Last years dream… run an ultra marathon. With a few clicks on the screen, credit card info, and done. Signed up for the longest distance I’ve ever ran. Phew. That was the easy part. Signing up. Now I have to commit to the intense, grueling, sometimes painful, training.
What is an Ultra Marathon you ask?
So a regular marathon is 42 KM, or, 26.2 Miles. Any distance of race over that is qualified as an ultra.
The race I signed up for is the Lewiston Ultra Shuswap. A total of 60KM, or, 37.2 miles. The date, Sept. 26, 2020.
Here’s what the website says:
“The Lewiston Ultra Shuswap is a 60KM solo & relay (2 & 3 person) mountain trail event connecting the communities of Salmon Arm and Sicamous in the gorgeous Shuswap, British Columbia. This point to point ultramarathon will journey you through the impressive traverse with approximately 1800 meters elevation gain, rich with pristine single track and incredible viewpoints. The race starts at Klahani Park in Salmon Arm and will bring participants into the inviting South Canoe trail system. Runners will journey to the Larch Hills Nordic Chalet & into the gorgeous Larch Hills Traverse to experience seven distinct sections, pristine single track and remarkable viewpoints overlooking Shuswap and Mara Lake(s). The final kilometers will bring you down flowing switchbacks and into unique private trails on Splatsin First Nation land. Once you pop out of the woods, the finish line is a short jaunt on Old Spallumcheen road and into the impressive lake front Hyde Mountain Golf Resort.”The Lewiston Ultra.
thelewistonultra.com
I dreamt about all last year, wondering what it would really be like to run a distance over the regular marathon. So, I am taking the challenge. I have done a ton of research, but i still have a lot to learn. It’s going to take endurance, discipline, motivation, and lots running. I will have good days, mediocre days, and probably some really bad days, but the journey is the best part. So, here we go. A new adventure awaits!
Hey – wanna come join me in the fun???
For all you reading out there, here’s a bit of a disclaimer. I am not a trainer, nor do I have a trainer. Anything written about running here will be heresay, and “it’s what I did”. Will it all work? Maybe not. Will I always do the right thing or the stuff that I’m supposed to? Definitely not. I’m just going with the flow and taking it day by day, and probably do some writing about it. Let’s see what happens.
-Wendy
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