Excellent advice Flora ❤ So true…. The hardest part of any ultra is getting to the start line; it takes months and months of consistent training. And sleeping. And eating. 😊
great advice Flora! My first ultra in 2022 (50km) was Race to the Stones and I do not regret that choice at all, it made it much nicer to know that some people sign up to walk it all which helps knowing there will always be people around and that the cut offs are generous. I did the other 50km of it last year but didn't enjoy it as much (based on weather and the aid stations i didn't think were as well stocked) but overall generally a great event. I've got my first 100km as Serpent Trail this year and i'm excited and scared in equal measure. Cut offs average out at 17.5 min miles which based on my already slow pace, I have a good chance of DNF to being timed out but i'll step up, get on the start line and see how I get on 🤞🏻 One company worth noting is Pegasus. All runs in Wales but with NO cut offs. Their ethos is that you paid and trained to do it and they will be out on the course for you as long as you need which I think is wonderful. They also offer free places for people who want to run an ultra but can't afford one and they also do a "pay it forward" initiative where people can pay for someone else to take part. I did their Ridum race last Sept and loved it. So friendly and great aid stations and medal. Would very much recommend. x
@@rachaelandthingshiya! :) I personally preferred day 2 (Wantage to Avebury) but they do both have their advantages/disadvantages. I loved the finish line more of day 1 as it finishes at base camp so there are more people around and it was just nicer I thought but overall I preferred the scenery and underfoot conditions on day 2. I think either day would be great and there is always loads of support on route for both and loads of lovely people to chat to on the way around. I do love the RTTS event and will definitely be signing back up again next year, I just couldn't fit it in this year due to Serpent trail which is the week before. There are some good videos on here of the routes though and would def recommend watching them to get a feel for each part. If you do sign up, have an absolute blast! :)
Got my first 50K in May - race to the sea Brighton! Seems to be a popular one for first timers. Completely agree the training will likely end up being harder than the actual event 😁 excited to see whether it will put me off or make me want to run more…
My first ultra was a 40 miler. I gave zero thought to getting home and had to drive on very, very, very tired legs. Absolutely top advice to think about after, not just training before and during!
What a fresh take on a well worn topic! I wish I'd seen it before I signed up for my first 100k this May... I forgot to check the cutoff before registering, and it's going to be TOUGH. 😅 One thing you might touch on in more depth is looped vs point to point, as well as timed events. I found a looped, timed event with an incredible aid station to be the best option for my first... it was a 4 mile loop in a 12 hour timeframe, a super easy way to accomplish my first 50k, with a party like atmosphere, INCREDIBLE food, a home base for my husband to support me, and no need to worry about navigation and cutoffs. (I even sprawled out on a chaisse lounge with a bowl of mac n cheese and donuts for a half hour. 😂) Because it was a loop, you were never alone for more than a few minutes, and you got familiar with the other racers from passing/ being passed. This is a fantastic option for nervous first time ultra runners. I'm still nervous about my first point to point this fall. I STINK at navigation and being alone for long stretches...
These are all great points! Navigation should have been in there, as well as looped courses 😅 so many things to think about. Huge good luck with the 100k! That's so exciting. I'm sure you'll smash it 💪
One thing to keep in mind, especially when traveling out of town to a race, is what to eat the night before. Eating new foods the night before a race is generally not a good idea. So if you can take something familiar with you, that might help. Everybody is different, of course.
Yay! My first 50k at Serpent's Trail this year. Done the 10k twice and 20k last year there and such a great race with great organisation, brilliant route and allaround fab athmosphere
Great video Flora - lots of info I wish I'd had last year although your content was invaluable... I was lucky to do, and enjoy, my first ultra last September - the Gritstone Grind. It starts less than 10 miles from home so no major logistical headaches. Great course, 57km and 1700m of elevation, from Kidsgrove to Disley following the Gritstone Trail. Thankfully it passes within a mile of home early on no temptation to bail! The big benefit was being able to recce stages of it in shorter segments and prep gear. Nothing could prep me for a mini-heatwave though!
I would recommed Pegasus Ultra Running. Did my first ultra with them last year and it was wonderful. Great crowd, fab aid stations. the food was unbelievable, and best of all no cut off times.
great video 👍 biggest help I found is to do your long runs on the course or if that is not possible then as close as possible to the terrain and vertical. Also don't be worried about increasing the distance, the longer the race the slower the pace required to make the cut offs (usually).
Excellent overview, thank you. All of this is practical and clear; your experience is obvious. I’m doing ultra trail 50 in the Blue Mountains in NSW, Australia in May. It possibly isn’t the best first ultra… 2300 elevation and a bit technical… but I’ve done the 22… the hardest thing I’m finding is getting the elevation into my training… lots of driving for my long runs. Again, thanks for this excellent overview and advice.
Really helpful video, I'm genuinely considering doing my first ultra now! I was wondering if you have a video on how to train for your first ultra ? If not - maybe a future video idea 😉 x
Excellent advice Flora ❤ So true…. The hardest part of any ultra is getting to the start line; it takes months and months of consistent training. And sleeping. And eating. 😊
great advice Flora! My first ultra in 2022 (50km) was Race to the Stones and I do not regret that choice at all, it made it much nicer to know that some people sign up to walk it all which helps knowing there will always be people around and that the cut offs are generous. I did the other 50km of it last year but didn't enjoy it as much (based on weather and the aid stations i didn't think were as well stocked) but overall generally a great event. I've got my first 100km as Serpent Trail this year and i'm excited and scared in equal measure. Cut offs average out at 17.5 min miles which based on my already slow pace, I have a good chance of DNF to being timed out but i'll step up, get on the start line and see how I get on 🤞🏻
One company worth noting is Pegasus. All runs in Wales but with NO cut offs. Their ethos is that you paid and trained to do it and they will be out on the course for you as long as you need which I think is wonderful. They also offer free places for people who want to run an ultra but can't afford one and they also do a "pay it forward" initiative where people can pay for someone else to take part. I did their Ridum race last Sept and loved it. So friendly and great aid stations and medal. Would very much recommend. x
Ahhh this is amazing, thanks for sharing! It rings a bell but I haven't looked into them properly so thanks for that 😊
Huge good luck with your 100k!!
@@FloraBeverley 🧡🧡 thanks x
Would you mind sharing which of the Race to the stones 50km sections you preferred? Thanks!
@@rachaelandthingshiya! :) I personally preferred day 2 (Wantage to Avebury) but they do both have their advantages/disadvantages. I loved the finish line more of day 1 as it finishes at base camp so there are more people around and it was just nicer I thought but overall I preferred the scenery and underfoot conditions on day 2. I think either day would be great and there is always loads of support on route for both and loads of lovely people to chat to on the way around. I do love the RTTS event and will definitely be signing back up again next year, I just couldn't fit it in this year due to Serpent trail which is the week before. There are some good videos on here of the routes though and would def recommend watching them to get a feel for each part. If you do sign up, have an absolute blast! :)
@@nicmarlow6388 So helpful, thank you :)
Got my first 50K in May - race to the sea Brighton! Seems to be a popular one for first timers. Completely agree the training will likely end up being harder than the actual event 😁 excited to see whether it will put me off or make me want to run more…
Haha hopefully the latter! I'm sure
My first ultra was a 40 miler. I gave zero thought to getting home and had to drive on very, very, very tired legs. Absolutely top advice to think about after, not just training before and during!
What a fresh take on a well worn topic! I wish I'd seen it before I signed up for my first 100k this May... I forgot to check the cutoff before registering, and it's going to be TOUGH. 😅
One thing you might touch on in more depth is looped vs point to point, as well as timed events. I found a looped, timed event with an incredible aid station to be the best option for my first... it was a 4 mile loop in a 12 hour timeframe, a super easy way to accomplish my first 50k, with a party like atmosphere, INCREDIBLE food, a home base for my husband to support me, and no need to worry about navigation and cutoffs. (I even sprawled out on a chaisse lounge with a bowl of mac n cheese and donuts for a half hour. 😂) Because it was a loop, you were never alone for more than a few minutes, and you got familiar with the other racers from passing/ being passed. This is a fantastic option for nervous first time ultra runners.
I'm still nervous about my first point to point this fall. I STINK at navigation and being alone for long stretches...
These are all great points! Navigation should have been in there, as well as looped courses 😅 so many things to think about.
Huge good luck with the 100k! That's so exciting. I'm sure you'll smash it 💪
I am signed up for the 70km at the Taupo Ultramarathon in NZ for my first. Looking forward to it
One thing to keep in mind, especially when traveling out of town to a race, is what to eat the night before. Eating new foods the night before a race is generally not a good idea. So if you can take something familiar with you, that might help. Everybody is different, of course.
Yes this is so important! A great point
Yay! My first 50k at Serpent's Trail this year. Done the 10k twice and 20k last year there and such a great race with great organisation, brilliant route and allaround fab athmosphere
Good afternoon. Helpful video. First Like to Flora from Spain. A nice week for everyone.
Hello from Cyprus 😊
Really helpful, thank you!
Great video Flora - lots of info I wish I'd had last year although your content was invaluable...
I was lucky to do, and enjoy, my first ultra last September - the Gritstone Grind. It starts less than 10 miles from home so no major logistical headaches. Great course, 57km and 1700m of elevation, from Kidsgrove to Disley following the Gritstone Trail. Thankfully it passes within a mile of home early on no temptation to bail!
The big benefit was being able to recce stages of it in shorter segments and prep gear. Nothing could prep me for a mini-heatwave though!
That's amazing! Yes recce-ing is such a great idea. Haha yes weather is always an uncontrollable!
Great info.
Excellent, very useful and succinct! I agree: keep it fun
I would recommed Pegasus Ultra Running. Did my first ultra with them last year and it was wonderful. Great crowd, fab aid stations. the food was unbelievable, and best of all no cut off times.
great video 👍
biggest help I found is to do your long runs on the course or if that is not possible then as close as possible to the terrain and vertical.
Also don't be worried about increasing the distance, the longer the race the slower the pace required to make the cut offs (usually).
Doing my first ultra with ULTRACHALLENGE in June 100k in the cotswolds cannot wait.
Excellent overview, thank you. All of this is practical and clear; your experience is obvious. I’m doing ultra trail 50 in the Blue Mountains in NSW, Australia in May. It possibly isn’t the best first ultra… 2300 elevation and a bit technical… but I’ve done the 22… the hardest thing I’m finding is getting the elevation into my training… lots of driving for my long runs. Again, thanks for this excellent overview and advice.
Oof that sounds tough! Plenty of strength work and a few good hilly runs should do it 🙌
Really helpful video, I'm genuinely considering doing my first ultra now!
I was wondering if you have a video on how to train for your first ultra ? If not - maybe a future video idea 😉 x
That's so exciting! No I've not, but I've got one about everything I learned from my first ultramarathon! Defo sign up, I'm sure you'd ace it!
Maybe I'll eventually do some running... trail running does really appeal to me, in theory anyway!
Yes there's so much going for it that you'd love!
Also, altitude affects some people more than others. Going from sea level in the UK to the Alps, ideally get there as early as possible.
Yes good point!
Logistics is *everything*.