There are many runners and many races, but only a few contenders for the title of One Tough Runner.

This spring we are profiling the 2018 ENDURrun Ultimate Contenders with Q&As in this blog.

Related: Full blog series | Full list of Contenders

Today we catch up with Maria, who after a one-year hiatus is back for her second ENDURrun this August!

ENDURrun: Hi Maria!

Maria: Hello, Endurfamily! I’m Ashley, often referred to as Maria, and I look forward to being inspired by you (and swearing alongside you) for Endurrun 2018!

What is your runner profile? 
I’ve been running since I was forced to when I was 16 in rugby practice. I learned I loved it shortly after. I average 40-60km a week, depending on what’s going on and how tired my dogs are 🙂 I love trails and the treadmill, but I hate track workouts. This probably means I should do more of them.

You’ve trained for Ultimate before. What did you learn that you will build from (or avoid) this time around?
Don’t train too hard. But I never really train too hard. I like to have a few ultras in the months before, just so my body is used to time on its feet and running through discomfort (… and my brain saying “Hey idiot. Know what would be better than running? Anything.”)

Besides training, what will be the same and/or different about this Ultimate compared to your first completion?
The excitement. I had lost my mojo for running about two months out of my last Ultimate. After a week of running and hanging out with a bunch of other endorphin’d up whack-jobs, my love of running came back.

What is the one piece of advice that you’re glad you knew/you wish you knew before your first completion?
Get all the massages. Eat, even if you don’t feel like it. Make buddies – they will become your new confidantes and comrades.

How were you feeling in the days and weeks following your first Ultimate completion?
Serious post-endurrun syndrome. Thankfully, I ended up making about six solid buddies that I still train and run with to this day. Also, I felt super tanned, super jacked and weirdly confident. Weird, because usually I’m pretty insecure about myself as a human in general.

What are you most looking forward to about ENDURrun 2018?
Seeing my peeps again! Creating inventive swear words. Bad running puns.

What are you nervous about, if anything?
Chafe. Always chafe.

Can you share any details of your training?
Back-to-back long run days, or hard speed work followed by a leg workout. I try to get up to 80-100km a few times during training, but my life is a sh*tshow at the best of times, so a lot of it is just consistent running. I run a few 50k’s before Endurrun, and this time I’ll also have a 50 miler, so that helps.

What is the most important part of the ENDURrun identity that appeals to you?
The family. It’s like Runner Camp.

Look for us to follow up with Maria in August on balancing training and single parenting and working a 9-5 while also doing distance learning, as well as how her 212km week goes…

Meaghan St. John is a true ENDURrun rookie, having never competed in any part of the event previously. Welcome Meaghan!

What is your runner profile? 

I have been running for about 10 years seriously, 6 marathons, 4 Ironman, American Triple T x2, Long Distance Triathlon World Championship ‘16, many other races. I enjoy a variety of trail and road running, preferring the longer distances.

How did you find out about ENDURrun?

Scrolling through races.

What convinced you to take the plunge?

I was terrified to sign up. Not actually knowing if I can finish.

What advice have you been collecting? 

Training section on website.

What are you still hoping to learn by August?

Keep in my own race.

What are your goals for ENDURrun 2018? 

Hoping to finish and not to die.

What are you most looking forward to about ENDURrun 2018?

The end.

What are you nervous about, if anything?

Proper pacing, heat.

What else would you like to share?

I’m nervous and excited to try something I’m not certain I can do well in or even finish.

What is the most important part of the ENDURrun identity that appeals to you?

The well roundedness of a runner it requires and the discipline to recover properly.

This is a pretty typical mindset of a new ENDURrunner. We look forward to meeting you this August! 

Our fourth Contender bio is Nick Burt, a 24 year old runner from Kitchener who took top Rookie prize in 2017. 

ENDURrun: What is your runner profile? 

Nick: I started running in high-school when I joined the track team 9 years ago. Each year I have gotten more and more serious about running/training. My usual terrain for running is roads, and my mileage varies a lot but right now 70km/week is pretty comfortable for me before I start really training for something.

What are your ENDURrun 2018 goals?

I know I want to at least beat my time from last year. When it gets closer to August I will decide on a specific time goal. 

What are you most looking forward to about ENDURrun 2018?

A lot of people boast about big city races but I love the small, cozy size of ENDURrun. I love knowing/getting to know everyone there, watching everyone push their limits day after day, and I love the amazing support I receive from friends, family, and complete strangers. I also really appreciate the amazing food and since it is such a small race it makes it easy to watch everyone else finish after I’ve run and actually enjoy the food. I have to also point out how amazing it is to NEVER have to worry about parking on race day.

What are you nervous about, if anything?

Injuries. Whether they happen beforehand and interrupt my training or whether they happen during the week and ruin my performance.

You’ve trained for Ultimate before. What did you learn that you will build from (or avoid) this time around?

Training makes a huge difference. I plan on putting in even more weekly training and starting even earlier than last year.

Can you share any details of your training? Mileage, simulations, etc?

The plan is to build lots of weekly miles (>>100km) and add a lot of biking on top to increase training without risking too much injury. I also plan on hitting the “mountain” stages once or twice a week to get used to all the hills/trails.

Besides training, what will be the same and/or different about this Ultimate compared to your first completion?

I probably won’t wear racing flats for any of the stages this year.

What is the one piece of advice that you’re glad you knew/you wish you knew before your first completion?

I’m super glad I knew what to expect from Chicopee by running it multiple times in training.

How were you feeling in the days and weeks following your first Ultimate completion?

Sore. But I felt unbelievably accomplished and excited to train for my next race.

What is the most important part of the ENDURrun identity that appeals to you?

The most important part to me is that it is a small group of friendly, passionate people and that it’s quite a crazy event like no other.

Look for us to follow up with Nick in August on how his training went and ask him about his cycling trip…

The Contenders blog is profiling the 2018 Ultimate field, daily. Patrick Kelly is an ENDURrun veteran with whom we last caught up in August.

ENDURrun: What is your runner profile? How long have you been running, general mileage, surfaces, etc.

Patrick: High mileage running for over 40 years.

What are you most looking forward to about ENDURrun 2018?

I look forward to reconnecting with my ENDURrun family. It is going to be a great week!

How is your training going?

Uphill battle. I am just doing as much as my body will let me do.

How will your ENDURrun 2018 compare to previous years?

Goal is for fun and results will be what the results will be.

What are your ENDURrun 2018 stories? 

Glad to have one of my children running with me this year.

What are you nervous about, if anything?

I don’t really get nerves for my own races but the hope for my daughter to be happy with her race(s) will shake things up a little.

What are the key pieces of advice to Rookies that you’ve learned over the years?

Run daily and run on hills with varied terrain.

For someone who has never been to ENDURrun week, what should they expect?

Don’t just run but enjoy the activities outside of the races. If you are not racing to win treat it like a running camp.

What is the most important part of the ENDURrun identity that appeals to you?

Family feel!

What about ENDURrun keeps you coming back?

The people, the runners, the volunteers and the quality of the event. This is a team running event, all the athletes, volunteers and race organizers are here to help you run your best.

Look for us to follow up with Patrick in August on how his training battle plays out.

This is the second post in our daily Contender series. Here is the full list of Contenders. 

Lumi Duca has a lot of ENDURrun experience for an Ultimate Rookie, having competed in the relay each of the past three years, including two Stage 7 marathons. Welcome Lumi!

ENDURrun: What convinced you to take the plunge?

Lumi: I had a stress fracture last fall and I missed running over the winter. So I thought I have to run something different and challenging this summer as a come back and to celebrate being able to run again.

What are your motivations and goals for this ENDURrun 2018?

Motivation: I have to do it at least one in my life; it is right here at home!

Goals: I just want to finish every day wanting to go back for the next stage.

What are you most looking forward to about ENDURrun 2018?

The runner’s high! and the yummy food the volunteers are preparing!

What are you nervous about, if anything?

I am worried that my leg will not hold for the training and that the stress fracture would come back; before or during the race. I think everyone is the same after an injury; you feel it long after it is gone.

Can you share any details of your training? 

I am planning to run 90 – 120 km / week which will include hills and trails.

What is the most important part of the ENDURrun identity that appeals to you?

The many volunteers!

Look for us to follow up with Lumi in August on how much she wants to come back each day – especially after Stage 5!

There are many runners and many races, but only a few contenders for the high honour of One Tough Runner. This spring we will be profiling the 2018 ENDURrun Ultimate Contenders with Q&As in this blog. This interview with Nikkole Welsh is the first in the series – enjoy!

Nikki has completed the Ultimate twice, in 2015 and 2016. After a one-year hiatus, she’s back and excited for ENDURrun 2018.

ENDURrun: What is your runner profile? 

Nikki: I used to run in high school with my step-dad around the river in Stratford. Then I started running again after my second baby and I’ve been running ever since. Now I run as a stress reliever and a way to take care of myself.

What are you most looking forward to about ENDURrun 2018?

I’m looking forward to seeing all of those familiar faces again!

How will your ENDURrun 2018 compare to 2015/2016?

This year I want to finish strong! By the end of the week, I’m running on empty and my goal this year is to maintain my strength and finish with my fastest marathon time yet 🙂

What is your motivation?

My motivation is always to show my three boys how important it is to be healthy and show them how strong women can be.

How is your training going? 

This year I’m running in the Outrun Trail series so training started early, and is going well!! I’m currently running over 100km a week in anticipation of my first race at the end of April.

What are the key pieces of advice to Rookies that you’ve learned over the years?

Don’t underestimate your own strength. It’s all about mind over matter.

What is the most important part of the ENDURrun identity that appeals to you?

Sense of community.

What about ENDURrun keeps you coming back?

The Schmidt family and the incredible volunteers!! You feel like you’re part of something really special, and by the end of the week everyone knows your name and everyone is supporting each other. It’s a pretty beautiful thing!