Ultra Interval Challenge 2020

Last weekend, I participated in the Ultra Interval Challenge and had planned to complete a few more streets of Stockholm. Both was a god experience, but let’s start with the Ultra Interval Challenge update. A video summary at the bottom of this page.

Ultra Interval Challenge

Ultra Interval Challenge is a fun concept by Pace on Earth. It’s an easy concept to remember and try out. You are meant to start at 00:00 on the night Friday to Saturday, and then run 8, 10K loops during 24 hours. Each third hour you start a new loop.  This way you will both get enough distance to test yourself during a long ultra run and you will suffer from sleep deprivation. I cheated though, I think I slept for a 2,5 hours in total during the run… I did that on purpose actually as this was my first try and I wanted to give me the best opportunity to complete the 24 hours without problem. Next time I will reduce the sleep.

Overall, my body handled this challenge much better than I thought it would and I’m happy with how I completed the challenge. I did make a few learnings though.

Ultra Interval Challenge,
Loop 1 – Sundbyberg

21:00 – 22:00
One is meant to start the loops at midnight, but I felt it would be better to start at 9pm at Friday. This mainly as I didn’t want to impact the Sunday. I wanted to be able to get enough sleep Saturday to Sunday in order to have a Sunday off and feel normal. I started my runs in Sundbyberg close to where I live. Running on the streets, and through the windows seeing people putting up Christmas lights, and getting ready for the weekend. Most likely the had planned a lot less running than I had I thought…

The first interval went pass with flying colors. I felt very good. I had decided to do each loop in a moderate tempo in order to complete them all pain free.

Ultra Interval Challenge,
Loop 2 – Sundbyberg and Bällsta

24:00 – 01:00
Two hours went extremely quick. I don’t think I had much snacks. Maybe a few crisps and a coke. I spent the break plotting out the morning run a 9am where I had planned to do the We Run Stockholm loop in Södermalm. I put on a new set of clothes, and left the used one on the dryer rack. The second loop I ran on streets in Sundbyberg and parts of Bällsta. Streets that I had looked up at Citystrides.com that I hadn’t run before. This way I became the current “champ” of Sundbyberg (at least on CityStrides.com) and I managed to pick up a few new missed streets of Bällsta which is part of Stockholm.

The second loop also went extremely well, and I enjoyed close to an hour of nap before my third run. I was worried that I would have a problem to wake up before the 3am loop, but it was surprisingly easy. I guess, if the mind is set to complete a goal it makes everything easier.

Ultra Interval Challenge,
Loop 3 – Bromma

03:00 – 04:00
Rested and ready for the third loop. With clothes that had dried up and was warm when I put them on I was sure this would be another easy run run. And I guess in many ways it was, but this loop was the first I could feel that I had already done 20K. Not the same light steps and a slight pain in my right hip. Something that often happen when I run longer, and has been worse since after my recovery from the foot injury.

Overall though, it was an enjoyable run and it was a different feeling to see a city sleeping. A few Christmas lights already up, and maybe lights through a few windows but overall, most houses was dark and the whole neighbourhood gave the feeling of being at sleep. The only people that wasn’t sleeping was a guy walking home from the pub, an old lady walking her dog, a mail man, a few deers in peoples gardens and me; I was running. 

After the third loop I was sleepy, I had decided to have another quick nap and feel a sleep in the sofa very quickly.

Ultra Interval Challenge,
Loop 4 – On the treadmill

06:00 – 07:00
I put on a coffee, enjoyed the smell and got ready for my fourth loop. This one I had decided to take on the treadmill at home. Running on the treadmill isn’t the most fun thing to do, but its very convenient. It’s also a good exercise. Normally I do most my hill hikes on the treadmill. I have a Nordictrack x22i, allowing me to really test my self on steep hills. This time I ran on a flat treadmill. Watching a few Youtube clips and just wanted to get it done.

After the first treadmill run, I got changed, had a quick breakfast and gave my son a lift to his work. Once that was done, and I already was out driving I decided to drive in to town early. I had decided to meet up Mikael to start the next loop on Södermalm at 9am. I parked the car at 8am and “slept” for 40 minutes. I do fall a sleep easily normally and this was really handy now. 🙂

Ultra Interval Challenge,
Loop 5 – Södermalm and We Run Stockholm

09:00 – 10:00
Daniel who usually join my We Run Stockholm runs was unfortunately injured and couldn’t join. Luck enough Mikael was available to participate and we together went up and down through the streets för Södermalm. Södermalm will be the city part that I complete first on CityStrides I believe. I have several streets ticked of there already.  The run went well. I didn’t have the same light steps as Mikael but overall it went very well. After the run we stayed for a long breakfast at a cafe on Södermalm. A really social and nice way to start the weekend. Or continue the weekend for my part… 

Ultra Interval Challenge,
Loop 6 – Is it worth to continue?

12:00 – 13:00
Wow… now it’s starting to feel that I’ve been running a bit. With 50K in the legs I could feel them being used and tired but still ok. I think this time it was more the weather that told my body to start make it heard. This simply because it was very windy and rainy outside. Close to rain mixed with snow. Far from my dream running weather. Anyway… If one have decided to do something, you better get it done. Therefore I headed out for the sixth loop.

Through the rain and the head wind, the loop went a lot slower than I wanted but I pulled through. I quickly got changed and got back to sleep in the sofa.

Ultra Interval Challenge,
Loop 7 – Back on the treadmill

15:00 – 16:00
With loop 6 being so mentally challenging, I thought I would be kind ot my self and do loop number 7 on the treadmill again. It was by far easier to run with easy steps on the treadmill (watching a running movie where someone was running in a sunny Australia.) compared to the wind, snow and rain that was still pouring down outside. After the 7th loop I felt ok again. Not that tired, and the legs felt ok. No real pain and not as tired. I can’t recall really what I did in this break but I’m fairly sure I didn’t sleep more 😉 and I’m unfortunately sure I didn’t eat more.

Ultra Interval Challenge,
Loop 8 – I should have eaten before the trail run

18:00 – 19:00
This last loop I got accompanied by Helela, and we had decided to finish this challenge out on the easy to run 10K loop in Ursvik. It all started well. Extremely tight thighs, that for sure let me know that I already had done 70K so far. Though, after about 10 minutes they gave up and I gain ran mostly pain free.  After half the loop something happened though. All of a sudden I didn’t see clearly and started to feel dissy. We had to start to walk and unfortunately it was mainly walking the last 5K. Its always the last few Ks that are tough, but this wasn’t good.

I was happy Helena was out on the trails with me to support me. I do believe this was due to lack of energy though. If I only had brought a gel and some water. Not on a single loop at I brought energy or water as I normally do on a long run. Why would I? Its only 10K right. But I guess it adds up, and this time I would really have needed it. I remembered that I hadn’t really eaten anything after loop 6 or 7. If I would have had some energy, a gel or two I believe I would have bounced back and could have continued.

So I guess that sum up my experience. Things add up and its important to continuously take enough energy and always prepare for the unexpected, even it’s just another 10K….

Despite this failure at the end; I’m very proud of my achievement and I already now look forward to the spring edition of the Ultra Interval Challenge by Pace on Earth.

Gears that I used during the Ultra Interval Challenge

During the outdoor runs, I ran in my Altra Paradigm 4,5 shoes and during the treadmill run I used the Altra Solstice shoes. I’m extremely pleased with Altra. Not a single part of feet was annoyed, and they felt as new after the 24 hours. If you have problems and pain when running, try Altra. I’m sure it will help.

Other than that, I used my normal running clothes but I changed to dry and warm clothes every run. Something to remember for my next real ultra run. Changing clothes makes you feel like a new person.

During the rainy jacket, I used my Salomon Bonatti Pro from Team Nordic Trail. Its a fantastic jacket that handled the rain very well.

Learn more about Ultra Interval Challenge

So, hopefully this didn’t scared you away. The Ultra Interval Challenge was a great way to test a “real” ultra run. Give it a try you was well. It’s very convenient to be able to start each loop from your home. Many other participants mix up the running with other activities just to be active every third hours, and some people run at a slower temp each third run and complete what ever distance they do in 60 minutes. So the options are endless and I recommend you to give it a try as well..

Thank you Pace on Earth for organising this virtual challenge. Have a look at their website to learn more about Ultra Interval Challenge or their running programs at Pace on Earth. I can recommend their 10 months to Ultra.  I was very pleased with this coaching program.