Making Ultra Running Attractive
A chat with Luke Anderson of ultra50club regarding his experience running extreme distances, making attractive minimalistic ultrarunning clothing, and always going one step further.
What is it like to run an ultramarathon, what goes through your head?
It's an interesting one, you have a lot of time to think and your mind alters after each one you do. It's excruciatingly painful, a new level of pain. During the Glasshouse 50, I was wearing new shoes which meant I got blisters, I ran the entire race pissing blood out of holes in my feet. There were points when I thought I was completely done, but the further I went the more I realised about myself.
How do you approach training for something as demanding as an ultramarathon?
My training has never been great, I wouldn't give my training plan to anyone. But I'd say loosely try to get in a 50-60km run each week from about 16 weeks out until 2 weeks before the run. Then try to get in another 3/4 runs in a week ranging from about 10km-30km while getting in at least 2 strength training sessions a week so I don't turn into a skeleton.
Where did the inspiration for ultra50club come from, and where did it all start?
The idea started brewing during my 50 miler. I realised ultramarathon running is ridiculously unattractive, I looked around and thought you're all a bit weird. I wanted to create something less focused on just being practical and more attractive than the usual ultra-running gear.
What's the general ethos you want to convey through the brand?
Every time I have done an ultramarathon, I find out something different about myself, it's such a massive wave of emotion at the finish line. You look at the world a bit differently after each one, that's what I want to make people do. The general ethos is don't set your limits in running, people are capable of doing a lot more than a half marathon etc.
Do you plan to transition away from everyday casual wear into sportswear?
The T-shirts currently available are just to build the idea and the brand. I am working on some more running-focused clothing. It angers me how much gear people wear to run. I'm quite a minimalistic person, I hardly carried anything for my ultra. I can't find any brand that just lets you carry the essentials, that's what I'd like to work towards.
Credit: Instagram @ultra50club
Do you have any community events planned for the future, such as a run club?
I've put some thought into it. I don't just want "Let's go out for a run" I'd like to do something different that's not been done before. An ultra relay would be cool, a 50-mile distance, mixed gender teams and each person does their 10 miles. Something like that would be a good promotional event.
