ULTRA MARATHON without training?

Thames Path 100K Ultra...too heavy...no training...what could go wrong!
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Check out last year's version of this race here: • I tried to run an Ultr...
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#Ultra #Running #marklewis

[@MarkLewisfitness]

Sunglasses UPDATE: if you haven’t watched the video, this will make no sense yet - but the sunglasses have been found! Do not go diving for them, because they aren’t there anymore 😁

[@youngdanf]

Best part of the video😂

[@charlesjungclaus]

I've felt that sadness too - more than once 😞

[@ashtonfinkenbinder7233]

Hahahahahhahahahha they weighed the consequences lol!

[@EframeGadsby]

Only 5 minutes in and the tension is building like a well-written 80s thriller. The record-scratch freeze-frame intro, the multiple plot strands of foot pain and Garmin / Course marker discrepancy threatening the hero's journey. Love it when a plan (totally fails) to come together.

[@cukoo4legos]

You were one of my biggest inspirations for getting under 20 on a 5k. I thought, if he can do it I can do it, and it worked. 19:38 and now I have a passion for running. Thank you so much!

[@marcuscopley2090]

Wow that's an awesome display of mental strength to make the finish line, I was surprised you said you wouldn't try the race again, with a good training camp and 90 kg body weight you would be well within 14 hrs. Thanks for inspiring us 50 somethings Mark that was right up there with Rocky 3-4 training montage for motivation 👏

[@MarkLewisfitness]

Never say never 😂

[@MikeSmith-rd9fi]

@@MarkLewisfitness never ;)

[@DC-lu5qs]

NO PAIN!

[@Whereismyball]

It was the thought of having to do it a third time that got him to the end.

[@daz_on_earth]

Nothing like the “never again” craic post-ultra that gets conveniently forgotten about a couple weeks later 😂 Great work mate!

[@dadofthree28]

So true. I binned my trainers after I finished, never to do another..... Fast forward 10 months and stood on the start line about to do it all again! 🤣

[@masonmmjmu]

I f***ing love this channel, easily my favourite fitness related KZbinr. You and Jen are so down to earth, it's refreshing to hear about the great and equally terrible moments of your training, with a hefty side of brilliant sarcasm:). Thanks for keeping it real!

[@BrendanEvan]

😂The old “let’s do some maths” followed up with a “what could go wrong” is one of my favorites as well

[@TheDReturns]

A neck injury has all but stopped my heavy lifting career at 31 years old. I’ve felt lost and without anything to do to challenge myself physically. Found your channel recently after getting recommended the first 100k run and you’re an inspiration. Going to start my running journey and can’t wait!

[@foresthills2425]

I ran 4km in 28 minutes yesterday. Final week of C25K. I've never been able to run before and have failed C25K three times. This time I'm nearly done but and loving it!.

[@Satishoz]

C25K is a great running target, every time I fall off the wagon (which is too often to mention but less than the number of times I’ve got back on and that what counts!) it’s my go to target! Keep going and you’ve love setting that PB 5k!

[@Kelly_Ben]

You didn't FAIL C25K, you built up to success! Congrats on your 5k!! It's a great program, I've used it a few times myself!

[@TWROC96]

How cool is it that those Dudes showed up with proper theme music and cheered you on. Good on them and Good on you Mark for putting yourself through another ultra marathon- without much training.

[@JBuchmann]

You should definitely do this again, but next time train specifically for it, and see if you can break the top 50! 🏃

[@azimali322]

He's 100% doing it again.

[@MarkLewisfitness]

Anyone else do a little jogging this weekend? 😁

[@CrapAtBest]

Did a half marathon in protest after the official one I was supposed to run was cancelled (due to the queen's passing!)... Only a fifth of what you managed!

[@BurlyBeardedRunner]

Yes I did! A little, about 5k, 1/20th of your race, lol.

[@Inspire196]

Yes, i did 29k as part of my marathon training!

[@bradleyfothergill]

Jogged to the car when it was raining today…. Counts🤷🏼‍♂️

[@jefejeffwell1113]

I did a small amount, but am deloading to give my legs a rest. Still powerlifting though.

[@anthonywright5504]

Hey Mark, I REALLY love your content. I’m a road and ultra runner who is 5’7, 105kgs. I haven’t run a 100km, but my 50k time is 5 hours 17 minutes. I’m currently training for a marathon with hopes of sub 4 hours. I find as long as my training stays consistent, and my nutrition is absolutely on point, I avoid hitting walls. You are an absolute rockstar for this video.

[@davely7]

Wow, this is just amazing that you finished this. I wish you you a speedy recovery.

[@jasonhodach5711]

Simply in awe of what you can do when you put your mind and body to the test. Watching along I'm practically shouting at my phone to tell you to keep going, don't give up!! So proud. Such an inspiration even to us weekend runners who can't fathom running for that long or that far.

[@chrisbowman1113]

Amazing video - running isn’t always about hitting the best times but sometimes it’s about the mental strength. Your videos drive us amateurs and motivate us to do better. Great run with great results 🤘 I’m signed up for my first ultra next year - your videos and mantra of being better than average helped motivate me to focus & to do better

[@ScottyOn1]

Amazing effort!! You’re a brave man for displaying this to all of us while having a great sense of humour!!

[@MrCChops]

As someone approaching 50 who's late in life to fitness I find your channel hugely motivational. Your pain is literally our gain. Keep it up your an absolute machine. 💪🏼

[@rgweaver]

I've watched a *lot* of ultramarathon videos, and yours is the best at conveying the incredible pain you go through, and how frustrating and downright weird it is when your body fails on you. Congrats on the race and thanks for the great vid!

[@XX-is7ps]

Really enjoy watching your videos. Not even a runner, just love how open and accessible the videos are with a "warts and all" transparency to them, just comes across as more real and relatable than a lot of other content. Keep up the great work 🙂

[@JoLLyveR97]

Really enjoying your content mate. Always enjoyable whilst remaining informative and inspiring. Great effort with this race!

[@joshmakin540]

Amazing video Mark! A great storyteller as well as a phenomenal athlete, the determination it took to get through that pain is incredible and something I’ll think about next time I’m wanting to walk on a long run. Congratulations and thank you for sharing

[@nickbelcher8079]

Great work! As a runner, it would be cool to see you do this event again next year but with training. You could talk a lot about how the training has changed how you feel at certain points in the race ("last year I was dying, now I'm feeling fine..."), improved performance etc. I've heard training for events can help, but who knows 😁

[@1519Spring]

Agreed, Nick.

[@iamdihan]

Huge congratulations Mark. Throughout the video and posts on instagram I honestly thought you must have pulled out mid way. I couldn’t believe you finished that. That was some David Goggings motivation there. Probably my favourite video you have done and I would love to see you train and prepare properly for next year and smash it without breaking a sweat.

[@michaelrimmer4078]

My favourite so far, love how chipper you look at the start and then slowly watching the wheels come off! Incredible effort at the end to get yourself running. I think the positive reaction to the video comes from the the drama of your battle against human frailty or maybe it’s just enjoying watching you suffer ;)

[@lizb2203]

That was by far my favorite video of yours to include all the ones with Nixon. I really have no idea how you push yourself so hard. Congratulations on finishing, surviving, and the PB!

[@richardjones5728]

Incredible effort Mark. There's not many people who would have pushed through the pain that you were clearly in. Most wouldn't have even started. So pleased you managed to beat last year's time and great to meet you at Registration. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[@crispin1046]

Well done Mark, got me interested in running ultras since 2021. Love the honesty!

[@framedman]

Loved this. And glad you didn't try to cut the video to a shorter length. Well worth the whole 42 minutes. It's actually made me want to train for it next year. Never ran further than a marathon but seeing you do it has made me think I can too, so cheers. And well played. I think what you proved is it takes a base level of fitness and shit tonne of mental strength to complete something so barmy.

[@dreambug8831]

What a mad lad! Congrats for completing the race 💪

[@brookfieldtenniscentre7216]

What a superb channel Mark. As a 52year old whose been pretty active I always need help maintaining discipline. You are nailing it. Keen to get your thoughts on maintaining mobility, recovery, stretching etc. Keep it rolling mate.

[@jamesbeneda6747]

Amazing effort!! Thank once again for a great video. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[@erinpropas4771]

Amazing tenacity! Good on ya for getting through it! I'm running the Chicago marathon in a few weeks, I will use your race as some inspiration.🏃‍♀🏃‍♀🏃‍♀🏃‍♀

[@ShonaHarding]

This was incredibly inspirational and motivational. Well done Mr KZbin Guy. I'm going to start couch to 5k (again!) this October and hoping to do many park runs to up my cardio fitness. Keep up the good work, we all appreciate it for kicking our butts into gear too!

[@brawn_coleman]

Congratulations brother! Amazing journey, bts story, and run! Inspiring to any avid runner. Nothing better than having someone at the finish line know you as “The KZbin Man”! Love this! Keep on the daily discipline 😊🎃🙌🏻

[@runstokesrun]

Quite possibly your best video yet! There was a real low point there where you were incredibly close to jacking it in, you do amazingly well to get through that and persevere, hopefully the calf, toes et al heal up soon.

[@CalmingAnxiety]

Making me train even harder now for next month's 50k. Love your honesty Mark

[@Guy_Jones4075]

Watching the pain was beautiful. Thank you for this inspiration.

[@wildernesstraining1957]

This was the most riveting watch. Strange as that sounds, with all the pain you were enduring. I felt with you all the way. Your ultra effort speaks volumes for your tenacity and grit. Well done Mark. Talk about the loneliness of the long distance runner! I remember reading of author Richard Askwith’s attempt on the Bob Graham round in the Lake District. It enveloped me in a kind of longing to experience it myself! Albeit a bit late in the day really for a bloke racing his first marathon aged 50, and his second the Beachy head marathon at 52. I opted for some smaller goals instead, namely a handful of fell races, and a run up and down Ben Nevis shortly before two hip replacements. For a bloke your height and weight, an ultra really is an endurance event, as your diminishing times over increasing distances testify. You should feel really proud for that 100 k, it really is an astonishing feat. Did you really do a rowing time trial the day before that ultra? Or did I dream that? You’re a star Mark! Nice going champ!

[@adventurecats4816]

It's always good to know that I'm not the only one who does stupid sh*t to my body. But it's good inspiration to keep moving ahead, step by step, and get the job done. Good on you. Thanks Mark.

[@davidhaythornthwaite692]

Another fab video Mark, you are always on point. I have been doing all this endurance nonsense stuff for 38 years now! Firstly a runner marathons, half marathons 10ks all sorts of stuff the for the last 30 a triathlete, and yes very often in the middle of whatever you're doing you think. Why the hell am I doing this stupid stuff! This endurance stuff hurts like hell at times. I have never won anything just doing it for the sheer hell of saying I did that went there and got the medal and the T-shirt. And the satisfaction of knowing that even without a win, you are still way above average for even completing the vast amount of training required, let alone actually finishing whatever it was you were doing. As most ordinary folk could not even begin to contemplate such feats. Great watch Mark.

[@MarkLewisfitness]

Thanks David

[@staceydostie3451]

This week’s episode is sponsored by Vasoline, not Squarespace! What an inspirational 10k finish to your race!!! Thank you for continued powerful content!! 💪🏽💪🏽

[@mattdailey1702]

That was amazing Mark and can't be lieve you finished! That was proper Goggins level grit. STAY HARD and thank you for inspiring us to do better.

[@fluppir]

Pushing through is what its about. Thanks for sharing Mark! Nice to know that hitting a wall that you know you know don’t, is quite normal. You are an amazingly above average hero in my eyes!

[@dbk81]

Mark: “20K in apart from everything hurting, we will talk about that later, everything is fine” 😆😆 the eternal optimist, I love it.

[@dreejz]

I'm so glad this popped up on my feed, subscribed! You're inspirational bro, amazing job on finishing even though the pain!

[@DavidMackenziekong]

Dude! I just completed my first 100km this past weekend. I feel ya man it's just crazy wild. I'm impressed you filmed through it

[@hulkthedane7542]

The thought comes to mind, that you are -just ever so slightly - stubborn! ...and/or delusional towards the end of the "run". Putting on vaseline at the last rest area "nearly passing out" (from pain, I imagine)... and still intenting to pick up pace. SO inspiring, SO crazy, SO brave. Love it!

[@accidentalactivist9633]

Awesome job. We were on holiday in the middle of the highlands with shitty internet so was very much looking forward to seeing this. I'm tempted to do the 50km next year. I started the training on holiday and ran my first half marathon distance. Just over 2 hours so happy with that.

[@smithleon]

Great vid. Genuinely useful to follow along the actual run with commentary during it and looking back. It was an epic achievement getting that finished. I have my first marathon coming up in October and having struggled with training during the heatwave in the UK but also wanting to come in under 4 hours, I'm feeling like my event might go something like this.....although I won't be cutting the toe box out of my Asics anytime soon 😲

[@gerrygallagher]

Absolutely loved this,watching u suffer was amazing but to watch u come through that suffering was inspiring.I did the cateran yomp this yr(54miles)&went through all those emotions,an amazing experience that I'm doing again next yr,only faster.Love ur content,keep it coming.

[@kezza66mm]

Great story, good description of the phases you went through, as an average ultra trail runner myself, i fully understand and sympathise.

[@davestark3261]

Phenomenal video Mark! I've been so exited for this to come out and it didn't disappoint!! Great video!!!!

[@JoeSmith-oh7zd]

Mark, you’re absolutely my hero after watching you struggle and push yourself through that 100K. Thanks for the laughs and you are an awesome human being.

[@Euwanh85]

This video is gold and so motivating, love your content. Never subscribed before but doing so right away

[@jonathonb2044]

Another great watch, thanks. Interesting re. distance markers - I completed the Peak District Ultra Challenge 100km in the summer and actually did 114km and there's no way I walked 14km round the aid stations!!

[@TomPaintsMinis]

Thats some effort Mark. Think a lot of people wouldn't have started it so well done for getting through!

[@mpproductions2559]

love these videos, your original 100km video was what got me in to your channel

[@nuttyfoodiefitness]

Can't wait to see how you get on in the next ultra... hahah we all know it's not the end. Congrats for pushing throughhh!!!!!!

[@MarkLewisfitness]

I’m getting too old for that nonsense. 😂 There is an increasing risk of actual death with each passing year ……. Although, views are good so you never know 🤣

[@jmsanderson]

The pure motivation when you sad your mind wasn't done and you started giving it all and not giving up to beat last year's time. Actual chills! That was a quick 40 mins of ups and downs. We'll done

[@pitecantrop10001]

Great job! This is more a demonstration of mental fortitude (or insanity) then physical fitness :) Regarding the cramps what I've seen quite often during long hiking trips, were similar symptoms caused by a deficit of either potassium, magnesium or calcium and most often it was the calcium. Now I never go hiking without a vial either for me or for people that I might find stranded by the side of the trail. Normally electrolyte drinks don't have anything more then sodium.

[@alejandroflavia9817]

honest and gratefully done!!! please keep going Mark!

[@scottbeesley894]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching that. Genuinely entertaining from start to finish. Great work Mark!

[@JasonAndrewsUK]

I'm 25 minutes in and loving the drama. Thanks Mark, this is amazing content for anyone into distance running. Awesome job!

[@Ozzy1984_]

That was a fascinating video mark. You really put yourself through amazing pain to finish and I agree you’d be better leaving these and focus on other things. I really admire your grit and determination to finish. Amazing achievement. Well done.

[@Kelly_Ben]

Congratulations!!! Incredible race and video. I absolutely love your videos, you embody my own philosophies, x10. I've gotten ho- hum about undertrained 50ks, and think I'll need to step it up to undertrained 50 milers next year. 😆 So many are saying they'd love to see you tackle it again fully trained, but not me. That would take too much time away from your other activities, and wouldn't inspire me as much. Once you heal up and the pain is a memory, I'd love to see you do a HALF trained 100k! 😆

[@ocbyn]

Love your warts and all journeys. Very inspirational. Thank you

[@leejonnas3360]

Can't help but be inspired watching this. I set a new PB on my park run after finding your channel. Now have my first half marathon at the weekend. Ultra next year 🤔

[@themediocretriathlete]

This has to be one of the best channels on KZbin...always entertaining!

[@mikew6840]

Very entertaining stuff, this lunacy!! I can kind of empathise - I did a similar thing years ago, got too knackered to even remember to drink, ended up finishing and then went into some kind of shivering shock too. 10 days later I developed a kidney stone the size of the Shard from the dehydration. Ultra running is the the best!

[@liz9147]

This was epic! Absolutely amazed you're still alive. I hope you're recovering nicely ❤️

[@bradenjohnson2332]

Hey Mark! I’m from Minnesota, but in London for a few months with university and rowing. I train along this stretch of the Thames every day. Training to be above average! Keep up the vids!

[@resandeman123]

Wow! I watched the video of your race last year (same race) and have, since then, been very inspired to start running longer distances. Not only thanks to you obviously, but a significant reason for that is you. This follow-up run was much awaited and, from a story-telling perspective, it was fantastic! Even more inspired now 🙂 But that part of you not doing this again; no, I don’t think so. Why don’t you just prepare for next year? Would love to follow a sub-14 race report next year! You can do it 🤟🏻 Just wanted to say thank you for all the inspiration 🙏🏻

[@josheyres2839]

You're a legend Mark, I could never do that, should be proud of yourself. You certainly made me chuckle in with your thoughts on the race. Keep up the great content

[@karinavizcaya5094]

My husband and I did “The wall” ratrace event in June, you should give that one a go! It’s 70 miles across haidrians wall. Oh yeah we didn’t train either. It’s amazing what your brain can force your body to do. Your hyrox training and general base fitness is enough to get you through 100k. Well done on beating your time 🥂👏

[@michaelturpin3120]

Absolute legend, hard as nails mate fair play👏👏👏 well done not giving up

[@allanc9558]

Great video Mark , really enjoyed it , you showed some incredible grit to finish when im sure alot of others would give up. i have the scottish half marathon on sunday but having issues with my shoulder but this is the motivation i need to just get on with it !

[@MarkLewisfitness]

Go get it - you don't even need your shoulder for running 😁

[@heathera5938]

No pain, no gain, Mark.. you did brilliantly! Well done!

[@LarsVegaz]

Well done Mark. Its funny to see you entering the stages of mind you knew you would find yourself in and see you trying to tackle them as planned. And remember - you ARE gonna do it again. You just deny it some days. You know it 😎🔥💪

[@DAjugRnaut]

Great job Mark! Love your videos. I’m watching this all week for inspiration. I have my first marathon next Sunday. I did not do enough training for it. I’ve only done two 13.1 mile long runs with most of my long runs being 10 miles. I’m not going for time just completion. I’m a big boy like you at 250lbs but only 5’9. First goal is to juts finish second goal is under 5:15.

[@KC_Runz]

An amount of Vaseline that would normally get me on a register killed me 😂😂 In all serious this was a fantastic watch and HUGE respect to you for even going it once let alone again with no training! Incredible! Keep up the fine work Sir!

[@MarkLewisfitness]

I actually took a small bit and then when the guy looked away to do some first aid on somebody else, I grabbed a load more and ran off 😂

[@mattdailey1702]

@@MarkLewisfitness ran off? You sure about that? 😄

[@1519Spring]

@@mattdailey1702 hobbled away?

[@JibbaJabber]

@@MarkLewisfitness Lol - no double dipping I hope !!

[@MarkLewisfitness]

@@JibbaJabber They provided little wooden spatulas!!!

[@trun3149]

One of your best videos Mark. Brilliant content. Massive well done and enormous respect. No idea how you found that energy,strength and will to run in that last 20km. 👏

[@SchSlendy]

well, now i want to run an ultramarathon one day too. thanks for motivating me Mark. Maybe we will see each other in 3 or 4 years :D. youre an amazing inspiration to keep on running in this hobby

[@kinglouisxiv5771]

Congratulations Mark. Truly inspiring

[@DicksonMaimouth]

I sat through this entire video, intrigued, sympathetic, and congratulatory for The KZbin Guy’s accomplishment. The ending literally had me laughing out loud, as many of The KZbin Guy’s videos often do. I’d really like to see what you can do, Mark, if you were to prepare properly for such a race. I understand not wanting to subject yourself to this again, but I can’t help think you’d have a completely different experience with proper preparation. Nonetheless, I find this impressive and motivating. Thanks for the entertainment. Thanks for the content. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@MrJohnsink]

Fantastic Mark, cracking effort and great video, thank you! 👍

[@martinkelsen6049]

"Passing out, that would be inconvenient!" Great comment to make at that stage, it shows the brain was still working. Well done on an amazing performance. My longest run is 31.5 km, and that was enough for me.

[@Ant-66]

Well done Mark, fantastic effort to get the PB after such a struggle. Inspiring stuff.

[@TheoTheodorou]

Brilliant, great story telling and epic effort.

[@MarkLewisfitness]

Thanks. My storytelling is somewhat ahead of my running 🤣

[@creativechimp03]

Well done Mark! What an achievement! This video helped me get through part of the 11km on the treadmill tonight making me realise I had nothing to moan about!

[@MrDjpaulh1982]

Really good video. Well done I can’t believe you could keep going with all that going on. On a side note you should make a Spotify playlist if all the cheesy 80s and rocky music you listen to while running or just exercising. Well done once again.

[@keiranpinto]

You are absolutely awesome man and so genuine ! Respect 🎉

[@ryansimpson7055]

Probably one of the best breakdowns Ive seen of what to expect when the phys-maths meets reality! Brilliant video-and real incentive to get out and train-love the channel!

[@MarkLewisfitness]

Thanks Ryan 💪

[@mauritsbeeke1062]

Mad respect bro, u just kept pushing, i just got inspiration from u to run my first marathon

[@davidabkk]

Great job.. the first vid of your 100km was the one that got me into your channel. Love to see you do this next year on proper training or at least semi-proper training.💪💪

[@grindpalm]

Great job Mark! I just ran a 6-day race last week... had some issues and finished at 550 K... those 100 Ks are really just taste nuggets of whats to come - stay above average! :)

[@chad.haggerty]

Next year’s video is going to be EPIC!! Can’t wait for it.

[@fearghalburke6104]

Mark this is fantastic content. Obviously you can't run ultras every week, or maybe ever again but I was genuinely rooting for you whilst watching. The video had actually serious suspense. Well done on the video and well done on the race

[@jonheizer]

Running my first half marathon Saturday. Right foot started bugging me Sunday and refusing to get better. I feel ya. Great work!

[@Kelly_Ben]

How'd it go!?

[@jonheizer]

@@Kelly_Ben reasonably well in the end. Thanks for asking. Foot held up ok for the most part and set a time of 2:22. I was targeting 2:25 and be happy under 2:30 so I'd call it a win. Can't walk very good now through.

[@Kelly_Ben]

@@jonheizer That's incredible, congrats!! Time to sign up for another! 😆

[@TomHigham14]

Superb Mark, well done. As someone pretty convinced it's my head holding back my running rather than my training and prep, it's refreshing to watch someone who's the opposite! 😂