Lessons From My First 100 Mile Ultramarathon

Reflecting on the key lessons from my first 100 mile ultramarathon.
The South Downs Way 100 is a 100 mile foot race with 12,700ft of elevation gain. It follows the chalky trails of the South Downs Way, a national trail in the south of England that runs from Winchester to Eastbourne.
Find out more about the race here: www.centurionrunning.com/
Strava Activity: strava.app.link/HE9e2pHoGAb
Thumbnail Photo by Pierre Papet @further.run on Instagram
The Channel:
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00:00 - Intro
00:00 - Reflections on Training
01:45 - Lesson 1: Adjust Where Necessary
04:50 - Lesson 2: Look After Your Feet
06:41 - Lesson 3: Remember Good Admin
07:12 - Lesson 4: Things Can Improve
08:03 - Lesson 5: Support Really Helps
09:42 - Lesson 6: The Puzzle of Nutrition
11:05 - Would I Do Another 100 Miler?
13:02 - Roundup
Social media:
Instagram: / timeonfeetruns
Strava: / strava
Thumbnails and logo: carla_anna_art?...
All Music: Epidemic Sounds
#centurionrunning #ultramarathon #100miles

[@trailrunningphil]

Great overview Ben, the "deal with a problem straight away" is the biggest take away isnt it. So many times we are tempted to just "Put up with things" but the reality is if you deal with it, its sorted and your minds at rest which is crucial! You totally nailed this event mate. I hope you keep pushing your limits because you really do have far to go I think!!

[@timeonfeet]

Definitely, although I forgot to mention it in the video also being proactive with considering possible issues that could come up so none arise in the first place! Thanks mate, looking forward to taking on some new challenges soon

[@trailrunningphil]

@@timeonfeet Absolutely. I heard Ann Trason (western States legend) tell Billy Yang, before the race, write down the five things that worry you the most and then your solution for them. Then your mind is confident of dealing with the issue, evening your really fatigued later on in the race.

[@MihaiGoRunning]

Just watched your video about your first 100 mile ultramarathon, and wow, what an incredible journey, Ben! I was truly inspired by your determination and how you handled the challenges along the way. Your positive attitude and strategic approach really shine through. Congrats on finishing strong! Keep pushing boundaries and smiling through the miles, mate!

[@timeonfeet]

Thanks so much Mihai. It was quite the adventure out there, what a race to be part of. Looking forward to taking on some new and varied challenges soon. Hope you're keeping well

[@OlgasBritishFells]

Well done, Ben. You seemed to have worked everything out perfectly and I also like it how you analysed the event to learn from the experience. Good luck with your new ventures.

[@timeonfeet]

Thanks Olga. I always like to take a few lessons from races. Just need to think about what races to take these lessons into next! 😃

[@bev9708]

GREAT video for those of us just starting to dip our toes into the lowest ultra distances too, not to mention motivating!!! I'm sure you've seen James Day's video, him actually putting ice under his hat to run!! It must be kinda like childbirth😂... in the middle of it swearing you're never ever gonna do this again, but that's quickly forgotten in the happiness afterwards and soon planning to do it again the next year!!! I had to laugh as I thought all you UK Ben running youtubers eating flapjacks were American pancakes!!😂 Which is actually part of my favourite pre-race breakfast!!!

[@timeonfeet]

Thanks Bev 😃 Yes I met James on the day so was great to chat to him in person and I've seen his video. I think our low points in the race came at a similar time! I tried to put ice under my hat but was less successful, it kept slipping out leading a trail of ice behind me 😂 How was your recent race? Hope it went well and the recovery is going good

[@bev9708]

@@timeonfeet YES I wondered how he got the ice to stay there, he obviously found a clever solution, maybe a ziplock bag?!! I did my race 5.30pm yesterday thanks Ben , Le Castor Fou = The Crazy Beaver ... Beverley = beaver meadow so I definitely HAD to do it!! 22km, 577m, 31degrees, 2h36min, first in my category!! My first ever trail with sooooo many very very steep ups and downs, that elevation gain is a huge PB for me!! AND such a variety in the quality of the actual trails too, with some very exhausting running along very bumpy trails through overgrown grass! I found it REALLY hard, one of the hardest things I've ever done actually, and I already feel stronger Ben!!! That's my 3rd race in 3 weekends now, starting with the 50k 2 weeks ago, AND one more next weekend too, 28km that I'm kinda umming and ahhing about now ... though that's more 'cause I'd have to get the train at 4.30am to get there!!😂😂 💪🏻🏃🏻‍♀💪🏻🙋🏻‍♀

[@timeonfeet]

@@bev9708 Amazing Bev, congrats on your races, that's quite a schedule you've got there and 1st in age category is excellent! Extra props for finding it tough but nevertheless getting it done. All the best with the race next weekend, that's an early start 😄

[@bev9708]

@@timeonfeet 😬😩THANKS so much Ben!! Must say I'm terrified, but then I always am!! It's a bit hard sometimes to know if I really am pushing it a bit too much and should back off a bit OR if that's just an excuse to let myself out of something I know is gonna hurt a lot!! 🤷🏻‍♀🙋🏻‍♀

[@timeonfeet]

@@bev9708 It's a hard one that balance but if you're feeling recovered and not too achey then it's probably OK. If you decide to do it in sure you'll do great

[@BenNotley]

Awesome stuff Ben! That's very helpful for me mate. It's really given me some food for thought there bud. Thanks for sharing your advice with us all mate! 😎🤘

[@timeonfeet]

Cheers Ben! Hope your training is going good at the moment and the IT band is easing up. Nutrition in the heat is the big one I need to work on but then also hoping I don't have too many races in the future that end up in the heat 😅

[@runningwithstephen]

Thanks for sharing mate, it really gives that little bit more insight into your decisions on the day. +4kg too... lol I have heard of this when marathon training. It may have been your bodies way of preparing for the 100 miler , kind of like "oh we need to store this much food/water now" . Great insights again mate. Looking forward to see what you bring in the future.

[@timeonfeet]

Cheers Stephen 👍 haha yes could well be my body trying to get some food stores in before the race, like a camel 😅 Hope you're training is going well and thanks for checking out the vid 👍

[@antb7929]

Badass man! Good job.

[@timeonfeet]

Cheers Ant!

[@DevRunner]

Really informative look at the logistics of the race Ban! Happy to see you mixing things up and trying something completely different! Keep it fresh and keep pushing!

[@timeonfeet]

Thanks Paul! Just got to remember to do some more swimming in training now I'm focusing on that 😅 Looking forward to mixing it up

[@mijzzzz]

Thoroughly enjoyed your south down film and this,your follow up insights. Looking forward to your swim one.thanks for sharing.

[@timeonfeet]

Thanks for tuning in and great to hear your enjoying the videos 👍

[@reluctantfellrunner]

Good helpful advice. Well done. Great achievement.

[@timeonfeet]

Thanks 👍

[@markg99]

Very insightful as always mate. It seems like you got a lot of things right on the day and added a few tricks for next time.

[@timeonfeet]

Cheers Mark. Yes really pleased with it overall, just some things to tweak here and there for next time whenever that is 🤓

[@waterfallstudios5746]

Another great video Ben, great to get some feedback and reflections

[@timeonfeet]

Cheers Terry. I always like to reflect a bit on races and take some lessons into the next one 🤓

[@berkahmbf749]

very nice share video friend👍👍

[@timeonfeet]

Thanks, much appreciated 👍

[@jimcotton5005]

Really enjoying your videos about the SDW100. Have subscribed and looking forward to more!

[@timeonfeet]

Thanks Jim! Have you done the SDW100 before or planning on doing it?

[@jimcotton5005]

@@timeonfeet Not done it, but one day...

[@timeonfeet]

@@jimcotton5005 It's a great race, would definitely recommend 👍

[@tworunningbrooms]

Great analysis, Ben. Perhaps divine intervention set your Garmin to HR and time only to take the focus away from distance.😂. Yes we'd like to see the crew advice you gave out. Always keen to learn about running. We tried a multi 3.35 mile lap up to 6 hour event today. The equal hottest day this year. On tricky terrain... back to the drawing board is all I can say....

[@timeonfeet]

Could well have been some divine intervention, definitely helped me out to not be fixating on pace and the huge amount of miles to go 😅 No probs, I'll send through a link to it on Instagram. That sounds a tough day out with the terrain and the heat! I'm hoping by September the heat has subsided 🤞

[@mtmankowski9114]

Congratulations on your accomplishment! Curious on the shoes, why would have you changed shoes during the race? Did you wear any "special" socks?

[@timeonfeet]

Thanks! I was thinking of changing shoes during the race as after 50 miles the sole would have taken a bit of a battering so to have more cushioning I was looking at having a fresh pair to change into. I was wearing Injinji toe socks

[@mtmankowski9114]

@@timeonfeet Thank you. Did you wear a size larger than your normal running shoes to allow for swelling of the foot?

[@timeonfeet]

@@mtmankowski9114 I didn't, just 10.5 my usual size in the North Face Vectiv Enduris 2's. No blisters at all though I taped my feet and used anti chafe on them

[@TheDeterminedRunner]

That's odd about the weight gain, but saying that, you did an amazing job, so it obviously worked for you Ben. Good recap of the stats from the race & training in the build-up, handy things to remember for the future 👍

[@timeonfeet]

Cheers Martin. Yes it was a bit of a strange one but I guess bodies can just react to training differently. I found my leg turnover on the flats becoming a bit slower but the extra bone density/muscle helping on the hills so swings and roundabouts!

[@UDR-Channel]

Thats crazy about the weight gain ! so im guessing a lot of that was muscle. dammit...youve just reminded me..i need more body glide !! so true about adapting to things on the fly. great insight to the race and ginna check the foot strap stuff out.

[@timeonfeet]

Yeh wasn't expecting that from my training 😅 The foot stuff is great, will send you a link to the video that helps with it

[@nicmarlow6388]

great vid Ben. Interesting to see your position over the various checkpoints! 👌🏻 that's a very pleasing stat along with the time you finished in (and the fact you even finished given the heat!). Also, great choice of shoe! I've been a fan of North Face trail shoes for a couple of years now but not many people seem to know of them which is a shame, I think they are great! :) good luck with the swim, hope you enjoy that, def a huge change from running. Have you ever thought about a triathlon? x

[@timeonfeet]

Thanks Nic, yes definitely pleased with the position shift too! I kind of stumbled across the North Face Vectiv and thought I'd try them out as they were about 70 quid in a sale and I've now got two pairs and they've been excellent. I've never thought about signing up for a triathlon as I prefer to cycle in a very leisurely way, very chilled 😅 And I tend to like to keep sports separate so focusing on one activity in an event. What about you?

[@nicmarlow6388]

@@timeonfeet lol, that's how I found the shoes too! :) but they are definitely a great find (so much so that I have 2 different versions of the shoes and a pair of walking boots too!) lol, yeah I hear you about separating out the activities and nope, I can't swim so the thought of that would scare me. I think i'll stick with the running, i'm still trying to figure that out despite running for years. Still a back of the pack runner, not elegant and find it hard more often than not but I still love it and the sense of achievement when you finish is just something else. I never regret a run. Next event is RTTS 50km on 8th July, not prepped enough but i'll toe the line and see what happens :)

[@timeonfeet]

@@nicmarlow6388 Yeh I don't know how those triathletes do the change overs too from one activity to the next! Oh nice, all the best for RTTS and it's all about getting out there and taking on the challenge wherever you are in the pack. I've heard it's a great route for RTTS so enjoy 🌞

[@nicmarlow6388]

@@timeonfeet Oh me either, I know I couldn't do it. Ahhh thanks, am excited for it, am hoping the weather isn't quite so hot as last year (although prefer that than rain). I did say 2 50km last year so thought i'd give day 1 a go this year (with the whole 100km being my goal for next year) :)

[@timeonfeet]

@@nicmarlow6388 that's a solid goal to have and good to have done the 50k already to get familiar with the route. Have a great one out there!

[@feet-ov7by]

🎉🎉🎉

[@timeonfeet]

😃

[@carlstoakes6240]

You forgot the hat!! 😁👏

[@timeonfeet]

It'll definitely be making an appearance sometime soon. Maybe hitting the beach with it 😅

[@davidbriant6199]

Hi there, could I please be sent the video for crew as my wife is crewing me this weekend at an ultra. Many thanks

[@timeonfeet]

Yes no problem David. Here's the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaupo4JmaNiVo8U

[@r-pupz7032]

Huge congratulations! Pleased to see someone running 100 miles in a Harrier Kinder vest as I just got one for my first ultra - I know Salomon are the most popular but I just can't afford that right now. Even the Harrier one was a big expense for me, but with the introductory 20% discount I just about made it work!

[@timeonfeet]

Thanks! The Harrier vest is great. I've used it for several 50 milers, a 75 Mile and 100 now and it's never let me down. Very comfy and no bounce. Hope you get on well with it.