This week, I’m sharing Aron Johnson’s unique experience at Rocky Raccoon 100 in her words because it’s a great example of what’s possible for you in a 100.

Aron has been running ultras since at least 2003 and has four 100-mile finishes before this race, the last being Rocky Raccoon 100 in 2020.

I’m presenting her race in two parts because she has two fantastic examples of “flipping a mental switch.”

Taper anxiety.

A simple 6-mile run almost kills you even though you felt strong on your peak long run just two weeks ago.

You tweak your ankle and convince yourself it’s broken.

A recent article used me as a data point to make a case for “why you should return to the starting line of the 100-mile ultramarathon you finished at least once before, even if you already have the belt buckle.”

The reason: improving your performance.

The analysis has flaws, like glossing over major course changes (Superior 100 has had more than four, Massanutten 100 more than three), weather, injuries, and what’s going on in the runner’s life that year.

Imagine finally standing at the start of your big race, well behind the pros, amid all the chatter and last-minute announcements, watching all the confident, smiling, laughing runners around you.

You want to belong like they do.

You definitely don’t want to be ‘that’ runner - the one that sticks out as obviously not belonging.

One of my fabulous clients started out seeing herself as weak.

Comparing herself to famous ultrarunners like Courtney Dauwalter didn’t help.

They were so strong over tough courses, against the weather…through everything.

As ultrarunners, doing our best means we have to do more than be mentally strong enough to run an impossible distance.

We have to understand what impairs that ability.

One of the biggest is what I call Fatigue Brain.

You already know mental strength is important.

You know it sets the badass ultrarunners apart.

And you know you should be doing something about building it.

You’re smart and a hard worker - you’re sure you can.

It’s just…how?

On my two-week trip to New Zealand for the Tarawera 100, I faced a daunting amount of unknown.

So much that I almost didn’t know how to imagine the trip.

How hard would it be to get around, did I get the right accommodations, would the phone plan actually work, was I packing right, was I planning too much or two little…? And I hadn’t even nailed down plans for the second, post-race week.

Ultrarunning makes your life better.

And mastering strategy and mindset - what I coach - triples that benefit.

One - it obviously improves your ultrarunning…

You know that moment?

You’re in the aid station at night by the bright, warm fire and it’s cold, your feet hurt, your legs feel stiff as boards and for the moment, you don’t have to move.

Then you glance over at the trail out of the aid station, into the dark.

I’ve heard this a lot over the years:

“If you’re not DNFing every once in a while, you’re not trying.”

But it isn’t true.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be that confident runner, standing at the starting line knowing you can finish?

Knowing you can handle all the climbs, problems, and lows ahead?

You can be.

Last week, two separate clients faced wanting to race a race…but not wanting to.

One was burned out and the other was worried about getting there.

Two different runners, two different races, two different race schedules, same assumption: you have to race races.

A fabulous client going for his first 50 mile race messaged me he was thinking of changing his race goal.

Instead of finishing, he was thinking of going for a fast time.

I groaned. I’ve seen it a million times.

If you can’t decide which races to run, this post is for you.

I’m going to give you three simple questions to guide you.

But first…relax.

The first thing you need to do for success in ultras is simple…but a lot of runners skip it:

Define success - for yourself.

You have to know what you want to accomplish as an ultrarunner.

If you want to prevent burn out or keep the joy in your running, start doing this one simple thing:

Celebrate.

I know…it’s not as important as other things, you don’t have time, and you don’t see the benefit.

It’s always your day.

From where you’re sitting now - not in a race - this statement probably sounds nice, though nothing earth shattering.

But this one thought can change the outcome of your next race.

You poured your heart, soul and a lot of training into this race, your third try at 100 miles.

And DNF’d…again.

Confidence shot, you half-heartedly wonder “Should I try again?”

I ran Daytona 100 this weekend and was reminded of this post.

There seemed to be a high proportion of first time 100-mile runners at the racer and I can see why - it looks easy.

At least on paper.