Sophie took on the 24hr Ultra this year at the Lake District Running Festival. Not only did she make it to the end, but her and her partner Paul won in their category, the pair completing an incredible 36 laps! From mantras for night-time laps to revitalising bacon rolls, find out Sophie’s top tips for the ultra-curious.
“Advice I’d give for people looking to take this on? I always think you can do way more than you think you can, don’t let the idea of 24 hours intimidate you.”
What did you think of the race? Who would you encourage to try it?
In terms of race formats, I have always really enjoyed a 24-hour loop. It’s the perfect tester for newbies to ultra, and also for veterans challenging themselves. It’s a real opportunity to test your potential in what’s a fairly safe and controlled environment.
Did you plan how you were going to approach it beforehand or just go by feel?
For a run like this I would normally plan out what time I want to eat, rest and what my 24 hours will look like. This felt different as we chose to work as a team and approach it in a relay style. It meant planning together, but I still insisted on writing it down as I knew it would give us a blueprint to follow when we we’re both tired and decision-making skills were lacking. It meant we had a goal and a focus for the run and also meant we could help each other because we knew what the other needed and when.
What did your training look like in the build up?
Training in the lead up to this was lots of Zone 2 running. Heart rate training really is the key to anything like this. A low heart rate means you can continue to take on calories, keeping your body soft and supple.
What was the hardest bit of the race for you?
The hardest part of the race is without a doubt when darkness falls. I think it’s when mindset becomes really important. You have to lean into it. A friend once told me to tell myself ‘I come alive at night’, and I find these things really help.
How did you fuel? Anything you wished you’d brought with you which you didn’t have?
I fuelled using the things I’ve found work for me over the years. My basic rule is nothing new on race day! I had bagels, super noodles, hula hoops, a carb drink by Voom and a few packets of dolly mixtures.
Then I broke my own rule. I wasn’t feeling great in the early hours and the smell of bacon rolls was wafting through the tents. I risked it, knowing it could make or break my last 10k. It was, without a doubt, the best bacon roll I ever ate and fuelled me all the way to the finish line!
How did you find running through the night?
Running through the night is always the hardest part for me. A change of clothes and getting organised with the head torch before dark actually falls is a good way to prepare yourself mentally for it. There’s a lack of visual stimuli in the night. There’s no distraction which can make the time pass much slower. It puts the focus on the task at hand, so I find it really important to keep my mindset in the right place. I’m really aware of it- this was the first time I allowed myself to listen to music and it really picked me up.
What did you think of the atmosphere and community around the festival as well as the race itself?
A highlight for us was the festival itself. We may have been running loops on one section, but there was always a cheer as you came across the line, or another race would be setting off. It was incredibly well organised and considering there was so much going on, everyone was in brilliant spirits.
It kept it really lively for us. I’ve been at events where the energy starts to drop as you get into the night but because there was always something going on, there was fresh energy even as we neared the end of the 24 hours.
What advice would you give to someone looking to take on this race?
Advice I’d give for people looking to take this on? I always think you can do way more than you think you can, don’t let the idea of 24 hours intimidate you. This really is for everyone. Walk sections, run sections. You can relay it in a team. Enjoy the process, the training, plan it and prepare for it. Choose kit well, weather can make this interesting!
There really are so many ways to approach it and you can be as competitive as you like. It’s absolutely ideal for seasoned runners who want to test the distance they can do, but equally someone who’s never done an ultra before.
What learnings are you taking forward from this race for your training and racing?
I learned that a plan is key when working in a team- not just a verbal agreement but a written plan. We learned about pacing ourselves and I think we both learned a bit about nutrition and recovery. No major mistakes this time, but spending a minute after each lap stretching was so worthwhile.
What kit did you use and any particular favourites?
In terms of kit, the best thing I used was an OMM breeze hoodie I bought at the event village. The shop was brilliant- a real paradise for runners and adventurers browsing everything from discounted camping kit through to trainers and apparel.
The breeze hoodie was super lightweight and kept me cool when it was warm but also protected me from random light showers. Super versatile and packable piece of kit!