7 Ultrarunning Skills to Use During Quarantine

Imagine someone who: chooses to run 27+ hours without sleep; wears short shorts on a trail full of nettles or cacti; gleefully consumes pickle juice followed by salted watermelon; and shamelessly applies anti-chafe cream to delicate regions in broad daylight. That person’s life choices seem questionable at best, and hardly useful during a pandemic. However, that list of ultrarunning crazy is in reality a very particular set of skills advantageous to surviving a quarantine. (Except blowing snot rockets. Please stop doing that, at least for now.)

Here are 7 ultrarunning skills to use during quarantine:

1. Tolerance for long stretches of solitude (or boredom.)

While we absolutely love running through the wilderness, it can mean hours of solitude with just trees or cacti for company. Sure, sometimes you end up talking to yourself (or your hallucinations) for entertainment. However, the point is that we’ve honed our skill at tolerating extended periods of isolation. Being quarantined at home allows us to finally put this skill to use. Bonus, unlike running in the wilderness, we have cell service/wi-fi at home. At least we can call our friends!

2. Eating random stuff in the name of calories. 

Only have an old can of corn, a few gels, and a bag of marshmallows left in your pantry? No problem, it’s still edible! Ultrarunners aren’t known for having the most refined palates, especially when in the throes of an ultra. I distinctly recall a moment during Javelina in 2019 when some ramen tasted like the nectar of the gods to me. However, my pacer tried it and gagged because the salt level rivaled that of the Dead Sea. During this pandemic, we might resort to eating more crap than normal, particularly due to the stress, and that’s okay. If we can run physically demanding 100 milers on quesadillas, Oreos, and broth, we’ll certainly survive at home with a bit more carbs and sugar than normal.

3. Celebrating the small victories. 

Didn’t pee on your shoes? Gold star. Ate some aid station food without needing death threats from your pacer? Two gold stars. Ultrarunners know that every step forward is a victory. During this pandemic, if you just put on pants and managed to feed your family, but nothing else, that’s a big win. This is an extraordinarily stressful time, so be gentle with yourself and your expectations. And make sure to applaud yourself (aloud, if you like) when you make any sort of progress on a project, chore, or “adulting” task.

4. Living in the moment.

If you’re currently running mile 23 of 50, it doesn’t do you any good to worry about that big climb at mile 40. You can’t think about the race as a whole – it’s too overwhelming and intimidating. You have to focus on manageable sections, like just getting to the next aid station or even just to the top of the hill. Right now, with shelter-in-place mandates, that means just getting through the day. Worrying about all of the possible things in the future is paralyzing. Just focus on getting to that next aid station or day of the week (whatever it is, I don’t know). Then you can sit down and have some salty chips and Oreos – win!

5. Adaptability and resourcefulness when things hit the fan.

Got blisters? Can’t keep any food down? Sat on a cactus while doing some business? Got off-course in the middle of the night? These are all issues that crop up during ultramarathons, and runners have to adapt or they won’t finish. It’s extraordinarily rare that a race goes perfectly to plan, so being able to adapt is crucial. That might mean using a garbage bag to stay warm or popping a blister with a safety pin from your race bib. Adaptability is the perfect skill to bring to “real life” when we need to rethink how we work and live with quarantine restrictions for the foreseeable future.

6. Asking for help when you need it.

Runners like to pretend we’re a purely self-sufficient bunch, but that’s not entirely true. We need our pacers, crew, volunteers, friends and family to help us succeed. During Javelina in 2017, I asked my pacer, Tara, to help me with a prickly situation involving my shorts and spiky flora. Glamorous? Heavens, no. But I knew I needed help. Hopefully you don’t have a situation like that at home during quarantine. But maybe you need to help getting groceries or just need a call from a friend to keep anxiety at bay. Keeping our human connection is so important to our physical and mental well being, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Or offer it to family, friends, or your neighbors.

7. Grit to keep going when it’s hard. 

Mid-race snowstorm overnight? Bummer, you just have to keep going. Muscle spasm in your leg that won’t let you run? Well, you can still walk. Grit is absolutely paramount right now when so many things are out of our control. While we’re adapting to our new restrictions, we have to continue moving forward. And that’s the definition of grit. It’s okay to throw a mini-tantrum now and then. Let those emotions out, but then think about what you need in order to keep going. A comforting snack? Mini dance party to your favorite jam? Quick FaceTime with a friend? 5 minutes of staring at a wall and just breathing? Great, do it. Then just keep going.

These are extraordinary times. But ultrarunners are extraordinary people. We’ve got this.