Momma Runs an Ultra

I'm a week out from my first ultra marathon and deep into taper. After months of training, I'm feeling prepared, confident, and surprisingly calm, with all of my gear, nutrition, and race-day plans ready to go by the front door. Instead of chasing a specific finish time, I'm focused on controlling my effort, staying on top of my fueling and hydration, and enjoying the experience. Thanks to everyon...

The countdown to race day is officially on! With just a few weeks until my first ultra marathon, I'm overthinking the final challenges of training, including obsessive concern about my big toes. I have nailed down my race-day gear, with two pairs of chafe-free shorts and soft, comfy shirts and gratitude that I bought a different vest because not all hydration vests are created equal. I share my ho...

I'm a runner in my 50s training for my first ultra marathon, and this week I'm deep into the final training block, and apparently full-on race nesting mode. From color-coded calendars and meticulously packed aid station supplies to convincing myself I definitely don't need brand-new gear, I'm sharing the funny, obsessive, and surprisingly relatable side of getting ready for a big endurance challen...

This week on Momma Runs an Ultra, I celebrate my biggest training weekend yet, survive a humbling low in recovery, and discover what 96% humidity feels like when your shoes are literally squishing with sweat. As my first 50K draws closer, I'm embracing race-prep obsession, packing weeks in advance, debating the proper role of cake in endurance sports, and sharing some strong opinions on chemical s...

In this episode of Momma Runs an Ultra , I share my excitement, nerves, and overthinking about my training for my first ultramarathon. After finishing my biggest back-to-back long runs yet, I’m surprised to realize the second long run still somehow feels easier than the first. Hoping that's a sign that the training is actually working, even if I still have no clue how to predict a realistic 50K+ f...

I'm a runner on the “downhill side” of my 50s training for my first ultra while juggling camping trips, broken air conditioning, exhaustion, self-doubt, and back-to-back long runs that didn’t quite go to plan. But what starts as a story about misreading elevation gains on a map turns into a powerful celebration of endurance at every age, because I was rapt by the legendary Cocodona 250, especially...

Clearly a bounce back to my wannabe Valley Girl days in this episode. Let's transfer those "likes" to the podcast reviews, or something. Sheesh. I’m really just sharing where I’m at with training for an ultramarathon. Watching the Boston and London Marathons recently gave me a big boost of motivation and a fresh way to think about my own training, especially on the tougher days. I also think out l...

A 50-something newbie ultra-runner tries to follow the Canyons and Madeira races, roasts the sport for being a “sausage fest,” can’t find a livestream or correct leaderboard anywhere, learns race names make zero sense, and ends up confused but inspired anyway. How I Procrastinate Sleep with Rock Stars, the Gen X Sleep Podcast Country Fried Rock, Podcast Archives from 2009-2020 Music Playlists Supp...

A candid, funny, and thoughtful look at a late-50s runner training for her first ultramarathon, questioning everything from influencer culture to race gatekeeping, all while navigating hunger, back-to-back long runs, and the occasional Waffle House-fueled epiphany. How I Procrastinate Sleep with Rock Stars, the Gen X Sleep Podcast Country Fried Rock, Podcast Archives from 2009-2020 Music Playlists...

My running friend from where I used to live described this podcast as "delightfully self-aware." She also said I was adorkable, so not sure I should quote her here. I had told her that I avoided my recent habit of "show up and blow up," so that might have something to do with it. It's hot here, my dog kept me up all night, and I have solved the fashion dilemma. Priorities. How I Procrastinate Slee...

What a week! Vintage shoes and Siri are both out to get me. Marathon Handbook made me do it. The Masters is taking over. I still do not want to run a road marathon. How I Procrastinate Sleep with Rock Stars, the Gen X Sleep Podcast Country Fried Rock, Podcast Archives from 2009-2020 Music Playlists Support This Podcast Dive Bar Music Club, the Low Key, High Taste Happy Hour for Music Nerds Chapter...

Welcome back to Momma Runs an Ultra ! Today’s episode is a slightly bemused look at the realities of training for an ultra marathon, especially when you’re pushing into new territory later in life. The miles are getting longer than ever before, and so far, things are going surprisingly well. My recurring theme is preventing problems. Finding the right gear for me following the sudden and rather un...

In this episode of Momma Runs an Ultra (where a 50-something runner trains for her very first ultramarathon), I get a sharp reminder that not all training risks come from mileage or missed workouts. Sometimes, they come flying at you…in the shape of a sofa. What starts as a routine 2nd long run on a rare, glorious stretch of sidewalk turns into a near-miss story I won’t forget: an unsecured couch...

Summary This episode of Momma Runs an Ultra is all about the real-life process of getting ready for my first ultra marathon, especially pushing past distances I’ve never run before. I share what training has been like as I prepare, including the surprises, struggles, and little wins that come with stepping into completely new training. We talk a lot about fueling during long runs and the trial-and...

Summary If you know the liquid fire of a post-run shower, you might have chafed. In this episode, I talk about the moment it hit me that chafing can be just as painful as poor fueling. Turns out, nutrition isn’t the only thing you need a strategy for. I share some of my personal trial-and-error with different anti-chafing products, including how well they hold up when humidity decides to join your...

Summary What exactly is recovery? As I dive deeper into ultramarathon training, I keep hearing the phrase “take recovery seriously.” Sounds simple, right? But what does that actually mean ? Massage? Naps? Yoga? I’m currently following a structured plan with an awesome coach, checking the boxes, hitting the workouts, yet I still find myself wondering if I’m really recovering the way I should. In th...

Summary Anna Gibson is the gateway inspiring a late 50's hobby jogger to run her first ultra marathon. Momma discovers that 11 feet of elevation does not count as hill training. After running her town’s one bridge approximately eleventy zillion times, she accepts her fate, if she wants “triple-digit vert,” she’s gotta leave the swamp. Cue state park field trips and back-to-back long runs with actu...

Summary Momma's in her first official ultramarathon training block, and things are getting real. Back-to-back long runs? Check. Experimenting with mashed potatoes in a Ziploc mid-run? Also check. (Sweet gels, sometimes we need a break.) As she navigates fueling flails, lopsided pistol squats, and the humbling realization that some “lost skills” were never there to begin with, the ultra journey is...

Summary Are we really runners if we don't talk about either barf or poo? Join me as I apply my ultimate nerd hack to the wonderfully weird world of ultra-marathon fueling. As I train for my very first 50K, I share my sticky history with sports nutrition. What starts as casual trial and error quickly spirals into full nerd mode, complete with a meticulously organized spreadsheet ranking gels by fla...

Summary In this episode of Momma Runs an Ultra , I'm tackling the wild world of ultra marathon training while also trying to keep my sanity intact. You know, just a jaunty jog through my 50s, right? Between holiday illness smacking my entire family (because why not?) and trying to breathe through my neighbors' smoke out, it's been a season. We also dive into the mysteries of pacing my upcoming hal...

Summary In this episode of Momma Runs an Ultra , I open up about the unexpected challenge of losing my voice while training for an ultra, a reminder of how unpredictable life and training can be. Despite feeling physically fine, this setback sparks a deeper reflection on the vulnerability to illness and the privilege of good health. I also dive into the complexities of balancing personal goals, fr...

Summary Dive into the surprisingly emotional side of endurance events, including those finish-line tears you swear you didn’t see coming. I share my own journey as a runner, from picking up the sport late in life during the pandemic to reflecting on my very first half marathon back in 2013, when I had absolutely no clue what proper nutrition or hydration meant for long-distance running. Spoiler: I...

Summary Join me on my journey prepping for my very first ultra marathon! It’s been a mix of excitement and nerves as I dive into the challenge, which originally started as a wild idea to do a unique looping run from my home. Turns out, my idea was not novel at all, and there’s a whole community around this kind of thing, like the Backyard Ultra! I talk about why I’m really doing this. It’s all abo...

Summary In this episode, we get real about the messy mix of running, life stress, and whatever’s going on in our heads, especially when training for something as daunting as an ultra. After a rough half marathon that felt like one long mental battle, our host talks about how emotional overload can totally derail a race. There’s also an unexpected cameo from Boz Scaggs’ “Lido Shuffle,” which ended...

Summary In this episode of Momma Runs an Ultra , we splash straight into the sweet spot where weather and running collide. I share why a rainy run makes me happy as I gear up for my very first ultra marathon. From prepping for the training to navigating whatever the sky decides to throw at me, I talk through the mindset it takes to train outdoors when the forecast loves surprises. I also chat abou...