The daily decisions no one tells you about when training for an ultra

The choices behind the miles

When people think of ultra running, they picture the big moments — the start line, the finish line, the medals, and the views from the trails.

What most people don’t see are the hundreds of small, everyday decisions that shape every step long before race day.

Training for an ultra isn’t just about long runs and nutrition plans — it’s about the choices you make daily, quietly, when no one’s watching.

The daily conversations I have with myself

Here are a few real-life examples from my own training block. These aren’t rules or recommendations — just honest glimpses of the decisions I make to stay aligned with my goals.

Scenario 1: My partner asks if he should make a delicious spaghetti carbonara for dinner (because he knows that has been one of my favourite meals as a child).

Me: Thinking how sweet and thoughtful that is of him — and yes, it sounds absolutely delicious — but I’m in my early taper phase, so I’m focusing more on healthy wholesome foods. I also felt bad because I’m turning down such a kind gesture. So thanked him for the offer, explained my choice, and we came up with another lighter meal we could share — same gesture, different ingredients.

Scenario 2: “Let’s go ice-skating or skiing this weekend.”
Me: As tempting and fun as that sounds, the injury risk is too high this close to race day. It’ll have to wait for the off-season or next year.

Scenario 3: “Do you want to join us for dinner? We’re meeting friends for pizza.”
Me: It sounds like fun, and yes, I do fancy a pizza. But during my training phase, I limit nights out and keep to my nutrition plan — especially close to taper. The very few times I went out though, I left around 8:30 pm, and chose a healthier meal, and I can get up early the next day enjoying my early morning hours — still showing up, just in a way that felt aligned.

Scenario 4: “It’s the weekend, the weather’s miserable… maybe skip the run or go later?”
Me: Nope. Get up and do the long run as planned. We have plans for this weekend already and I can’t control the weather on race day either. Up you go!

Scenario 5: “I miss running those hilly coastal trails!”
Me: They’re stunning — but my race terrain is completely different. I need to train specifically for what’s ahead.

Scenario 6: “I just want to stay in bed cuddled up with my love this morning.”
Me: It’s 5 AM. I’ve had enough rest. Time to get up, train, work, and keep the rhythm. Knowing that we’ll have our quality time later in the evening after work and also knowing that the training block doesn’t go on forever.

Training is a series of choices

These might sound like small things, but they add up. Before I started training for ultras, these weren’t difficult decisions. But over time, they became everyday parts of my life — quiet negotiations between comfort and commitment.

And just as often, negotiations with my own mind — reminding myself that choosing discipline and focus isn’t selfish. It’s self-honouring. It’s me keeping a promise I made to myself. When I chose to sign up for an ultra, I also chose to prioritise it. That means sometimes saying no to things I love — not because I have to, but because I want to honour the process.

Of course, there are also moments when I consciously choose the other way around — when I prioritise loved ones, rest, or life’s spontaneous joys over training. Because balance doesn’t mean doing it all perfectly; it means knowing when to lean into one or the other.

You can read more about these scenarios — when I don’t choose training — in this blog article.

At the end of the day, I’m always here for my dear loved ones. Running may be part of my path, but it’s not the whole story. Running helps me show up as the best version of myself — for them, and for me.

Finding peace with discipline

Balancing ultra training with two businesses, studying, a relationship, and a social life isn’t easy. There’s no perfect harmony — only continuous choice.

So I’ve learned not to moan about it, not to play the martyr, but to remind myself: This is a privilege.

It’s a privilege to train for something so demanding, to push the edges of what’s possible, and to witness who I become along the way.

And truthfully, none of this would be possible without my people. I’m surrounded by a circle of understanding, non-judgemental, and supportive souls — the kind who cheer me on, who understand when I can’t always say yes, and who remind me that I’m more than the miles I run.

Their support makes this journey lighter, brighter, and full of heart. I thank them — deeply and sincerely — for walking alongside me, even when our paths look different at times.

Because the truth is — ultra running isn’t built on one big decision. It’s built on a thousand small ones. And that feeling — the ultra feeling you get when you’ve accomplished your goal — is something words can never truly capture.