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when the body loses heat more quickly than the body produces it, leading to a decrease in body temperature. For a runner, this typically means prolonged exposure to cold without adequate clothing. Getting wet, whether from precipitation, a body of water, or sweat, increases the chances of hypothermia. Unblocked wind also exacerbates heat loss. Hypothermia is especially a concern among trail runners, as regardless of season an injury in the backcountry can quickly turn a warmth-generating run into a cold slog or survival huddle. This is why trail runners must be prepared to withstand a few hours unmoving in any conditions they may face.

On the medical side, a person is technically hypothermic once their normal 98.6-degree Fahrenheit body temperature decreases to 95 degrees. Signs of hypothermia are shivering, clumsiness or lack of coordination, slurred speech or mumbling, stumbling, confusion or difficulty thinking, poor decision making (for instance, removing warm clothes), drowsiness or low energy, apathy about one’s condition, progressive loss of consciousness, weak pulse, and shallow breathing. One particular danger of hypothermia is that you are unlikely to be aware of it. That makes it all the more important to deal with cold before or as soon as it comes on. If you encounter someone else with the signs of hypothermia, attempt to warm them and seek emergency medical assistance, if available.

When temperatures fall below freezing, frostbite becomes a concern. Frostbite is the freezing of the skin and the tissue beneath it. It typically occurs on exposed skin and smaller body parts, such as the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheek, and chin. As frostbite approaches, the affected area becomes cold and then numb before turning hard and pale. Frostnip, a precursor to frostbite, occurs when the skin is irritated, but there is no permanent damage. Frostnip and mild frostbite can be treated by slowly warming the affected area with warm water. Severe frostbite requires medical attention to prevent serious complications.

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THE ULTRARUNNING COMMUNITY

The ultramarathon community is both the best source of information about ultramarathons and one of the best reasons to engage in the sport. Embrace it. This chapter explains some ways to tap into that community before suggesting ways to share your experience with others.

Join the Ranks

One-on-one advice from ultrarunners is invaluable. Got friends who’ve run an ultra? Join them for one or many long runs and learn from them. Don’t know any ultrarunners? Well, if you’re part of a running club, ask around. You’re likely to find one. Go run with him or her. If you know a few ultrarunners, try to learn from both the wily old veterans and the young bucks.

Want to up your ultra exposure? Find an ultrarunning club. There are plenty of them out there. Some ultra clubs are self-identified, such as the Chicago Ultrarunners (CHUGS) and St. Louis Ultrarunners Group (SLUGs). Identifying other ultra clubs isn’t as straightforward. Having the word trail in a running club’s name is a good sign that it’s an ultra club in hiding. For instance, I came to ultras after finding the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club with its legions of ultrarunners. Finally, a number of road running clubs have ultra-running groups that rival many dedicated ultra clubs in terms of size and ambition. Given that it’s not always easy to determine where ultra clubs exist, I’ve put together a directory of clubs, which can be found at www.iRunFar.com/rfp/resources/clubs.

A “trail running club” introduced me to and educated me about ultrarunning.

(Photo courtesy of author)

There’s much to be gained from running with an ultra club or its de facto counterparts. As mentioned above, learn from talking with experienced ultrarunners. There are few better ways to do this than by joining up with an ultra club. With an ultra club, you gain a slew of potential partners for your long training runs. Chances are you will find others training for similar-distance focus races around the same time as yours.

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