Ultra Running VLOG - Bighorn 100 Miles Ultra Marathon

Curious about how to train and run an ultra marathon? Welcome to my ultra running training VLOG - Episode 6. This series shows what it takes to run ultra marathon, providing you honest and uncensored details as I train and race for 100 miles ultra marathon every month for the third year. This is a 'behind the scene' view showing the imperfection but the reality of ultra running. This episode covers 3 weeks, including a small training block along with my first mountain ultra marathon of the season: Bighorn 100 miles.
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I finally had a real training block. This might be the last for a while so I made the most of it. By racing so frequently, I'm often in cycles of taper - race -- recover - taper - race. But this time, I had 2 weeks of training.
My focus was on having good mileage (aiming 60-70) with 1-2 strength sessions a week, and speed work (or hills). It wasn't perfect, but I was pretty close.
Then we moved to Wyoming for Bighorn 100 miles! What a race! I provide a high level recap here, and I'm working on a full ultra running documentary - hopefully releasing this weekend.
Next race is Quebec Mega Trail 100 miles - part of the world trail major! July 4, so stay tuned!
As always - Thanks for watching and remember -
Work Hard!
Believe in yourself!
Push your limits!
Simon
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Strava:
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Curious about the gear I use and recommend: check out this link
linktr.ee/runningwithsimon
These are affiliate links - meaning it’s the normal price but the seller gives back a small % to the channel. You pay the same price and ordering from these links is an easy way to support this channel.

[@runningwithsimon]

Thank you Nora for pacing me 52 miles!!! (not 48...that's a lie!!!)

[@cgtanker74]

Awesome new episode! My wife and I love watching your channel when we are on the treadmills. Thanks Simon, thanks Nora!!

[@runningwithsimon]

I noticed my race recap are longer then they used to!... I guess you guys just have to run longer now haha!

[@cgtanker74]

@@runningwithsimon right!! 😁

[@ultrakraut]

Enjoyed taking a peek at your training block. And thanks so much for the shoutout, much appreciated!

[@runningwithsimon]

Full movie (almost) ready and releasing today :)

[@Krilin84]

Appreciate you being human!

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks! Trying my best to be transparent here - I think it's refreshing. Also, not to brag, but I've never failed a captcha test!

[@Gator35]

Congrats on finishing Bighorn! And thank you for your humble honesty... the video format was fantastic - it's really cool to see how you are maintaining/surviving in between the races with your insane schedule. How amazing for Nora to run 52 (ahem... or so?) miles with you! Very much looking forward to the Bighorn premier and I hope I can watch live!

[@runningwithsimon]

I heard a huge F-bomb coming from her - and feared for 1 second she sprained her ankle or something. Nope, it was my sweet and gentle Nora realizing the watch was dead lol.

[@Gator35]

@@runningwithsimon ohhhh I would be so mad if my watch died before 50!!!

[@Kelly_Ben]

Great video! I'd love to see a video on your mental prep before races, how you psych yourself up. I'm looking forward to the race movie! Congrats Nora on 52 miles pacing, (plus crewing) that's incredible!

[@runningwithsimon]

I can think of something on that vein a little that’s a good idea! But lately I really don’t do anything lol. I’m always crumbling below tons of commitment and hardly ever have time to think about the upcoming race before it’s upon me…!

[@ArcaneSpells]

Nice reflections - look forward to the movie! Fingers crossed for the Monster 300 lottery 🤞

[@runningwithsimon]

I should have begged candice to let me in on monster 300. Plus I think it's good for them to have one more race recap about it - helps people see what the race has to offer!

[@Simco_]

12:00 This is exactly what happened to me when I was doing 4 100s a year. I was doing them every 3-5 weeks during a racing block and it just became routine. I took it for granted. They weren't special anymore.

[@runningwithsimon]

It's usually not an issue for me - this is like #32 ish I do monthly. I think it's mostly just work 50-60hrs plus youtube channel 20-30hrs a week - it's a lot, and everything else is a rush. I know I'll be better by QMT

[@eric-running-to-chamonix]

It was fun to see you on Psilly Runner's vlog for this race

[@runningwithsimon]

Good eyes!!! Funny to see myself in someone else movie haha!

[@luboyanev]

Thank you for another update! Btw also very cool upcoming videos ideas! I saw one of them is about what to do after your ultra, and it would be very cool to hear you insights. I ran my first ultra (54km with +3400m and -3400m), and one week later I went on backpacking trip again with lots of elevation gain and I probably my knees hadn't recovered fully as I started having IT band issues, and now almost a month has past and if I do some more elevation gain/loss the pain returns.. and I'm sure you have also dealt with similar issues with lingering pains and aches, and it would be very interesting to hear about your experience and how you managed to fully heal and be back to running big races. Thank you for the content that you're creating!

[@runningwithsimon]

First congrats on your first ultra! That's a lot of climb for that distance, wow! So first disclaimer is that if it's really bad, I'd say you may want to talk with a PT or someone that can have a look. Same if it's really lingering and you see no improvement. As for personnel experience, I only had that specifically once - well twice really. But one time was so bad that I could hardly walk at all, and took basically 2-3 months before getting back to even a slow jog. The other time, it was painful, but I could probably have gone on a hike like that and risk aggravating. I also stopped running but I tried to stay active. A lot of massaging my quads too. And adding more strengthening for the future. But I had leadville coming up, so I asked my PT friend about KT tape. It worked well - or at least, I could run leadville. Hard to say if it's the KT tape that helped or everything else (I had about 3 weeks without running). So it's one of those where, I tried so many things, it's impossible to say what was helpful and what wasn't. Either way, both time I talked with my PT friend and had her actually test it. I don't know what they look for, probably signs of tightness or injuries. So what I ended up doing might have been perfect for me, but without seeing someone, hard to tell if this is applicable to you. And some of these things were more about 'making sure once it's heal, you won't have the same issue next race', but it doesn't really solve the inflammation today. And if we talk more broadly about lingering pain - beyond IT band. I tend to just take more time to rest, or active recovery. Sometimes cycling is fine, so I do that. Sometimes swimming is fine, so I do that. And I'll re-introduce walking gradually. Aiming to be pain free, and NOT 'push through it'. The only time I'd push through pain is in an important race (and I mean "injury pain" - sore pain or those other type of pain I'll push in training too). And even sometimes 'discomfort' that feels like injury is enough to give me a pause. Because aggravating an injury can be a big deal.

[@Op3rate]

Epic man 🙌

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks mate!

[@lindawilliams6220]

Thanks!

[@runningwithsimon]

Thanks Linda :)

[@ricodelavega4511]

on your mood, maybe you're a little burnt out. Perhaps a 100miler every other month instead of every month would bring back the joy that simon is so well known for. As for Nora, whether its 48 miles or 52, she's a beast, a lady beast. Great video

[@runningwithsimon]

I think you're quite insightful and close to it. I think early burn out is probably it - like not quite there but early signs of it. But I don't think it's from racing per say. Racing is very much the tip of the iceberg- it's by far the easiest and most fun thing I have going on. I think it's more the combo of working 50-60hrs week, and adding on that managing the youtube channel which is easily 20-30 hrs. It's even hard to find time to train 10-12 hrs with all this. And the solution is simple, but it wouldn't be to race less. It'd be to cut the channel, or post much less. And not flip around a race recap in 1 week. Because the past few months, I'm pretty much always stretched for time. Those race trips are more and more just in and out - nothing other than the race. Working while there, and getting back home as early as possible and back at 2-3am editing. It's easy to get in a dark place when you never have a minute to breath. I know it's just a phase, but yeah, I think you're very insightful and appreciate the words. I need to watch out for this because I want it to be sustainable. And Nora is a beast! And an angel -none of this would be possible without her!

[@thomasostroski7113]

I am looking forward to that recovery video! Thanks for sharing your experiences and knowledge with us!

[@runningwithsimon]

I've really struggled with this one lol. It's been half done for 2 months, but I keep being unhappy with it. Reshoot some of the narration the week after. Still unhappy, reshoot. My beard grows, disappear. Little pooping superman ismoving everywhere. It's going to look odd a bit...

[@thomasostroski7113]

@@runningwithsimon It will be appreciated whenever it drops!

[@coachb530]

Def interested in seeing about using watch for navigation as Ive never needed to, but probably should be. Also, which poles to use and when/how to use them sounds interesting as well (never used).

[@runningwithsimon]

Cool - super helpful to know what folks think is most helpful videos! I think I'll do poles first actually - with mountain season coming up, it seems very timely

[@canelami1285]

​Yes please, would love a video all about poles ​@@runningwithsimon

[@emmarunyeard6832]

I am wondering re your lower mood.. Yes you have been busy but you may have underestimated the result of significant sunburn, for your skin to heal from this would deplete energy, sunburn is an insidious injury but your body would have to focus on healing that rather than on performance.. This would induce a certain degree of emotional and physical fatigue x

[@runningwithsimon]

Yeah maybe. I mean, that burn was bad. That itchiness, it's hard to describe how bad it was! I've run 100 miles with broken rib, with broken toe, with the run every 45 min. But it's the itchy back that was enough to make me stop. It was that bad!

[@emmarunyeard6832]

@@runningwithsimon any burn puts the body into shock , I would pretty much put the burn as a driving factor behind your uncharacteristic lull ... 🌱

[@dustinmills7296]

This is not a troll question, but a legitimate one. Do you think doing as many epic races as you’ve done recently impacted your excitement about this race?

[@runningwithsimon]

I think it’s a great question and not trolly at all. A key difference by racing so much is that it’s less stressful. I’ve raced totally unprepared and know I can probably figure it out. So I know I can push off preparing for the last second if it’s needed (see below) But excitement and joy? A little bit when it’s not an epic race. Say like Jackpot ultra - not excited. But bighorn I should have been. I think that lack of build up to it was a key factor. I never had the "oh the race is coming up" - if anything it was more "ah darn it’s coming too fast, I need an extra day to wrap things up with work"

[@dustinmills7296]

@@runningwithsimon makes sense. Having that time to prepare does help ramp up the excitement factor, for sure.

[@jimace9409]

Are you burned out?

[@runningwithsimon]

I think that's insightful - I wrote a bigger reply down here somewhere. But essentially, I think that's something to watch out. Not burn out of racing, but more work plus channel. Just need to watch out and establish my boundaries I suppose.

[@andrewdelprete]

Click click 😂

[@andydavis3850]

One of your worst episodes yet. Too much talking, not enough footage. I stopped watching FYI

[@runningwithsimon]

It's a vlog - the race recap will have the footage. If that's not interested in the behind the scene, just watch those...