The Dark Side of Ultra Marathons No One Talks About

Great vid. Thank you.

Running in the woods and mountains gives me time and space for myself. In return gives me time and space for others. Train for life.

When over 40 any exercise over 2 hours is not that good for ones heart. Better to do HIIT that makes the heart more supple and strong. Long distance hardens and scars it

My dad finished the hardrock 100 17 times and has done over 200 marathons, and a few Ironmans. Zero DNFs in his entire career in any distance. He’s a happy guy. The sport works well for some. Not always dark side.

DEATH BEFORE DNF!

Ultras for me are about the experience, and the motivation to train. I'm chronically UNDER trained due to choice, and my crazy life, but I'm definitely thinking that's a healthier approach. The cost is missing out on maximum performance. I still get to experience the challenge and accomplishment- I just don't worry about pace/time.

This has served me well... no injuries, and the approval of my cardiologist to continue. Training and racing are fun, no pressure, something I'm doing because I want to. I don't skip yummy meals/ drinks or time with friends and family, I work around it. This will be my first year training for a 100 miler, and a lot of it will be brutally tough, long, FUN hikes with friends.

I'll never reach my full potential as an ultra runner- but ultras have helped me reach my full potential as a person.

Don't take my word for it...
Read the Comments...
Most runners...90% or more put their bodies through hell and back just so they can say on social media...Oh...I have done this or that...oh I ran a 1000 marathons in my lifetime !!!!
This is why only 4% of all male marathon runners in the world can run a Sub 3hr marathon and only 1% of all woman !!!
But then they go call doing a 100miler in 24hrs RUNNING !!!
That is NOT running in my books...if you do it in 13hrs...thats what I call RUNNING !!!!

It’s not mental it’s physical

Thank you for this video. This explains a lot of what going on with me this past year. I ended taking time off as I lost the love for running and fell into a depression. I needed a reset after running ultras and always trying to more than before. I'm slowly finding my "why" and the break from it all was what I needed.

its addiction and people struggle as te dopaime becomes so out of balANCE and that make u seek more running longer running faster times etc and u r ur own worst cridict so we onky compare ourselfs to ourselves. stopping and easing up in training becomes impossible its addiction

Thank you so much for this video. I just experienced at the end of last year. Training was great until the last few weeks and I just lost all motivation- I’m not usually like that. I cried on the trails. I felt empty. Race day came and I stepped down a distance. It was a great decision because there was less pressure. Now taking a more casual approach to fitness for a few months!

It has to be mainly fun... otherwise this is not for you or you just need a rest... I learned to cope better listening to my body, if you need rest, just rest, take time off running and do other things... the urge to run and be happy again will come back eventually

I starting my 5th season of running a month and half ago and it was touch and go. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do this again. It can be massively time consuming, hard on those around you, and then as this video show, hard on our bodies. My wife said to me "why not just run to run. Do you have to constantly set a lofty goal?" Smart lady. I decided to go slow and not put pressure on my self. I have had a coach for 4 years and I decided this time around to not get one right away. Maybe I get one, maybe I don't. I know what needs to be done and I want to have fun. It would be so great to have a faster time (50 km) this year but I have decided to just go out and love running/training. I can already tell that by taking some of the mental pressure off, I have found my love for this sport and I am excited to bang out the km's. Take it slow. Feel it out. Its more important to feel it out and know where you stand from a health stand point, then force something. You are not a failure if you decided to pull back a bit. Its all good. Smile.

thanks for your insights, very good,

I was never at a competitive level but i did a 100km marathon and after that i just couldnt motivate myself to run even short distance and i went into a mini depression ive only started running again and now i enjoy it put my headphones on and dont go over 4 kms the goggins life is not for everyone and its ok to accept that

My goodness, the picture of you with the caption of this, I see Grandpa Cliff.
Maybe incorporating meditation, breathwork, mantras, yoga as part of your training....(if you don't already) ....something to keep from spinning out mentally, something to calm the mind. What you are doing IS hard, it's okay to have the feels. (not a ultra runner myself....)

The guy needs to find God. He is trying to find purpose and meaning in these races, and at the end of the day it’s just a race. He’s chasing a high just like a junkie hunting down the next bump.

I ran my first marathon in Aspen. I did a 5 month training block for it, but really it was the culmination of about 18 months of training because I'd previously trained for another marathon but had to skip it due to injuries. Several family members came out to support. When I finished, I was exhausted, they were congratulatory, but after like 10 minutes they were like 'ok cool lets go walk around Aspen and check out the art fair." I didn't want to be the wet blanket, but all I wanted to do was go lay down. I was cooked. I'd cramped hard at mile 24 and had spent the last hour, but especially the last 20ish minutes of the race in pretty intense pain that hadn't gone away. It dawned on me that they didn't do the prep or run the race or really have any idea what it's like to run 26.2 miles. They have no frame of reference because they don't run or bike. 26.2 miles is a 30ish minute car ride to them. Anyway, it was about the most underwhelming way to finish. I felt like they had zero empathy for what I probably felt like and had just done. I was still super proud of myself and appreciative that they had come out to support me in what they must see as a minor accomplishment so I sucked it up and limped around Aspen with them sweaty and chaffed and was thankful that I did. In retrospect the thousands of miles I ran in preparation were a lot more impressive than what I actually did during the race that day. Running for a few hours after doing all that work was a lot easier than convincing myself to get up and train regardless of what was going on in my life 5-6 timers a week for the preceding 18 months. Cherish the mental fortitude it takes to do what we do and the benefit it brings to the rest of your life, don't live for the results or the accolades from others.

Thank you for saying this and making this video. I feel similar to the original comment and after a lot of internal work, stopping running altogether for more than a year and dialling back with training I realised a bigger fundamental truth: No physical accomplishment will have any bearing if I feel empty inside.. or even if I'm not clear on my why.
It's important to note just go through the motions but to really get clear on the why. Otherwise we sign up for another race and another race etc. And we still don't feel accomplished. I agree with endocrine system, specifically cortisol. If you're stressed you won't experience the "runners high" you'll just be fighting for your life for 100km ..take it from experience haha 😅

This phenomenon is called 'arrival fallacy' or 'post-achievement blues'. Btw, the 'why' you're doing it is absolutely crucial.

that sounds terrible. I'm glad i never attempted that.

Sounds to me like the runner who posted the account he read, might have dopamine/hormone crashed?

My cortisol levels always spiked after a hard run and training. I couldn't sleep, was irritable, started eating right after a workout and it helped tremendously.

Some of what you describe reminds me of tales regarding people pushing themselves. One a scout so a child, a youth. Another a fit and strong rogainer : twenty four hour cross country navigation, score orienteering.

Both had reasons immediately after a four day three night with sleep points Scout activity and after a twenty four hour Rogaine to visit a hospital for muscular skeletal injuries.

The clinicians were alarmed by the blood test results.

The scout, about 14 or 15, was a surprising one however it was out of their comfort zone even with a ten/twelve hour mandatory sleep point break.

The rogainer wrote an article for an old school newsletter and online there was much mirth about well what do they think their bloods would look like after say a hundred kilometres off track with no sleep. My recollection is the author had some clinical background themselves so was interested in the results and could communicate why?

It just makes me think so that is where some of that post event euphoria comes from.

If only my ankles would join in.

I spent the last few years running in the trails, thank God 5 times ultra (I won one) and last year I returned to the street running scenario . It improved a lot my self confidence and both mental and psysical strenght, I think is good to stop a nd think "well maybe Im done here" thats what I did, now Im happy running from 10k to 42.195 in the streets, not comparing myself to no one, (still trying to) best wishes from Costa Rica

I thought u will talk about sh@$5\ting urself and the environment

The glory is a huge part. If no one knows about your accomplishment, where's the fun in that? I think the gold wreaths and rose petals sprinkled at your feet, so to speak, are motivations unspoken.

If ultras stop being satisfying, try something else. I’m trying to get faster and run sub 18 in the 5km. This has given me a new appreciation for the trails and has improved me immensely as a runner. Running big miles at low intensity often leads to stagnating you need to mix it up if you want to keep improving.

Seems like a first world problem to me…..🙄

Vitamin B-12.

As I'm training for my first ultra (Alpine Solstice 55k) I'm trying to view my training holistically. My plan has me running about 750 miles preceeding the race itself. 🏁 Each mile has a place in the preparation and the final miles should be the cherry on top of all the hard work. I'm not going to stress about timing or pace. There is a very generous completion time of 11.5 hours. As a long-distance thru hiker I know that I can complete the mileage even if I had to fast walk the whole thing. Knowing that tidbit allows me the confidence to know whatever hairnet on race day I've got it.

Hey 👋 it's Chris from the battalion group you have a great channel!

Tons of finishes at many distances. I enjoy the training more than the racing HOWEVER I need the race to justify the training and I like to see new places.

I know a lot of people who do these feel there is a lot of benefit. But I do not think it makes sense to run marathons, much less ultras. I don’t think the body is designed for it. Everyone I know who did them regrets it now because of what it did to their bodies. Broken down knees, hips, ankles, backs, feet. That voice telling you to stop is not always the voice of weakness. Sometimes it is the voice of reason. It’s your future you, saying “Dude, don’t do this to me.” Just because something is an impressive accomplishment— and I would 100% say a marathon or longer is an impressive accomplishment— doesn’t make it good. HOWEVER… do what you choose to do. I don’t know everything. Some people’s bodies can probably take it. A very, very few. But some.

The bad side is they are stupid

is this a victim channel? wtf is this victim comment description if your a real ultra runner and you re about this life you dont post these kind of pussy stuff

If you're reaching your goals you're not setting the bar high enough

Its the same when people " become rich" or " famous" often after a couple of years of that new found wealth or fame they realize that they have most of the same problems because your brain is your brain .this might not be about running achievements this might be about body health or mental health.

Great insight and talk about this. Thanks for sharing.

If you are running ultras on the regular you 100% need constant blood work.

The classic, "I got what I wanted and now I'm not happy." That's just how women are. If you can find a solution for that, we can all be happy!

Sounds like this viewer who wrote in needs help from a mental health professional.

“There are two types of tragedies in life. One is not getting what you want, the other is getting it.”

When I complete the hard runs, I want to better my time. But I also enjoy pacing and help crew others doing it for the first time.

My heart kind of aches for this person. Oak Mountain State Park,where the race is held, is the main trail system near my home. I thought I was a horrible trail runner until I started driving further to other systems and did some flatter courses.

Since the race cost keeps increasing I am becoming less and less interested in races. The trails are always there.

people enter these events for all of the wrong reasons and are seriously disappointed. You should run because you enjoy it or trying to live a healthier life. You don’t need to sign up for a race, you can go and run an ultra on your own at anytime. No pressure. If you finish that’s great or if you do not that’s great too or if you have to walk no one cares. Get off yer ass and do it. After running 60 kms I don’t receive a medal nor does anyone even know about it or cares and that is fine by me. I did it for me and damn happy with the result.

About to sign up to my first ultra! Training is currently really enjoyable i hope it stays that way 😂 trying to document the journey on our channel is a learning curv too. Try and keep it fun!

One of my initial responses to that long post from this runner is that guy is just looking for attention whllst at the same time looking for recognition about his achievements - and he has achieved is remarkable and what I as a 68 year old runner can never acheive - my longest ultra has only been a modest 60 km and arthritis in my kneee means I must restrict my self to shorter distance races - and that is just life and I am finding my challenges and rewards in those shorter races. Of course it is possible there may be underlying mental health issues that could be addressed but the guy seems to be intelligent enough to rerach some conclusiuon about this and maybe seek help. There is or may an addictive element in long distance running that drives us on to keep trainign and keepo entering more challeging races but if there is, that kind of 'addiction', then running is a lot more healthy than other addcitive pursuits - many people who have successfully over come their primary addiction - example drugs or alcohol - very successfully take up running and especilly longer distance running.