100-Miler Experience Notes – Part 7: Funny Stories from Race Day
Ultra running teaches you a lot about grit, patience, and endurance — but it also offers some of the funniest and most unexpected moments.
Here are a few that still make me laugh when I think back to my Autumn 100 adventure…
Mile 20 – The compliment I didn’t expect
Somewhere around mile 20, a woman had been running right behind me for quite a while. Suddenly, she called out:
“Excuse me, but I have to say this — I’ve been running behind you for a while, and I’ve got to say: you’ve got a very nice bottom. I just had to give that compliment from one female runner to another!”
I burst out laughing! Definitely not what I expected to hear mid-ultra — but it made my day. We shared a good laugh and kept running side by side for a bit.
Mile 30 & 40 – The IronMan connection
A few men noticed my IronMan tattoo during the race. Both times, they commented on how good it looked and asked which races I’d done.
We started chatting (as much as you can chat while running), and quickly agreed on one thing:
Ultra trail running is A LOT harder than an IronMan.
Believe us — we’ve done both!
Before the race – “We’ve never had anyone quite so mental”
The night before the race, the husband of my AirBnB host came outside and said:
“Excuse me, but I have to ask — my wife said you’re about to run 100 miles tomorrow. Is that true?”
I smiled and said, “Yes, I’m going to attempt to run 100 miles.”
He laughed, shook his head, and replied:
“That’s insane. We’ve never had someone quite so mental stay here before!”
Alright then! 😂
After the race, they invited me over for dinner. We had a lovely evening and good conversation — turns out they’re now following my adventures with genuine curiosity. Not sure if my “why” for these adventures could convince them to try it to ;)
After the race – The funniest review ever
When I checked out, I left them a glowing review on AirBnB — their wooden cabin was immaculate, and they were such kind hosts.
Then I saw their review for me:
“Tamara is a very charming and interesting individual.”
Not sure about you, but when I read that on an AirBnB profile… it makes me sound like a weird person. 😂
Because every race needs a little laughter
These moments — the funny ones, the random ones, the human ones — are the glue that holds an ultra together. They remind me that even in a race defined by pain and perseverance, there’s always room for a smile, a laugh, and a little connection along the way.