I’m often asked, how does running a Marathon compare to running an Ultra-Marathon?

Other than the obvious difference in milage, a marathon being races of 26.2 miles in length.  A Ultra-Marathon being races longer than 26.2 miles for example a 50k (31 miles), 50 milers, 12 hour races or the Grand Daddy, the 100 Mile endurance races. A Ultra-Marathon is different in many way, I address four area that I believe are keys to success. 1. You’ll spend more time on your feet. 2. You have to find a way to eat on the run.  3. The increased physical pounding and 4. Coping with the mental aspect of running the additional mileage.  In the videos below I address these four challenges of the Ultra-Marathon.

[Tweet “Brian @cledawgs compares running a marathon vs. an ultra-marathon #runchat”]

Running: Comparing Marathons and Ultra-Marathon

Running: Marathon vs Ultra-Marathon – Time on your feet

Running: Marathon vs Ultra-Marathon – Nutrition

Running: Marathon vs Ultra-Marathon – Physical

Running: Marathon vs Ultra-Marathon – The Mental Game

I believe the keys to successfully running and finishing an Ultra-Marathon are Time on your feet, Nutrition, Physical, and the Mental game.  Anyone can jump up to the Ultra-Marathon distance if they set their mind to it.

Running: Marathon vs Ultra-Marathon – Closing

Go Air Force, Army and God Bless the UNITED States of America.

I’ve been working hard to get my 2017 running and racing calendar together.  The BIG NEWS is I’ll be running the Myrtle Beach Marathon on 2 March 2017 and have a discount for you.

Who doesn’t love a good spring marathon and a DISCOUNT.  That’s right use discount code MBMBB for 10% off….sign up here:

See you at the races!

A letter to the younger me…

You can’t listen to this song and not wonder what you would tell yourself if you could write a letter to the younger you.

[Tweet “What would you tell a younger version of you? @cledawgs writes himself a letter”]

Dear Younger Brian,

You are valued and important in the world.  If someone does not have the time for you, no matter who that person is…it’s their loss.  You are worthy, you are good, you are special and you will be someone special in the world.

Invest in people and relationships, not things.

The thing that seems most important in the moment, will hardly matter in the course of your life.

“I can” comes very shortly after “I can’t”….just keep digging, moving forward and working hard.

Believe in yourself.  No one has enough power over you or your life to say you can’t.

Life was not meant to be lived alone.  Love large.

Not every battle has to be won by nuclear war.

Set your course and do not sell out to the world.

Treat the world fairly and people will treat you fairly.

With love and respect,
The older you.

(52 does not feel too bad….)

What would you tell the younger you?

When is the best time to run?

Are you a morning runner who likes to get it over with before the sun comes up?

Would you rather run during lunch and break up the day with a fast heart rate, sweat and miles on the legs?

Or are you a night owl who loves to run under a blanket of darkness and the quiet of a sleeping city?

Myself I have run at all times of the day, depending on work, life, and temperature.  To be honest, if I had a choice, I would run in the early morning hours. Saying that, I don’t mind running at any time of the day.

[Tweet “When is your favorite time to #run? @cledawgs asks the question”]

In my mind, it does not matter at what time you chose to run as long as you run.

(A Runners World Article on when is the best time to run)

So what are some basic tips to help you get going, no matter the time of the day?

Don’t put it off…  I’ve heard a lot of my (try to be a runner) friends talk about how they had good intentions until the phone rang, the dog wanted out, or the latest episode of “Guiding life” came on the t.v. If you want to run….run.

Be flexible…24/7. There was a time that if I missed my planned run time, I was done for the day.  Not anymore.  I’ll get a run in at an alternate time but I’m running.

Refuse to take a goose egg…any time of the day.  There have been days when I just wanted to go home, sleep in or be lazy.  I committed to myself to not take a zero.  I by logging at least one mile it opened the door to keep moving once my body warmed up and the cobb webs were beaten back.  I once turn a refuse to take zero runs for an 18 miler.

Take the run with you…in the mornings.  I used to lose a few run days to my vacations, not anymore I run while on vacation building my runs into a part of the sightseeing plan.  What better time or way to see a new city then while on foot and on the run.

Get the right gear…during the night time hours.  Running at night can be a bit unnerving or intimidating.  With the right gear, a bright flashlight, reflective outwear and a good GPS map of the city a night run does not have to be so stressful.