How to run 322 km in a weekend: Kat Clewley's tips for surviving an ultramarathon

In the wild world of ultramarathon running, there are no weekend warriors.

There is, however, Kat Clewley.

She's the Burlington woman who last year ran every step of a full marathon, backwards. Because running a marathon facing the finish line was too easy?

Now, she's one of just five women and 24 men taking part in the ultramarathon competition at Hamilton's Sulphur Spring Trail Race. That's 200 miles (322 kilometres) over 72 hours. She plans about five or six of those hours for sleep. 

If all goes well Clewley might be, by Sunday afternoon, the first person to finish a 322 kilometre race on Canadian soil. The course consists of 16, 20-kilometre loops through the Dundas Valley conservation area.

According to race co-director, Andrea Lynn Sloan, the last time there was a 200-mile race in Canada no one finished. 

Sloan says the Sulphur Springs Race is one of the first trail races in Canada and is also the country's biggest.

Of the 29 participants, 26 are Canadian, two American, and one German. 

Setting new goals

It's going to be a long 72 hours and anything can happen- Kat Clewley, 200 mile runner

This will be the longest distance Clewley has decided to run. She's completed five 100 mile races and has failed twice — an important part of the process she says.

"Failure's just part of this," said Clewley Wednesday night.

"The way I'm looking at it is, it's going to be a long 72 hours and anything can happen. So, one foot at a time." 

Clewley is running this race to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Burlington Runners, a group she's been a part of for many years as someone who was born and raised in Burlington. She works at the YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington and Brantford as the regional group fitness manager.

Preparation 

Clewley counts on solid mental preparation to get her through the long, long race.

"In my past I have all those other little victories that I can pull from and say you know what, you did Boston, you did an Ironman, so you can do this," said Clewley. "I feel relaxed, I feel like my mind is in a good place." 

You're just out there to do your best- Kat Clewley, 200 mile runner

Another tip: Eat smartly. Take in nutrition before you get hungry. And take in a lot of sodium. She says if you're not thinking right, it's mostly because you're hungry.

Family and friends will meet her along the way.

And then there's sleep. It's a three-day run and Clewley plans for about 5-6 hours of sleep in total. She hasn't decided if that's going to come all at once, or in two different naps.

The goal is just to finish.

"I think when you go into the zone where you've never done it before, you're just expecting to finish. I remember that's how it was for me with my first marathon, my first ultra, you're just out there to do your best."

Runners of all distances 

The 200 miler is the longest race, but it's just one of many taking place over the weekend. 

If that seems a bit too much you may want to take the easy road and run the 100 mile race (160 kilometres).  

With just over 1,200 signed up, runners will be participating in the 100-mile, 100-mile relay, 100-kilometre, 50-mile, 25-kilometre, and 10-kilometre races.

This race is also a great way to showcase Hamilton, that it's not just industrial- Andrea Lynn Sloan, race co-director

According to Sloan, most will be running the 25-kilometre race with 345 participants.

Proceeds from the race go towards the Hamilton Conservation Authority. Over the years, close to $100,000 has been raised for the authority.

Sloan says she's received comments from people all over the world who didn't know an area like this existed in Hamilton — beauty hidden behind smoke stacks. 

"This race is also a great way to showcase Hamilton, that it's not just industrial. People are amazed at the fact that we have something like the conservation area so close to the city," said Sloan.

With over 200 volunteers, what makes the race special to Sloan is that it's run by runners, for runners.

"We're lucky because the people that live near there as well as the Hamilton Conservation Authority, allow us to do this — to let these crazy runners take over for a weekend and they welcome us," said Sloan.