The 3 'Flaws' That Make Ultra Runners Unstoppable

Sunday with Herb

For years, I looked at marathons like a chore.

I'd spend months training, chasing that elusive sub-3-hour goal, get close but never quite make it. The only reason I kept signing up was to chase my next PR. Running had become work, not joy.

Then at 50, I had my first heart attack.

The Race That Changed Everything

After recovering, I decided to take my running in a completely different direction, trail running.

I signed up for my first ultramarathon: the Peterson Ridge Rumble 40-miler in Sisters, Oregon.

I had no idea what I was getting into.

At the race expo, something happened that had never occurred in my 20+ years of marathon racing. The race director walked up to me out of the blue and handed me some gels.

"You'll need to take some of these during the race," he said.

I didn't even know what they were. In marathon racing, race directors were distant figures behind registration tables. This guy was personally making sure a newbie like me had what I needed to finish.

Then out on the course, a runner found this was my first ultra and took me under his wing. He gave me pacing advice, shared his nutrition strategy, and guided me through aid station protocols. His advice allowed me to finish my first ultramarathon.

I was amazed at the support I received from not only the race staff, but also the runners—both fast and slow.

That's when I realized something: ultramarathons attract a different breed of runner.

What 100+ Ultramarathons Taught Me

Over the past 20 years, I've run more than 100 ultramarathons, from 50Ks to 100-milers. I've experienced everything that can happen during these races: fatigue, sour stomach, brain fog, injuries, pain, and hallucinations.

Yet I keep signing up for them.

So I decided to figure out why. What makes someone not just finish an ultramarathon, but become addicted to them?

After two decades of watching successful ultra runners—and learning from my own failures and breakthroughs—I've identified three traits that separate the finishers from the DNFs.

They're not what you'd expect.

The 3 Traits of Successful Ultra Runners

1. Stupid

Let's be honest: the idea of running through the night in the mountains seems crazy to most people.

The long hours on your feet wreck your body, and running many ultras isn't good for your overall health. Conversely, you can enjoy the mountains by just hiking and backpacking without paying a huge fee to join a couple hundred others on a suffer-fest.

So it takes a certain lack of conventional intelligence to blindly sign up for an ultramarathon just because it looks interesting.

My most stupid decision? Continuing to run ultramarathons even though I've had four heart attacks.

Any rational person would hang up their running shoes after the first one. But here I am, still signing up for races that will stress my cardiovascular system for 12+ hours straight.

If you like spur-of-the-moment, seemingly irrational decisions that prioritize adventure over logic, you are an ultra runner.

2. Stubborn

Most people know when to throw in the towel. When facing adversity, they use past experiences to make informed decisions about whether to stop.

Ultra runners are very good at forgetting past experiences completely and blissfully staying in the moment.

During my first 100-mile race, the Cascade Crest 100, my stomach turned upside down at mile 35. I thought I wouldn't make it to the next aid station. After resting for a few minutes, I decided I might as well keep moving and see what happens.

By mile 80, I was totally recovered and felt great for the rest of the race.

This is why my motto became: "It doesn't always get worse!"

If you're willing to put your ego and fears aside, ignore past negative experiences, and keep moving forward even when logic says stop, you are an ultra runner.

3. Supportive

Here's where ultramarathons completely differ from road racing.

There's something about shared suffering that creates a unique bond between ultra runners. We all know how hard these races are and the many challenges that runners of all abilities have to endure.

I'm always amazed at how elite ultra runners stick around after finishing to help at aid stations, cheer slower runners across the finish line, and even do trail maintenance work. You never saw that with elite marathoners—they'd finish, grab their medal, and disappear.

There's a high level of respect not only for fellow runners, but for race staff and the trails themselves.

If helping others enjoy the experience is more important to you than winning or setting PRs, you are an ultra runner.

How to Cultivate These "Flaws"

The great thing about these traits? You can develop them.

Embrace Calculated Stupidity: Say yes to adventures that scare you a little. Sign up for that race before you feel "ready." Sometimes the best decisions look crazy from the outside.

Practice Productive Stubbornness: When training gets tough, instead of analyzing whether to quit, just keep moving. Learn to stay present rather than projecting past failures onto current challenges.

Lead with Support: At your next race, spend more energy helping others than focusing on your own performance. You'll be surprised how much this improves your own experience.

The Real Reward

Becoming an ultra runner is a daunting task, but it could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

These three "flaws" don't just make you a better ultra runner—they make you more resilient in life. The willingness to make adventurous decisions, persist through difficulties, and prioritize community over personal achievement serves you well beyond the trails.

That race director who handed me gels 20 years ago? He was modeling what the ultra community is all about: taking care of each other, especially the newbies who don't know what they're getting into.

If you're stupid enough to consider an ultramarathon, stubborn enough to keep moving when things get hard, and supportive enough to care more about the journey than the destination, you might just discover what I did: sometimes the craziest decisions lead to the most meaningful experiences.

The trails are waiting. The community is ready to welcome you.

Are you stupid enough to join us?

-Herb