Your host, Brendon Boren, has successfully run his first ultramarathon, which was one of the major goals behind this podcast. So... now what? Listen to this brief episode to learn what's next in Brendon's journey. It can be hard to know how a podcast impacts listeners' lives. If you have any ideas, feedback, or want to share how this podcast has impacted your life, send an email to ordinarytoultra@gmail.com with your thoughts. Brendon loves hearing from his listeners!

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I DID IT! Your host, Brendon Boren finally ran his first 50k ultramarathon! Today’s episode is special. I get to share my journey to my first ultramarathon with you. What started as a way to get outside and lose weight, has transformed into a love for trail running and doing hard things like ultramarathons. In today’s episode, I share why I got into running, my progression through different running distances, the training I did for my first 50k in detail (hint, it wasn’t much different from my marathon prep), race day preparation (nutrition & gear), and ultimately the story of my first 50k ultramarathon, the Mid-Mountain 50k in Park City, Utah. Mistakes were made, walls were hit, and cramping happened, but I made it.

Thanks to all the amazing runners I’ve interviewed up to this point! You helped me cross the finish line and you’ve helped many others do the same.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast 03:58 Brendon's Background and Motivation for Running 06:18 Starting with Shorter Races and Building Confidence 17:06 Discovering the Joy of Trail Running 25:41 Inspiration to Challenge Himself and Sign Up for a 50K 32:17 The Importance of Running a Marathon Before a 50K 35:25 Finding Passion in Trail Running 44:27 Dealing with Challenges: Heat and Family Responsibilities 47:57 Supportive Spouse and Family 59:03 Connecting with Fellow Runners 01:06:49 Hitting a Wall and Mental Challenges 01:12:28 The Importance of Aid Stations 01:13:55 Food Options and Cramping 01:17:47 Accomplishment and Satisfaction 01:21:01 Future Plans: Rim-to-Rim Trail and 50-Mile Race 01:38:50 Enjoying the Journey and Being Patient 01:49:03 Outro

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Finding your passion isn't easy. Our whole lives, people and society are telling us what we should care about. Go to school. Get a good job. Buy a house. But do any of these give us passion or peace? Andrew had just finished college and his soccer career, and he felt lost. On a whim, a friend asked if he wanted to run a triathlon with him. He accepted. During training, he realized he performed exceptionally well at running and also thoroughly enjoyed it. He'd found both passion and peace in running. Listen to today's episode to hear all the details about how Andrew found running, the passion and peace it brought his life, AND... the magical story of Andrew's first 50-mile ultramarathon.

And stick around to the end to hear about his progression from a 50-mile ultramarathon to a 100-mile ultramarathon.

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It’s not often that both people in a relationship enjoy running. And even less often, both enjoy running more than 26.2 miles together! Today we get just that from Steve and Stephie Libben over in Iowa. Stephie and Steve have been running and strength training for some time, but they got pushed into the ultramarathon realm when Stephie’s brother Josh Law invited them to run an ultramarathon with him (interviewed Josh in episode 23). Listen to today’s episode to hear about Stephie and Steve’s first ultramarathon, a timed 8-hour race. Hear what they did to train and eventually finish their first ultramarathon as a couple, despite the tornado warning!

Also check out episode 27 to listen to Stephie and Josh’s parents who got into ultramarathon running in their 60s/70s!

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Rachel Martinez started her running journey in 2009-2010 as a way to lose weight and stay fit. Although she wasn't an athlete in high school and didn't initially enjoy running, she decided to give it a try after years of sticking to other fitness routines. What started as a simple fitness activity soon grew into a passion. Rachel vividly recalls her first run, spurred by a desire to burn off calories after a big meal, and the surprising enjoyment she found in the process. From there, her running journey snowballed, progressing from 5Ks to half marathons and beyond. Rachel also unloads the challenges of balancing her passion for running with employment and her responsibilities as a mother.

In today's episode, you'll hear the story of Rachel's first 50k ultramarathon. She shares the ups and downs of her journey, the support of her running community, and how she defied her initial reluctance to ever run long distances. Rachel's story is a testament to perseverance, the joy of setting new challenges, and the power of a supportive community.

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Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Colleen was always an active child, often running around the house and hiking with her family. Despite dabbling in sports like soccer and track, it wasn't until her 30s and after having 2 kids that Colleen truly embraced running. What began as a way to escape the stresses of being a stay-at-home mom evolved into a passion for distance running. Colleen shares her transition from jogging loops around her farmhouse to conquering her first 5K and beyond. Listen to today's episode to hear all about how Colleen got into running and the inspiring story of her first 50k ultramarathon.

Colleen mentions that she is usually in the "back of the pack" when she runs in races. But the cool thing is, whether you finish first or last, anybody who runs longer than 26.2 miles is an ultramarathon runner.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background 09:33 Early Running Experiences and Introduction to Trail Running 17:04 Progressing in Distances: From 5Ks to Marathons 23:35 Moving to North Dakota and Discovering the Maah Daah Hey Trail Series 27:42 Enduring a Challenging Marathon and Setting Sights on a 50K 34:06 Training Alone and Embracing Slower Pace 39:46 Finding Running Partners 43:44 Setting Realistic Goals 49:02 Learning Through Experience 59:56 The Challenge of Elevation Gain 01:04:41 The Impact of External Factors 01:10:07 Appreciating the Scenery 01:14:47 Ticks and Trail Running: Protecting Against Insects 01:17:30 The Finish Line: Relief and Reflection 01:22:28 Future Plans: Revisiting Races and Exploring New Trails 01:34:47 Outro

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SPECIAL EPISODE: Typically I interview folks about their first ultramarathon, and usually they’ve ran that ultramarathon recently. Not today. If you were to see Jorge at the grocery store, you’d have no idea that he’s run 240 miles 3 times. He works an ordinary job and he isn’t paid to run. He’s the ultimate example of an ordinary person who has become an elite ultra runner over the years. Listen to todays episode to learn how Jorge got into running ultramarathons and the inspiring and whacky story of Jorge running 240 miles in the desert of Moab, Utah.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background 07:16 From Fitness to Ultra: Jorge's Journey Begins 14:13 The 50K Challenge: Training and Race Experience 22:20 Conquering the 50-Miler: Training and Race Experience 30:27 Bryce Canyon 100-Miler: Training and Epic Achievement 32:35 Introduction to Jorge's Ultra Running Journey 35:54 The Difference Between 200-Mile and 100-Mile Races 37:39 Training and Preparation for Ultra Marathons 42:09 Aid Stations and Nutrition in Ultra Running 44:33 Jorge's Experience in the Moab 240 56:42 The Mental and Physical Toll of Ultra Marathons 59:58 Jorge's Future Plans and Organizing His Own Race 01:04:10 Advice for New Ultra Runners 01:09:37 Outro

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Matthew wasn't expecting snow the morning of his first 50k ultramarathon. Matthew had gotten into long-distance running through adventure racing, which combines running with biking, canoeing, swimming, and other means of travel to orienteer to specific points on a map. He loved the running portion so much that he wanted to test his limits in an official ultramarathon. Listen to today's episode to hear the story of Matthew's first 50k, the difficult decision he had to make due to knee pain, and the story of Matthew's redemption.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background 07:36 From Orienteering to Ultra Running 12:40 Adventure Racing and Hunting 16:27 Discovering Ultra Marathons 19:32 Preparing for the First 50K 27:35 Struggles and Difficult Decisions 31:48 Prioritizing Long-Term Health 34:45 Matthew's First 50K Race and the Decision to Sign Up for Another 40:40 The Benefits of Training Plans and Group Running 42:46 The Role of Nutrition and Hydration in Long-Distance Races 52:50 Pushing Beyond Perceived Limits: Matthew's Advice for New Runners 01:05:07 Outro