Tag: Ultramarathon

The Unique Bodily Demands of an Ultramarathon

Ultramarathon pic
Ultramarathon
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Since 1993, Sharyn O’Halloran has been an instructor at Columbia University, where she currently serves as a George Blumenthal professor of political economy. During her free time, Sharyn O’Halloran participates in distance running, and has run multiple ultramarathons.

The ultramarathon, a race exceeding 26.2 miles and often extending as far as 50 or 100 miles, makes unique demands on the body. Ultramarathons cannot be approached like a normal marathon, where runners maintain a reasonably consistent pace throughout, and spend as much as 85 percent of the race at their maximum heart rate. Ultramarathon runners typical spend close to half the race at that level of intensity, but may also walk or hike regularly. The more varied terrain can cause injuries as well, which range from blisters to stress fractures.

The nutrient intake during an ultramarathon route also differs from a conventional marathon. Because these races can last as much as a full waking day, aid stations stock more than just water, sports drinks, and gel. Substantial food such as burgers, burritos, and sandwiches, and even calorie-dense fare like candy and soda, can often be found at these aid stations. Runners rely on both salty and sweet foods as a means of retaining water and rebuilding energy during an ultramarathon.

Myths about Running in an Ultramarathon

Ultramarathon
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Sharyn O’Halloran has been working in public affairs and political science for more than 25 years. The George Blumenthal Professor of Political Economics at Columbia University, Sharyn O’Halloran has authored numerous publications and given dozens of speeches around the world. Outside of her work, Dr. O’Halloran is an avid runner and participated in her first ultramarathon in 2013.

Here are several myths about ultramarathons that may hold back some athletes:

– You need to be in the best shape of your life. If you are waiting until you are in the best shape to run an ultramarathon, you likely will never run an ultra. While being in less-than-perfect shape may make the experience more difficult, having excess weight does not mean you can’t cross the finish line. Determination and mental strength are more important for ultras than having the perfect body.

– You have to be young. When many people go to their first ultramarathon, they expect to see young runners who are right out of high school or college. But runners do not have to be young to compete. A large number of older runners compete in many ultramarathons.

– You’ll slow down. As you train for an ultramarathon, you may hear that you should find a slow pace and slow down more as you run. While you may slow down as you become tired, you can work on your endurance to ensure that you maintain a comfortable pace throughout the race.

Preparing for an Ultramarathon

The George Blumenthal professor of political economics and a professor of international and public affairs at Columbia University, Dr. Sharyn O’Halloran has worked in the political science field for more than a quarter of a century. Outside of academia, Dr. Sharyn O’Halloran is an avid runner. She has completed several half and full marathons and recently ran a 60K ultramarathon.

Preparing for an ultramarathon takes time and dedication, especially if the race will be a runner’s first ultramarathon. Increasing running distance is an important part of training for an ultramarathon. While experienced marathoners may already be familiar with longer runs, new runners will need to gradually work their way up. Completing the full race length three to four times before the actual race is also important. Instead of doing the full length in a single day, however, it is best to complete two back-to-back long runs that add up to the total time. This gives runners a basic idea of where they need to improve without fully exhausting the body and mind.

Since ultramarathons are so long, runners must learn to keep themselves comfortable and hydrated during the run. Although there are aid stations set up along ultramarathon courses, they may not be interspersed enough throughout the course for runners to stay strong. Bringing a hydration pack can be extremely helpful for this. Further, runners may place drop bags along the race that contain food and other nutrition items, and they should practice going through these packs quickly and efficiently to ensure valuable time is not wasted. Additionally, certain clothing items may not be as comfortable during the longer run, so testing out different garments while training can be helpful.