Journey Races? Embrace Adventure, Self-Reliance & Ultra Challenges

Imagine embarking on an ultra marathon where the finish line is not just a destination but a self-navigated and supported journey through breathtaking landscapes, and camaraderie trumps competition. Join me, Richard Gleave, as I unravel the allure of journey races—those epic point-to-point adventures that redefine traditional racing. On this episode of Choose to Endure, I share personal tales from the trails and explore the mindset needed to tackle these self-sufficient expeditions. Discover practical tips for preparing for such adventures, where aid stations are non-existent, and self-reliance becomes your most trusted companion. We'll delve into stories of grit and resilience, like the Swammie Shuffle 200, contrasting it with more supported races and celebrate the friendships forged along the way.

Let's also take a moment to talk about the beating heart of ultra running—community. Your support plays a crucial role in expanding the ultra running world, and it's more impactful than you might think. By subscribing, leaving reviews, and connecting with us on platforms like Instagram and Facebook at Choose to Endure, you're helping us reach more like-minded adventurers. I encourage you to email us at [e-mail], suggesting topics or sharing your stories—because your involvement fuels this passion project. Together, let’s keep the spirit of endurance alive and celebrate the unique challenges that make journey races a life-changing experience.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello again and welcome to the show, if this
happens to be your first timelistening.
Thank you so much for stoppingby.
You are listening to Choose toEndure, the show dedicated to
the non-elite runners, where weshare stories, interviews, gear
and training tips specific tothe tail-end heroes of the Ultra

(00:22):
Universe.
Specific to the tail-end heroesof the Ultra Universe.
If you haven't had a moment todo so yet, consider heading over
to your favorite podcast app.
Maybe hit, follow or rate theshow and, if you're getting
something of value, definitelyhelp us out, leave a review and
let others know.
My name's Richard Gleave.
I have been running Ultrassince 2017.

(00:43):
I have taken on and finishednumerous ultras at this point,
all the way up through mycurrent max of 220 miles, and I
am very much a memberunashamedly so of the back of
the pack, just like many of youguys out there.
Today's episode is a really coolone, one I've wanted to do for

(01:05):
a while.
It's about a special kind ofrace the journey race.
Now, these aren't your typicalout and back or looped ultras.
Journey races are usuallypoint-to-point adventures.
They often span multiple daysand typically they cover pretty
vast distances, sometimesthrough some of the most

(01:28):
beautiful and challenginglandscapes that are out there
for us to run through.
What really sets these racesapart, though, is that they're
not just about crossing thefinish line.
I've done a few of these, and Ithink, more than most, these
races are about the experience.

(01:48):
Hence the term journey run.
It's about the journey.
These runs are all about thesights, the people and the miles
in between.
For back of the pack runnerslike you and I, for

(02:12):
back-of-the-pack runners likeyou and I, these races are an
opportunity to embrace the joyof the journey and really
redefine what success looks like.
In this episode, I'm going toexplore what I think makes
journey races so unique themindset needed to fully enjoy

(02:35):
them, a few practical tips forpreparing based on my own
experience, and some interestingstories from the trail.
So if you're ready to go, let'sdive in.
Who've been right where you are?
This is the Choose to EndureUltra Running Podcast With your
host.
He's English, not AustralianRichard Gleave.
All right, probably makes senseto start at the beginning.

(02:58):
So what sets Journey Races apartfrom your typical ultra
marathon journey races apartfrom your typical ultra marathon
?
Well, as I said, journey racesare all about adventure, which
is really cool.
Unlike a looped course, theyusually take you from point A to
point B, often through prettyremote, interesting terrain

(03:23):
that's going to challenge bothyour body and your spirit.
These races are specificallydesigned to be an experience
rather than a competition, somuch so that the journey itself
is considered the reward.
Now there is a scenic factorinvolved, too.

(03:44):
Journey races, as I said, oftentraverse pretty amazing
landscapes.
It really runs the gamut hereMountains, deserts, forests,
coastal journey runs and reallyeverything in between isn't on

(04:08):
how fast you can go, but it'sabout being in that moment,
soaking in the beauty around youand being a part of that
community for the time it takesyou to run through and be in it.
One of the most distinctivefeatures of journey races,
though, is that there areusually absolutely, absolutely
no support in the form of aidstations.
Participants, we rely entirelyon ourselves, along with places

(04:33):
like shops and other people thatyou're going to encounter along
the way.
That's how you sustain yourselfduring the race.
Pretty interesting, no aidstations.
Pretty interesting, no aidstations.
So this means you've got tocarry what you think you'll need
on your back and thensupplement it as necessary, and

(04:53):
that's a really cool littleangle to approach these races.
There are no drop bags here,think ahead about what you
believe you'll need and look forpieces of gear that are going
to perform multiple jobs alongthe way.
Other considerations are youknow, do you stop to eat?

(05:16):
Are there places open to whereyou can refill your water?
Remember, there are no aidstations here, so you know you
need to eat, you need to getwater and you need to sleep.
Should you stay in a hotel forrecovery and the food?
Typically you get a nicebreakfast in the morning in a
hotel I can definitely attest tothat one or do you keep pushing
through the night?

(05:37):
Journey races, I think, requirereally creative problem solving
and logistical planning, andthat's why I think in in part,
they really differ from evenother races of similar lengths.
They also often lack cut-offs,since there are no aid stations
to associate cut-offs with.

(05:57):
That makes these events a lotmore about self-sufficiency and
self-determination.
It really is a true sort ofchoose your own adventure
experience.
Now, many journey races maybemost journey races are going to
span multiple days three, four,five, even six days so they're

(06:20):
going to require runners to bereally adaptable and mentally
tough.
It's not just a test ofendurance, but it really is a
test of your own resilience.
They also have very much acommunity feel about them.
These journey races quite oftenfoster a sense of camaraderie

(06:41):
among the participants.
When you're out there for dayssharing the trail with others,
then the connections youinevitably end up building turn
out to be pretty deeplymeaningful.
There is no hiding out there onone of these runs.
A great example of a truejourney race would be the Swami
Shuffle the 200 that I did lastyear and actually I'm doing

(07:04):
again this year because it wasreally awesome down the Outer
Banks of North Carolina town totown following the road
Fantastic.
Unlike races with aid stationsand structured support, this
event emphasizes self-relianceand the adventure of figuring
things out as you go.
On the other hand, if you lookat a big race like, let's say,

(07:27):
the May race that I have comingup Cocodona 250 or Bigfoot 200
or Moab 240, those races alsooffer an incredible experience
and really stunning landscapes.
But they don't fall into thisjourney category since they have
aid stations and definedstructured support for runners

(07:50):
along the way.
All are incredible events, butthe distinction highlights
really what makes journey racesuniquely challenging and
rewarding.
So there's also a mindset shiftinvolved in journey racing.
You've really got to figure outhow to be present in the

(08:13):
journey.
You need to shift your mindsetfrom racing to perhaps exploring
challenge the typical ultrarunning narrative, I think, of
chasing cutoffs or podium.
Instead, they invite you toslow down, take in the

(08:37):
surroundings and focus on beingpresent in the moment.
Success in a journey race atleast for us, towards the back
of the pack isn't going to beabout your pace or finish time.
I think it's more aboutcompleting the course on your
own terms, allowing yourself topause, take photos, enjoy the
view, enjoy the experience andthere's going to be struggles,

(09:03):
so embrace them.
Every journey race has its highsand lows.
Like other ultras out there,instead of fighting those tough
moments, try to lean into them,because they are part of the
story you end up tellingyourself and others later.
And also make sure youcelebrate the little victories,

(09:23):
whether that's reaching the topof a climb or spotting a
beautiful sunrise.
Let's say, on a beach afteryou've had a horrendous night
through driving, rain and windand it's getting close to
freezing and you're shaking,close to hypothermia, I can tell

(09:43):
you from personal experience isan absolutely beautiful sight,
and that's really when Irealized that this is why I'm
out there not to finish, but toexplore places that I haven't
been before and maybe wouldnever go back to again and
experience moments like that.

(10:04):
All right, some practical tipsfor tackling a journey race.
As I mentioned before, journeyracing requires, I think, a
little bit of a differentapproach when it comes to
preparation and strategy.
So here's a few hints to helpyou potentially succeed, as you
might plan your own journey race.
I touched on it earlier Makesure you plan your gear wisely.

(10:29):
Journey races require you tocarry more gear.
You're going to probably need abigger pack.
You're going to need to includeextra food, extra clothing and
probably some navigation tools.
Make sure you invest in acomfortable, well-fitting pack
and make sure you test it fullof the gear you're going to use

(10:50):
on long runs.
There are no aid stations,there are no drop bags in this,
so you've got to take with youwhatever you think you are going
to need for that specific racein that specific location, with
that specific weather.
You've got to have all thatready to roll in advance.
Also, make sure you train forself-sufficiency, so practice

(11:11):
fueling and hydration strategiesthat are going to work for you.
Be prepared to manage your needsbetween sort of pseudo aid
stations, gas stations, or thereseem to be a lot of dollar
generals floating around thatyou can use in that guise, but
these can be further apart thanin traditional ultras and the

(11:32):
distance between them can varywildly.
Sometimes have them, sometimesdon't.
So you're gonna.
You've got to be prepared forthat and understand that going
in, you've also got to be ableto adapt your pacing strategy.
So journey racing is aboutconsistency, definitely not
speed.
Make sure you startconservatively.
Focus on maintaining asustainable effort over 3, 4, 5,

(11:57):
even more in some cases days.
Also, make sure you are goodwith being alone.
Prepare mentally for somesolitude.
Journey races invariablyinclude really long stretches
where you may not see anotherrunner.
Make sure you're okay with that, you have a plan for that and

(12:23):
that you can embrace thatsolitude as an opportunity to
reflect and be mindful.
And then, lastly here, makesure you have a plan for sleep.
You can't get through multi-dayracing like this without
sleeping somewhere somehow,whether you choose to take
regular naps, dirt naps, stay ina post office or a bathroom or

(12:47):
perhaps run to a hotel each day,thus giving you a defined
starting and stopping pointwhich, I can tell you, really
helps mentally along the way,whatever it is, you need to have
a plan and it needs to beadaptable.
Mid-race there are no definedsleep stations here.
You get to choose your own,when and where you're ready.

(13:10):
All right, so to wrap up, hereare my key takeaways about
journey races.
Feel free to go out and look upyour own.
I think these are a tremendousway to race and much underrated.
Number one journey races arevery much about the experience,
not just the finish line.
They're going to challenge youto embrace the adventure, take

(13:33):
you to places you've never beenbefore, allow you to be in that
place for a significant amountof time and find joy in every
mile.
Number two shift your mindsetfrom racing to exploring.
That's going to allow you to bemore present and savor that
journey, even during the toughmoments which you will have.

(13:56):
Number three preparing for ajourney race requires careful
planning, self-sufficiency and awillingness to adapt to the
unexpected, so make sure you'reready for that.
And number four the stories andconnections you can make during
a journey race are often themost rewarding part of the

(14:20):
experience.
If you've been consideringsigning up for a journey race,
or if you've never heard of onebefore and now you're intrigued,
definitely go out there andlook for some.
I encourage you to go for it.
These events really do offer aunique opportunity to push your
limits, to connect with natureand discover what you are truly

(14:43):
capable of.
You are truly capable of, so.
If these strategies resonatewith you and you're ready to
take the next step in yourjourney, keep the conversation
going.
Don't forget to subscribe to theshow.
That way, you get notifiedevery time a new episode drops
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That would mean the world to me.

(15:04):
Your support helps grow thepodcast, helps connect it to
more runners in this amazingultra community and spreads the
word to those who could benefitfrom the information that we're
sharing.
You can find me on Instagramand Facebook at Choose to Endure
, or visit us anytime atchoosetoendurecom.
I really love hearing from you,whether that's just to say

(15:27):
hello, suggest a topic or shareyour story.
You can also email me directlyat info at choosetoeenjoycom,
and I will tell you, interactingwith listeners, just like you,
is one of my favorite parts ofdoing this show.
It makes my day every time Isee an email come in and it's

(15:49):
somebody reaching out.
So until next time, make sureyou run long, check out some
journey.
Runs, run strong and keepchoosing to endure.
We'll see you next time.