I recently received an email announcing a significant change to my challenge: the distance has been increased to just shy of 50 miles, with a cut-off time of 14 hours. Initially, I was thrown off by the jump from 35.7 miles to nearly 50 - it felt huge and, frankly, impossible. But after taking a step back, I'm starting to see the bigger picture. This change has opened up new possibilities and has given me a fresh sense of purpose.
The Mental Shift
At first, I couldn't help but feel disappointed. The jump from 35.7 miles to
50 miles seemed like an insurmountable leap. My training so far has been
working towards a challenging distance but one that felt achievable to me, so
the idea of stretching that goal even further made me question if that was even
possible.
However, after a bit of reflection, I realised that this has freed me to explore new opportunities and other event formats or distances I hadn’t considered before. I've recently discovered the Ultra Challenge series which offers a variety of events, that are designed for participants of all abilities - you can choose to walk, jog, or run. These events include a 50 km distance (31.07 miles), which is close to the distance I was already training for, but also 100km and multi-day events.
A Change of Pace: Focus on Parkrun
So I’m still keeping my long-term ultra goal in mind, but I’ve decided
to switch things up for a bit. Throughout November, I’ll be focusing on
improving my Parkrun time.
For those who aren't familiar, Parkrun is a weekly 5K event that’s free, and
open to everyone with runs all around the world. It’s a fantastic community
initiative that brings people together and promotes fitness in a relaxed,
non-competitive environment. My current PB (personal best) is 31:55 at Clumber
Park, and I’m determined to chip away at that time over the next few weeks.
I’ve always enjoyed Parkrun for its community feel, and having a “quick win”
goal like improving my 5K time will give me a nice break from the long, slow
runs that are often required for ultra training. It's a chance to work on my
speed, stamina, and overall fitness. After all, being able to maintain a
quicker pace over shorter distances will undoubtedly help when the time comes
to tackle longer ultra events.
Looking Ahead: The 20-Miler Milestone
I’m also aiming for a big milestone in June next year: a 20-mile run.
Specifically, I’ve signed up for the Rasselbock Running Hardwick Hobble on June
14th, 2025. It’s a looped course with each loop being 6.3 km (3.91 miles), so
five loops will total 31.5 km (or 19.57 miles). This will be a perfect stepping
stone toward the ultra distances I’ll be training for later on, and I'm excited
to see how I handle the loops and manage my pacing over a long distance.
It's not just about increasing distance but also about building endurance,
learning how to fuel efficiently, and practicing mental toughness. I’ll be
working on all of this in the lead-up to June 2025.
The Work Begins
With all of these new goals and changes on the horizon, there’s plenty of
work ahead. Whether it's improving my 5K Parkrun time, ramping up my training
for the 20-mile race, or preparing for the 50-mile ultra distance, it’s going
to be a long journey. But I’m embracing the process, and I’m ready for whatever
comes next. The goalposts may have shifted, but I’m excited to keep moving forward.
Thanks for following along with me on this journey. I’ll be sure to keep you
updated as I hit new milestones and face new challenges. It’s going to be an
exciting ride!
Until next time, keep running, keep moving, and remember—every step counts!
#ultrarunning #ultraambition #parkrunPB #endurancetraining #ultrachallenge #runningcommunity #distance running #mentaltoughness
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