Bonus: Beyond the Finish Line: Embracing Diversity and Overcoming Limits in Ultramarathon Running

Transcript

Speaker 2: 0:09

Welcome to the Start Line, a podcast about running, eating, life and everything in between. Hello, hello, hi everyone, we're back. We're back with episode 3 from our special NRS series. Can you believe that we are almost halfway through the ERC conversation series, which was recorded live at the National Running Show last month? The fact that you say it's last month is just absolutely unbelievable. I mean, it's great, isn't it, that we're halfway through and we've had really great feedback on the NRS that's National Running Show, by the way podcast episodes so far, I know right. I mean we've had some really really good feedback from TS listeners who've been sending in their comments to us. So many people have said how much they've enjoyed hearing ERC members sharing their personal stories and learning more about how running motivates them and challenges them. I really think that listeners have found the series pretty inspirational so far. If I must say so myself, I don't think you had anything to do with it. Really they were listening to the runners, their stories and everything that kind of moved them and motivated them.

Speaker 4: 1:31

So those were the inspirational things that they just told us we can take no credit, we can do no credit.

Speaker 2: 1:37

Can't take any credit but you know we make it gel, we make it work. So a month since the National Running Show this year is really flying by. Tell me about it, babe. I mean, I was looking on the calendar and I clocked that it's only 73 days until the London marathon. I feel it for you, girl, but you've been putting in the work. So about that, how is the training going? It's going. I mean, this weekend I'm supposed to do 15 miles, which will be the furthest I've ever run. I might have to ride the bike alongside you. I mean depending what day you're going to go and do that. I don't know if you're going to be able to ride the bike as slowly as I'm going to run. I'm kind of looking at it like my ultra half marathon. Okay, that's me. I've never run that far, anything over 13.1 miles. I'm calling it an ultra Half, an ultra half. And what a great way to lead into this episode, which is all about ultras. It is what a sea girl Just sacked away, you know, quite neatly into that Too clever by your own half, but anyway, we were joined in conversation by two incredible runners and members of Merseys Run Crew Tasnim Tudor and Dina and Fimpu. Sorry if I've messed that up completely. I think I've got it right. I think so yeah, and they talked to us about how they got into ultra marathons. It was such great conversation Really really loved Especially getting Taz back on, because we spoke to her last year at the National Running Show and at that point she was really focused on marathon.

Speaker 1: 3:24

She was really focused on marathon.

Speaker 2: 3:25

Yeah, I think she just done Valencia and she was about to do Stockholm, I think, or she was doing Stockholm later that year and then she just transitioned into running ultra. So it was really great hearing about how she did that, especially because not only am I doing my ultra half this weekend, but I'm also planning to do my first actual ultra this year, a 50k, at Race to the Kings. Well, at least you've got your, you'll have your marathon training under your belt with that, I'm, I'm, I'm. If I can get this side, I took a sorted out, I'm looking to go straight into Race to the Kings, so yeah, you do it, you do it. You do it. But look, I was blown away by Dina too. Look, she's only 26 years old and she had so much wisdom that young woman went from running 5ks and 10ks and then quickly took the leap into ultra running. I mean, her discipline, right, we can all learn from it. She gets up at 5.530 to train, I mean, and she's just, she's just super disciplined.

Speaker 1: 4:32

It was just mind blowing.

Speaker 2: 4:33

I totally agree, but let's not give all the gems away. Let's leave the ladies to speak for themselves. Absolutely. But before we roll the tape, just a reminder for listeners to follow the start line podcast on Apple podcasts, spotify or wherever you listen to your podcast. Wherever you do, just listen and get someone to listen to it, to share the podcast. Share it, please, and don't forget to send your views to us or, like you know any comments. Hit us up on the socials at the start line pod. We would love, love, love to hear from you. We always like hearing from our listeners in the meantime. It's now time to roll the tape. Hope you enjoy the conversation. Welcome, welcome, welcome.

Speaker 1: 5:26

Hello, hello, it is.

Speaker 2: 5:28

Jules and Dee and Dina and Taz at the start lines podcast recording at the National Running Show with an anticipated run crew at the Run Club Hub sponsored by England Athletics. And this is the last of our talks today and we are so lucky to have these ladies here with us, who are just the most amazing athletes, not just because they're fabulous people, but because they can run more miles than I can imagine trying to run myself. Dean Wintaz Ultra Marathon Extraordinaires welcome, Thank you.

Speaker 3: 6:04

Thank you. Thank you so much.

Speaker 2: 6:06

It's a pleasure having you both here with us today. We would like to start by asking you to share a little bit about yourselves and how you got started in your running journeys.

Speaker 3: 6:17

My name's Dina and I started running in secondary school doing a lot of cross-country and track, and then, when lockdown came down, there was a lot going on at home and I was trying to find a way out at the time. So I was in this YouTube rabbit hole and just seeing a lot of like ultra runners and I was like this is so interesting, why don't I just take the leap and just try to work my way towards that? So I started with 5Ks, 10ks, and I found myself running longer distances after work, and that's where my story just really started. It was just at home during lockdown. I was in a YouTube rabbit hole and since then I've just always been running. It's been 4 years now since. I've been consistently running ultras.

Speaker 2: 7:06

It's amazing, I think. Both of these we always talk about what t-shirts to give people right for a scum. T-shirts for both of them Taz.

Speaker 6: 7:15

So I started running. Firstly, actually, let me take you back. I had a really poor relationship with sport as a child and I didn't run. In fact, I ran like Phoebe from Friends and I say this all the time and it's true. I even had an MD once tell me that I ran like a penguin, so I really couldn't run. So I had to go to running school to learn how to run and once I established running, I went out and I did some 5Ks and 10Ks and eventually I started running a marathon. But it was only last year, in 2023, that I signed up in March, having done my fourth marathon or something that I signed up in March from my first, very first ultra marathon. So only done one ultra, but it is still I mean I say only I was saying to Dina earlier, I think, to be quite frank, when it comes to a marathon, you always run over that 26.2. So actually I probably run seven ultras in a month. Because you've never, ever hit that 26.2 number.

Speaker 2: 8:20

I was going to say that we spoke to you last year at the Running Show and you were about to do I think you've done Valencia marathon in December and you were going to do London marathon again.

Speaker 6: 8:32

No, I was doing Stockholm, it was Stockholm.

Speaker 2: 8:35

And you hadn't done an ultra at that point. So I was going to ask you what made you make the transition, Because you've done quite a few marathons what made you make the transition to doing ultras?

Speaker 6: 8:46

To be honest, I think it was a bit like my marriage. One day I woke up and I said, hey, I want to get married. And actually the same thing happened with an ultra.

Speaker 1: 8:55

Hey, let me just sign up for an ultra, why not?

Speaker 6: 8:58

And it's about pushing yourself and pushing you to the limits to see what else you can achieve.

Speaker 2: 9:03

And how was the experience for you? Was it what you expected? Harder than you expected, easier?

Speaker 6: 9:09

I really didn't know what to expect. I had been on the road and I had only run. I'd run a marathon three weeks prior to my very first ultra, which meant I didn't know what I, my body, could do. I didn't know what it was capable of. But I have to say I was very, very happy that I did run it, even in the bearing like absolute crazy heat. I nearly pulled out at the very last second, but I think I text the WhatsApp group at the time with Immensipated Run crew and I was like, hey, I'm running an ultra tomorrow and it's a bit short notice, but I'm in your area, so if you want to come out and support and actually I think that kept me going, yeah because I think Jade came out to see you.

Speaker 2: 9:50

Jade came out.

Speaker 6: 9:50

Michelle came out, there are a few people that did come out, so it was really, really nice and I think that just camaraderie is really important when it comes to running and knowing that you've got people out there that are rooting for you all the time, regardless of what you do.

Speaker 2: 10:06

Can I ask because a lot of people don't know the difference between an ultra it's all in the name, right and a normal run. But also, how does ultra's differ from running a road run?

Speaker 3: 10:17

Differ's in so many ways. Tell us An ultra you've got. You're in your head by yourself. There's no one cheering you on, telling you well done, keep going, whereas a road marathon you've got people left, right, centre, cheering you, praising you. And an ultra really tests your mind Like it really puts you in a lot of dark places and it's whether it's your choice, whether you want to quit or whether you want to carry on. And a lot of the times in the ultra you don't have signal to call your mum or your friends to ask for help or some motivation. It's you like you have to look for the motivation within yourself, whereas a road marathon you can cruise through. If you're crying, there's people cheering you on. You know you've got. You've got. You know your friends there, whereas an ultra you ain't got. None of that, you're by yourself.

Speaker 2: 11:11

How do you find that inner strength to carry on?

Speaker 3: 11:14

I would say I practice that inner strength during my training Because a lot of the times when I'm doing like 30K runs or 40K runs, I want to stop but I push through it and through that process of me pushing through it, it teaches me how to get stronger within my mind. If I can push through that, I can push through anything. And I would say practicing like learning how to do hard things during discomfort, will take you places and I think that's what has really like helped me help my mental strength through the toughest times in my races. What's your furthest?

Speaker 2: 11:48

ultra to date.

Speaker 3: 11:51

My recent one was in Morocco with Ultra X. That was 110 kilometers In a day, in two days, and I was injured.

Speaker 2: 12:03

I heard we heard about that. We'll come back to that in a minute.

Speaker 6: 12:07

Taz what differs from an ultra to road racing?

Speaker 2: 12:11

For you, so yeah.

Speaker 6: 12:13

I think, echoing some of Dina's thoughts. But taking it to another stage is, I think with an ultra you can get lost. It's really easy because the route's not really well planned out, like so you have to have navigation on you, you've got to carry a lot more on you because you've got to have two liters of liquid at the very least. You've got to have all these accessories that you don't normally have on a road race, but also you're going through multiple terrain. So, as you're going through a lot of different terrain, you've got to have the right gear on you, and if you don't have the right gear, you could be not only mentally, like your mental capacity could be really impacted by that, because I think all that whole combination of everything is so important and you've got to be very, very well equipped. I think the other thing is, with an ultra, there are a lot of pit stops, so it's so important to fuel, and you fuel differently for an ultra than you do for a marathon.

Speaker 2: 13:24

How did you learn what to carry and how to fuel? How did you? Where did you go to find the information to make your ultra easier?

Speaker 6: 13:32

I'm a geek and I like to read a hell of a lot online and, as a result, I figured out what did I need and I read the instructions, like I'm somebody that will read every single little detail when I'm told to pack everything. I literally packed everything, so it's making sure that I do that, and my marathon training fueling was extremely different to my ultra fueling, because you've got to actually eat physical food and you've got to teach your stomach how to digest solid foods rather than just gels.

Speaker 2: 14:12

And how did the ultra experience? Did it match your expectations? What were you surprised by, If anything?

Speaker 6: 14:23

One thing I had not really prepared for and for those that are from South London we'll appreciate this the hills.

Speaker 2: 14:33

Oh yeah.

Speaker 6: 14:36

And I hadn't prepared for that, and I think it was hot on the day that I did. It was like 27 degrees heat in London, so like that's just sweltering. And then the hills, and then the lack of liquid or cold liquid, which, whether that's right or wrong, it's another story, but I think that's really important. But I was thankful that I was in London so I could pop into my local co-op wherever I was, or Tesco's, whatever it was and actually go and get some drink, and get some liquid. And for you, dina, uh-huh.

Speaker 3: 15:13

She's lucky. Just going on to Taz's comment about co-op, I wish I had that Because when I was in Morocco doing my ultra, there's no co-op or say-tos. You're just running with hot water like it was like 31 degrees. My water's getting hot, people are dropping all over the place, nosebleeds, rattlesnakes going ooh in your face Like it was crazy. I do appreciate the co-op in London but when you go out of like to a different country and you experience ultras, it's a whole different ballgame and all the equipment with you, a lot of water it's a lot.

Speaker 2: 15:52

I was going to say did you both do a lot of strength training? Because obviously in normal marathons you just run. You know there's no kind of heavy bags that you have to take or gear that you have to take. So did you have to put an emphasis on strength training during your training?

Speaker 3: 16:08

100%. I don't know how people think if you can run for hours and longer distances if you're not going to the gym like you need to be strong to do an ultra, even a marathon or any type of run that you're doing. And I spend at least three times a week in the gym and I run three times a week as well. So, yeah, I think the fact I work on my upper body, lower body, everything, everything, all areas of your body need to be touched, because in an ultra, you're walking uphill with poles, you're running downhill To avoid injury. I would highly recommend anyone to go to the gym. Make it a priority.

Speaker 2: 16:48

So yeah, Were you the same Taz in terms of strength training.

Speaker 1: 16:51

Taz would be, the player right.

Speaker 6: 16:55

So no, I wasn't. But I think my training had looked different to my typical marathons previously, in that I had taken on and been quite serious about my training and my speed training, which in itself is conditioning and strength work, particularly for somebody like me. That's, I'm very efficient, let's put it that way, and I really don't push myself to my limits because I want to be able to continue running when I'm 80 and still look good and be healthy. So I'd rather not run on injury, but I'm quite intrus perspective, Yep. So I actually know what's going on in my body. So you pay attention to how you feel and adjust your run accordingly, Exactly.

Speaker 2: 17:45

So, Dina, a question for you what are your key tips for being prepared for and staying the distance in ultras? Say that again, sorry. What are the key tips for? What are your key tips for being prepared for and staying the distance in ultras?

Speaker 3: 17:59

I would say practice with nutrition. Everyone's nutrition strategy is so different. Gels may work for me, but it may be terrible for you. Practice with the fuel and also practice training alone, because during ultras, you're not going to be with someone all the way through the run. You'll be by yourself a lot of the times. So practice fueling running alone. My top tip as well is the gym. Honestly, don't neglect it, because I had a coach as well. She really helped me structure my week and stuff. It really made me realize why the gym is so important and how it can help you stay injury-free. So those are my three top tips Fueling training alone. Getting a coach and just believing in your running journey will really get you places.

Speaker 6: 18:58

I think we've got a pro in the house here.

Speaker 2: 19:02

She's only little, but she's only young, she's only 26.

Speaker 3: 19:05

I'm only 26.

Speaker 2: 19:06

I'm a baby, so I don't know how it is that you've managed to kind of abas this wealth of expertise. It's exposure.

Speaker 3: 19:15

I think the people I'm around, who you put yourself around, it really says a lot about you. I think the people I'm around, they're really motivating. They're also ultra runners, ironmans.

Speaker 2: 19:27

They just boost my adrenaline and I love it, love it. That's amazing, taz. Any tips from your perspective, even in terms of the amount of marathons that you've done, because that kudos to you, everybody's a one. Marathon is hard.

Speaker 6: 19:43

Marathon is hard. It's road For context for everyone. I've actually run six marathons and one ultra in the space of 24 months, which I'm incredibly proud of because it's a bit of a journey Congratulations. But I think one of the things for me is know that you can do it. It's not about anything else, but just knowing that you have it within you, because we are human and we are built to do extraordinary things. So believe in yourself and believe you can and you will. I love that.

Speaker 2: 20:21

I was going to ask you both how do you find the time to train? Because for ultras and for marathons you have to pack in a lot of miles. How do you find that time?

Speaker 3: 20:34

I wake up early.

Speaker 2: 20:36

How early is early?

Speaker 3: 20:38

It can vary, like 5.30, 5 o'clock. I sleep for nine hours, so it's either eight to nine hours, because I work at nine to five. I don't want my fitness journey to interrupt my work and stuff. So I wake up early, spend at least an hour 30 minutes with myself working out, then I cycle to work and that's my day. If I don't work out in the morning, I find it hard to find the motivation to work after work, especially during the winter, like running in the dark as a woman by myself. It just doesn't feel right for me. So I wake up early. Personally, that schedule has always worked for me.

Speaker 2: 21:21

So you've found a routine that works for you, yeah, and I stick with it and for you, Taz.

Speaker 6: 21:27

One of our crew members from Imanitope's Yorun crew actually called me a lone wolf and that stuck with me for quite a while. I was a lone wolf until I was introduced to group running, and now I actually go out and run with groups. I think it's really, really important. Only do you hold yourself to account and hold others to account, but you can encourage one another, but you do have to find the right groups that work for you and that's incredibly important, and for me it's about getting that variation in. I can't just run with one group, I need to run with several different groups because they give me different motivations, and that's really, really important for me. Otherwise, I think I'd get really bored, and I'm ADHD as well, so that tells a lot.

Speaker 2: 22:16

But it's like having friends right. You have different friends that serve different needs that you have Exactly. And that's the beauty of the running community where it is now. There's so many different groups, so many different runs, and that's how much more fun it is to run with a group every day. So you know it's it's finding what works for you Exactly. So we've got some stats here that I picked up. So the figures of female participation in running generally has fallen in the UK since COVID-19, and this was a survey undertaken by Threshold Sports, and they found that female participation in 5K races have fallen from 66% in 2019 to 52% in 2023. In ultras, women make up fewer than a third and the figure is decreasing. What has been your experience from a female and black and brown perspective? We do not have the stats on black and brown participation. They don't collect them yet. However, from your own personal experience from runners sorry, from running marathons and ultras, what, outside of London, what's been your take on things?

Speaker 3: 23:22

It's crazy, honestly. I remember going to my first ultra with ultra X. I loved them as a company, but I was in the start line I was like where's all the black people? Wow, like it was amazing. I was like I'm the only black person I'm going to represent today.

Speaker 1: 23:44

Honestly.

Speaker 3: 23:45

I was amazed and from then onwards I still wasn't seeing a lot of black people. So when I came across Nina and I heard she was doing an ultra, I was like, go go, you represent for us, Because the amount of women that send me messages will come up to me at work and they're working their way up to becoming an ultra runner. It's amazing, Like that's what I live to do. I really want to inspire more women to come out of their comfort zone. It may not be easy at the start, because I remember when I went on my first few runs it wasn't easy to work my way up to an ultra. But once you start, I promise you it will get easier and just keep going and believe in yourself, you can do it. So yeah, it's not. It's not easy.

Speaker 2: 24:29

Process that is amazing and in terms of so, I'll ask Taz the question and then I'll come back to the question that I was about to ask you. So what's been your take on things, your experiences as a brown person and a woman? It's interesting because I've done.

Speaker 6: 24:45

whilst I haven't done many marathons in this country, I have done quite a few abroad and women are, like makeup, generally 25% in in marathon races. So when I did my ultra marathon, I was quite surprised to see that there was even less women out there. And you know, we don't even hear about South Asian brown runners at all on the TV, like it's not even talked about. So to be able to go out and represent and to be part of that history and kind of like, really show up, especially the Asian community, where people are like why do you want to run, what's the purpose, how do you benefit from it? I think it's really, really important to show these younger generations that it's okay and it's absolutely a movement that we should be striving for.

Speaker 2: 25:44

What do you both think that organizations can do to change that landscape?

Speaker 6: 25:49

Can I go?

Speaker 3: 25:50

fast yeah.

Speaker 6: 25:52

I would say outreach One of the biggest problems that we have is that they don't go and directly have outreach. Now, I used to work in the care industry and one of the things I used to do as a recruiter was go into the communities we needed carers for and tell them that we needed carers. So why are we not doing the same for the running community? Why are we not going out to those communities and speaking to them and asking them what their needs actually are and how we entice them? And I think that's one of the things that we are lacking within all sports in general. But of course, we're talking about running today, so I'll stay there.

Speaker 3: 26:27

Yeah, that's a really good point and I feel like companies can make like. I feel like it's a very hard question to answer. I would say running can be quite intimidating for some people, especially the word ultra. People are like, oh my god, that's a long distance, I don't think I could do that. How are you doing that? You can do anything. I feel like people just don't believe in themselves a lot and I think companies need to show that ultra marathons how much it's benefited other people in their mental health, because it's really helped a lot of people get through the darkest moments. I feel like mental health is currently being promoted in a really good way at the moment, but I feel like we need more of it. And also black people representing that too, because I feel like I don't see a lot of ads on my black frontiers and stuff. It's insane.

Speaker 2: 27:23

So yeah, Just to follow on with that as women, let alone, women of colour. There's a lot of you can't do. You shouldn't do those cultural things that hold us back right. Why are you running? As Rachel said earlier, you've got to injure yourself, you've got to do this, and also from the Asian community. It's not the cultural thing, it's not the right thing to do as a woman. you should be at home with your husband, and that's it. So you know. How do you? Are you finding that you're challenging? You are obviously. How do you fight against those kind of stereotypical, cultural, negative reference points?

Speaker 3: 28:07

I just ignore it, honestly, because if you spend the rest of your life stopping listening to everyone's comments, you never end up doing what you want to do in life. Like I remember when I was first starting out, the amount of questions people were asking me. It was getting ridiculous. Like people were asking me why are you running? What's the benefit? You know your knees are going to wear out the older you get. You need to stop now. What's your mum's number? Let me speak to her. What problems are you going through? My mum used to always say why are you running away from your problems? Face it.

Speaker 2: 28:42

Face it, my girl. I'm like mum. I'm going to keep running, I'm going to stop.

Speaker 3: 28:47

So there's different things, people say different stuff, but it doesn't mean just because they're saying it, you have to pay attention to it, focus on you and just brush off the comments. Honestly, yeah sure.

Speaker 2: 28:59

Yeah, so I was going to ask for you both when you, if there was something that you you could go back to your younger like the first time you ran an Ultra, knowing what you know. Now, having done Ultras and Ultra, you're going to do another one this year. Is there anything you would have, you would tell yourself, to prepare you for that Ultra running journey?

Speaker 3: 29:21

Yeah, I would say, like the mental battle that your brain starts telling you stop or this is not it. You know, just just pull out. I would say the voices in your head just ignore it, make it like I would say, during my process of those voices in my head, I've learned to like grow with it and just turn it into music. Yeah, it's to a point where now when I run Ultras, I don't even listen to music anymore. Those voices are the music it's so crazy like. And I would say another advice that I would give to someone if I was just getting started is practice with the fuel you're gonna train with. Don't try anything new on race day, because I wish I knew that, because I remember on race day I bought myself some new trainers. I was like, yeah, this is gonna wear that on race day.

Speaker 2: 30:14

Oh girl, worst, worst, worst. I was limping for that. You were looking fresh at the start.

Speaker 3: 30:19

I was looking fresh. I look like some packet of Chris that you wanted to find with him. I was not looking great. My feet were just covered in blisters. It was really bad. So definitely practice with the fuel and the kit you're gonna be taking with your race day. And yeah, mostly the voices, because not a lot of people hear voices.

Speaker 2: 30:39

But yeah, I think we all do that definitely.

Speaker 3: 30:42

I'll recognise the stop During. Ultras yeah. And Tess.

Speaker 6: 30:47

Which question?

Speaker 3: 30:48

and yeah.

Speaker 6: 30:50

So I would say, just if I go back to Jules's question, like, for me, I don't want to change anything, because every experience is a learning experience and with that you grow and you develop, and that is part of the beauty and that's how you continue to blossom, and that's how you continue to challenge yourself and teach yourself that you don't know everything and remain humble.

Speaker 2: 31:14

Yeah, love it All right, we are doing a round robin, a round robin, a round myth busters. I can't talk right now.

Speaker 1: 31:22

I've got a hand over.

Speaker 2: 31:23

Jules, you're very congested. I'm very congested, gorgeous. We're asking people if there are any running myths that you feel you have busted during your journey. So when we did a talk earlier with Rachel and Zandi, they were talking about the mile 23 your legs are gonna see, you're gonna completely collapse at mile 23, and for them that didn't happen, so for them that was a myth that they personally busted. For some people it is not a myth. Some people it's very true. But are there any myths that you feel that you heard that you just completely like, actually know?

Speaker 6: 31:57

I mean, I think it's myth versus advice. There are some people that say don't run over 18 miles. There are some people that say don't run over 20 miles. I personally believe it depends on your own body, in your own mindset. You know what, what. What works for one person doesn't work for everyone, and we are all individuals. We are built differently and we should embrace that and we should understand ourselves. So no, I don't believe in you shouldn't run like 24 miles two weeks before your marathon, because I do and it works and I did that three weeks before my ultras. So go ahead, do it and you can still complete and you can still achieve. Do what you need to do and discover what works for you. That's that's very true.

Speaker 3: 32:43

I was actually gonna say the same thing about the knees wearing out. Honestly, there's so many people who say that to me. The more I run, when I get to 40, my knees are gonna wear out.

Speaker 2: 32:52

I don't think it is because I'm in the gym, you know, and running in Chris's bone density, tell them that exactly.

Speaker 3: 32:58

Everyone's body works differently. Like I see 50-year-olds during my ultras still running, they don't have any issues. So, yeah, there's so many myths I guess don't, don't listen to that because, yeah, everyone's body is different we've announced the myths.

Speaker 2: 33:15

There's a good proportion of us that are 50 and I was like yeah, man we don't have no knee problem, exactly. We don't have other problems, but we don't have knee problems. I like that okay, I'm gonna open up the, the, the the floor to the audience. Okay, are there any questions? For our ultimate running, ladies, you introduce yourself and say your question.

Speaker 5: 33:38

Hi, thanks for the conversation. I'm Zandi. I wanted to ask about, just so know, the marathon training. Like your long runs, are you kind of get to whatever 32 or something? How do you train for an ultra in terms of the running distances that you do? And you spoke about doing four runs a week. What kind of runs do you do it?

Speaker 3: 33:59

varies. Um, because I have a coach, so she structures, like my, my weekly activities and then gradually it starts building up to the distance that I'm going to run. So, for example, my first week could be 20k, next week 30, gradually. So it just gradually increases by 10%, just so I don't burn out because I still have a nine to five I need to show up for. So I guess it's getting a coach and they can help you structure your, your training properly so you can avoid injuries and any anything else any other questions?

Speaker 4: 34:38

yep, hello, my name's Donna. I just wanted to ask um. We know our body adapts right, so it adapts as we progress and we um train, but in terms of your distances they are phenomenal. How do you um factor in recovery around life and your body and you've touched on that a little bit just now but I'm just wondering what recovery looks like when you get to that level of endurance.

Speaker 3: 35:02

Okay, um, I remember when I first started out and I went on my long run, my recovery took a lot longer than now, I would say, the more you practice with everything like a massage gun, foam rolling when you come back from from your run. Don't neglect that, because I feel like you'll be more prone to injuries right after that. Um, when I come back from my long runs, I try to prioritize warm baths. Warm baths it really does speed up the recovery and put in salt in those warm baths foam rolling using cbd balm just to rub on your legs. Regular massages monthly. Um, I see my physio and my chiropractor just regular checks on your body because you, when you're running ultras, you're putting your body in such high demands. You want to take care of it because that's when you will start crashing and it's not a good thing at all. So I would say prioritizing physical, like massages and stuff, has really helped my recovery.

Speaker 6: 36:02

A lot I'm gonna, I'm gonna have. I'm gonna say something slightly different. When I did my first ultra in June, I actually was capable of going to Bournemouth the next day and and driving, and I think your recovery similar to to Dina, I think is during your training. But learning what works for you and fueling is really important. So making sure you're eating the right foods is incredibly important to speed up your recovery after you've run that race, and your fuel is important, but also your mental training after the race. Understand what that's going to look like because, remember, all of a sudden you've got all this free time, so what do you do? And that can really impact you. So be aware of that and make sure that you either book your next race in or, alternatively, make sure that you're booking it up with some time, because otherwise you will you will hurt yourself in different ways so Tony, husband to Taz, has got a question hi, hi.

Speaker 1: 37:10

This is Tony. Although there's hundreds of people around when you're doing the ultra, you said, it's very much one and alone. What keeps you going? Do you wear airports, have music around your head or do you just like to be silent and keep people away from you? And if someone really slow in front of you, do you kick them over to pass them?

Speaker 3: 37:36

That's funny. Honestly, the longer I've been running, I hate music. I don't even like it anymore. I spend one hour with podcasts, my favorite podcast. For an hour, four hours, no music, no podcast. I try to rotate it a few hours with music. I mostly play music on podcasts when I'm feeling really low and then when there's signal in the woods, wherever I'm running in the forest, I try and call my mum or something and that really helps. But yeah, I've found the longer you run, music and all that stuff doesn't really work for me. So yeah, I like to spend time in my head and think about what life is like, why my mind is battling with me. Yeah, it may sound horrible, but I'd rather do that than listen into music. That's up. It's just too much.

Speaker 6: 38:35

I used to run with music, but actually I now prefer to listen to the sound of my own footsteps. That beats, it keeps you in rhythm. I think towards the end of an ultra it can be really disheartening because you're like it's only five more K, like it's only five more K. But it can be really disheartening that's perhaps when I switch that music on because you're starting to see those distances get wider between yourself and others and it's just a bit of a lift me up more than anything else. I agree. Any other questions?

Speaker 2: 39:11

from the audience. I have one, which is where is your favourite place to run?

Speaker 3: 39:18

The Peak District and, sorry, north Downsway and South Downsway. I've lost so many toenails from the Peak District, that place, it will humble you. It will humble you. Oh my God, there's so many rocks. The terrain is insane. But I feel like if you want to become a better runner, you have to do hard things. That's what I like doing. So those are the main two places, the main three places. I like training. Yeah and beautiful, thank you. How about you, tas?

Speaker 6: 39:52

I really don't know. I think it's just exploring. So running has taken me to explore and I've been able to explore different cities and different countries, and I think that's just part of the fun, and not knowing what's coming next is really, really exciting.

Speaker 2: 40:08

I was going to ask just follow up for you, tas, because obviously you've done more marathons than ultras. Do you prefer road to trail, or are they both the same?

Speaker 6: 40:21

They're just different. They're very different and I think they teach you different things. Road can actually get boring after a while, Trail you get to like ultra, you get different terrain and you can actually explore nature. So it has a different vibe.

Speaker 2: 40:39

We have a question from Donna.

Speaker 4: 40:41

Hi. Well, it was a similar question I guess I was going to ask. Erc has a motto of run free and I was going to ask where is your place that you describe or feel the most free?

Speaker 6: 40:53

I don't think it's a place. I think for me to actually just be able to run is being is it a bit of an achievement, and I don't have to run with people, but I can choose to run with people and that, I think, means that I have that capability of running free.

Speaker 3: 41:10

I would say running for me is like I feel free. When I run in Africa I'm personally Congolese so like when I go back home and I run with like my family, because no one in my family runs, it's just me. So when I'm teaching them how to do it and stuff, it's really nice and it makes me feel free just teaching other people and mostly my family members, just making sure they're also fit too. So yeah, I would say running in Africa makes me feel free.

Speaker 2: 41:40

It's wonderful Destination place, for sure. Okay, it's a wrap. Thank you so much.

Speaker 6: 41:45

Thank you for the invite to Taz and Dina.

Speaker 2: 41:48

Thank you, girls. Amazing stories, amazing shares, just amazing advice. And yeah, we've got our site set on auctions next this year not even next year, this year. So, yeah, we'll be taking tips and guidance from you guys. So, thank you so much. And obviously, everyone will be seeking out Taz for their marathon tips as well. This year, there's 40 plus of us doing it. So, yeah, thank you so much for your time. Thank you.

Speaker 6: 42:15

Thank you to our audience. Thank you.