Ten Common Questions I Receive About Running 100 Miles

1. Do you sleep?

No—you just keep moving. This is a nuanced question because there are always “it depends,” but for most 100-mile races, you don’t need to stop to sleep. Stopping to sleep is more common for the 200+ mile distance (yes, that distance exists!). That being said, some runners may choose to stop and sleep.

2. How do you keep your body healthy while doing so many races in a year?

This year I ran three 50Ks, a 100K race (which was intended to be 100 miles but was canceled due to fires), and a 100 miler. My next race is 12 weeks away! If you want to get technical, I did run two 100 milers in 12 months—so how do you do that and stay healthy?

I follow a plan that has built-in recovery weeks every third or fourth week. I listen to my coach when I don’t want to listen to my body. And I keep my easy runs easy and my hard runs hard. I think people often discount the importance of recovery runs and treat them like any other run, when in reality they’re meant to be boring and slow.

Also—sleep. Sleep has become more of a priority than it has ever been in my life, and I even arrange my work schedule to make it that way.

After my last 100-mile race, I had my labs drawn one month post-race to see how my body looked from a clinical perspective, and I was pleased to see everything was great. I was recovering better than anticipated.

3. Do you get bored doing long runs?

Nope. I run 100-mile races because I genuinely love running. I think that’s the biggest difference between me and many runners I know—I don’t run for the social aspect. I enjoy the time spent in the mountains, and while I’m running, if I find my mind wandering to “I’m bored” or “Is this done yet?” thoughts, I’ll literally ask out loud, “Where would you rather be?”

Sam might respond and say, “On the couch.” But the reality is—nowhere else. Being out in nature is where I want to be.

4. Do you run the whole time?

I run with the terrain. Here’s what I mean by that: to some extent, I run the flats and downhills and hike the uphills, but even that is nuanced. I might run a hill if it’s short and not too steep, and I might hike a descent if it’s too technical or steep to run safely.

After a few years of practice, I know when it makes sense to run and when it makes sense to hike. Also, the last 20 miles of a 100-miler might require a mix of walking and shuffling (that’s what running looks like at 80 miles).

All that to say, it isn’t uncommon to see ultrarunners hiking. If you’re worried about doing an ultra because you’d need to walk, don’t be. It’s completely normal to run and walk equal parts during a long mountain race.

5. How long does it take?

I get this question a lot, and it depends. For me (so far) it has taken 23–28 hours to complete 100 miles. But for my upcoming races, it could be as long as 45 hours! It really depends on the technicality of the course.

6. What does a pacer do?

I love this question because “pacer” really is a strange title. A better title might be companion.

In 99% of races, a pacer cannot carry things for their runner—that’s called muling. A pacer is also not allowed to offer physical aid. A pacer is there for emotional support, period. But they can also help keep a runner on course (especially at night) and prevent them from getting lost.

In my most recent 100-mile race, my pacer acted like a parent to an emotional toddler who just needed a nap. I’d say this is pretty common too. When you're out there that long and sleep deprived, it's not uncommon to get emotional and irrational.

Many runners like having pacers for company. So far, I’ve found that I don’t want to do a lot of talking when I’m struggling, and I tend to find “small talk” and “jokes” annoying—I try to move ahead or let chatty runners pass me. I wouldn’t have necessarily expected to feel this way, but I think I’m just used to running alone, in quiet, or with my music.

Each runner will have their own preferences—the key is learning what those are and communicating them ahead of time.

7. HOW? (Nora)

When Nora tells her friends or teachers that her mom runs 100-mile races, the most common question she gets is “How?” The best answer I can give is: time, practice, patience.

The slower the build to this distance, the more likely your body is to adapt.

8. What does your crew do?

Kelcey gets this question regularly. What does a crew member do? Why are they necessary?

Races often have drop-bag locations that could substitute for a crew, but having a crew makes your aid station stops more efficient.

When I arrive at an aid station, Kelcey takes my pack, removes my empty bottles, and replaces them with full ones. She also adds more nutrition to my pack and takes out my trash. She has all this ready based on a spreadsheet I’ve made for her before the race.

In the first half of the race, I can be in and out of an aid station in two minutes or less with her help. As the race goes on and I move slower, she’ll offer me food (pizza, ramen, mac and cheese), help tape my back for chafing, or change my shoes.

Back to the toddler analogy—Kelcey acts as my mother for the day.

9. Does your time stop when you’re at an aid station?

No. The clock is running as long as you’re out there. You can spend as much or as little time at an aid station as you choose—it all counts in your overall time.

10. How long does it take for you to recover after a big race like this?

Each race, I do the recovery period is shorter. I always go for walks the day after a race—motion is lotion, and the more you move, the faster you’ll feel better.

For a 50K, I can usually run the next day. After 50 miles to 100K, I typically take 1–2 days off (more if necessary). After my last 100-miler, I didn’t run for five days, and I took two weeks off structured running, meaning any running I do is purely recovery pace—slow, easy, and all hills are walked.

Drop any other questions you have in the comments below!