Chris runs ultras

It’s January and many people are setting their new year’s resolutions. Gym memberships increase and diets are modified as people vow to be fitter, healthier and stronger. Yet, how many will stick with them or are they setting themselves up to fail? Failure is often viewed as a negative but failure can prompt improvement and growth.

I have had many failures in my life and I have learned from all of these; they have been opportunities to learn and make positive changes. Failure or setbacks open up the road to transformation; a fresh start, a clean slate, a renaissance or rebirth.

Prior to starting running, there were aspects of my life in need of an overhaul. I was 29, depressed, inactive, overweight, drinking heavily, and working excessively. I introduced running and I haven’t looked back.

I have run half marathons, 50 km, 60 km, 80 km and 100 km races. There have been moments of extreme highs e.g., achieving a personal best (PB) alongside extreme lows and disappointments where I did not finish a race.

Failing or falling short forces one to self reflect, introspect and evaluate. There are many reasons that have contributed or caused me to not finish a race. The wisest person learns from their mistakes and my hope is that by writing this, I will learn from them.

Physical

1. Not being physically ready: A clear and consistent training plan is key to ensure that I am physically prepared for a race. If I haven’t trained sufficiently or covered the relevant distances then my body won’t be ready.
2. Disrupted sleep: Everyone knows that sleep is our insurance policy to a long and healthy life. A lack of sleep before a big race impacts me physiologically. It can leave me feeling groggy, lethargic and less motivated to finish a race.
3. Illness: I have competed in races with an underlying illness that only became apparent a couple days afterwards.
4. Injury: I once started a race knowing my chances of finishing it were slim as I was carrying a couple of injuries from earlier in the year.
5. Nutrition/diet: Having a clear nutritional strategy before and during a race is key for optimal performance. Without it, the chances of ‘bonking’ (where I hit a wall and my muscles no longer work effectively) are extremely high. It’s no secret that our muscles need fuel to compete in endurance running.

Mental

1. Not having a strong enough ‘why’: For every race I need to have clear objectives of why I’m doing it and what I hope to achieve. Sometimes, in my race planning I include ‘filler’ races (sandwiched in between more significant races) that I use to keep up my level of fitness. I tend to view filler races as extensions of my training block and as such value them less. There is a lack of fear or respect and it is easier to make excuses or give up mid race.
2. Time of race: Recently, I took part in the Battersea half marathon. My training had gone brilliantly, I was in perfect physical health and was on course for a new PB. However, on race day my legs did not kick into gear. Upon reflection I realised that I had only been running in the afternoon during my training block. My body was not ready nor prepared to reach full speed at 9am. I failed to train at the time of day when the race would be held. If I want to perform my best at 9am then I need to consistently train at 9am.
3. Poor planning: I recently competed in the SVP 100 along the Stour Valley Path. I felt fit, well and healthy and I had hoped for a PB. However, I had miscalculated the correct pace for the race. I started too quickly, blew up after 50 km and did not finish. I should have double checked my pace and race strategy prior to starting.
4. Changing the plan: If I tamper with my training schedule this tends to negatively affect my performance e.g., if I taper (reduce my running) too early then I fear losing too much fitness, even though this may not be true. The fear will play on my mind and impact upon my mental preparedness on race day. However, it’s worth noting that making changes can also positively impact upon race performance. As such, it may be a case of accepting short-term setbacks (namely my fear of the change and its impact on my race) for long term gain.
5. Negative thinking: Mental health significantly impacts upon performance. If I am not in a good headspace it is hard to focus my mental energy into race planning and race execution. Staying positive is key to performing well and completing races.
6. Being greedy: It’s all too easy to get carried away on race day and to push myself beyond my physical capabilities. In a few races I have allowed eagerness to get the better of me. I have gone out too hard and then ‘blown up’ leading me to not finish the race.
7. Geographical location: If I haven’t made the effort to travel to the race or if a race is too close to where I live then I tend to not have the same incentive to ‘give it my all’. With races that are further afield, I have gone to the effort of travelling, the expense of booking accommodation and taking time off work. As such, I have invested more into the race.
8. Course type: I do not do well on looped courses, as I find them repetitive and uninspiring. I recently attempted the Flitch Way 100 km (10 x 10 km loops along the Flitch Way in Essex) and I gave up after approximately 30 km even though I was leading the race. My most successful ultramarathon has been the UK Ultra South Downs 100 km, which is a point-to-point course. I like to start and end a race in different locations and enjoy seeing interesting vistas along the way.

What I am gradually understanding is that endurance running and finishing a race is often more of a mental challenge than a physical one. Our mental strength is fragile and can be fleeting, it has peaks and troughs, much the same as our physical ability. 

Sometimes we are not aware that we are lacking some aspect of preparedness in our psyche when we start a race. However, any setbacks or failures prompt one to re-evaluate and learn.

Failures can lead to success; breakdowns lead to breakthroughs. I’m grateful for the challenging times as they have forced me to make changes. Who knows whether I would have started (or continued) to run without them.

In April 2024 I will run The Marathon des Sables (MdS), a six-day, 250 km (160 mile) ultramarathon race in the Sahara Desert. I am raising money for Hope for Children which supports vulnerable, overlooked and exploited children, living in extreme poverty. I would be most grateful if you would support this very worthy cause and my MdS journey. 

Please visit my JustGiving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/chris-mepham-1700516585862