My Worst Ultramarathon Moments: I came Back for More

In this video, I share my experiences of challenging moments during ultramarathons and a training run over the past 11-12 years. I discuss the inherent risks of ultramarathons, influenced by weather, terrain, and altitude, but note that severe incidents have been rare for me. Here are my key stories:

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1. **My First Ultramarathon (Belmonte 50, Virginia)**: During my first ultra, a grueling 50-mile race over two mountains, I ran out of water at mile 40. Dehydrated and fearing hypothermia, I was mentally and physically broken. I nearly went the wrong way due to confusion but pushed through to finish, learning valuable lessons.

2. **Return to Belmonte 50**: Years later, I returned to the same race with a new fueling strategy, but I ran out of water again, fell, and got dehydrated. I missed an aid station cutoff and had to drop out, which was deeply demoralizing.

3. **Devil Dog 100**: Early in a 100-mile race, a thicker gaiter string caused me to fall and twist my ankle. The injury worsened, and I had to drop out around the 100K mark because I couldn’t navigate technical terrain safely.

4. **Adventure Trail Run (24-Hour, Virginia)**: Around mile 35, I overheated, suffering heatstroke and GI issues, nearly requiring rescue. With my friend Joe’s help, I made it through the loop, cooling off in a river to survive.

5. **Yeti 100 (Hurricane Year)**: A hurricane hit around mile 56, bringing heavy rain and wind. My friend Joe and I got hypothermic and had to drop out after waiting hours for rescue in dangerous conditions. We returned the next year and finished successfully.

6. **Training Run Incidents**: During a 19-mile training run, I became severely dehydrated, noticing severe dehydration symptoms , which required urgent care and IV fluids. In another 2019 training run, I slipped on an icy rock, split my shin, fell into a freezing river, and bled profusely but finished the run, learning to avoid complacency.

I emphasize the importance of preparation, hydration, and risk awareness, noting that ultramarathons are mostly safe but can turn dangerous due to poor decisions or extreme conditions. I encourage learning from mistakes and invite viewers to share their stories, with links to related videos in the description.

0:00 - Ultramarathon Risks Overview
1:07 - First Belmonte 50 Struggle
4:48 - Belmonte 50 Redux Disaster
7:49 - Devil Dog 100 Fall
11:06 - Adventure Trail Heatstroke
14:12 - Yeti 100 Hurricane Chaos
17:23 - Dehydration Training Scare
19:47 - Icy Trail Injury

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