100 miles at 17

Ultramarathons—any distance beyond the standard marathon of 26.2 miles—have become increasingly popular with recreational runners seeking to push the limits of their endurance: According to a study by Run Repeat, ultra running event participation has increased 345% over the past 10 years. Despite this surge in popularity, ultra runners still skew older and male. The average age is around 42.3; on the young end of the spectrum, a 2013 report found that fewer than 1% of ultra runners were under age 20, and that number gets so small under 18 that it’s difficult to even track down the statistics. And while the greatest increase in participation has been among female-identified runners, women still make up only 23% of ultra runners, and for distances over 50 miles that falls to 16%. (When factoring in 5k through marathon distances, over 50% of runners overall identify as female.)

In May, Raleigh runner Grace Hall, a recent high school graduate, incoming Duke freshman, and former Fleet Feet Outfitter, became one of only five women aged 17 or under to have completed a 100-mile ultra when she ran the Black Hills 100 (which is actually a few miles longer than 100!) in South Dakota. We asked Grace about her history with ultrarunning, what motivated her to tackle such a challenging distance, and why there aren't more young people in long-distance racing. Grace's advice for anyone cosidering an ultra? "You absolutely should and absolutely can! (Just make sure to get tons of Body Glide and a really comfortable pair of shoes*.)"

When did you start running, and what drew you to long-distance running in particular?  

I started running the summer before my sophomore year of high school and then did my first ultra (a 50k) in the spring of my sophomore year. One day my dad [a running coach] told me about a 100-mile race a friend of his had done, and after falling down an ultra-running internet rabbit hole, I decided that it seemed pretty awesome and I might as well try it. The goal was always to eventually run 100 miles; 100-milers seem to be the holy grail race distance that ultrarunners work towards, sort of the marathon of ultramarathons. 

I love running and particularly long distance running for two reasons: First I just love the community at races, especially ultras; the runners are always the most incredible and encouraging people I have ever met. I love hearing people’s stories along the way and love that even at a competitive event, everyone seems to want the other runners to succeed as well. I also love how running allows me to break through the arbitrary limits I set for myself. When I first started, three miles seemed impossible, but now I realize that with enough hard work and a positive mindset, few distances are truly impossible, even if they are inconceivable.

What made you want to run 100 miles? Was it a positive experience?

I love running (and sometimes walking) ultras and wanted an even more immersive running experience than that of the 50s I had previously done.The Black Hills were impossibly beautiful and the experience was indescribably surreal. It was incredibly difficult both physically and mentally and I honestly didn’t think I was going to finish until I did (after a whopping 33 and a half hours and only a half hour before the 34 hour cutoff). However, I just love the feeling of being outside and continuously moving. After a while on the trail, I no longer have much sense of time or the outside world, it's just me and my shoes, continuing against all odds. It's honestly pretty hard to describe the experience, but I get to this peaceful point where I'm so totally focused on what I am doing (whatever it takes to finish) in each specific moment that I forget everything else. There wasn’t a single moment during the race where I wished I was somewhere else, and while perhaps I wished my legs didn’t hurt so badly or a hill wasn’t quite so tall, I wanted to be in the Black Hills, racing. 

How did you even have time to train for 100 miles while finishing high school, preparing for college, and working at Fleet Feet?

First of all, I don't think it takes quite as much time as most people think to train to run ultras. While I'm sure more elite ultra runners spend an insane amount of time training and preparing, it isn't necessary to finish races. I only run about 35-55 miles a week (on a non-race week) and then incorporate 4-6 races a year which I also count as training.  I'm also particular about when and what order I do specific runs in rather than just about the time spent and the distance covered. (For example I will sometimes do long runs back to back at the end of an otherwise low-mileage week and make sure to do runs late at night or in the heat of the day). However, sometimes things come up and I've found that the best running plans for me need to be flexible. I've had to switch the days of my plan around or cut some mileage to make things work. Running is something I really need in my life to de-stress and something that I enjoy doing in what free time I have. I’m not always excited to put my shoes on and get out the door, but I do, and I’m almost always glad that I did. My dad always tells me that the most important runs aren’t just the long or the fast ones, but the ones that you do when you don’t want to.

How many ultramarathons have you completed? Are you usually the youngest competitor?

I have run the 50k distance four times, completed two 12 hour races (50&54 miles) two 50-ish mile races (ultras are almost always longer than advertised), attempted a 100 miler which I got to 100k on, and then finished the 105 mile Black Hills race. I usually am the youngest, but I have met a few boys my age or younger at one of the 50ks I do.

Why do you think there aren't more young people in endurance sports?

Honestly, I don't think that many people know about ultras (but I think that will change as they have been recently rising in popularity) and lots of younger people are told that they aren't physically capable or qualified to run longer events like marathons or ultras. Also, I think that many younger people don't really have the opportunity to run these kinds of races. It can be hard to find coaches, crews, and advice for ultra racing especially as a teenager with limited resources (I spend a lot of time on the internet researching this stuff but even then, there isn't always a ton of information and sometimes it contradicts itself). I'm really lucky that my parents are so supportive of my running. When I asked my dad if I could try to run an ultra he said yes with only a little hesitation and was immediately willing to help me out. My dad is my coach and runs with me often, he actually even ran the entire Black Hills race with me (from the start he offered to run with me when I try a new distance for the first time). He and my mom both spend their time brainstorming with me about the best nutrition, pacing, training, gear, and everything else that goes into preparing for and completing races and always have believed in me even when I didn't . I'm so grateful for them and feel so lucky that I have gotten this unique opportunity.

What's your next running goal?

What's next for me is more races! Finishing all 105 miles and almost 17,000 ft of elevation change of the Black Hills race wasn't something I really expected to be capable of. Now that I've done it, I'm definitely more excited about and less scared of trying long, difficult, and hilly races that I would have previously shied away from.

 
Grace with her dad and coach, Erik Hall

 *Finding the right shoes, apparel, and gear is crucial to running any distance, but even more so for long endurance events like ultramarathons. As most ultras are on trails, trail-specific shoes are a must, plus a pair or three of road shoes for any off-trail training miles. The "best" shoes will be different for everyone, but here are a few of Grace's favorites:

Trail shoes (race day): New Balance Fresh Foam Hierro v6 (available on fleetfeet.com)
Road shoes: Saucony Ride 14, New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2, Altra Torin 5 (available in-store and online)
Number one gear recommendation: A good running hat (Grace likes Ciele)

Interested in running an ultramarathon? Come see us for personalized recommendations of shoes, nutrition, hydration packs, and more!