I’m 56, only running by myself for 3 years, suddenly got a mad idea to try one ultra , now I’m hooked, I’ve found a calling that I would have never thought of doing,thanks to watching middle aged men on KZread !

For me at 61, the answer is multi-faceted: speed is largely gone, so endurance at slower pace fills the gap. Challenging myself is also important - always having a project or target to aim for. I also choose events in environments where I want to be - moors, mountains and the coast. However, I now realise that the simplicity is very attractive - run/walk, eat, drink, sleep. Maybe it triggers the ancestral hunter gatherer? I cycled JOGLE in 2013 and really got in the groove of that simplified existence - actually found it a bit of a struggle returning to normal life and work afterwards. Well done on finishing Cape Wrath. Great effort!

Really nice interview! Thank you for sharing it!

No doubt you are setting a great example for your kids. Even if they dont run the lessons of being active and going for it can transfer to many aspects of life. Good job ❤

You've just done Cape Wrath Ultra, then you popped down to Suffolk for your video and commentary on the Backyard, and you're about to do the SDW 100. That's somewhat insane as a workload! Hats off to you, Stephen, and have a terrific race weekend!

@FilmMyRun

Ай бұрын

Yes Darla, but there's no guarantee I'll get through SDW100!! I'm a bit tired and a bit injured!!

Great interview Stephen, inspiring as always. We all have a journey when it comes to running, that’s our drive. You are not only doing yourself and your family proud, you do everyone proud because of your honesty. No ego, just always telling it how it is. ….Good Luck with the SDW. I’m off to do the Y3P in a couple of weeks and then an event called the High Peak 40. ultra. Good training for next year - where we attempt the Hardmoors 30 (3rd time) - 55 and then the 60. Absolutely love the Hardmoors set up!

Great to see you on CWU24, we didn't get chance to chat properly but you always had great words of encouragement when you raced past me ;-) As another middle aged bloke I too regularly question why I do these things. I thoroughly enjoyed the week but was slightly gutted to drop down to Explorer through injury on Day 3, but as you wisely said, we only enter these things because we can't guarantee the outcome. Hopefully I'll be back to do it 'properly' in the future.

@FilmMyRun

15 күн бұрын

Hi Graham, I so very nearly dropped down to the Explorer after Day 3. It was an awful day for me. But I think it's just bloody-mindedness and the desire to never have to come back! But I know a few people who have come back and got it done.I'm sure you can do it now you know the level required. It was certainly tougher than I had imagined. Best of luck to you

The most entertaining running channel. Thanks

Legend mate, looks like your having a great time :) Well done 👏

Great stuff. Very very good questions, thank you both for a really interesting interview.

I'm 60 - I'm not a particularly fast runner the smaller road distances up to marathon really take it out of me but give me distance and I feel likecI can go on forever. I have got to the stage where pbs don't really interest me anymore - how far I can go does, how far can I push my self. Ultra running is the best for more reasons than I can put down here ❤

I loved everything about this, including the hankering for a latte. I'm a middle age woman, and started running ultras after chatting with a race volunteer. He'd started running in his 60s, and was still doing ultras in his 70s. After decades of road races, I'd lost my love of running. Ultras reignited it in a big way, giving me new goals to meet, PRs to make, routes to try, skills to learn... gear to buy. 🫣 Running a 50k takes less out of me than running a road half marathon, is more fun, with cool people, and yummy food- and way cooler memories! I keep signing up for harder and harder races, wondering what I'm capable of, and wanting to achieve it while I still can.

Fantastic interview... id love you to do a video of how you and what mind methodologies to usecwhen running 100 milers.. youd know all the tips, tricks and mind games and id love help with the mental challenge i get during uktras :) ..every little helps... think people shout out, scream, eat jellies, transport themselves to exotic places and enjoy halluncinations to name but a few. I say hail marys :)

Perhaps see you at the SDW - my first 100M. I've just done TRV - don't underestimate how helpful your films are... 🙂

I have been thinking about this video, last weekend I ran Stockholm marathon, it was a boiling hot day, I couldn’t help but feel concerned for my wife and two young children in the heat waiting for me to finish and cheer me on and that was always on my mind during the run, it felt a little impractical for us all. I think I would probably add that as much as I would love to commit to running ultras and training for that distance often I can’t commit to the volume needed as I have a young family…so my point is….middle aged men probably can afford the time to do this sport and men in earlier stages of their lives have other commitments. Maybe I’m wrong, but ultra running seems incompatible with my life as it is right now with work and kids….so it will have to be middle age for me 😃

Fun interview. I can’t believe you’ll be running the SDW100 so soon after Scotland - but usual Cousins madness is only to be expected I suppose! 🤘 Shame you can’t also join the relay this weekend..

Because they are stark raving mad I suppose.

Sir what is your age ?

@FilmMyRun

Ай бұрын

I’m 54 my friend

@MuhammadUsmankhan-dd1tb

Ай бұрын

Thank u so much sir

I have this theory (just my opinion), but men have the deep seated drive that comes from when were hunter gatherers. Men went out moving for hour after hour to find food. Women are awsome at long distance races, look at Jasmin Paris or Courtney Dewalter who blast mens times (they are amazing). It's just something deep inside men that we have to do. I could be very very wrong, bt it's just a theory.

Why do old men run ultras? Because they're slow

@bankaihadouken1180

Ай бұрын

*slower

@paulmulks

Ай бұрын

They are definitely not slow, I've had my 40yr old arse handed to me on more than one occasion by middle aged men AND women 😂 Never underestimate the older runner

@katesmiles4208

Ай бұрын

🤣🤣🤣