Thoughts from my First Ultramarathon
- Izzy Pulido
- Jun 22
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 15
This past Saturday I had the opportunity to test my physical and mental limits on the Black Mountain 50k. For those of you who know my history, know I was a diehard swimmer turned triathlon junkie. Running has always been a part of my life (started running 5ks in third grade) but was never the main focus. Since starting vet school, running became a way for me to get a workout while also exercising Churro and I have grown to love and respect the challenge. This year I have had the privilege of completing a few endurance trail races; a trail marathon and now an ultramarathon.
I have thought long and hard about the reasons behind why I run and it’s not a straightforward answer. Honestly, sometimes it is the generic reason for getting exercise and other times it’s much deeper, which has been a fun area to explore! My early races were inward focused; I wanted to go fast and do well for myself. Over the years, this perspective has shifted. While I still give races my best effort, I have a different mindset and find each opportunity to race a privilege.
Paying money to embark on a sufferfest such as a 50k (or any race for that matter) is a gift. Hear me out, there are countless people who would trade anything to be in a position to run or participate in a race whether that is physically, mentally or financially. These are all things that can be taken for granted until they are swiftly taken away from you. Earlier on I was guilty of looking at exercise as a chore, something I had to do to get to where I wanted to be in my sport. A few injuries later and witnessing countless people go through life-changing events flipped my perspective. It’s cliché but life isn’t fair. The fact that I can go do something like this while others can’t based on things outside of their control is not fair. The ability to do hard things is a gift, it is not something I HAVE to do, it is something I GET to do. If you were to ask any person in a position of sickness or disability, I can almost guarantee you that they would trade every tangible thing they have to be healthy and able to do something like this.
All that being said, the 50k was an incredible adventure. Prior to the race I had decided I wanted to fully embody the experience without additional external stimuli such as music. I love music and rely on it for all of my long runs because it helps distract me when things get challenging. Taking away this distraction for what would be the longest run I’ve ever completed was a little scary but to fully embrace the race I decided to go for it and loved it! The technicality of the trail kept my mind busy, and the sound of fellow runners, birds, powerlines, and little rattles from the bushes filled the atmosphere. I was also able to hold full conversations with other runners and meet some pretty cool people.
This race was held at a beautiful location and consisted of mostly single-track rocky terrain with some steep climbing. Over the course of 31 miles, we ran/hiked over 5,000 feet. There were 7 aid stations strategically spaced throughout the race and at mile 27 there was a popsicle surprise. This came at the best time and was placed about two miles from the top of the steepest climb. The volunteers were phenomenal and were equipped with everything you could possibly need. They were also incredibly kind and made sure everyone was having a good time and staying safe on the trail.
Another awesome aspect of the race was that my dad was out on the course doing the half marathon! He got to experience brutal incline and beautiful terrain, and the race wouldn’t have been the same without him out there. He has done every major race with me and knowing he was also out on the trail was special. At the end of the race, I was also cheered on by my mom and Churro. I am so fortunate to have such a strong support system.
One of my other favorite things about racing, especially endurance races, is the people. At the start line everyone automatically has something in common, a drive to push their physical and mental limits and an element of crazy. This internal drive stems from different reasons, and it is special to have a chance to talk to some of the competitors and figure out their “why” behind racing. During the walking portions of this race, I spent some time chatting with a few different people; someone from the army who has a dog named Kona, an ex-smoker who has a son in medical school, a person who was using this run to build up his training base so he can support his friend in a 100 miler, and someone who signed up Wednesday night while drunk. All these people had different backgrounds and reasons for running this race, which I think is something incredible about the human experience.
Obviously 31 miles is not all fun and games, the terrain was rough on the body, and I am definitely feeling the repercussions of the constant pounding. That is all part of the deal, and I absolutely love it! Embracing the “suck” and digging in deep is something that I enjoy and allows me to build mental fortitude that will come in handy in multiple aspects of life. Remember, this is a privilege!
Friday night, while I was getting everything ready for the race, I used some time to reflect on my reasons for Running the Black Mountain 50k. This helps me stay present in the moment and figure out where I am mentally before going into the race. This list was adapted from my marathon list, but I got to add in another 5 reasons for the extra milage.
1. God gave me a healthy and strong body that can run
2. I GET to, I don’t HAVE to
3. I have a body that can do hard things
4. This scares me, growth doesn’t happen in your comfort zone
5. To challenge myself
6. For those who can’t
7. To show appreciation for my body
8. To explore new trails
9. To feel alive, there is nothing like feeling your heart almost explode while running up a hill
10. To sharpen my mental toughness
11. For health (questionable, at some point ultra endurance may not be the healthiest😉)
12. To become more comfortable being uncomfortable
13. To prove to myself that I can do hard things
14. I truly love running
15. I won’t always have this physical ability
16. To find peace and clarity
17. Racing and running are a PRIVILEGE
18. To honor my body’s ability to move
19. To feel connected to nature
20. To push past physical limits
21. To challenge mental blocks
22. To have “fun”
23. To experience something new
24. To meet new people
25. To set an example
26. Running brings me into a state of flow
27. Running puts things into perspective
28. Pushing through difficulties trains the body and mind to adapt
29. To get to know myself better
30. To find joy in the struggle
31. Why the heck not?!
Overall, this was a great experience, and I am glad I was able to participate in it! I am incredibly grateful for all of the support with training, recovery, and racing. I would not have been able to do this alone. Despite popular belief, running is not a solo sport, it takes a village, and I am blessed to have a great one.
As a little side note, I think it is important to add that the above information is applicable to a race or workout of any size. Yes, I do crazy endurance races, and they are just that, crazy! These endeavors are not healthy and can cause physical damage over time. I do them because I love the process of training and completing something that scares me. They are not a good fit for everyone and are not something to aspire to (unless that is your thing, then go for it)! Something I have been working on is avoiding using the word “just” when describing a workout. Saying “I just ran three miles”, or “I just did yoga today” can elicit a negative connotation indicating that the workout is not as good or "less than" a long hard run, or a heavy weight session. This is something that I never want to imply, all movement is beneficial and I sure don’t ever want someone to feel like their workout is invalid because it isn’t up to par with what someone else is doing. I am all for any and every type of exercise and will be your biggest cheerleader. 5-minute walk; amazing, playing with the dog outside and incorporating a few little squats or lunges; fabulous! Any type of movement that honors your body is incredible, and I am here for it all!
Quotes of the race: "I don't even care anymore, I just want this to be over" -fellow 50k racer at mile 12
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