HOW DOES A 150KM ULTRA MARATHON SOUND?

10 years after losing his son Mark is still running and still fundraising. He's now in training for the 150km West Highland Way, an epic ultra, with breathtaking scenery and he's about to hit £20k of fundraising. Find out what's involved in running an event of this magnitude and the mental and physical commitment that's needed.

If you'd like to support Mark here's his fundraising page

This is the charity that he is supporting sands.org.uk

For more podcasts head to https://www.sapphirerunningzone.com/podcasts. We have four channels, one on training support, another on fundraising, a third on runner stories and a fourth on events. If you'd to be the focus on one just let us know using the chat function on the homepage.

PODCAST NOTES

Keywords   ultra marathon, fundraising, mental resilience, West Highland Way, running community, training, aid stations, charity, SANS, mental health   Summary   In this episode of the Runner Stories podcast, Tim interviews Mark Doris, who is preparing for the challenging West Highland Way ultra marathon. Mark shares his journey from a serious knee injury to becoming a passionate fundraiser for SANDS, a charity supporting bereaved parents. He discusses his extensive training regimen, the logistics of ultra marathon running, and the importance of mental resilience. Mark also highlights his fundraising strategies and the support he receives from his community and workplace, aiming to raise awareness for stillbirth and neonatal death.   Takeaways

• Mark started running again after losing his son in 2015.
• He has raised nearly £20,000 for SANDS, a charity for bereaved parents.
• The West Highland Way ultra marathon is 95 miles long with significant elevation gain.
• Training involves high volume and familiarisation with terrain.
• Mark prefers real food over gels during long runs.
• Preparation includes carrying mandatory emergency kits during training runs.
• Aid stations are self-sufficient, and runners prepare drop bags for their needs.
• Mark emphasises the importance of mental resilience during long runs.
• Fundraising strategies include mixing up events to keep interest alive.
• Mark's workplace matches his fundraising efforts, doubling his contributions.

Sound Bites

• "It's a 95 mile ultra marathon."
• "You've got to be prepared for the worst."
• "It's about the support crew."

Chapters   00:00 Introduction to Mark's Journey 02:00 Training for the Ultra Marathon 06:02 Race Day Preparations and Strategies 10:09 Safety and Aid Stations 14:01 Fundraising for a Cause 20:06 Future Aspirations and Reflections