Running Your Own Race: Embrace YOUR Pace & Conquer Ultras

I have taken on and finished numerous Ultra distances , all the way up through 220 miles , and I am unashamedly a member of the Back of the Pack , just like many of you . This week , we're diving into a topic that every runner , but especially back-of-the-pack runners , I think , really need to hear Running your own race . Let's be real .

It's very easy to fall into the trap of comparison , especially on race day , when everybody around you seems faster , stronger or better prepared . But here's the truth . I think your pace is your power and embracing it is the key to unlocking the best version of yourself out on the trails .

In this episode , we're going to talk about why running your own race matters , how to resist the temptation to compare yourself with others , and a few of my own bar napkin practical strategies to embrace your pace with confidence . And , as ever , I'll try to chuck in some personal stories and a few life lessons I've learned along the way .

So get your shoes , lace them up , let's get ready to dive in , discover raw , inspiring stories from runners who've been right where you are . This is the Choose to Endure Ultra Running Podcast , with your host he's English , not Australian Richard Gleave . With your host he's English , not Australian , richard Gleave .

Okay , so let's start with why it's so important to run your own race . You and I both know that every runner is unique . We all have our different strengths , we all have our challenges and we all have our challenges , and we all have goals that we're trying to shoot for .

Trying to keep up with someone else or feeling like you're falling short because somebody else is doing perceived better only sets you up for frustration and burnout . It's not a great thing . Running your own race means focusing on your goals , your training , your journey , without worrying about what anybody else is out there doing .

When you embrace your pace , you run smarter , you conserve energy , you avoid overexertion and , crucially , you give yourself the best chance of reaching the finish line strong . If you've listened to the first episode of this podcast , you'll know that during my first 50k ultra , I made the very rookie mistake of going out too fast .

I got caught up in the excitement of the start line , as many people do , and I tried to keep up with runners who were much faster than me and we were running uphill . The first , I think two to three miles of that race was directly uphill . By mile 10 , I was gassed , and by mile 20 , the second loop , I was pretty much walking everything out there .

I did finish , but barely Go check out season one , episode one , if you want to listen to what happened there .

But that experience , I would say , taught me right out of the gate , the hard way , that sticking to my own pace is the best and maybe only way to ensure that I get to the finish line of each race that I start and do it hopefully feeling fairly strong . So one of the biggest challenges of running your own race is avoiding that comparison trap .

It's easy to look at other runners and think , okay , why can't I be as fast as them ? But comparison steals your joy and distracts you from your goals . So here's how to resist the urge to compare . Make sure you focus on your why . Go watch the Billy Yang YouTube video . Remind yourself why you're out there in the first place .

Maybe it's to prove to yourself that you can finish . Maybe it's to just enjoy and take in the journey . Maybe it's to push and challenge your own limits . Your goals are valid , no matter how they stack up against somebody else's . Also , reframe your thinking .

So , instead of feeling discouraged by faster runners out there , maybe think of using their presence as something of an inspiration . You know things like hey , think good for them . What I'm doing is right for me . They're doing what's right for them . It doesn't matter .

Ultimately , especially at the back of the pack , we're mostly not here competing with anything but cutoffs and ourselves , maybe our own time . So let them go faster . If they want to go faster , who cares ? Good for them ? They're doing what they need to do . Also , try to limit distractions .

If seeing other runners pass you by rattles your confidence , then maybe figure out ways to tune them out . Focus instead on internalizing some of that stuff . Maybe think about your breathing . Look around and observe your surroundings .

Start reciting a favorite mantra , anything really to distract you , if this is a challenge for you from seeing and getting discouraged by those individuals whizzing by you on downhills or running by you on flats . I know at a recent race I'm more frequently passed by runners and they make it look effortless on steep climbs , never mind the flats .

For a moment that makes me feel really inadequate . But I try to remind myself that my goal isn't to beat anybody else and I'm really honest about that . I don't care about beating other people . My goal is to finish the race and do it within the cutoff , and if it's a race I've done before , maybe try to do it faster .

You know , with the greatest of respect , everybody out there has their own goals . Those are mine usually . So if you want to go faster than me and that's your space , brilliant , I'm really happy for you . That mental shift helps me refocus on my own effort instead of having to worry about what someone else is doing .

The third strategy here for embracing your pace , now that we've talked about why and how to avoid comparison , is having a pacing plan . So before the race , do your due diligence , study the course , figure out some realistic goals for each section and the race as a whole . You'll know you better than anybody else . Plan to start conservatively .

Maintain a steady effort in the middle . Make sure you save energy for a strong finish . You'll know from comparing this race to other races or other segments of races where you've climbed or run on flat or run on similar terrain , run in similar weather , you'll have a good idea of the kind of pace you're probably going to end up doing .

So make sure you factor that into the race , make sure you plan and then start conservatively . The second practical strategy here is to use technology wisely . I would say your GPS watch , presuming you have one I think most people have one at this point , although it would be really cool to run a race without a GPS watch .

I'd have to figure out navigation , but that would be kind of interesting to do one time . Gps watches they can help you stay on track from a timing and pacing perspective . But please don't obsess about those numbers . Treat it as more of a guide , not a dictator .

That first 50K I was talking about earlier , I tried to do a run-walk scenario because I'd been training that way for a marathon . Just prior to that I tried to run-walk a trail run with loads of vert on it in very hot weather and it didn't go very well . But I did it because I was stuck to the watch rather than letting the running come naturally .

So definitely for technology , treat it as a guide but not as a dictator . Make sure you listen to your body and react appropriately . Third tip break the race into segments .

So , instead of thinking about the full distance it's something we hear about a lot right Focus on those smaller goals reach the next tree , the next aid station , complete the next mile , whatever it is that's going to make the race feel much more manageable and it's keep you in the moment and distract from the bigger challenge out there .

And then , number four run your effort , not your ego . If the terrain or the conditions are tougher than expected , definitely adjust your pace accordingly . It's better to slow down and make it to the finish than to push too hard and risk a DNF . Especially if this is a big race , a race that you paid a lot of money for , a race that you've traveled to .

You want to get the full experience of that race . Risking pushing too hard and DNFing and not seeing half the course for me is more of a risk than just slowing down , making sure I finish and enjoying the experience as I go . Definitely , I've had races where I've noticed that I was falling behind planned splits , especially on particularly technical sections .

But instead of panicking , I reminded myself that it's the effort that matters more than the pace in tough conditions . Manage to your effort , slow down , adjust your plan , make it to the finish line , which I did in this case with well , let's say , 15 minutes to spare , which isn't a lot of time , but I still made it .

So I'm claiming that one and that's probably the race I'm most proud of . I would say I've had some good finishes . I even won a race one time , but the race I'm most proud of is that race that I finished with 15 minutes to spare , because I finished that race started with 100 people signed up for it .

Only 70 showed up for the start line and of those 70 , I was the last finisher and I think I was either 18 or 19 to finish that race Definitely the one I'm most proud of doing . Finally , let's talk about the joy that comes from running your own race .

When you stop worrying about how you compare to others , you really open yourself up to fully experiencing the moment . You connect with the journey . So , instead of stressing about your pace , you can focus on the beauty of the trail , the support of the community and maybe even the satisfaction of being able to push your limits .

Having the opportunity to do these things , you celebrate your progress . Every step that you take forward is a victory for you , no matter how fast or slow it feels , it's okay . You finish with pride . There's no greater feeling than crossing the finish line knowing you ran the race your way .

When I crossed that finish line as the last finisher with I think it was 15 minutes to spare volunteers and spectators were still there .

They were all cheering like I'd just set some kind of course record , and it reminded me very much that ultras are all about the journey and nobody cares about the clock , unless you're one of those elite guys at the front , I guess . But for the most part , it's about the experience .

So , to wrap up , here are my four key takeaways for this episode , for embracing your pace and running your own race . Number one focus on your goals and your journey . Forget about what everybody else is doing . Number two resist the comparison trap by reframing your thoughts and focusing back onto your why .

Number three use practical strategies like pacing plans , breaking the race into segments and running your effort , not your ego . Number four find , if you can , joy in the journey by celebrating your progress and finish with a sense of pride .

If these strategies resonate with you and you're ready to take the next step in your running journey , let's keep that conversation going . Do you have a favorite strategy for embracing the power of running your own pace ? How do you make that work ? If you've got one , join the conversation .

Feel free to share in the comments or post on one of our social media pages . We love to get some chat going around this topic and while you're out browsing the internet , don't forget to subscribe to the show .

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I say it every episode , whether it's to say hello , whether it's to suggest a topic or just share your story . You can email me directly at info at choosetoeendurecom , and I would love to hear from you Interacting with listeners , just like you , is one of my favorite parts of doing this show .

So until next time , run long , run strong , run your own pace , drop the ego and keep choosing to endure .