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 flavor, texture, and how likely they are to make my stomach file a formal complaint. Spoiler: the winners were not what I expected, and some fan favorites did not make the cut.

Along the way, I share hard-earned lessons about why “I’ll figure it out later” is not a valid fueling strategy when you’re hours into a run. With a few cautionary tales and plenty of laughs, this episode is a friendly nudge to fellow newbies to experiment, plan ahead, and find the fuel that actually works for them. Because when it comes to ultras, your legs may carry you forward, but your nutrition decides whether you finish smiling…or swearing.

Chapters

1. 00:16 - Embarking on a New Challenge
2. 02:10 - Exploring Sports Nutrition
3. 03:13 - Finding the Right Fuel: My Experience with Energy Gels
4. 05:12 - Hydration Strategies for Racing
5. 07:46 - Getting Into the Thick of Ultra Training

How I Procrastinate

1. Sleep with Rock Stars, the Gen X Sleep Podcast
2. Country Fried Rock, Podcast Archives from 2009-2020
3. Music Playlists
4. Support This Podcast
5. Dive Bar Music Club, the Low Key, High Taste Happy Hour for Music Nerds

Recommended If You Like

ultra running, endurance training, sports nutrition, race day tips, hydration strategies, energy gels for runners, best running gels, fueling for endurance events, running in your 50s, half marathon training, marathon running tips, gels vs. liquid nutrition, training for a 50k, running gear advice, hydration packs for running, ultra marathon preparation, nutrition for long runs, running fuel preferences, best flavors of energy gels, common running mistakes, Gu, Maurten, Honeystinger, honey stinger, maple syrup, SIS, science in sport

Automated Transcript

Speaker A

00:00:02.640 - 00:07:53.190

Hey, y', all, this is Mama Runs an Ultra.

I'm a runner on the downhill side of my 50s who decided that I would run my first 50ish K. Now, I've run a whole bunch of half marathons over the last several years, but I've never run more than 16 miles. And as I dive into training, I spend a lot of time asking myself, what the hell am I thinking?

So, a few episodes ago, I was telling y' all about my first half marathon, the one that I don't even remember running other than I burst into tears at the finish line and I had the police escort court because I was...

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 half marathon. As I gear up for my first ultra marathon, I’d love to hear your best sleep tips. Basically, send me all the good advice so I can stop googling "how to stay asleep like a normal person" at 2 a.m.

Links

1. Sleep with Rock Stars
2. WTH does this episode's title reference?

Recommended If You Like

ultra marathon training, half marathon pacing strategy, asthma management for runners, recovery tips for endurance athletes, sleep challenges for runners, training for ultra marathons, benefits of sleep for athletes, overcoming sleep issues, running at 50, endurance athlete health, managing asthma while running, social media for runners, nutrition for endurance training, mental health in running, preparing for long races, tips for staying asleep, running and respiratory health, coaching for endurance athletes, benefits of meditation for sleep, living in the country as a runner

Automated Transcript

Speaker A

00:00:01.040 - 00:07:02.730

If I go to jail, I can't train for my ultra, right? Well, hey y', all, thanks for getting back here on Momma Runs an Ultra.

I'm a runner on the downhill side of my 50s who decided to sign up for my first ultra marathon. And this podcast is all about me figuring out what the hell am I thinking. The last time I chatted with y', all, I was losing my voice.

Or I had already lost my voice. It actually got worse from there. And then I started to feel bad.

It was weird because for the first couple of days it was just my voice wasn't working and I felt a hundred percent fine. But it got to the point where I finally had to go to the doctor, which honestly pissed me off. My family got super sick right before the holidays.

And even though we are fully vaccine and do our best to stay as healthy as possible, one of them got Covid, which turned into pneumonia. And real pneumonia is pretty darn scary. Well, I've had asthma my entire life and it's pretty well managed with some daily medication.

But as I've mentioned, I live out in the country.

One of those neighborhoods built like 60 years ago that was like speculative at the time and they were hoping that civilization would build up that direction. Well, they were wrong. There's nothing out here. But living out in the county means that there is not a lot of rules and regulations.

Which sounds great until you have things like my fucking neighbors across the street who burn every leaf that falls from the sky. And I'm really not kidding. I actually videoed my neighbor out one time catching leaves as they came off of her tree.

And I'm not making this up, but what really ticks me off about them and it's both the neighbors across the street right next door to each other, they wet down their leaves and then burn them. So it's just smoke everywhere and absolutely sets off my asthma.

So what happened was they burned for five days in a row of wet leaves and wet boxes and it set off my asthma to such an extent that I ended up with bronchitis...

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, friendships, and aging, with the importance of staying active and resilient. I invite listeners, especially those navigating similar life transitions, to share their thoughts as we explore these meaningful themes together.

Chapters

1. 00:05 - Losing My Voice
2. 00:49 - Managing Health in Ultra Training
3. 01:52 - The Impact of Smoking on Childhood Health
4. 03:14 - Embracing Health and Mortality in Running
5. 04:26 - Navigating Adult Friendships and Health Privilege

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ultra marathon training, running after 50, health and running, losing your voice, hydration for runners, nutrition for endurance athletes, training plan for ultra marathon, running podcast, adult friendships and fitness, privilege of health, preparing for an ultra, overcoming training setbacks, mental health and running, benefits of running, challenges of aging and fitness, maintaining fitness over 50, staying active later in life, running community, personal growth through running, experiences of older runners

Transcript

00:00:02.320 - 00:05:22.900

So after I went to make my cup of coffee, I went to go talk to the dog. And that's when I realized I had lost my voice. What the heck? Hey, y'. All. Welcome to Momma Runs an Ultra.

I'm a runner on the downhill side of my 50s who decided to run my first 50ish K. And this podcast is where I totally overshare about the process while I train leading up to it this summer. So I almost didn't record this episode. Cause as you can hear, I've lost my voice. I have no idea what happened. I feel totally fine.

I didn't even know I'd lost my voice till I was making coffee this morning and I turned to talk to the dog, as you do when you work from home. And I was like, what is coming out of my mouth? So this will either be your favorite episode I ever do or the one you want to skip. Totally cool.

But it reminded me that there are so many factors about training for an Ultra over which I have no control. And one of them is, is getting sick. Now, I don't think I'm sick right now. I feel totally fine. No headache, no sore throat, no fever.

Like, everything feels totally normal. But sometimes we do get sick. And that is definitely something that can cause a wrench in a training plan.

So for me, I'm not a person who's going to go run if I'm actually sick. And today is one of those kind of head scratchers.

Like, I don't feel sick, but clearly my body is telling me that something is wrong because I can't talk. So I think what I'm going to do is just make sure I'm really good about my hydration and nutrition today and see how I feel in the afternoon.

I'm not really an afternoon runner. I prefer to just sort of run about 7 o' clock in the morning. When you work from home and you have a flexible schedule, it's something you can do.

Not everybody has that privilege. But I'm not a person who's been sick a whole lot as an adult.

I was one of those really, really sickly kids, like constantly strep throat, ear infection, some sort of problem. And in retrospect,...

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 still finished with a police escort…and then promptly burst into tears.

As it turns out, that post-race emotional roller coaster is more common than you’d think. Throughout the episode, I talk about what those big feelings can teach us, especially as I train for an ultra marathon and face all the physical and emotional challenges that come with pushing past your limits. Join me as we explore why endurance running can hit us right in the heart, and maybe think about your own “Wait, why am I crying?” moments along the way.

Links

• Music Playlists
• Sleep with Rock Stars, the Gen X Sleep Podcast
• Dive Bar Music Club, the Low Key, High Taste Happy Hour for Music Nerds
• Country Fried Rock, Podcast Archives from 2009-2020
• Support this Podcast

Chapters

• 00:05 - The Journey to Running an Ultra Marathon
• 01:15 - Reflection on Past Races and Nutrition Insights
• 02:17 - Preparing for the Half Marathon
• 03:28 - The Emotional Finish: Understanding Runner's Highs and Lows
• 03:59 - Navigating Emotions in Training
• 05:13 - Understanding the Unexpected in Ultras

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ultra marathon training, running after 50, beginner running tips, hydration for runners, nutrition for endurance athletes, emotional reactions in running, running races experiences, running logs and progress, preparing for a half marathon, runner's mental health, running and tears, running fasted, fueling for long runs, unexpected race moments, running advice for seniors, overcoming running challenges, running playlists, running community support, sharing running stories, ultra marathon preparation

Transcript

Speaker A

00:00:00.720 - 00:05:37.190

And then I completely burst into tears. Hey, y', all, thanks for finding Mama Runs an ultra. I'm a runner on the downhill side of my 50s, training for my very first ultra marathon.

So I was telling y' all that I didn't really start running until the pandemic. And that's true, but not true, because I didn't start running regularly until then.

But I ran off and on for the decade before that, starting back with that three miles, three days a week that I used to do that I mentioned in an episode a while back. Well, I was trying to see what my progression has been over the half marathons that I've done over the years.

And apparently I did a race back in 2013 that I completely forgot about. I have no memory whatsoever of running this race, but there's photos, so clearly I did it. It's absolutely, definitely me.

And I still have the outfit, so it didn't even go that badly. I went back through my running logs and there it was, all my notes, everything that happened, that.

And to this day, I have no memory whatsoever of running this particular race. But after reading my notes to myself, I remembered the one thing that happened that day.

The second I crossed the finish line, I absolutely burst into tears. So we'll come back to that. Because back in 2013, I had no idea about either hydration or nutrition on a run. I had never had a gel ever in my...

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 about pushing myself, not seeking validation from others. I also share the behind-the-scenes planning, from preparing for the terrain to figuring out nutrition and building the mental toughness needed for the race. Join me as I walk through this prep, share insights, and connect with other runners along the way.

Chapters

• 00:10 - Embarking on a New Challenge
• 01:44 - Personal Insights on Running Events
• 02:22 - Preparing for the 50k Ultra Marathon
• 04:19 - Preparing for a New Challenge
• 05:47 - Preparing for the Ultra: Footwear and Comfort Tips

How I Procrastinate

• Sleep with Rock Stars
• Making Playlists
• Dive Bar Music Club
• Country Fried Rock, Podcast Archives from 2009-2020
• Support this Podcast

Recommended If You Like

ultra marathon training, backyard ultra events, first ultra marathon experience, running tips for beginners, how to train for an ultra, ultra marathon diet, pacing strategies for ultra marathons, elevation gain in running, mental training for long races, comfortable running shoes for ultras, ultra marathon nutrition, solo running motivation, running loops training, trail running tips, running events for older adults, managing race day pressure, planning for ultra marathons, ultra marathon race profiles, running community support, personal goals in running

Transcript

00:00:01.680 - 00:06:59.380

To be honest, it kind of ticked me off that somebody already came up with the idea. Hey y', all, thanks for stumbling into Mama runs an Ultra. I'm a runner on the downhill side of my 50s who decided I'm gonna run my first Ultra.

What the hell am I thinking? As I shared, I've been spinning around this idea of doing an Ultra in some capacity for the last two or three years. And.

And my first plan was that I would have everybody out to my house to tailgate in my yard for my birthday while I went and ran this about three and a half mile loop from my house every hour on the hour.

And I talked about this for quite a while, thinking that I had come up with the greatest idea ever, only to discover that apparently this is a thing not only every hour on the hour races or time races of time, typically 6, 12, even more hours. But also there's something called a backyard Ultra. Okay, this is an official thing. And I had no idea. I had never heard of this. No clue.

And That's a almost 4.1-ish-mile loop every hour on the hour. And you're out when you can no longer complete the loop in the hour. They could go on for days.

But I was super disappointed to discover that apparently there's thousands of people out there who do this all the time. All right, so call me Scoop.

But the main reason that I decided not to do this every hour on the hour 3 ish mile loop near my house was I mentioned it at the gym one day and one of my friends who is an attorney said, hey, maybe not, because if your friends decide to run with you, you could potentially have liability if something happened to...

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 up looping through the run and becoming this weird little window into their mood and mindset. We chat about what our go-to running songs say about us, how playlists evolve with our training, and why music can be such a lifeline on the hard days. And of course, we want to hear from you: what tracks keep you moving on those long runs?

Chapters

• 00:09 - Introduction to My Running Journey
• 00:45 - Navigating Life's Challenges: The Sandwich Generation
• 03:28 - The Challenge of the Process
• 06:15 - The Intersection of Music and Running
• 07:56 - Exploring Music and Podcasts

Links

• My Apple Music running mix
• countryfriedrock.com podcast from 2009-2020 with archives slowly returning
• divebarmusicclub.com new podcast launching 2026 where I chat with some of my music friends about what we're listening to right now
• Sleep with Rock Stars, the Gen X Sleep Podcast
• Support this Podcast

Recommended If You Like

running playlist, ultra running, half marathon experience, running challenges, training for ultra marathons, running motivation, music for running, running headspace, overcoming race challenges, running in your 50s, running gear, running podcasts, coping with running stress, race day preparation, running tips for older athletes, music and running performance, mental aspect of running, running community, running reflections, personal running journey

Transcript

So now I'm kind of wondering if my running playlist is my subconscious. Why else would I have Boz Skaggs Lido Shuffle on there? Hey, y', all, thanks for finding Mama Runs an Ultra.

I'm a runner on the downhill side of my 50s who decided to run my very first ultra. And this podcast is helping me think out loud. How did I get here?

So I just got some horrendous official photos back from a late fall half marathon that I did. I'm not going to name it. It was a fantastic half marathon. I just had one horrific days every so often. Well, let me take that back.

I'm not sure I've ever actually had a race that went as badly as this did for no identifiable reason other than my training block was full of a lot of life stress. I don't know if any of y' all are in this whole sandwich generation situation of you still have kids and you're taking care of parents and it sucks.

Nobody told nobody. Nobody prepared me for this. My parents did not deal with this with their parents.

And I don't want to get into the drama of it all, but just to say I was not emotionally prepared for this. Never mind all the other details. I hate it. And that's me being nice about all of this.

Anyway, I think that's really what impacted this particular training cycle on this half marathon that I did. Because the race itself was fantastic. Drivable distance, well located race hotel, good logistics for the event itself, perfect weather for running.

It just didn't go well. I felt terrible and I couldn't salvage the day. I finished, nothing was broken,...

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 about the idea of bringing a coach on board and why clear, honest communication might be just as important as logging miles. Join me for a joyful, slightly soggy riff on embracing the messy magic of running toward a big, brave goal. Really, I'm just procrastinating.

Links

• Music Playlists
• Sleep with Rock Stars, the Gen X Sleep Podcast
• Dive Bar Music Club, the Low Key, High Taste Happy Hour for Music Nerds
• Country Fried Rock, Podcast Archives from 2009-2020
• Support this Podcast

Chapters

• 00:00 - Running in the Rain
• 01:38 - Understanding the Weather's Impact on Running
• 03:22 - Running in Different Weather Conditions
• 05:28 - Preparing for the Ultra Marathon
• 07:09 - Navigating Coaching Relationships
• 09:40 - Preparing for the Ultra Challenge

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Transcript

00:00:00.240 - 00:10:17.570

I kind of like running in the rain. I mean, not really when it's like 36 and pouring rain all winter. Like when I lived in the Midwest. No shade to y'. All.

Seriously, I'm just not that tough. But like 50 to 90 degrees, pouring rain, no thunder and lightning. I am all about a wet run like that.

And as y' all can probably hear it, it's pouring rain right now. Which made me think about this. Hey, welcome to Mama Runs in Ultra.

I'm a runner in my late 50s who decided it would be a really great idea to run my first ultra. And this podcast is helping me figure out what the hell am I thinking.

So when I decided that I wanted to run an ultra, I spent a couple years listening to podcasts and watching some videos on YouTube about ultra running. And mostly I found these amazing videos about mountain running.

I love a beautiful vacation hike to somewhere with mountains, but I live in flatland in the middle of the swamp in South Carolina. I am completely unprepared to run on a mountain in any capacity. And honestly, it doesn't appeal to me as something to do for myself.

I love watching it. It's beautiful, but I don't want to do that. So I didn't even know that ultras on rail trails or paths even existed.

In fact, I didn't even really figure that out until a couple months ago when I signed up for my actual race. But the pouring rain made me think about it because the conditions are definitely part of the training.

And I'm one of those, I only run outdoors kind of people. I can do that. I live in South Carolina. Our weather is pretty good most of the time. I've gotten in six miles in my driveway in...

Summary

Plot twist: my uterus did NOT fall out.

In this episode, I wander back through the strangely misguided athletics messages of my youth, namely, that girls absolutely should not run because, according to my parents, my uterus might fall out. (Yes, really.) Fast-forward a few decades, and here I am in my mid-50s, having gone from enthusiastic fitness walker to full-blown runner, now staring down the start line of my very first ultra-marathon.

I share how I got from “running is forbidden” to “sure, let’s run absurd distances for fun,” and how shedding those old myths opened the door to a passion I never saw coming. It’s a story about hilariously outdated advice and discovering that it’s never too late to choose your own adventure, especially one with a lot of miles.

Join me as I puzzle, laugh, and jog my way into this unexpected chapter as Momma Runs an Ultra.

Links

• Music Playlists
• Sleep with Rock Stars, the Gen X Sleep Podcast
• Dive Bar Music Club, the Low Key, High Taste Happy Hour for Music Nerds
• Country Fried Rock, Podcast Archives from 2009-2020
• Support this Podcast

Chapters

• 00:05 - Starting the Ultra Journey
• 00:16 - The Journey to Running
• 01:31 - The Journey to Running: Breaking Barriers
• 02:08 - A New Approach to Fitness: From Walking to Running
• 03:04 - The Journey to Ultra Running
• 03:18 - The Journey to Ultra Running

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ultra running, running after 50, female runners, couch to 5K, overcoming running myths, distance running for beginners, fitness journey, late start running, ultra marathon training, running motivation, women in sports, age and fitness, running tips for women, running stories, first ultra marathon, transitioning to running, fitness after 50, training plans for beginners, mental health and running, personal running experiences, medical myths, 1984 olympics, Joan Benoit Samuelson

Transcript

00:00:00.480 - 00:03:22.800

I mean, plot twist. My uterus did not even fall out. Hey, y', all, this is Mama Runs an Ultra.

I'm a runner on the downhill side of my 50s who kind of said, hey, y', all, watch this. And signed up to run my very first ultra. As of today, December 5, 2025, I have never run further than 16 miles.

And the race I'm signed up for is like 30 something. And I'm still in that stage of going. What the hell was I thinking? I did not grow up as a runner.

In fact, I was not allowed to run when I was in high school. I wanted to do cross country because they seemed kind of like a cool group of folks.

And I really liked the fact that you could be part of the team and never, ever have to run the races because only the top seven got to run. And my school was one of those pretty competitive schools, so there was no way that was ever going to happen for me.

Well, the summer before the season that I wanted to run, the coach sent a summer training plan on a piece of paper to our house for new runners. And the first step was run a mile. Well, I couldn't run a mile. And then my parents read the list and they said, you're not allowed to do that.

Your uterus will fall out. Looking back on this from my 50s, I can tell you if your uterus would fall out from distance running. So many women would be running voluntarily.

But plot twist, my uterus did not fall out, but I also did not run the mile ever. I wasn't allowed to because it was too far for girls. And at the...