The Stupidest Trail Running Mistake (Not Happy)

Disaster strikes when trying to complete a 15mile training run in a beautiful Irish forest after coming back from sickness. Will I finally learn this lesson?!

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[Flash_of_the_peat_hill]

Dude, you’ve got this. The one consistent in your videos is your infectious optimism and drive.

[macanbhaird]

Beautiful countryside! Thanks for the video and hope you feel better soon for your race.

[adverspace]

Goodluck with the prep!! but dont put too much pressure on yourself . Cant wait to see next video either!

[stephenmcclean]

I don't only found your channel earlier this week. Loving you content and your energy. Also love seeing our beautiful country.

[gunillahoglund]

😂They say you heal faster if you laugh more..watching your videos will heal me in no time😂.. and you inspire me not to be sad about having to stop my training and choosing a new way to keep fit...nature is the best!
Good luck with competition!!

[SoloSarahBX]

Hitting the wall makes us want to jump over other side to see what’s there. If we don’t jump, we’ll never get there to see the wonder in front of us. Amazing running, the event will take you with it, you’ll run half on adrenaline alone. Amazing video!!! 💜✨💜

[TheAngieStoned]

You're an inspiration to lazy bastards, like myself, mate Thanks for keeping me laughing 💚

[andypotts]

A beautiful video of Tollymore Forest. You are just a bit out of condition following your recent illness. Keep at it and all will be good. Very best wishes.

[donpardoe]

Great video. And what a beautiful park! Love the humour too.

[nigelmcardle]

Best of luck Stephen, you will get it done, it's a bigger challenge now but will also be a bigger achievement when you finish it!

[IrelandOutdoors]

Fair play Stephen, makes me tired just thinking about running! Sneak Peak, can't wait!!! 😀

[tpharr]

Great video and lovely trail. Don’t forget to eat and fuel when the demons begin to creep in. Calories will change your mood. Good luck !!

[ozenfant_ozn]

right after the intro i thought 'right he's forgotten his emergency bog roll, happens to the best of us!'

[adventuredogs]

Me too Stephen, first ultra (50K) in a few weeks (20 April), and not where I should be on mileage plus had a couple weeks not feeling right and done bugger all running. But hey, we both got this! Glad to be in the same boat, will crack on with it (and I'll be keeping an eye on your Strava! heh heh). Cheers, Amy, NZ

[dmytrochan]

Thank you. Mistakes help us find the right path. Rest is also important. How did you manage to keep your heart rate low at the beginning of training? Because it is very difficult for me. :)

[Roadrunner]

I have complete faith in you, you'll be fine. You do train in some beautiful places, I'm so jealous. :)

[Kelly_Ben]

What a GORGEous place!! You'll do great, in the race AND the talk! You could make a lecture on taxes entertaining! 😂 As for the race, i just did similar.. I signed up for my first 100k 4 months out, while only running about 5 miles a week. 😅 That's how I did my first 50k and trail marathon too. I've learned that arriving at the start with overall fitness, well rested, with minimum niggles is far more important than squeezing in runs I'm not ready for and arriving at the start tired, sick, or sore/ injured. One day I'll properly prep... maybe. 😂

[katwilliams]

My running club is doing one of the checkpoints for the CANUM (we do most of the Pegasus races). Looking forward to cheering you through. We will have cake. 😁

[MrWrob]

Good on ye Stephen, I felt your pain when you pushed yourself to do the last 5k. Looking forward to the next one

[littleoldmanrunning]

If I might offer a little insight from my adventures screwing up training and ultras....

Don't sweat the distance. Really, don't.
You CAN do the distance. it's just a matter of how long it will take. You're not trying to win, so just allow yourself the time to enjoy the day.
The nice thing about race day is - that's the only thing you need to do on that day - just go for a run and chat with people.

It takes 6-8 weeks to see real adaptations from your training. So you don't really have enough time for your body to adapt to high mileage.
So I would suggest that you focus on dialing in your nutrition, kit, hydration, and mindset stuff - as you are doing.

Try (if possible) to get more time on feet by running shorter distances, but more often. Maybe run twice a day. But try to run at least once every day for the next couple of weeks.
You will see really quick benefits from that, especially if you are recovering from a chest infection.

The crap feeling that you had on this run is probably a mix of not enough food, but more probably you just burned too much gas.

I ran an ultra in NZ a while ago on a familiar trail that i had trained on repeatedly. I had done the same distance, over and over.

On they day, I was totally drained from work stress (six months of being hammered left me pretty broken), and it took me an extra hour to finish the course than I did it in training just a month before.

So, take it easy on yourself. You can't force an ultra.
The BEST preparation you can do for the day, is be well rested and hungry to get out there and run.
Everything else is just tinsel. ;-)