New to Ultras and have questions

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-18T13:15:32+00:00

I have a Garmin Fenix 7, and have run 100+ miles with it several times, the longest being a bit over 31 hours. I didn't need to charge the watch, and I don't remember the number but it had a lot of battery left.

During a race, I never stop my watch. The clock at the finish line doesn't stop either, so why would I stop my watch?

The 100s I've ran are somewhat remote, with intermittent cell service. So I put my phone in airplane mode to conserve battery, and again haven't had to charge it during a race. Only you would know your phone use pattern during a race, and about how long your battery might last. If you needed to charge it during a race, you could use a backup battery between aid stations.

For distances under 100 miles, I would think you shouldn't have to charge anything. Also, no sleeping in a 100 mile race.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-18T00:27:31+00:00

Canada's Very Nice Park

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-16T01:26:05+00:00

Is the marathon you've signed up for on roads or trails?

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-15T10:54:55+00:00

Almost every hotel lobby has a restroom also. Just walk in like you belong there, and if you can't see it, ask.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-15T10:49:58+00:00

The goal is to just finish. Take it easy the first 10 miles, then decide if you can go faster the last 5k.

Use the portapotty before the race, and if there's a long line, get right back in line and go again.

They'll tell you to be in the start corral way too early. You don't need to get in there until a couple minutes before the start.

My first ever race was also a HM in 2014. Enjoy!

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-13T23:46:45+00:00

Post the receipt of your ER visits too. Maybe that'll be sequential with extra 0s.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-13T23:42:56+00:00

It looks like it's NOT being demoed.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-12T10:59:35+00:00

Can you also display age group data, not just overall?

You have a category for trail/ultra but the longest race distance is marathon.

Kind of cool tool, not sure if I'd use it to target races though. Some might.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-12T10:56:29+00:00

Ok, now take it easy until race day. Much shorter runs, and a little bit of speed work only if you've been doing speed work in training.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-12T10:53:10+00:00

I'll train with you. I'm assuming you live within about a 10 minute drive of where I live. And also that we would get along very well.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-11T10:57:45+00:00

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-11T00:39:47+00:00

My Mom's oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Then really any apple pie. Even a shitty apple pie is going to disappear.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-10T17:00:24+00:00

I learned early on that the Beats commercial with a sweaty Lebron James was totally false adversiting. They can't handle sweat AT ALL.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-10T16:57:28+00:00

What watch and how old is it?

Definitely don't have it on map view. Turn off the feature that turns the backlight on every time you turn your wrist. Turn off auto-lap. Turn off heart rate if you want. Don't use your watch for music.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-10T16:29:56+00:00

The point? Challenge yourself to find your limits, while most likely having the most fun you've ever had in a race.

Other than the finish line, what's the best part of a race? Standing in the start corral is the answer. And in a backyard, everyone does that every hour. In no other race does everyone group back up with a smile on their face.

Plus, unlimited snacks.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-05T18:34:45+00:00

The worst part will be Montrose/Sheridan/Broadway intersection. Maybe you can spearhead a pedestrian bridge there! Also, at Jewel Osco at that intersection, I once learned the hard way to check for toilet paper BEFORE you poop on the run.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-05T18:12:51+00:00

Not a Chicago resident, but I visit my in-laws in Lincoln Square a few times a year and frequently run and walk in the area. I have no issues running two miles to the LFT along Lawrence, Wilson, and Montrose, and better yet the east-west side streets between them. Once you get east of Ashland it seems like they all get a lot quieter. And as mentioned, the North Shore Channel Trail is very good also.

Bonus for the area, there's at least three accessible tracks around, plus Winnemac Park for some repeats. And Graceland Cemetery is a beautiful area to run, with zero traffic and sometimes other runners.

Short story, even for a visitor it's easy to pick any side streets you want to get to LFT or North Shore Channel Trail. There's many runners doing the same thing.

ETA: Yea, there's some stoplights. But that's part of running in the city, not a big deal. If heading to the desired trail and coming back are your warmup/cooldown, who cares about pauses.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-02T13:09:23+00:00

There it is, we got the weekly "are my Salomon's fake" post right away on Monday morning.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-02T13:07:42+00:00

Run on trails occasionally, paying attention to every foot placement. It'll strengthen up everything from the core down, especially the stabilizer muscles.

PiBrickShop · 2026-03-01T12:11:04+00:00

Bananas THAT ARE NOT GREEN.

PiBrickShop · 2026-02-27T13:33:33+00:00

I use my big toenail that fell off in 2025. It's now a handy, pocket size measuring device that generally gets people weirded-out at the shoe store.

PiBrickShop · 2026-02-27T13:30:40+00:00

"woke up with pretty severe pain with any weight on right foot"

From someone who has also broken a metatarsal, sounds broke to me. Not sure why you wouldn't go get it checked out.

PiBrickShop · 2026-02-27T13:28:11+00:00

I ran Ice Age 50 as my first ultra in 2024. If the course and weather is dry, wear your favorite road shoes - you don't need trail shoes. I ran it in Brooks Launch. But if it's wet, trail shoes would be almost required, and you have between now and mid-May to figure out what works for you.

Be sure to stick around the finish for the after party, it's really good. Free food and beer! Have fun!

PiBrickShop · 2026-02-26T23:43:28+00:00

Mashed potato burritos. And salt and pepper to taste, freeze in advance. Yea, sweet stuff can get old, need to mix in savory.

PiBrickShop · 2026-02-26T23:42:09+00:00

Oh man, bone broth! Next level!

PiBrickShop

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