Run 2017: Ultra Goals

I've never run further than a marathon.
I've never raced (or really run) trails.
I've never run through the night before.
I have signed up for a 110km overnight trail run (and I'm not sure why).

After completing 4 marathons and having never participated in an ultra, I am suddenly registered for three!

I came across the Midnight Moose Night-Time Ultra Trail Race online and something about it stayed in the back of my brain and wouldn't go away. So after some conversations identifying a partner in crime (thankfully someone with a little ultra marathon experience) I am signed up. Tony and I, hopefully with one or two others, will take it on together.

Even now I'm not sure that it has sunk in... that I'm really registered... that I will really be on the start line at 10pm (let alone finish).

To try and develop some experience I have registered for a couple of 'gateway' (or 'baby')ultras. The 50k distance is the next step up from the marathon, and a surprisingly popular race distance, so there are quite a few around. I've registered for one in June and one in August.

This weekend I'll be running the Niagara Ultra, from Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls and back. Then I'll start to get some trail practice ahead of the local MEC 'Race Four' Event: a 50km trail run in Gatineau Park.

I don't really know how to train for the bigger distances, but I've started by switching to runs based on heart rate rather than distance/ pace to try and build endurance. I'm also reading up online and using some library books to try and develop a training plan for the summer. So much for taking it easy!