How to run 322 km in a weekend: Kat Clewley's tips for surviving an ultramarathon

In the wild world of ultramarathon running, there are noweekend warriors.

There is, however, Kat Clewley.

She's the Burlington woman who last year ran every step of a full marathon, backwards. Becauserunning a marathon facing the finish line was too easy?

Now, she's one of just five women and 24 mentakingpart in the ultramarathon competition at Hamilton'sSulphur Spring Trail Race. That's200 miles(322 kilometres) over 72 hours.She plans about fiveor sixof those hours for sleep.

If all goes well Clewley might be, bySunday afternoon, the first person to finish a 322 kilometrerace on Canadian soil.The course consists of16, 20-kilometre loops through theDundasValley conservation area.

According to race co-director, Andrea LynnSloan, the last time therewas a 200-mile race in Canadano one finished.

Sloansays the Sulphur Springs Race isone of the first trail races in Canada and is also the country's biggest.

Of the 29 participants, 26 are Canadian, two American, and oneGerman.

Setting new goals

It's going to be a long 72 hours and anything can happen- Kat Clewley, 200 milerunner

This will be the longest distanceClewleyhas decided to run.She's completed five100 mile races and has failed twice an important part of the process she says.

"Failure's just part of this," saidClewleyWednesday night.

"The way I'm looking at itis, it's going to be a long 72 hours and anything can happen. So, one foot at a time."

Clewleyis running this race to celebrate the25thanniversary of the Burlington Runners, a group she's been a part of for many years as someone who was born and raised in Burlington. She worksat the YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington and Brantford as the regional group fitness manager.

Preparation

Clewley counts on solidmental preparation to get her through the long, long race.

"In my past I have all those other little victories that I can pull from and say you know what, you did Boston, you did anIronman, so you can do this," saidClewley. "I feel relaxed, I feel like my mind is in a good place."

You're just out there to do your best- Kat Clewley,200 milerunner

Another tip: Eat smartly. Take in nutrition before you get hungry.And take ina lot of sodium. She says if you're not thinking right, it's mostly because you're hungry.

Family and friends will meet her along the way.

And then there's sleep. It's a three-day run andClewleyplans for about5-6 hours of sleep in total. She hasn't decided if that's going to come all at once, or in two different naps.

The goal is just to finish.

"I think when you go into the zone where you've never done it before, you're just expecting to finish. I remember that's how it was for me with my first marathon, my first ultra, you're just out there to do your best."

Runners of all distances

The 200 miler is the longest race, but it's just one of many taking place over the weekend.

Ifthat seems a bit too muchyou may want to take the easy road and run the 100 mile race (160 kilometres).

With just over 1,200 signed up, runners will be participating in the 100-mile, 100-mile relay, 100-kilometre, 50-mile,25-kilometre, and 10-kilometre races.

This race is also a great way to showcase Hamilton, that it's not just industrial-Andrea LynnSloan,race co-director

According toSloan, most will be running the 25-kilometre race with 345 participants.

Proceeds from the race go towards the Hamilton Conservation Authority. Over the years, close to $100,000 has been raised for the authority.

Sloansays she's received comments from people all over the world whodidn't know an area like this existed in Hamiltonbeauty hidden behind smokestacks.

"This race is also a great way to showcase Hamilton, that it's not just industrial. People are amazed at the fact that we have something like the conservation area so close to the city," saidSloan.

With over 200 volunteers, what makes the race special toSloanis that it's run by runners, for runners.

"We're lucky because the people that live near there as well as the Hamilton Conservation Authority, allow us to dothis tolet these crazy runners take over for a weekend and they welcome us," saidSloan.