Ep. 13: Laura's first 50K, a 41-hour ultramarathon, and ultras as medicine for chronic pain.

Everyone starts running for a different reason, but Laura's is pretty unique. Laura has experienced debilitating chronic pain since her youth, but she's found that running helps her reduce inflammation in her body. So ultramarathons are quite literally "medicine" for her condition. Tune in to hear how Laura used running to overcome her chronic pain, how she ran her first 50k ultramarathon, and about the incredibly personal connections she's made during ultramarathons (especially her 41-hour one, that's a fun story). 

Also hear about the difference between running marathons and ultramarathons, using a run-walk strategy, the differences between timed and distance-based ultras, and advice for maintaining a positive attitude while racing.

Laura is 41 years old and lives near Cleavland, Ohio with her husband and SEVEN (7) dogs. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Indianapolis, and when she's not training she loves to spend time with her family. 

 

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Go-to Running Route
03:11 How Laura Got Into Running
09:06 Running as Medication for Chronic Pain
16:07 Laura's First 50k
27:46 The Intensity of Ultras vs. Marathons
29:00 Strategies and Challenges in Ultras
31:18 A Special Ultra: Race for the Ages
37:58 The Impact of the Ultra Community
39:07 The Power of Human Connection
43:40 The Supportive Role of Volunteers and Pacers
45:23 The Variety of Ultra Races
52:48 Final Ultra Running Advice