Sunglasses UPDATE: if you haven’t watched the video, this will make no sense yet - but the sunglasses have been found! Do not go diving for them, because they aren’t there anymore 😁
Only 5 minutes in and the tension is building like a well-written 80s thriller. The record-scratch freeze-frame intro, the multiple plot strands of foot pain and Garmin / Course marker discrepancy threatening the hero's journey. Love it when a plan (totally fails) to come together.
I f***ing love this channel, easily my favourite fitness related RUclipsr. You and Jen are so down to earth, it's refreshing to hear about the great and equally terrible moments of your training, with a hefty side of brilliant sarcasm:). Thanks for keeping it real!
So true. I binned my trainers after I finished, never to do another..... Fast forward 10 months and stood on the start line about to do it all again! 🤣
You were one of my biggest inspirations for getting under 20 on a 5k. I thought, if he can do it I can do it, and it worked. 19:38 and now I have a passion for running. Thank you so much!
I ran 4km in 28 minutes yesterday. Final week of C25K. I've never been able to run before and have failed C25K three times. This time I'm nearly done but and loving it!.
C25K is a great running target, every time I fall off the wagon (which is too often to mention but less than the number of times I’ve got back on and that what counts!) it’s my go to target! Keep going and you’ve love setting that PB 5k!
Wow that's an awesome display of mental strength to make the finish line, I was surprised you said you wouldn't try the race again, with a good training camp and 90 kg body weight you would be well within 14 hrs. Thanks for inspiring us 50 somethings Mark that was right up there with Rocky 3-4 training montage for motivation 👏
A neck injury has all but stopped my heavy lifting career at 31 years old. I’ve felt lost and without anything to do to challenge myself physically. Found your channel recently after getting recommended the first 100k run and you’re an inspiration. Going to start my running journey and can’t wait!
How cool is it that those Dudes showed up with proper theme music and cheered you on. Good on them and Good on you Mark for putting yourself through another ultra marathon- without much training.
Great work! As a runner, it would be cool to see you do this event again next year but with training. You could talk a lot about how the training has changed how you feel at certain points in the race ("last year I was dying, now I'm feeling fine..."), improved performance etc. I've heard training for events can help, but who knows 😁
Hey Mark, I REALLY love your content. I’m a road and ultra runner who is 5’7, 105kgs. I haven’t run a 100km, but my 50k time is 5 hours 17 minutes. I’m currently training for a marathon with hopes of sub 4 hours. I find as long as my training stays consistent, and my nutrition is absolutely on point, I avoid hitting walls. You are an absolute rockstar for this video.
I've watched a *lot* of ultramarathon videos, and yours is the best at conveying the incredible pain you go through, and how frustrating and downright weird it is when your body fails on you. Congrats on the race and thanks for the great vid!
Did a half marathon in protest after the official one I was supposed to run was cancelled (due to the queen's passing!)... Only a fifth of what you managed!
As someone approaching 50 who's late in life to fitness I find your channel hugely motivational. Your pain is literally our gain. Keep it up your an absolute machine. 💪🏼
Another great watch, thanks. Interesting re. distance markers - I completed the Peak District Ultra Challenge 100km in the summer and actually did 114km and there's no way I walked 14km round the aid stations!!
Another fab video Mark, you are always on point. I have been doing all this endurance nonsense stuff for 38 years now! Firstly a runner marathons, half marathons 10ks all sorts of stuff the for the last 30 a triathlete, and yes very often in the middle of whatever you're doing you think. Why the hell am I doing this stupid stuff! This endurance stuff hurts like hell at times. I have never won anything just doing it for the sheer hell of saying I did that went there and got the medal and the T-shirt. And the satisfaction of knowing that even without a win, you are still way above average for even completing the vast amount of training required, let alone actually finishing whatever it was you were doing. As most ordinary folk could not even begin to contemplate such feats. Great watch Mark.
I’m getting too old for that nonsense. 😂 There is an increasing risk of actual death with each passing year ……. Although, views are good so you never know 🤣
oh boy the motivation you give me to run. I started a month and a half ago with the goal of being able to just run a 5k in october (its early august when im writing this), im 8 weeks into the journey and im hooked! but the first 3 or 4 weeks was so rough i didnt want to put the running shoes on just thinking about it, now i want to run everyday thanks to you. keep up the good work, Mark!
This week’s episode is sponsored by Vasoline, not Squarespace! What an inspirational 10k finish to your race!!! Thank you for continued powerful content!! 💪🏽💪🏽
"Passing out, that would be inconvenient!" Great comment to make at that stage, it shows the brain was still working. Well done on an amazing performance. My longest run is 31.5 km, and that was enough for me.
Really enjoy watching your videos. Not even a runner, just love how open and accessible the videos are with a "warts and all" transparency to them, just comes across as more real and relatable than a lot of other content. Keep up the great work 🙂
My favourite so far, love how chipper you look at the start and then slowly watching the wheels come off! Incredible effort at the end to get yourself running. I think the positive reaction to the video comes from the the drama of your battle against human frailty or maybe it’s just enjoying watching you suffer ;)
An amount of Vaseline that would normally get me on a register killed me 😂😂 In all serious this was a fantastic watch and HUGE respect to you for even going it once let alone again with no training! Incredible! Keep up the fine work Sir!
The pure motivation when you sad your mind wasn't done and you started giving it all and not giving up to beat last year's time. Actual chills! That was a quick 40 mins of ups and downs. We'll done
My husband and I did “The wall” ratrace event in June, you should give that one a go! It’s 70 miles across haidrians wall. Oh yeah we didn’t train either. It’s amazing what your brain can force your body to do. Your hyrox training and general base fitness is enough to get you through 100k. Well done on beating your time 🥂👏
So I gather you are above average in: height, 5K running, Hyrox competition, Ultra Running and many other things that I am unaware of. Shoot you even have an above average wife (talking about the Hyrox competition). But in all honesty you have an above average YT channel (I mean you are known as the YT Man). Your documentaries along with your humor, and video editing are both entertaining and motivating. When I run the next day after watching one of your videos, I tend to run... above average (for a nursing home).
The thought comes to mind, that you are -just ever so slightly - stubborn! ...and/or delusional towards the end of the "run". Putting on vaseline at the last rest area "nearly passing out" (from pain, I imagine)... and still intenting to pick up pace. SO inspiring, SO crazy, SO brave. Love it!
Loved this. And glad you didn't try to cut the video to a shorter length. Well worth the whole 42 minutes. It's actually made me want to train for it next year. Never ran further than a marathon but seeing you do it has made me think I can too, so cheers. And well played. I think what you proved is it takes a base level of fitness and shit tonne of mental strength to complete something so barmy.
That was by far my favorite video of yours to include all the ones with Nixon. I really have no idea how you push yourself so hard. Congratulations on finishing, surviving, and the PB!
It's always good to know that I'm not the only one who does stupid sh*t to my body. But it's good inspiration to keep moving ahead, step by step, and get the job done. Good on you. Thanks Mark.
@@Kelly_Ben reasonably well in the end. Thanks for asking. Foot held up ok for the most part and set a time of 2:22. I was targeting 2:25 and be happy under 2:30 so I'd call it a win. Can't walk very good now through.
Amazing tenacity! Good on ya for getting through it! I'm running the Chicago marathon in a few weeks, I will use your race as some inspiration.🏃♀🏃♀🏃♀🏃♀
When fitness reaches psycho proportions: perform at-home surgery days before an extreme endurance race that you haven’t trained for, alter your running shoes, and ignore severe pain. That is serious metal. Much respect. Chafing is seriously excruciating when it is severe.
25:15 When the right toe decided to join the party. LoL. True grit seeing it through to the end and I'll take that with me when I'm on my next pain run!
Can't help but be inspired watching this. I set a new PB on my park run after finding your channel. Now have my first half marathon at the weekend. Ultra next year 🤔
Awesome job. We were on holiday in the middle of the highlands with shitty internet so was very much looking forward to seeing this. I'm tempted to do the 50km next year. I started the training on holiday and ran my first half marathon distance. Just over 2 hours so happy with that.
Incredible effort, 'well done' doesn't quite cut it! Watching you focus on your pain, then seeing you tap into your mental strength, made me want to recommend 'The Chimp Paradox' if you've not read it already? It's taken my mental strength to another level, helps deal with those dark moments!
I agree. I suffered a breakdown a few years ago and was in a permanent state of fear. Since then, i refuse to be controlled by my negative thoughts. When i get them, i defy them and just push harder. I have walked three ultra’s (unable to run due to a prolapsed disc and loss off curvature to the lower back) and although I’m in a lot of pain, I stay in the same mindset from start to finish. I do not allow my subconscious (chimp) to control my thoughts. I also suffer from chaffing, which felt like a cactus between my cheeks.
This was the most riveting watch. Strange as that sounds, with all the pain you were enduring. I felt with you all the way. Your ultra effort speaks volumes for your tenacity and grit. Well done Mark. Talk about the loneliness of the long distance runner! I remember reading of author Richard Askwith’s attempt on the Bob Graham round in the Lake District. It enveloped me in a kind of longing to experience it myself! Albeit a bit late in the day really for a bloke racing his first marathon aged 50, and his second the Beachy head marathon at 52. I opted for some smaller goals instead, namely a handful of fell races, and a run up and down Ben Nevis shortly before two hip replacements. For a bloke your height and weight, an ultra really is an endurance event, as your diminishing times over increasing distances testify. You should feel really proud for that 100 k, it really is an astonishing feat. Did you really do a rowing time trial the day before that ultra? Or did I dream that? You’re a star Mark! Nice going champ!
Quite possibly your best video yet! There was a real low point there where you were incredibly close to jacking it in, you do amazingly well to get through that and persevere, hopefully the calf, toes et al heal up soon.
This was incredibly inspirational and motivational. Well done Mr RUclips Guy. I'm going to start couch to 5k (again!) this October and hoping to do many park runs to up my cardio fitness. Keep up the good work, we all appreciate it for kicking our butts into gear too!
Great job! This is more a demonstration of mental fortitude (or insanity) then physical fitness :) Regarding the cramps what I've seen quite often during long hiking trips, were similar symptoms caused by a deficit of either potassium, magnesium or calcium and most often it was the calcium. Now I never go hiking without a vial either for me or for people that I might find stranded by the side of the trail. Normally electrolyte drinks don't have anything more then sodium.
Huge congratulations Mark. Throughout the video and posts on instagram I honestly thought you must have pulled out mid way. I couldn’t believe you finished that. That was some David Goggings motivation there. Probably my favourite video you have done and I would love to see you train and prepare properly for next year and smash it without breaking a sweat.
I sat through this entire video, intrigued, sympathetic, and congratulatory for The RUclips Guy’s accomplishment. The ending literally had me laughing out loud, as many of The RUclips Guy’s videos often do. I’d really like to see what you can do, Mark, if you were to prepare properly for such a race. I understand not wanting to subject yourself to this again, but I can’t help think you’d have a completely different experience with proper preparation. Nonetheless, I find this impressive and motivating. Thanks for the entertainment. Thanks for the content. Thanks for the inspiration.
Really good video. Well done I can’t believe you could keep going with all that going on. On a side note you should make a Spotify playlist if all the cheesy 80s and rocky music you listen to while running or just exercising. Well done once again.
Probably one of the best breakdowns Ive seen of what to expect when the phys-maths meets reality! Brilliant video-and real incentive to get out and train-love the channel!
Way to go Mark!! Good gutsy effort mate I've got my 2nd 100k in 4weeks (1st was 2019) same course 2nd half of training block has been affected by the flu, covid, Injury So don't know what to expect but can't wait to do battle with myself again!!
Distances on certified races refer to the shortest possible route (hitting the apex on corners) plus a little bit (10m in a 10k for example) to just make sure the course is at least the advertised distance - go wide on some corners, cut around some other runners, nip into the woods for a poo, and you'll soon find a mismatch between watch and markers on even a half marathon. Add in a couple of satellite blips and really a 2-3% difference in accuracy between a bloke on a calibrated bike and radio waves going to space and back isn't that bad. Probably feels pretty bad when you run it though. Well done. Saw you at 50k and you looked pretty strong still. Top 100 is very impressive.
Hey Mark! I’m from Minnesota, but in London for a few months with university and rowing. I train along this stretch of the Thames every day. Training to be above average! Keep up the vids!
Well done Mark! What an achievement! This video helped me get through part of the 11km on the treadmill tonight making me realise I had nothing to moan about!
Damn brother, congratulations on not only finishing, but beating your previous record. You have inspired me to be above average, and as a soon to be father for my child, I even have more motivation to be above average. Cheers from NYC 💪🏽
Fantastic video, one of your best. As a runner I can’t fathom how you can do this with so little miles. Personally I’ve felt the pain of getting caught in the moment. I ran my first ever marathon last year. Should have been 3.15 ish. But did the first half in 1.28. Ok until 20ish miles then in a world of pain. Finished in 3:36. Keep it up!
Great vid. Genuinely useful to follow along the actual run with commentary during it and looking back. It was an epic achievement getting that finished. I have my first marathon coming up in October and having struggled with training during the heatwave in the UK but also wanting to come in under 4 hours, I'm feeling like my event might go something like this.....although I won't be cutting the toe box out of my Asics anytime soon 😲
What a superb channel Mark. As a 52year old whose been pretty active I always need help maintaining discipline. You are nailing it. Keen to get your thoughts on maintaining mobility, recovery, stretching etc. Keep it rolling mate.
Such an honest and self effacing video. I've only recently discovered your channel, and have been catching up on several of the videos. I can empathise with the pushing on through the bouts of negativity, pain and fatigue as I ran a few back in the 1980's. When things got really bad I'd ask myself " does this hurt as much as toothache? " and the answer was always " No ". As for distance, I once did a 100k in Solihull which consisted of 20 x 5K laps of a large housing estate which had a Sport Centre and running track. It was pre Garmin. I thought I was haveing a really bad one, when the lap recorders did a final check they realised they'd sent me round on an extra loop 😮
Amazing video - running isn’t always about hitting the best times but sometimes it’s about the mental strength. Your videos drive us amateurs and motivate us to do better. Great run with great results 🤘 I’m signed up for my first ultra next year - your videos and mantra of being better than average helped motivate me to focus & to do better
Superb Mark, well done. As someone pretty convinced it's my head holding back my running rather than my training and prep, it's refreshing to watch someone who's the opposite! 😂
Made me genuinely tear up there toward the end. “10 k left. Jen is there waiting for me”. meanwhile I’m pissed that I can’t play my ps5 couse I cut my finger.
I have my first 100k in 5 days, I had the great idea of signing up for it only a month after the birth of my twins being born. Moral of the story I’ve ran a handful of times in the past 5 weeks and only really had 4 weeks of decent training (really just half way attempting building some sort of base). Point is, good seeing you get after it and that it’s possible to finish if you’re smart about it and have a lot of grit.
Fantastic effort Mark! I will be giving the Thames Pass a go next year (having never run further than a half marathon - and only twice!). Credit to you and your hilarious documenting of this and other races
On a serious note - well done pushing through. Personally I find perseverance and completion after a major set back just as inspiring as setting a great result. Pretty sure you have zero interest at this point but I'd love to see what you could do at something like the Leadville 100. I bet you could absolutely crush it if it was worth the training disruption to you.
Well done Mark. Its funny to see you entering the stages of mind you knew you would find yourself in and see you trying to tackle them as planned. And remember - you ARE gonna do it again. You just deny it some days. You know it 😎🔥💪
Bless you Mark for holding a mirror up to show our collective insanity. I can imagine doing doing something very similar and thinking that I was just adapting to succeed. Only to be baffled when confronted with an utterly incredulous look from my partner.
Wow, what a perfect example of how when the body is completely and utterly ruined, it is always your head that either makes you stop or forces you to keep going. When you said that you were going to run to Jen, I genuinely felt a bit emotional! Huge well done!
well, now i want to run an ultramarathon one day too. thanks for motivating me Mark. Maybe we will see each other in 3 or 4 years :D. youre an amazing inspiration to keep on running in this hobby
Another great video Mark! Spot on about how those waves of feeling good soon turn into the ‘why am I doing this’ thoughts, but like you’ve said, never say never again…..in fact what about taking on one of the other routes action challenge do and getting Jen to take part with you? She did smash that 32km race earlier in the year, so what’s another 68km (70km really with the route distance 😄)
I saw you at the start. Never saw you again! My finish time was in the top 37% of the finishers. At age 60 I am pretty happy with that. But next year I have to stop wasting times at the stops. 10mins max next time so I’ll be aiming for a sub-18hr event. I’m also doing the Marlow 50km on the 1st Oct.
Good luck - 50 K is a much better distance. You can actually treat it like a single event rather than 100 K which feels like lots of events steadily getting worse!
Congratulations!! The aid stations are my nemesis... I've been known to plop down on a chair with a bowl of Mac n cheese or something for 10-15 minutes, or stand around chatting with volunteers. I'm no longer happy with just finishing, and would LOVE to be in the top 37%! Best of luck Oct 1!! I'm doing a 6 hour race that day and going for 50k.
Probably my favourite video so far would love to see you do it after a decent training block. I've my first ultra (50k) in 10 days great motivation missed 4 weeks training through injury but had a solid 5 weeks back not sure I'll be above average after injury but I'll be happy to beat the cut offs
Enjoy last year's one and this year one looking forward to next year's one Have been running a few about 6 months now at over 100kg and have done 25km in about 3.45 looking forward to one day trying a ultra
If finishing is your goal, go for it!! If you are fit enough to run 25k, you're for enough to finish 50k. Check out Goku Runner too, he's a big dude who also ran a couple untrained 100ks.
I had reoccurring ingrown toenails (which sounds like what your medical procedure was) in the military because of the tight boots. If you find it keeps happening they can actually put chemicals on your toenail to stop it from growing as close to the toe. Fun little procedure.
Amazing video Mark! A great storyteller as well as a phenomenal athlete, the determination it took to get through that pain is incredible and something I’ll think about next time I’m wanting to walk on a long run. Congratulations and thank you for sharing
Sunglasses UPDATE: if you haven’t watched the video, this will make no sense yet - but the sunglasses have been found! Do not go diving for them, because they aren’t there anymore 😁
Best part of the video😂
I've felt that sadness too - more than once 😞
Hahahahahhahahahha they weighed the consequences lol!
Only 5 minutes in and the tension is building like a well-written 80s thriller. The record-scratch freeze-frame intro, the multiple plot strands of foot pain and Garmin / Course marker discrepancy threatening the hero's journey. Love it when a plan (totally fails) to come together.
I f***ing love this channel, easily my favourite fitness related RUclipsr. You and Jen are so down to earth, it's refreshing to hear about the great and equally terrible moments of your training, with a hefty side of brilliant sarcasm:). Thanks for keeping it real!
Nothing like the “never again” craic post-ultra that gets conveniently forgotten about a couple weeks later 😂
Great work mate!
So true. I binned my trainers after I finished, never to do another..... Fast forward 10 months and stood on the start line about to do it all again! 🤣
You were one of my biggest inspirations for getting under 20 on a 5k. I thought, if he can do it I can do it, and it worked. 19:38 and now I have a passion for running. Thank you so much!
I ran 4km in 28 minutes yesterday. Final week of C25K. I've never been able to run before and have failed C25K three times. This time I'm nearly done but and loving it!.
C25K is a great running target, every time I fall off the wagon (which is too often to mention but less than the number of times I’ve got back on and that what counts!) it’s my go to target! Keep going and you’ve love setting that PB 5k!
You didn't FAIL C25K, you built up to success! Congrats on your 5k!! It's a great program, I've used it a few times myself!
Can’t believe this was a 40 minute video it felt like the time flew by! Great content as always
Wow that's an awesome display of mental strength to make the finish line, I was surprised you said you wouldn't try the race again, with a good training camp and 90 kg body weight you would be well within 14 hrs. Thanks for inspiring us 50 somethings Mark that was right up there with Rocky 3-4 training montage for motivation 👏
Never say never 😂
@@MarkLewisfitness never ;)
NO PAIN!
It was the thought of having to do it a third time that got him to the end.
A neck injury has all but stopped my heavy lifting career at 31 years old. I’ve felt lost and without anything to do to challenge myself physically.
Found your channel recently after getting recommended the first 100k run and you’re an inspiration. Going to start my running journey and can’t wait!
You should definitely do this again, but next time train specifically for it, and see if you can break the top 50! 🏃
He's 100% doing it again.
How cool is it that those Dudes showed up with proper theme music and cheered you on. Good on them and Good on you Mark for putting yourself through another ultra marathon- without much training.
😂The old “let’s do some maths” followed up with a “what could go wrong” is one of my favorites as well
Great work! As a runner, it would be cool to see you do this event again next year but with training. You could talk a lot about how the training has changed how you feel at certain points in the race ("last year I was dying, now I'm feeling fine..."), improved performance etc. I've heard training for events can help, but who knows 😁
Agreed, Nick.
Hey Mark, I REALLY love your content. I’m a road and ultra runner who is 5’7, 105kgs. I haven’t run a 100km, but my 50k time is 5 hours 17 minutes. I’m currently training for a marathon with hopes of sub 4 hours. I find as long as my training stays consistent, and my nutrition is absolutely on point, I avoid hitting walls.
You are an absolute rockstar for this video.
I've watched a *lot* of ultramarathon videos, and yours is the best at conveying the incredible pain you go through, and how frustrating and downright weird it is when your body fails on you. Congrats on the race and thanks for the great vid!
Anyone else do a little jogging this weekend? 😁
Did a half marathon in protest after the official one I was supposed to run was cancelled (due to the queen's passing!)... Only a fifth of what you managed!
Yes I did! A little, about 5k, 1/20th of your race, lol.
Yes, i did 29k as part of my marathon training!
Jogged to the car when it was raining today…. Counts🤷🏼♂️
I did a small amount, but am deloading to give my legs a rest. Still powerlifting though.
As someone approaching 50 who's late in life to fitness I find your channel hugely motivational. Your pain is literally our gain. Keep it up your an absolute machine. 💪🏼
Another great watch, thanks. Interesting re. distance markers - I completed the Peak District Ultra Challenge 100km in the summer and actually did 114km and there's no way I walked 14km round the aid stations!!
Another fab video Mark, you are always on point. I have been doing all this endurance nonsense stuff for 38 years now! Firstly a runner marathons, half marathons 10ks all sorts of stuff the for the last 30 a triathlete, and yes very often in the middle of whatever you're doing you think. Why the hell am I doing this stupid stuff! This endurance stuff hurts like hell at times. I have never won anything just doing it for the sheer hell of saying I did that went there and got the medal and the T-shirt. And the satisfaction of knowing that even without a win, you are still way above average for even completing the vast amount of training required, let alone actually finishing whatever it was you were doing. As most ordinary folk could not even begin to contemplate such feats. Great watch Mark.
Thanks David
Can't wait to see how you get on in the next ultra... hahah we all know it's not the end.
Congrats for pushing throughhh!!!!!!
I’m getting too old for that nonsense. 😂 There is an increasing risk of actual death with each passing year ……. Although, views are good so you never know 🤣
Mark: “20K in apart from everything hurting, we will talk about that later, everything is fine” 😆😆 the eternal optimist, I love it.
Wow, this is just amazing that you finished this. I wish you you a speedy recovery.
oh boy the motivation you give me to run. I started a month and a half ago with the goal of being able to just run a 5k in october (its early august when im writing this), im 8 weeks into the journey and im hooked! but the first 3 or 4 weeks was so rough i didnt want to put the running shoes on just thinking about it, now i want to run everyday thanks to you. keep up the good work, Mark!
This week’s episode is sponsored by Vasoline, not Squarespace!
What an inspirational 10k finish to your race!!! Thank you for continued powerful content!! 💪🏽💪🏽
"Passing out, that would be inconvenient!" Great comment to make at that stage, it shows the brain was still working. Well done on an amazing performance. My longest run is 31.5 km, and that was enough for me.
Really enjoy watching your videos. Not even a runner, just love how open and accessible the videos are with a "warts and all" transparency to them, just comes across as more real and relatable than a lot of other content. Keep up the great work 🙂
Dude! I just completed my first 100km this past weekend. I feel ya man it's just crazy wild. I'm impressed you filmed through it
My favourite so far, love how chipper you look at the start and then slowly watching the wheels come off! Incredible effort at the end to get yourself running. I think the positive reaction to the video comes from the the drama of your battle against human frailty or maybe it’s just enjoying watching you suffer ;)
An amount of Vaseline that would normally get me on a register killed me 😂😂 In all serious this was a fantastic watch and HUGE respect to you for even going it once let alone again with no training! Incredible!
Keep up the fine work Sir!
I actually took a small bit and then when the guy looked away to do some first aid on somebody else, I grabbed a load more and ran off 😂
@@MarkLewisfitness ran off? You sure about that? 😄
@@mattdailey1702 hobbled away?
@@MarkLewisfitness Lol - no double dipping I hope !!
@@JibbaJabber They provided little wooden spatulas!!!
The pure motivation when you sad your mind wasn't done and you started giving it all and not giving up to beat last year's time. Actual chills! That was a quick 40 mins of ups and downs. We'll done
My husband and I did “The wall” ratrace event in June, you should give that one a go! It’s 70 miles across haidrians wall. Oh yeah we didn’t train either. It’s amazing what your brain can force your body to do. Your hyrox training and general base fitness is enough to get you through 100k. Well done on beating your time 🥂👏
So I gather you are above average in: height, 5K running, Hyrox competition, Ultra Running and many other things that I am unaware of. Shoot you even have an above average wife (talking about the Hyrox competition). But in all honesty you have an above average YT channel (I mean you are known as the YT Man). Your documentaries along with your humor, and video editing are both entertaining and motivating. When I run the next day after watching one of your videos, I tend to run... above average (for a nursing home).
The thought comes to mind, that you are -just ever so slightly - stubborn! ...and/or delusional towards the end of the "run".
Putting on vaseline at the last rest area "nearly passing out" (from pain, I imagine)... and still intenting to pick up pace.
SO inspiring, SO crazy, SO brave. Love it!
Great story, good description of the phases you went through, as an average ultra trail runner myself, i fully understand and sympathise.
Loved this. And glad you didn't try to cut the video to a shorter length. Well worth the whole 42 minutes. It's actually made me want to train for it next year. Never ran further than a marathon but seeing you do it has made me think I can too, so cheers. And well played. I think what you proved is it takes a base level of fitness and shit tonne of mental strength to complete something so barmy.
Brilliant, great story telling and epic effort.
Thanks. My storytelling is somewhat ahead of my running 🤣
That was by far my favorite video of yours to include all the ones with Nixon. I really have no idea how you push yourself so hard. Congratulations on finishing, surviving, and the PB!
It's always good to know that I'm not the only one who does stupid sh*t to my body. But it's good inspiration to keep moving ahead, step by step, and get the job done. Good on you. Thanks Mark.
Running my first half marathon Saturday. Right foot started bugging me Sunday and refusing to get better. I feel ya. Great work!
How'd it go!?
@@Kelly_Ben reasonably well in the end. Thanks for asking. Foot held up ok for the most part and set a time of 2:22. I was targeting 2:25 and be happy under 2:30 so I'd call it a win. Can't walk very good now through.
@@jonheizer That's incredible, congrats!! Time to sign up for another! 😆
Also agree with them markers. I ended up doing 102.8km on the Garmin.
Well at least it proves our watches are accurate !!!
Amazing tenacity! Good on ya for getting through it! I'm running the Chicago marathon in a few weeks, I will use your race as some inspiration.🏃♀🏃♀🏃♀🏃♀
This exact thing happened to me too, during a 5K race.
When fitness reaches psycho proportions: perform at-home surgery days before an extreme endurance race that you haven’t trained for, alter your running shoes, and ignore severe pain.
That is serious metal. Much respect. Chafing is seriously excruciating when it is severe.
25:15 When the right toe decided to join the party. LoL. True grit seeing it through to the end and I'll take that with me when I'm on my next pain run!
Can't help but be inspired watching this. I set a new PB on my park run after finding your channel. Now have my first half marathon at the weekend. Ultra next year 🤔
Awesome job. We were on holiday in the middle of the highlands with shitty internet so was very much looking forward to seeing this. I'm tempted to do the 50km next year. I started the training on holiday and ran my first half marathon distance. Just over 2 hours so happy with that.
Amazing effort!! You’re a brave man for displaying this to all of us while having a great sense of humour!!
That was amazing Mark and can't be lieve you finished! That was proper Goggins level grit. STAY HARD and thank you for inspiring us to do better.
Incredible effort, 'well done' doesn't quite cut it! Watching you focus on your pain, then seeing you tap into your mental strength, made me want to recommend 'The Chimp Paradox' if you've not read it already? It's taken my mental strength to another level, helps deal with those dark moments!
Got it!!!!! My inner chimp took over 😂
I agree. I suffered a breakdown a few years ago and was in a permanent state of fear. Since then, i refuse to be controlled by my negative thoughts. When i get them, i defy them and just push harder. I have walked three ultra’s (unable to run due to a prolapsed disc and loss off curvature to the lower back) and although I’m in a lot of pain, I stay in the same mindset from start to finish. I do not allow my subconscious (chimp) to control my thoughts. I also suffer from chaffing, which felt like a cactus between my cheeks.
This was the most riveting watch. Strange as that sounds, with all the pain you were enduring.
I felt with you all the way.
Your ultra effort speaks volumes for your tenacity and grit. Well done Mark.
Talk about the loneliness of the long distance runner!
I remember reading of author Richard Askwith’s attempt on the Bob Graham round in the Lake District. It enveloped me in a kind of longing to experience it myself! Albeit a bit late in the day really for a bloke racing his first marathon aged 50, and his second the Beachy head marathon at 52. I opted for some smaller goals instead, namely a handful of fell races, and a run up and down Ben Nevis shortly before two hip replacements.
For a bloke your height and weight, an ultra really is an endurance event, as your diminishing times over increasing distances testify.
You should feel really proud for that 100 k, it really is an astonishing feat.
Did you really do a rowing time trial the day before that ultra? Or did I dream that?
You’re a star Mark! Nice going champ!
Quite possibly your best video yet! There was a real low point there where you were incredibly close to jacking it in, you do amazingly well to get through that and persevere, hopefully the calf, toes et al heal up soon.
This was incredibly inspirational and motivational. Well done Mr RUclips Guy. I'm going to start couch to 5k (again!) this October and hoping to do many park runs to up my cardio fitness. Keep up the good work, we all appreciate it for kicking our butts into gear too!
Great job! This is more a demonstration of mental fortitude (or insanity) then physical fitness :)
Regarding the cramps what I've seen quite often during long hiking trips, were similar symptoms caused by a deficit of either potassium, magnesium or calcium and most often it was the calcium. Now I never go hiking without a vial either for me or for people that I might find stranded by the side of the trail. Normally electrolyte drinks don't have anything more then sodium.
Huge congratulations Mark. Throughout the video and posts on instagram I honestly thought you must have pulled out mid way. I couldn’t believe you finished that. That was some David Goggings motivation there. Probably my favourite video you have done and I would love to see you train and prepare properly for next year and smash it without breaking a sweat.
I sat through this entire video, intrigued, sympathetic, and congratulatory for The RUclips Guy’s accomplishment. The ending literally had me laughing out loud, as many of The RUclips Guy’s videos often do.
I’d really like to see what you can do, Mark, if you were to prepare properly for such a race. I understand not wanting to subject yourself to this again, but I can’t help think you’d have a completely different experience with proper preparation. Nonetheless, I find this impressive and motivating. Thanks for the entertainment. Thanks for the content. Thanks for the inspiration.
Really good video. Well done I can’t believe you could keep going with all that going on. On a side note you should make a Spotify playlist if all the cheesy 80s and rocky music you listen to while running or just exercising. Well done once again.
Probably one of the best breakdowns Ive seen of what to expect when the phys-maths meets reality! Brilliant video-and real incentive to get out and train-love the channel!
Thanks Ryan 💪
Way to go Mark!! Good gutsy effort mate
I've got my 2nd 100k in 4weeks (1st was 2019) same course
2nd half of training block has been affected by the flu, covid, Injury
So don't know what to expect but can't wait to do battle with myself again!!
Distances on certified races refer to the shortest possible route (hitting the apex on corners) plus a little bit (10m in a 10k for example) to just make sure the course is at least the advertised distance - go wide on some corners, cut around some other runners, nip into the woods for a poo, and you'll soon find a mismatch between watch and markers on even a half marathon. Add in a couple of satellite blips and really a 2-3% difference in accuracy between a bloke on a calibrated bike and radio waves going to space and back isn't that bad.
Probably feels pretty bad when you run it though. Well done. Saw you at 50k and you looked pretty strong still. Top 100 is very impressive.
Your resilience is insane.
"There is some swearing as things progress" : sums up my own running quite succinctly.
Amazing result, that distance is frankly terrifying.
Love it when a pom talks about the heat and humidity in the Old Dart😅😂
Hey Mark! I’m from Minnesota, but in London for a few months with university and rowing. I train along this stretch of the Thames every day. Training to be above average! Keep up the vids!
Well done Mark! What an achievement! This video helped me get through part of the 11km on the treadmill tonight making me realise I had nothing to moan about!
That's climbing into the hurt locker and then rolling it into the pain cave, man. Huge respect from an equally heavy/bulky old bloke
Damn brother, congratulations on not only finishing, but beating your previous record. You have inspired me to be above average, and as a soon to be father for my child, I even have more motivation to be above average. Cheers from NYC 💪🏽
Thanks! Hope to be in nyc next year for a Hyrox!
Fantastic video, one of your best.
As a runner I can’t fathom how you can do this with so little miles.
Personally I’ve felt the pain of getting caught in the moment. I ran my first ever marathon last year. Should have been 3.15 ish. But did the first half in 1.28. Ok until 20ish miles then in a world of pain. Finished in 3:36.
Keep it up!
This has to be one of the best channels on RUclips...always entertaining!
Great vid. Genuinely useful to follow along the actual run with commentary during it and looking back. It was an epic achievement getting that finished. I have my first marathon coming up in October and having struggled with training during the heatwave in the UK but also wanting to come in under 4 hours, I'm feeling like my event might go something like this.....although I won't be cutting the toe box out of my Asics anytime soon 😲
Love this video and the 2021 version - cannot wait for this years edition. Might sign up for 2024 based on this! 👀
What a superb channel Mark. As a 52year old whose been pretty active I always need help maintaining discipline. You are nailing it. Keen to get your thoughts on maintaining mobility, recovery, stretching etc. Keep it rolling mate.
this was genuinely funny, never laughed that much watching ultra running report videos
Such an honest and self effacing video. I've only recently discovered your channel, and have been catching up on several of the videos. I can empathise with the pushing on through the bouts of negativity, pain and fatigue as I ran a few back in the 1980's. When things got really bad I'd ask myself " does this hurt as much as toothache? " and the answer was always " No ".
As for distance, I once did a 100k in Solihull which consisted of 20 x 5K laps of a large housing estate which had a Sport Centre and running track. It was pre Garmin. I thought I was haveing a really bad one, when the lap recorders did a final check they realised they'd sent me round on an extra loop 😮
Amazing video - running isn’t always about hitting the best times but sometimes it’s about the mental strength. Your videos drive us amateurs and motivate us to do better. Great run with great results 🤘 I’m signed up for my first ultra next year - your videos and mantra of being better than average helped motivate me to focus & to do better
I needed you to post this. I’m preparing for my first 50 miler. I have 7 weeks to go. Love the videos Mark! Great timing!
Plenty time 😁
Hopefully you're actually training.
Superb Mark, well done. As someone pretty convinced it's my head holding back my running rather than my training and prep, it's refreshing to watch someone who's the opposite! 😂
Becareful
Made me genuinely tear up there toward the end. “10 k left. Jen is there waiting for me”. meanwhile I’m pissed that I can’t play my ps5 couse I cut my finger.
I have my first 100k in 5 days, I had the great idea of signing up for it only a month after the birth of my twins being born. Moral of the story I’ve ran a handful of times in the past 5 weeks and only really had 4 weeks of decent training (really just half way attempting building some sort of base). Point is, good seeing you get after it and that it’s possible to finish if you’re smart about it and have a lot of grit.
I love how your mental strength got you through it.
Also your definitely signing up again 😆
Illuminating watch! What an achievement. Myself and a friend just signed up for the 2nd half 50k in 2024. Got a long training path ahead of us.
Fantastic effort Mark! I will be giving the Thames Pass a go next year (having never run further than a half marathon - and only twice!).
Credit to you and your hilarious documenting of this and other races
On a serious note - well done pushing through. Personally I find perseverance and completion after a major set back just as inspiring as setting a great result. Pretty sure you have zero interest at this point but I'd love to see what you could do at something like the Leadville 100. I bet you could absolutely crush it if it was worth the training disruption to you.
I get to 95k....and love you for life brother lol lol.... You're a legend mate 💪💪💪💪
Well done Mark. Its funny to see you entering the stages of mind you knew you would find yourself in and see you trying to tackle them as planned.
And remember - you ARE gonna do it again. You just deny it some days. You know it 😎🔥💪
What a mad lad! Congrats for completing the race 💪
No pain, no gain, Mark.. you did brilliantly! Well done!
Bless you Mark for holding a mirror up to show our collective insanity. I can imagine doing doing something very similar and thinking that I was just adapting to succeed. Only to be baffled when confronted with an utterly incredulous look from my partner.
I have never been inspired by a Video before, until today. Greetings from Germany.
Wow, what a perfect example of how when the body is completely and utterly ruined, it is always your head that either makes you stop or forces you to keep going. When you said that you were going to run to Jen, I genuinely felt a bit emotional! Huge well done!
well, now i want to run an ultramarathon one day too. thanks for motivating me Mark. Maybe we will see each other in 3 or 4 years :D. youre an amazing inspiration to keep on running in this hobby
Another great video Mark! Spot on about how those waves of feeling good soon turn into the ‘why am I doing this’ thoughts, but like you’ve said, never say never again…..in fact what about taking on one of the other routes action challenge do and getting Jen to take part with you? She did smash that 32km race earlier in the year, so what’s another 68km (70km really with the route distance 😄)
Your welcome Mark! Ooh a potential prize? Acknowledged!
I saw you at the start. Never saw you again! My finish time was in the top 37% of the finishers. At age 60 I am pretty happy with that. But next year I have to stop wasting times at the stops. 10mins max next time so I’ll be aiming for a sub-18hr event. I’m also doing the Marlow 50km on the 1st Oct.
Good luck - 50 K is a much better distance. You can actually treat it like a single event rather than 100 K which feels like lots of events steadily getting worse!
Congratulations!! The aid stations are my nemesis... I've been known to plop down on a chair with a bowl of Mac n cheese or something for 10-15 minutes, or stand around chatting with volunteers. I'm no longer happy with just finishing, and would LOVE to be in the top 37%! Best of luck Oct 1!! I'm doing a 6 hour race that day and going for 50k.
Watching the pain was beautiful. Thank you for this inspiration.
Probably my favourite video so far would love to see you do it after a decent training block. I've my first ultra (50k) in 10 days great motivation missed 4 weeks training through injury but had a solid 5 weeks back not sure I'll be above average after injury but I'll be happy to beat the cut offs
Best of luck!! You'll smash it!!
Enjoy last year's one and this year one looking forward to next year's one
Have been running a few about 6 months now at over 100kg and have done 25km in about 3.45 looking forward to one day trying a ultra
If finishing is your goal, go for it!! If you are fit enough to run 25k, you're for enough to finish 50k. Check out Goku Runner too, he's a big dude who also ran a couple untrained 100ks.
I had reoccurring ingrown toenails (which sounds like what your medical procedure was) in the military because of the tight boots. If you find it keeps happening they can actually put chemicals on your toenail to stop it from growing as close to the toe. Fun little procedure.
Great film, couldn’t stop watching. My lunch break is well past finished. Bravo
Sorry - my ultra run videos are always a bit long 😆
"Jen's 10k away, I'm just going to run to her" omg I'm crying that was so sweet
Amazing video Mark! A great storyteller as well as a phenomenal athlete, the determination it took to get through that pain is incredible and something I’ll think about next time I’m wanting to walk on a long run. Congratulations and thank you for sharing