UltraMarathon Runner Emily Conley Interview

Emily Conley is a mother of three who in 2008 ran her first marathon. A love of running was born and now Emily is a trail runner and endurance junkie. She loves her family, gourmet cooking, and running ultramarathons. Emily is a regular person who decided to change her life, she was kind enough to allow me to ask her questions about her running.

Could you please tell us your backstory, how did get into running, did you run in high school?

I’m in no way a lifelong runner. I ran recreationally short distances in college and, frankly, never enjoyed it. In 2007 a few friends asked me if I wanted to train for a half marathon with them. Not even knowing how far it was, I agreed. The longer the training run, the more I loved it. As soon as I ran my first half, I continued training and ran a full marathon. I soon was introduced to trail running and pretty soon started running ultras.

How has running changed your life in recent year?

I would have to say that in the past year running has become less about what I do and more about who I am. My goal in 2011 was ‘More races in more places.’ I ran 4 marathons and 8 ultras in 10 states over the past 12 months. But, possibly the most life-changing was the 100 miler I ran in August. Lean Horse 100 in South Dakota was my first race at that distance and I ran it as a fundraiser for Rett Syndrome, a neurological disorder that affects my 10 year old daughter, raising over $8,000 for research.

What made you decide to start running ultramarathons?

I think I must have one of those ‘If one is good, two is really good’ personalities. I ran my first trail race shortly after running my first marathon and I was hooked. I figured if I could run 26.2 I could run a 50K. And, if I could run a 50K I could run 50 miles…and so on. Spending hours running trails is therapeutic for me in a way. It’s my sanctuary.

What are the biggest challenges to running distances of 30, 60, and even 100 miles races?

For me, fueling can make or break a run. I would say that keeping your body in balance is the biggest challenge. You have to be very aware of calorie consumption, hydration, and electrolytes. I’ve had races where things went way off track and it wasn’t pretty.

What is a typical week like when you are training for a race?

Well, I have three young children, a husband, and a part-time job. Running 100 miles a week is just not possible for me. I get in four quality runs each week including a tempo run, a hill workout, a mid-distance run, and a long run. I average 50 miles per week. Often I use races as ‘training runs with support’ to get ready for a goal race.

What is your favorite race story, whether it be a race where you gutted it out or where everything just fell into place?

I’m finding that there’s something special about them all. Whether good or bad, they’re all such learning experiences. As for a favorite, I’d have to say that Lean Horse 100 was amazing. I’d never run more than 50 miles and everything beyond that was an unknown. I had the support of so many people and knowing that I was doing it as a fundraiser, that it was about something so much bigger than myself, was humbling. It was also one of those spectacular experiences in ultra running when everything comes together. I literally felt great for the entire 100miles.

What is the hardest thing about running long distances? How do you prevent the distances from wrecking havoc on your feet?

I think the hardest thing is getting through the ‘rough spots.’ They say ‘If you’re feeling good, be patient. It will pass. If you’re feeling bad, be patient. It will pass.’ I also believe you have to know what you go into a race with and know how to stretch that over whatever distance you have to cover. Save some “juju” for the end.
My feet usually fare pretty well. I’ve had some blisters and angry toenails in the past. I use what has gotten me the best results in the past (A&D ointment and thin socks) and if it doesn’t work out, I just consider it a trophy and move on.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to start running ultras?

I would say that if I can do it anyone can. Set a goal, train consistently, and fine-tune your fueling strategy. Most importantly, I think you have to go into an ultra believing with all you are that you CAN do it. It’s so mental.

Can you describe your favorite running course and favorite race course?

There are a few nice trail networks in my area. My favorite is Shelby Forrest. There are around 16 miles of trails out there including some great hills. It’s very peaceful.
My favorite race course is the Sylamore 50K in Allison, AR. It’s a hilly, technical, and beautiful out and back in the Ozark mountains. At mile 3 and 28 there’s a water crossing. My first year running it, the water was chest-deep and freezing cold. The 25k was my first trail race and I’ve been back every year since for the 50K. I love the small grass-roots feel of the race.

How do you fuel during races including hydrating and foods you eat?

I love Hammer products and have had great success with Perpetuem. For distances up to 50 miles it’s generally all I use. If I feel the need for something else, I’ll have a hammer bar. Otherwise, I may pick up a few pretzels at an aid station, but otherwise I avoid the ultra fare. I like Salt Stick for electrolyte replacement and I try to consume 15-20 ounces of water per hour, depending on the temps. I’ve recently been experimenting with VESPA as well, which seems to work well with Perpetuem.

Does your family crew for you during races?

I’ve yet to have crew for any race. I tend to do fine with drop bags and aid stations, although I think it would be great to have family support on the course. My husband is an athlete as well and we run several of the same races but when we’re not running together he is usually home with our children. Besides him, the rest of my family thinks I’ve lost my mind running ultras so I don’t ask them to crew.

Can you tell me about your coach Mark Higginbotham, how has he helped you?

I met with Mark shortly after running my first marathon. He’s a incredible motivator and a wonderful person. He never doubted my ability to achieve whatever crazy goal I would come up with and he helped me to be patient with my running, slowly building a foundation for running ultras. I’ve also learned so much about fueling and hydration from him.

Do you prefer to run with other people or do you prefer running alone?

I like a little of both. I enjoy the peace of being on trail alone. I sometimes run for hours and never see another person. Other times, I like to catch up with friends as well as make new ones. Trail runners are some of the friendliest athletes out there and I seldom leave a race without meeting new and interesting people.

What are your goals for running?

My long-term goal is to remain healthy and run for the rest of my life. I’ve somehow managed to stay injury free and would love to continue the streak. My more immediate goal is to train for the Western States 100 in California in June. I somehow managed to be picked in the lottery and want to show up knowing I’ve done everything I possibly could to prepare.

What are your PRs for ultradistances?

It’s a funny question because I’m probably one of the few runners who doesn’t know all the numbers off the top of my head. As I said earlier, I’m not a speedster. The only one that comes to mind is my 24:58 100 miler. I got a trophy for 3rd place in my age group so I suppose it’s more memorable than the rest. I’m looking forward to doing a few of the same races this year that I did last year to see how my times compare. If they’re REALLY good, I’ll give you actual numbers.

This post was written by Andy - who has written 89 posts on RunningRunners

I ran cross country and track in high school and college. I focused on the 5000 and 10,000 meter races with pr‘s of 16:02 in the 5k and 34:27 in the 10k. After college I got out of the habit of running regularly. I ran sporadically throughout the past several years and have gotten out of shape. I needed motivation to get back into running, so I started this website to rekindle my love of running and encourage users to share their personal running stories. I’m going to track my runs and write about them here. I hope this will motivate and encourage you in your running as well.

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