Mike Strzelecki’s 18 Tips for Trail and Ultramarathon Success

Mike Strzelecki isn’t fast, but he’s been running trails and ultramarathons for the better part of thirty years. This guy loves single track. He loves timed events. He loves road races and trail races. And he loves the heck out of the ultramarathon community.

It’s one thing to hear advice from a top runner, but it’s also good to remember to keep it real and to listen to someone with a different perspective. In this interview Mike drops advice, wisdom, and lessons that runners of all ages and abilities can relate to.

Mike is 53 years old, works and lives in Balitmore, MD, and is married with two kids.

Below are Mike’s Eighteen Tips. 

1. Running a distance longer than a marathon is easier than people think.

It’s the dirty secret of the ultrarunning community- these things are very doable. You just have to slow down a bit, walk some the steeper hills, eat and drink along the way, and they are more manageable to get through than you could ever imagine. Running a casual trail 50k is much easier than running a paved marathon, in my opinion.

2. Running a 100-miler is exponentially more difficult than most people think.

I am not sure what happens between the miles of 50 miles and 100 miles, but there seems to be some esoteric barrier that must be broken that is challenging beyond belief. Respect the Distance is one of the truest running mantras out there. Be humble.

3. Move slowly up the distance scale from 50ks through 100s and beyond.

The 100-miler may be the new marathon, but it should be treated with the utmost of respect. Otherwise, you could really do damage to your body. Your muscles, your joints, your endocrine system – they all need to be stepped up through the distances slowly so that they can adapt to the unbelievable stresses being placed on them. The conventional wisdom is to run three 50Ks before you try your first 50, and three 50s before you try your first 100. I agree with this rule. I understand lots of people don’t follow this – I just think it’s wise. You can usually bull your way through a 50K and even a 50. You need to be totally dialed in to have your best shot at finishing a 100, and stepping up slowing will allow you to dial in correctly your gear, your hydration, your energy, your shoes, etc.

4. Don’t limit your involvement in the sport and community to just running.

Experience the sport from a different perspective – from that as a crew member, volunteer, race director, group run leader. Get a feel for all facets of trail and ultrarunning. And I am not necessarily talking about “giving back” per se. I am talking about garnering a full understanding of the sport from every angle possible. It will help you gather a much greater appreciation for the sport.

5. Don’t get caught up in technology or the newest shiny energy gel or toy.

There is nothing wrong with keeping the sport pure. There is nothing wrong with eating fig newtons over gels, drinking sweet tea over Tailwind, using Vaseline over some new-fangled pricey product. I get asked if you need trail shoes to run a trail race. People started running trail ultras in Chuck Taylors, wearing flannel shirts and cotton shorts. If you have a basic pair of shorts, a pair of old ratty shoes, and a shirt – you have a trail party.

6. Don’t get in a race rut.

While it’s comfortable and fun to run the same string of races year after year, cast your race line a bit longer once in a while and reach for new experiences. There are so many trails to explore, runners to meet, mountain towns to overnight in.

7. Think of longer ultras (like 100s and multi-days) as really just a series of problem-solving events.

You can sometimes get through a 50K, and maybe even a 50, without addressing immediate needs like blisters or rubbing packs or dehydration – just bulling your way through them. Not in longer ultras.