like you had a great time

[@StephenJReid]

I enjoyed most of it 😂

[@WizardDeadloss]

This is the best after dinner speech about running! Great fun. Also, is there ever an ultra-marathon in Northern Ireland?

[@geoffmccartney7959]

There sure is, check out Werunwildni.

[@StephenJReid]

Yeah there’s several, We Run Wild as has been pointed out, 26Extreme also do a couple. But it’s definitely not as popular here as elsewhere

[@kyleeckhoff7115]

What is your kit for the run? What is your height and weight? Does it stay secure?

[@mikederas8530]

Yup - with experience I do not taper nearly as much as I used to.

[@littleoldmanrunning105]

So are you going to sign up to PDA? - Puddle Drinkers Anonymous - that would make a good t-short ;-) Well done on the first ultra. It looks like you did a whole lot better than I did. Big tip - don't go out hard at all. I did that - first km was all uphill - steep uphill - like you should only be walking, uphill. That set my heart into panic mode and I never recovered. The next 61 kms were really, really tough. The other big thing is taking care of your feet - get those toenails trimmed right down about a week - 10 days before hand. Wear tight socks and lose shoes. Lubing your feet up works if you can keep the sand and crap out of your socks. if it gets in and you're lubed up, it is not so much fun. ALWAYS take your own loo paper with you! ;-) You might not need it, but you might just save someone else's day. You're one of us now - the crazy people who run stupid distances. Enjoy quietly smirking as you hear people go on and on and on about their half marathon experience.... ;-)

[@StephenJReid]

I’ll never complain about a half marathon again 😂 I’ll also never drink from a puddle again!!!

[@AjaySingh-228]

ha ha, visual representation 3:12 Wow beautiful view...Wow, 40 miles is no joke! Sounds like an incredibly tough but rewarding experience. Those swans sound hilarious 😂. Maybe next time you can train with some upbeat music instead? Congrats again!

[@emrais]

👊🏼

[@StephenJReid]

😁

[@adverspace]

Great advice!!.... Can you tell me more about taper... How exactly... One should practice.... Like if my run is say... 20 miles... Should I run atleast 10 miles everyday from a month before.. Or how exactly?

[@StephenJReid]

It's more about the cumulative miles over a week. 10miles a day every day would be 70miles per week. I didn't run any more than 50miles per week for this. Typically it takes 16 weeks, or 4months to build up to a big event if you are starting from scratch

[@adverspace]

@@StephenJReid ahh I see.... Thanks you so much! ❤... Is there a video coming out for your ultra marathon?

[@StephenJReid]

@@adverspace Yes I'm working on a full video. It'll be out next week hopefully

[@lizgreen2936]

​@@StephenJReid where's the video??. 😂x

[@INSOLESandLACES]

Never get drunk the day before, never cycle 20mls to get to the start, never need to cycle 20mls to get home then cycle another 5 MLS to get to the train station and another 10 at the other end to start work for the next day where a fitness test was pre-plan.

[@StephenJReid]

that sounds...unwise 🤣

[@INSOLESandLACES]

@@StephenJReid that's a very polite.

[@trailsandbeers]

I always have some toilet paper and wet wipes in my pack... 💩

[@Earlofmar1]

Too many mistakes made for one comment, but never eat a very hot and spicy pasta (that I called carbo-loading) the night before. I didn’t even have the luxury of a toilet roll inner.

[@trailsandbeers]

I always have some toilet paper and wet wipes in my pack... 💩