My top 15 tips to enjoy your first ever ultra, while on the very muddy A Coventry Way 40 miler 2024!

If you've ever wondered if you could do an ultra, this is the film for you. I'm not the best advert for ultra running, I'm a working parent with hardly any time to train, but I have picked up a few tricks of the trade over my last decade or so of trail and ultra running that I'd like to share with you to make your life easier! Here they are while I fight my way through the mud on the A Coventry Way 40 miler this April 2024. My home turf!
Big thanks to SOAR for sponsoring this film and letting me represent them in their super lovely kit. On the race I wore the Soar Run Tee, Trail Shorts, Run Cap and Ultra Jacket waterproof. All of it was excellent and I would highly recommend it.
www.soarrunnin...
I hope these ultra tips help you and don't put you off! And if you are put off, don't worry about that either, ultra running is not the be all and end all, and it's not for everyone! You might go through phases in your life where you love it and phases where it's all too much. I'm definitely approaching the 'it's all too much' phase right now, and soon after this race I was struck down by a lurgy that still hasn't gone away! I am taking a lingering cough to Keswick Mountain Festival 25k this weekend (18 May), and have done barely any training for Race to the King 15 June. So I'm giving up ultra running after that to focus on local races and maybe getting a bit speedier. I can always crank out the miles, so I'm going to work on shifting my extra ballast (I'm heavy for me atm, too many biscuits, not enough activity) and getting quicker... or maybe just not getting slower, ha ha ha!
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[@adrians6488]

"Not training enough and having a bad attitude" - now there's a philosophy that I can follow! 😉

[@wildgingerruns]

Ha ha ha! I'm glad this resonated with you too!

[@jodiedineen5503]

Will be marshalling on race to the kings! Will be cheering you on!!

[@wildgingerruns]

Thanks you! I have now dropped to the 50k Coastal as I've got bronchitis! So hope to see you on that bit!

[@jodiedineen5503]

@@wildgingerruns oh no. Hope you feel better soon

[@matthewmackay3354]

I enjoy your race travelogue videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@wildgingerruns]

Aw thank you that is really lovely of you to write, Claire

[@jlore6344]

Thanks a ton. I am doing my first 50k in the fall and I wrote down tips from this vid.

[@wildgingerruns]

Oh awesome I so hope it helps you, there are lots of other useful tips in the comments here too that other people have put in. GOOD LUCK! Let me know how it goes! Claire

[@andreafluffkitten]

Mud, mud, glorious mud. 😂 Really nice video Claire.

[@wildgingerruns]

OMG I have never seen such mud!!!

[@holeinmyshoe]

Well done on finishing. Another reason for doing a summer Ultra is the longer evenings which means you'll hopefully finish in daylight.

[@wildgingerruns]

Oh yes! Another tip to add! Thanks for this!

[@davidszachno2782]

Goodness me I thought arundel marathon in January was muddy but that is next level 😂

[@wildgingerruns]

Ha ha yes! Even for this course it was insane!

[@puihungma]

I'm a month out from my first. Commented on one of your videos a while ago and my training has gone nothing like I planned since, but I'm still going in with positive vibes 👍🏽 Made me chuckle how different your mood was pre & post the food stop 😂

[@wildgingerruns]

Ha ha yes! Low mood eat food, GOOD LUCK for your first, the training never goes as planned, just start slowly, eat lots and keep slogging away! You Can do it!!!

[@severiner7168]

Well done Claire! How gorgeous is Finley's WGR jumper ❤

[@wildgingerruns]

Aw thanks lovely, my mum knitted that, isn't she clever??!!!

[@ianbooth369]

Great truthful video well done 👏

[@wildgingerruns]

Thank you! The video editor kindly edited out all my really down in the dumps bits!

[@janettrigwell8851]

Well done

[@wildgingerruns]

Thank you!

[@MJ-yd4jk]

"Don't pick this one as your first ultra" 🤣 It was my first - albeit as a walker!

[@wildgingerruns]

Ha ha! I was joking... it's a perfect first ultra if you don't mind a bit of mud! The waymarking from the coventry way signs is very impressive, I hardly needed to use the GPX at all!

[@wk633]

"Don't quite at a checkpoint" You absolutely must tell someone in the race org that you're quitting, so they know you're accounted for and don't send people out looking for you. In every race I've ever done, that means unless you're carried out on a stretcher, you must make it to a checkpoint to officially DNF.

[@wildgingerruns]

Oh yes should have mentioned that, did I mention that? You have to go back to the CP after quitting even if you get a mile away from it. Sorry if I didn't say that! Thanks for the comment to clarify, Claire