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Ian Sundberg
ENGL 2089030
Professor Carlson
1 December 2016
Ultra-Breaking Point
Imagine finishing a marathon, one of the most triumphant experiences a human being can
push them self through. Now imagine getting to the long-awaited finish line and realizing that
you are only halfway done. An ultra-marathon is any race over 42 miles. Why would anyone run
that far and for that long? What is the point or reward of such exhaustion? Who has the drive or
nerve to give all of their strength and then some? Believe it or not, there is a community of ultramarathoners that run ultras often. It is as far and few as its runners make up in miles and people.
I found them on April 30, 2016. As a cross-country and track runner, I have always been
inspired to rise to the next level, lowering times and elevating mileage. When my friend Katie
told me about the Indiana Trail 100, I committed without much consideration. I was amazed by
the power I realized I had in persevering through every mile that my mind told me to stop during.
I learned that there is a distinction between pain and fatigue, and I never found the breaking point
I set out to uncover; however, I did find a fascinating group that runs ultras often and has their
own language. What I have not found is the reason one runs an ultra and what keeps them going.
The term marathon goes back to the Battle of Marathon where Phedippides ran back to
Athens with knowledge of victory and died upon delivering the news. Runners have since died
during marathons after hitting what is known as the wall, the point where your body runs out
of sugars to burn and resorts to eating away fat and protein. The community of marathon running
includes medical personnel nowadays, but it is a mystery why some go so far beyond the walls.

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In training from my 26.2 to 50-miler, I found a lot of tips on Runners World. There is a
magazine for Runners World, but most communication happens online. Many forums have been
created to offer advice to people interested in running. It provides advice on race strategies, diets,
training regiments, mileage schedules, form running, types of shoes and everything else runningrelated. Some advice I followed was from XTREMETAPER: My first 50 I used a marathon as
my last long run (3 weeks out) and ran it fairly aggressively but not all out. I ran it as a negative
split, about 3 minutes off my PR at the time. I did start out easy but felt great midway and just
ran it briskly. It was a great confidence boost, but I had been training very specifically for the 50
for about 16 minutes. He was very helpful and continued to provide a 5-week training schedule.
This detailed types of warm ups, workouts, cool downs, time decrease and mileage increase.
Advice from the community is important for beginners, especially if they do not have a coach.
Another online place marathoners gather is Ultra Running Community (URC). This site
contains a plethora of runner's knowledge from recipes for racers to descriptions of ultra-events.
Many ultra-marathons are now being referred to by their acronyms. One in Switzerland is called
the TVSB, Trail Verbier St. Bernard. It has 111km and 8,400m of vertical gain-aptly named XAlpine, topping out at Orny with 2826m and traversing through historical locations such as
Grand Col St-Bernard. (Backhausen). Majell Backhausen is an Australian runner, but admits
that when he enters Switzerland, it has a very special look and feel to it. Many runners also run
to travel the world and see it on foot. Matt Girard says that the ranking is not what matters most,
which is exactly the philosophy we like. Running is such a wide community that not everyones
goal is speed. With this philosophy, trail running will always be inclusive, welcoming and
encouraging, growing in a way that will largely ensure longevity for the sport (Backhausen).
Anyone can run long distance as long as they are physically able and have a good pair of shoes.

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The community of ultra-running transcends just the runners. As the miles increase, more
and more volunteers are needed to facilitate races. A marathon needs people to start the race, give
directions on the course, pass out cups of water and energy food at aid stations. In addition, ultras
take a lot of time and can be very dangerous. Emergency responders must be on the scene should
anyone collapse or face one of the many running injuries from a rolled ankle to torn ACL. More
important, arguably, is the support runners receive along the way. From months of training to
cheering them on, many would not be able to run if not for their supportive family and friends.
While my mom draws the line at running 100, I was lucky to have my family with me as
I pursued this endeavor. My parents picked me up after my last exam to camp at Chain O' Lakes
State Park in Albion, Indiana. My dad was able to find me at many points during the three 16.6mile laps and track my pace. I would not have done as well if it wasn't for knowing so many
were thinking about me that day. I dedicated every mile to two people each that have had my
back for accountability. The attention gave me pressure, but also a lot of positivity. During the
race, I kept up with a group of three Canadians who run ultras routinely. They offered me advice
throughout my first ultra that enabled me to run ahead and finish 50 miles in just under 8.5 hours.
The first thing they told me was to walk only on the uphill. We'd speed walk up each,
locking our knees like hikers, coasting on flats and letting gravity do all the work on downhills. I
learned a lot more along the way; that you should carry and take water every chance you get,
have a small rain jacket, shoes with traction for mudslides, and take Gu energy gels for the road.
It does not feel like a race at the start because you cant start out too fast, but it is key to surge or
speed up at interval moments throughout and finish strong at the end. However, strategies can
work better for some runners than others based on ones body type and previous experience.
Strategies can depend on ones training as well as the group they may train or race with.

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Community is also very present during training. For many, running is easier in groups.
From Marathoners in Training (MIT) to the race pack that endures every mile together and offers
encouragement during an ultra, many would not be able to complete it or compete on their own. I
am of a rare breed in that I train and maintain a steadier pace while racing alone. Running groups
provide accountability, allow you to compare training with others, and can make running fun,
especially if you like talking on the run. Being able to talk is one sign of a comfortable pace.
Fifty miles takes an incredible amount of physical capacity and endurance, but more
necessary is mental toughness. Every time you hit walls where it feels like you have nothing left,
I found that if you resiliently push through it, you will hit another stride and find a new store of
energy and positive outlook. It takes patience to stay the course for over 8 hours straight and
determination to maintain form and foot movement. The brain will play games to distract you
from the inevitable feeling of prolonged fatigue, though you learn that it can be surpassed and
that pain is simply a warning that your body is in danger. I find it easier to think while moving,
as if jogging jogs the memory, and I even have the deepest thoughts while running marathons.
Ultra-runners tend to be perceived as a focused, introverted, philosophical and spiritual type.
There are many preconceived notions about ultra-marathoners and characteristics more
exclusive to them that not all people are aware of. Not all ultra-runners are the same either and
some are more extreme than others. Marshall Ulrich ran across the United States when he was 57
years old, averaging two marathons and a 10k each day. He crossed continuous country from San
Francisco to New York in just 52 days. Avid ultra-runners tend to go to the extremes that he has.
Many have their toenails removed to avoid black toe, where a blister forms under the toenail and
ultimately pushes it off. Since his toenails kept falling off and coming back worse than before, he
decided to have them permanently removed and asked for a vasectomy while he was at it.

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An insatiable sex drive develops when your body thinks its trying to kill itself, making
procreation the priority. Im sure youve felt amorous or horny. Its like that times ten. Its like a
super charged sex drive. Its all the time-while running, while resting during breaks at night. The
thought crosses your mind way more than it should (Ulrich). Others find that running in
moderation reduces sexual tension. I noticed a reversal in tension after approximately 40 miles.
One misconception is that their nipples bleed. While this is common for new marathoners
due to sensitive skin rubbing on a sweaty shirt, you get chafing under the arms, but after about a
week or so, everything adjusts and you grow calluses in all the right places (Ulrich). Muscles
also adjust to the mileage you put in. When I ran through the Rocky Mountains while working as
a Hiking Counselor in Colorado this past Summer, my calf muscles hit overdrive and developed.
Returning to flat Ohio, my calves atrophied while my upper body developed. Likewise, ones
body makes adaptations overnight in anticipation of upcoming workouts. After a long run day,
more capillaries are created, the white blood cells that carry oxygen through the bloodstream.
Ultra-runners are serious about running the distance they reach and not walking. Many
are so determined that they do not stop for anything, even the police. When Ulrich crossed the
Golden Gate Bridge a few miles into his coast to coast line, the police tried to stop him. They
forced him into the car and drove him to the base of the bridge. When I was released, I ran
back-on the pedestrian path-and had to do the entire bridge again. As the distance increases,
there are more factors and obstacles that could stand in their way. They do not always know they
are going to finish a run. I just went out for a five-hour run and I was suffering. I didnt want to
finish (Ulrich). When an ultra-marathoner runs a great amount of miles, there can be a strong
drive to keep going because they do not know the next time they will reach that milestone and
have the opportunity to run a record distance. Some run a marathon of marathons to set records.

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Modeled after the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning which consists of the four oldest 100milers in America, the Midwest Grand Slam of Ultrarunning consists of four 100 milers in Ohio,
Michigan and Wisconsin. Kettle Moraine 100 spans over 8,000ft of elevation with 100s of ups
and downs and 65 miles traversing the Ice Age Scenic Trail. The Mohican Trail winds its way
through Mohican Memorial State Forest, spanning 12,000ft in elevation. The Burning River 100
claims 9,000ft of elevation through scenic parks such as Cuyahoga Valley National Park. And
The Hallucination 100 is part of the three day Run Woodstock festival, covering nearly 8,000ft.
Runners are considered super-slammers if they run the Indiana Trail 100 as well which I will.
Races for this community would not happen if not also for the support of sponsors.
Indiana Trail Running (ITR) is a sponsor of the IT100 and an organization that supports runners
during the race (Snyder). Park Managers also play a huge role behind the scenes. Sam Boggs
received the Race Directors Award for his support of the IT100 on October 12, 2014. This event
also relies heavily on volunteers to work registration tables, set up the course, operate base camp
and supply runners with their essentials for the race. It can be a lot of fun if youre not running.
Runners in general have their own word bank for running. We usually measure distances
in miles or kilometers. A mile is 1600 meters and a kilometer is 1000m. Marathons are typically
measured in miles such as a 100, 50, 26.2, or half, 13.1. Mid distance is measured in kilometers,
such as a 10k or 15k. A 5k is a popular 3.1 mile race. A 50k is 32 miles and a 100k is 64mi.
Training implements many workout terms. A fartlek is a tempo run, one that is paced,
where the pace or miles/minute increases and decreases with the clock or whistle of a coach.
Repeats are where a runner repeatedly runs a certain distance and recovers after each. Strides are
where a runner sprints about 100m back and forth to get loose for a workout or race. These are
often done around a 400m track. LSD is not the acid drug; it stands for Long Slow Distance.

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There are also many abbreviations. PR stands for Personal Record. Some runners set out
to break their PR or run a distance quicker than previously. They often measure this with a GPS
(Global Positioning System) watch. Many know that BMI is Body Mass Index. A calculator can
compute your height and weight to estimate if your body weight is healthy. Carb-loading is a
practice for endurance runners to take in more carbohydrates leading up to a long run. Many
prefer pasta a few nights before their marathon, including myself. Glycogen is stored in the
muscles and liver so that it can be used during a big race, which is most effective while tapering.
A taper is a cutback in your workout as race day approaches to reserve energy through recovery.
RICE refers to Rest Ice Compression Elevation. This can relieve pain, reduce swelling,
and protect damaged tissues. Some runners take ice baths after tough runs to relax their muscles.
Cryotherapy is the use of low temperatures in medical therapy. Common running injuries include
runners knee, tender pain around the kneecap; side stitches, an intense stabbing pain under the
ribcage that occurs while exercising; tendinitis, severe swelling of a tendon; plantar fasciitis,
when a flat tissue band connecting the heel bone to toes gets swollen or irritated; and shin splints,
pain caused by overuse along the shinbone. There are tips to avoid injuries; the ten percent rule
refers to not increasing your distance by more than 10% each week in order to prevent injury.
As it comes to marathons, runners are organized in corrals based on projected finish time.
Every runner wears a race bib with their name and number. A chip measures their time that is
connected to the bib or tied onto their shoes. Serious runners note their splits, interval times from
their run. These can also keep family and friends updated about where their runner is during the
ultra. An expo is the event one attends a few days before the race to pick up their race packet.
Many running companies set up to sell equipment. Like running stores, this is a popular place
where runners can learn about the sport, developing science, and how to engage more in it.

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Being the large community that ultra-running is, there are many reasons one may run.
One common goal is keeping physically fit, for much more than just weight loss. Another is the
competition, whether it is for the money and fame or boost of confidence. You can also compete
against yourself and go for PRs. Others run to socialize; I find that I am more talkative while and
after running. During an ultra-marathon, talking to yourself for 50 miles is not easy and can lead
to mental exhaustion. So I tend to enjoy the deepest of conversations with other marathoners.
I also found that discussion with runners outside of the race is very open. Whether talking
to them in person, on forums such as Runners World, or Facebook with my high school crosscountry and track teams, they all tend to be very generous of their time and information. Maybe
it is because there are less people that run ultras and can offer such advice, but in interviewing
and getting to know runners, I find that they are all very happy to talk about their experience.
Perhaps they are proud of how far they have come, literally, and sharing their experiences are
modest means to indirectly bring attention to their success as an ultra-marathoner.
The runners high of endorphins can open up deeper ideas from your subconscious.
According to Olga Khazan from The Atlantic, runners think about pace and distance, pain and
discomfort, traffic and the environment. Making up 40% of all thoughts, speed measurements
and self pep-talks allowed the participants to either slow down or speed up, as needed (Khazan).
32% of thoughts related to aches and sores result from pounding feet and joints into ground for
many hours at a time and contain a lot of swearing. For example, Bill said Hill, youre a bitch
its long and hot-damn it mother eff-er. The 28% on environment revolved around people,
geography, weather and wildlife, some more positive than others. Marathon runners use
strategies like self-talk, imagery, and goal-setting to propel themselves forward (Khazan). Selftalk is motivation from the inner voice and visualization can help a runner relax come race day.

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After lap one, I was better able to visualize how the next two would pace and race smart,
that is, until rain made it really slippery with mud. What I could not visualize is how I felt after.
While I began to cry tears of joy knowing that the finish was only a few miles away and realizing
I was actually going to make it, in great time too, I could not anticipate the way my body would
react. My legs locked up as soon as I stopped after the finish line and the discomfort was unreal.
I really hurt to walk. I couldnt feel my quads or calves and the shower burned my chafing body.
However, I do not regret anything I put my mind, body and soul through that race day. It made
me feel a lot more competent as a runner, confident in my strength, patience and determination.
It takes a day to recover from every mile, so for the next 50 days, my liver looked like
that of a smoker's and my blood did not contain the usual enzymes when drawn. While running is
believed to be extremely healthy, one must take huge caution before signing up for an ultra. If
you do not train properly or run in moderation right for your bodys conditions, you put yourself
at risk for severe injury or enzyme deficiency like myself. So I caution you to ease your way into
the lifestyle of running, let alone ultras, with proper routine of diet, training, sleep and recovery.
There is an entire community of runners out there eager to discuss their experience and help you,
including myself.
I set out to find my breaking point, how far I could run before I was literally unable, but I
discovered one is capable of more than they think. So I intend to run the Mohican 100 this June.
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go (T.S. Eliot).
What kept me going is the community of support that I received around the 50. I would not have
finished it without the crowd, volunteers, and kind fellow racers that showed me it was possible.
I run to prove people wrong that doubt one can run that far and show others that it is attainable.
While I do not know for sure why the ultra-community exists, I know it is what keeps me going.

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Works Cited
Backhausen, Majell. "Swiss Mountains Are like Its Chocolate, Beautiful and Energising." The
UltraRunning Community. URC, 08 Aug. 2016. Web. 02 Nov. 2016.
Cat, Brynn. "From Marathon to 50 Miler." Runner's World Forums. Runner's World
Community, 20 Aug. 2016. Web. 2 Nov. 2016.
Freedman, Lisa. "Bizarre Facts About Ultramarathoning." Men's Fitness. Men's Fitness, n.d.
Web. 31 Oct. 2016.
Indiana Trail 100 Documentary. Dir. William L. Snyder. Perf. Dick Canterbury, Toni Bohannon
& Daniel Maddox. Vimeo Plus. Vimeo, 13 May 2015. Web. 2 Nov. 2016.
Hale, Shane. "Catch Me If You Can: An Examinatin on Marathon Runners Discourse
Community." Prezi.com. Prezi, 22 Apr. 2015. Web. 2 Nov. 2016.
Khazan, Olga. "What Runners Are Thinking." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 10 Aug.
2015. Web. 20 Nov. 2016.