February 17, 2025 • 15 mins
Ever made the rookie mistake of racing someone else’s race instead of your own? I did during my first 50k ultra, and it taught me an invaluable lesson about the power of pacing. In this episode of the Choose to Endure, dive into the heart of what it means to truly embrace your own pace. We'll unpack strategies that help you remain focused on your unique goals and strengths, ward off burnout, and find inspiration in, rather than competition with, faster runners. By crafting a pacing plan and setting realistic expectations, you're not just crossing the finish line—you're doing it with strength and pride.
We get into:
• Emphasizing the importance of running your own race
• Discussing the harmful effect of comparison on runners
• Practical strategies to embrace your pace
• The value of a well-thought-out pacing plan
• Encouraging a positive mindset through reframed thoughts
• Sharing personal stories of triumph and lessons learned
• Highlighting the joy in the ultra running journey
• Concluding with empowering takeaways for runners.
Choose to Endure:
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info@choosetoendure.com
Website:
https://www.choosetoendure.com/
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https://www.youtube.com/@ChoosetoEndure
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https://instagram.com/choose_to_endure?utm_source=qr
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552757049526
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello again and welcome to the show.
I very much appreciate yourtime.
You are listening to Choose toEndure, the show dedicated to
back-of-the-pack runners, wherewe share stories, interviews,
gear and training tips specificto the tail-end heroes, you guys
of the Ultra universe.
(00:21):
My name is Richard Gleave.
I've been running Ultra since2017.
I have taken on and finishednumerous Ultra distances, all
the way up through 220 miles,and I am unashamedly a member of
the Back of the Pack, just likemany of you.
This week, we're diving into atopic that every runner, but
(00:44):
especially back-of-the-packrunners, I think, really need to
hear Running your own race.
Let's be real.
It's very easy to fall into thetrap of comparison, especially
on race day, when everybodyaround you seems faster,
stronger or better prepared.
(01:05):
But here's the truth.
I think your pace is your powerand embracing it is the key to
unlocking the best version ofyourself out on the trails.
In this episode, we're going totalk about why running your own
race matters, how to resist thetemptation to compare yourself
(01:27):
with others, and a few of my ownbar napkin practical strategies
to embrace your pace withconfidence.
And, as ever, I'll try to chuckin some personal stories and a
few life lessons I've learnedalong the way.
So get your shoes, lace them up, let's get ready to dive in,
(01:48):
discover raw, inspiring storiesfrom runners who've been right
where you are.
This is the Choose to EndureUltra Running Podcast, with your
host he's English, notAustralian Richard Gleave.
With your host he's English,not Australian, richard Gleave.
Okay, so let's start with whyit's so important to run your
(02:14):
own race.
You and I both know that everyrunner is unique.
We all have our differentstrengths, we all have our
challenges and we all have ourchallenges, and we all have
goals that we're trying to shootfor.
Trying to keep up with someoneelse or feeling like you're
falling short because somebodyelse is doing perceived better
(02:38):
only sets you up for frustrationand burnout.
It's not a great thing.
Running your own race meansfocusing on your goals, your
training, your journey, withoutworrying about what anybody else
is out there doing.
When you embrace your pace, yourun smarter, you conserve
(03:00):
energy, you avoid overexertionand, crucially, you give
yourself the best chance ofreaching the finish line strong.
If you've listened to the firstepisode of this podcast, you'll
know that during my first 50kultra, I made the very rookie
mistake of going out too fast.
(03:22):
I got caught up in theexcitement of the start line, as
many people do, and I tried tokeep up with runners who were
much faster than me and we wererunning uphill.
The first, I think two to threemiles of that race was directly
uphill.
By mile 10, I was gassed, andby mile 20, the second loop, I
(03:44):
was pretty much walkingeverything out there.
I did finish, but barely Gocheck out season one, episode
one, if you want to listen towhat happened there.
But that experience, I wouldsay, taught me right out of the
gate, the hard way, thatsticking to my own pace is the
(04:04):
best and maybe only way toensure that I get to the finish
line of each race that I startand do it hopefully feeling
fairly strong.
So one of the biggest challengesof running your own race is
avoiding that comparison trap.
It's easy to look at otherrunners and think, okay, why
(04:25):
can't I be as fast as them?
But comparison steals your joyand distracts you from your
goals.
So here's how to resist theurge to compare.
Make sure you focus on your why.
Go watch the Billy Yang YouTubevideo.
Remind yourself why you're outthere in the first place.
(04:47):
Maybe it's to prove to yourselfthat you can finish.
Maybe it's to just enjoy andtake in the journey.
Maybe it's to push andchallenge your own limits.
Your goals are valid, no matterhow they stack up against
somebody else's.
Also, reframe your thinking.
(05:07):
So, instead of feelingdiscouraged by faster runners
out there, maybe think of usingtheir presence as something of
an inspiration.
You know things like hey, thinkgood for them.
What I'm doing is right for me.
They're doing what's right forthem.
It doesn't matter.
Ultimately, especially at theback of the pack, we're mostly
not here competing with anythingbut cutoffs and ourselves,
(05:29):
maybe our own time.
So let them go faster.
If they want to go faster, whocares?
Good for them?
They're doing what they need todo.
Also, try to limit distractions.
If seeing other runners passyou by rattles your confidence,
then maybe figure out ways totune them out.
Focus instead on internalizingsome of that stuff.
(05:51):
Maybe think about yourbreathing.
Look around and observe yoursurroundings.
Start reciting a favoritemantra, anything really to
distract you, if this is achallenge for you from seeing
and getting discouraged by thoseindividuals whizzing by you on
downhills or running by you onflats.
(06:12):
I know at a recent race I'm morefrequently passed by runners
and they make it look effortlesson steep climbs, never mind the
flats.
For a moment that makes me feelreally inadequate.
But I try to remind myself thatmy goal isn't to beat anybody
else and I'm really honest aboutthat.
(06:33):
I don't care about beatingother people.
My goal is to finish the raceand do it within the cutoff, and
if it's a race I've done before, maybe try to do it faster.
You know, with the greatest ofrespect, everybody out there has
their own goals.
Those are mine usually.
So if you want to go fasterthan me and that's your space,
(06:53):
brilliant, I'm really happy foryou.
That mental shift helps merefocus on my own effort instead
of having to worry about whatsomeone else is doing.
The third strategy here forembracing your pace, now that
we've talked about why and howto avoid comparison, is having a
(07:15):
pacing plan.
So before the race, do your duediligence, study the course,
figure out some realistic goalsfor each section and the race as
a whole.
You'll know you better thananybody else.
Plan to start conservatively.
Maintain a steady effort in themiddle.
Make sure you save energy for astrong finish.
(07:37):
You'll know from comparing thisrace to other races or other
segments of races where you'veclimbed or run on flat or run on
similar terrain, run in similarweather, you'll have a good
idea of the kind of pace you'reprobably going to end up doing.
So make sure you factor thatinto the race, make sure you
plan and then startconservatively.
(08:00):
The second practical strategyhere is to use technology wisely
.
I would say your GPS watch,presuming you have one I think
most people have one at thispoint, although it would be
really cool to run a racewithout a GPS watch.
I'd have to figure outnavigation, but that would be
kind of interesting to do onetime.
Gps watches they can help youstay on track from a timing and
(08:22):
pacing perspective.
But please don't obsess aboutthose numbers.
Treat it as more of a guide,not a dictator.
That first 50K I was talkingabout earlier, I tried to do a
run-walk scenario because I'dbeen training that way for a
marathon.
Just prior to that I tried torun-walk a trail run with loads
(08:43):
of vert on it in very hotweather and it didn't go very
well.
But I did it because I wasstuck to the watch rather than
letting the running comenaturally.
So definitely for technology,treat it as a guide but not as a
dictator.
Make sure you listen to yourbody and react appropriately.
(09:07):
Third tip break the race intosegments.
So, instead of thinking aboutthe full distance it's something
we hear about a lot right Focuson those smaller goals reach
the next tree, the next aidstation, complete the next mile,
whatever it is that's going tomake the race feel much more
manageable and it's keep you inthe moment and distract from the
(09:27):
bigger challenge out there.
And then, number four run youreffort, not your ego.
If the terrain or theconditions are tougher than
expected, definitely adjust yourpace accordingly.
It's better to slow down andmake it to the finish than to
push too hard and risk a DNF.
(09:48):
Especially if this is a bigrace, a race that you paid a lot
of money for, a race thatyou've traveled to.
You want to get the fullexperience of that race.
Risking pushing too hard andDNFing and not seeing half the
course for me is more of a riskthan just slowing down, making
sure I finish and enjoying theexperience as I go.
(10:11):
Definitely, I've had races whereI've noticed that I was falling
behind planned splits,especially on particularly
technical sections.
But instead of panicking, Ireminded myself that it's the
effort that matters more thanthe pace in tough conditions.
Manage to your effort, slowdown, adjust your plan, make it
(10:34):
to the finish line, which I didin this case with well, let's
say, 15 minutes to spare, whichisn't a lot of time, but I still
made it.
So I'm claiming that one andthat's probably the race I'm
most proud of.
I would say I've had some goodfinishes.
I even won a race one time, butthe race I'm most proud of is
(10:54):
that race that I finished with15 minutes to spare, because I
finished that race started with100 people signed up for it.
Only 70 showed up for the startline and of those 70, I was the
last finisher and I think I waseither 18 or 19 to finish that
race Definitely the one I'm mostproud of doing.
(11:16):
Finally, let's talk about thejoy that comes from running your
own race.
When you stop worrying abouthow you compare to others, you
really open yourself up to fullyexperiencing the moment.
You connect with the journey.
So, instead of stressing aboutyour pace, you can focus on the
beauty of the trail, the supportof the community and maybe even
(11:38):
the satisfaction of being ableto push your limits.
Having the opportunity to dothese things, you celebrate your
progress.
Every step that you takeforward is a victory for you, no
matter how fast or slow itfeels, it's okay.
You finish with pride.
There's no greater feeling thancrossing the finish line
(12:01):
knowing you ran the race yourway.
When I crossed that finish lineas the last finisher with I
think it was 15 minutes to sparevolunteers and spectators were
still there.
They were all cheering like I'djust set some kind of course
record, and it reminded me verymuch that ultras are all about
(12:23):
the journey and nobody caresabout the clock, unless you're
one of those elite guys at thefront, I guess.
But for the most part, it'sabout the experience.
So, to wrap up, here are my fourkey takeaways for this episode,
for embracing your pace andrunning your own race.
(12:45):
Number one focus on your goalsand your journey.
Forget about what everybodyelse is doing.
Number two resist thecomparison trap by reframing
your thoughts and focusing backonto your why.
Number three use practicalstrategies like pacing plans,
(13:08):
breaking the race into segmentsand running your effort, not
your ego.
Number four find, if you can,joy in the journey by
celebrating your progress andfinish with a sense of pride.
If these strategies resonatewith you and you're ready to
(13:28):
take the next step in yourrunning journey, let's keep that
conversation going.
Do you have a favorite strategyfor embracing the power of
running your own pace?
How do you make that work?
If you've got one, join theconversation.
(13:49):
Feel free to share in thecomments or post on one of our
social media pages.
We love to get some chat goingaround this topic and while
you're out browsing the internet, don't forget to subscribe to
the show.
That way, you'll get notifiedeach time a new episode drops,
and if you haven't had a momentto do so yet, please consider
hitting follow, rate the showand if you're getting something
(14:12):
of value, leave a review and letothers know.
That would absolutely mean theworld to me.
Your support helps grow thepodcast.
It helps connect it to morerunners in this amazing ultra
community that we have, and itspreads the word to those who
could benefit from what we sharehere.
You can find this show onInstagram and Facebook at Choose
(14:35):
to Endure, or visit us anytimeat choosetoeendurecom.
I really do love hearing fromyou.
I say it every episode, whetherit's to say hello, whether it's
to suggest a topic or justshare your story.
You can email me directly atinfo at choosetoeendurecom, and
I would love to hear from youInteracting with listeners, just
(14:57):
like you, is one of my favoriteparts of doing this show.
So until next time, run long,run strong, run your own pace,
drop the ego and keep choosingto endure.
Hello again and welcome to the show.
I very much appreciate yourtime.
You are listening to Choose toEndure, the show dedicated to
back-of-the-pack runners, wherewe share stories, interviews,
gear and training tips specificto the tail-end heroes, you guys
of the Ultra universe.
(00:21):
My name is Richard Gleave.
I've been running Ultra since2017.
I have taken on and finishednumerous Ultra distances, all
the way up through 220 miles,and I am unashamedly a member of
the Back of the Pack, just likemany of you.
This week, we're diving into atopic that every runner, but
(00:44):
especially back-of-the-packrunners, I think, really need to
hear Running your own race.
Let's be real.
It's very easy to fall into thetrap of comparison, especially
on race day, when everybodyaround you seems faster,
stronger or better prepared.
(01:05):
But here's the truth.
I think your pace is your powerand embracing it is the key to
unlocking the best version ofyourself out on the trails.
In this episode, we're going totalk about why running your own
race matters, how to resist thetemptation to compare yourself
(01:27):
with others, and a few of my ownbar napkin practical strategies
to embrace your pace withconfidence.
And, as ever, I'll try to chuckin some personal stories and a
few life lessons I've learnedalong the way.
So get your shoes, lace them up, let's get ready to dive in,
(01:48):
discover raw, inspiring storiesfrom runners who've been right
where you are.
This is the Choose to EndureUltra Running Podcast, with your
host he's English, notAustralian Richard Gleave.
With your host he's English,not Australian, richard Gleave.
Okay, so let's start with whyit's so important to run your
(02:14):
own race.
You and I both know that everyrunner is unique.
We all have our differentstrengths, we all have our
challenges and we all have ourchallenges, and we all have
goals that we're trying to shootfor.
Trying to keep up with someoneelse or feeling like you're
falling short because somebodyelse is doing perceived better
(02:38):
only sets you up for frustrationand burnout.
It's not a great thing.
Running your own race meansfocusing on your goals, your
training, your journey, withoutworrying about what anybody else
is out there doing.
When you embrace your pace, yourun smarter, you conserve
(03:00):
energy, you avoid overexertionand, crucially, you give
yourself the best chance ofreaching the finish line strong.
If you've listened to the firstepisode of this podcast, you'll
know that during my first 50kultra, I made the very rookie
mistake of going out too fast.
(03:22):
I got caught up in theexcitement of the start line, as
many people do, and I tried tokeep up with runners who were
much faster than me and we wererunning uphill.
The first, I think two to threemiles of that race was directly
uphill.
By mile 10, I was gassed, andby mile 20, the second loop, I
(03:44):
was pretty much walkingeverything out there.
I did finish, but barely Gocheck out season one, episode
one, if you want to listen towhat happened there.
But that experience, I wouldsay, taught me right out of the
gate, the hard way, thatsticking to my own pace is the
(04:04):
best and maybe only way toensure that I get to the finish
line of each race that I startand do it hopefully feeling
fairly strong.
So one of the biggest challengesof running your own race is
avoiding that comparison trap.
It's easy to look at otherrunners and think, okay, why
(04:25):
can't I be as fast as them?
But comparison steals your joyand distracts you from your
goals.
So here's how to resist theurge to compare.
Make sure you focus on your why.
Go watch the Billy Yang YouTubevideo.
Remind yourself why you're outthere in the first place.
(04:47):
Maybe it's to prove to yourselfthat you can finish.
Maybe it's to just enjoy andtake in the journey.
Maybe it's to push andchallenge your own limits.
Your goals are valid, no matterhow they stack up against
somebody else's.
Also, reframe your thinking.
(05:07):
So, instead of feelingdiscouraged by faster runners
out there, maybe think of usingtheir presence as something of
an inspiration.
You know things like hey, thinkgood for them.
What I'm doing is right for me.
They're doing what's right forthem.
It doesn't matter.
Ultimately, especially at theback of the pack, we're mostly
not here competing with anythingbut cutoffs and ourselves,
(05:29):
maybe our own time.
So let them go faster.
If they want to go faster, whocares?
Good for them?
They're doing what they need todo.
Also, try to limit distractions.
If seeing other runners passyou by rattles your confidence,
then maybe figure out ways totune them out.
Focus instead on internalizingsome of that stuff.
(05:51):
Maybe think about yourbreathing.
Look around and observe yoursurroundings.
Start reciting a favoritemantra, anything really to
distract you, if this is achallenge for you from seeing
and getting discouraged by thoseindividuals whizzing by you on
downhills or running by you onflats.
(06:12):
I know at a recent race I'm morefrequently passed by runners
and they make it look effortlesson steep climbs, never mind the
flats.
For a moment that makes me feelreally inadequate.
But I try to remind myself thatmy goal isn't to beat anybody
else and I'm really honest aboutthat.
(06:33):
I don't care about beatingother people.
My goal is to finish the raceand do it within the cutoff, and
if it's a race I've done before, maybe try to do it faster.
You know, with the greatest ofrespect, everybody out there has
their own goals.
Those are mine usually.
So if you want to go fasterthan me and that's your space,
(06:53):
brilliant, I'm really happy foryou.
That mental shift helps merefocus on my own effort instead
of having to worry about whatsomeone else is doing.
The third strategy here forembracing your pace, now that
we've talked about why and howto avoid comparison, is having a
(07:15):
pacing plan.
So before the race, do your duediligence, study the course,
figure out some realistic goalsfor each section and the race as
a whole.
You'll know you better thananybody else.
Plan to start conservatively.
Maintain a steady effort in themiddle.
Make sure you save energy for astrong finish.
(07:37):
You'll know from comparing thisrace to other races or other
segments of races where you'veclimbed or run on flat or run on
similar terrain, run in similarweather, you'll have a good
idea of the kind of pace you'reprobably going to end up doing.
So make sure you factor thatinto the race, make sure you
plan and then startconservatively.
(08:00):
The second practical strategyhere is to use technology wisely
.
I would say your GPS watch,presuming you have one I think
most people have one at thispoint, although it would be
really cool to run a racewithout a GPS watch.
I'd have to figure outnavigation, but that would be
kind of interesting to do onetime.
Gps watches they can help youstay on track from a timing and
(08:22):
pacing perspective.
But please don't obsess aboutthose numbers.
Treat it as more of a guide,not a dictator.
That first 50K I was talkingabout earlier, I tried to do a
run-walk scenario because I'dbeen training that way for a
marathon.
Just prior to that I tried torun-walk a trail run with loads
(08:43):
of vert on it in very hotweather and it didn't go very
well.
But I did it because I wasstuck to the watch rather than
letting the running comenaturally.
So definitely for technology,treat it as a guide but not as a
dictator.
Make sure you listen to yourbody and react appropriately.
(09:07):
Third tip break the race intosegments.
So, instead of thinking aboutthe full distance it's something
we hear about a lot right Focuson those smaller goals reach
the next tree, the next aidstation, complete the next mile,
whatever it is that's going tomake the race feel much more
manageable and it's keep you inthe moment and distract from the
(09:27):
bigger challenge out there.
And then, number four run youreffort, not your ego.
If the terrain or theconditions are tougher than
expected, definitely adjust yourpace accordingly.
It's better to slow down andmake it to the finish than to
push too hard and risk a DNF.
(09:48):
Especially if this is a bigrace, a race that you paid a lot
of money for, a race thatyou've traveled to.
You want to get the fullexperience of that race.
Risking pushing too hard andDNFing and not seeing half the
course for me is more of a riskthan just slowing down, making
sure I finish and enjoying theexperience as I go.
(10:11):
Definitely, I've had races whereI've noticed that I was falling
behind planned splits,especially on particularly
technical sections.
But instead of panicking, Ireminded myself that it's the
effort that matters more thanthe pace in tough conditions.
Manage to your effort, slowdown, adjust your plan, make it
(10:34):
to the finish line, which I didin this case with well, let's
say, 15 minutes to spare, whichisn't a lot of time, but I still
made it.
So I'm claiming that one andthat's probably the race I'm
most proud of.
I would say I've had some goodfinishes.
I even won a race one time, butthe race I'm most proud of is
(10:54):
that race that I finished with15 minutes to spare, because I
finished that race started with100 people signed up for it.
Only 70 showed up for the startline and of those 70, I was the
last finisher and I think I waseither 18 or 19 to finish that
race Definitely the one I'm mostproud of doing.
(11:16):
Finally, let's talk about thejoy that comes from running your
own race.
When you stop worrying abouthow you compare to others, you
really open yourself up to fullyexperiencing the moment.
You connect with the journey.
So, instead of stressing aboutyour pace, you can focus on the
beauty of the trail, the supportof the community and maybe even
(11:38):
the satisfaction of being ableto push your limits.
Having the opportunity to dothese things, you celebrate your
progress.
Every step that you takeforward is a victory for you, no
matter how fast or slow itfeels, it's okay.
You finish with pride.
There's no greater feeling thancrossing the finish line
(12:01):
knowing you ran the race yourway.
When I crossed that finish lineas the last finisher with I
think it was 15 minutes to sparevolunteers and spectators were
still there.
They were all cheering like I'djust set some kind of course
record, and it reminded me verymuch that ultras are all about
(12:23):
the journey and nobody caresabout the clock, unless you're
one of those elite guys at thefront, I guess.
But for the most part, it'sabout the experience.
So, to wrap up, here are my fourkey takeaways for this episode,
for embracing your pace andrunning your own race.
(12:45):
Number one focus on your goalsand your journey.
Forget about what everybodyelse is doing.
Number two resist thecomparison trap by reframing
your thoughts and focusing backonto your why.
Number three use practicalstrategies like pacing plans,
(13:08):
breaking the race into segmentsand running your effort, not
your ego.
Number four find, if you can,joy in the journey by
celebrating your progress andfinish with a sense of pride.
If these strategies resonatewith you and you're ready to
(13:28):
take the next step in yourrunning journey, let's keep that
conversation going.
Do you have a favorite strategyfor embracing the power of
running your own pace?
How do you make that work?
If you've got one, join theconversation.
(13:49):
Feel free to share in thecomments or post on one of our
social media pages.
We love to get some chat goingaround this topic and while
you're out browsing the internet, don't forget to subscribe to
the show.
That way, you'll get notifiedeach time a new episode drops,
and if you haven't had a momentto do so yet, please consider
hitting follow, rate the showand if you're getting something
(14:12):
of value, leave a review and letothers know.
That would absolutely mean theworld to me.
Your support helps grow thepodcast.
It helps connect it to morerunners in this amazing ultra
community that we have, and itspreads the word to those who
could benefit from what we sharehere.
You can find this show onInstagram and Facebook at Choose
(14:35):
to Endure, or visit us anytimeat choosetoeendurecom.
I really do love hearing fromyou.
I say it every episode, whetherit's to say hello, whether it's
to suggest a topic or justshare your story.
You can email me directly atinfo at choosetoeendurecom, and
I would love to hear from youInteracting with listeners, just
(14:57):
like you, is one of my favoriteparts of doing this show.
So until next time, run long,run strong, run your own pace,
drop the ego and keep choosingto endure.
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