I tried to run an Ultra Marathon...without training for it. 

UPDATE UPDATE ! Just signed up for the 2022 event in September - ROUND 2 MUTHAFXXKER 🤣

Thats more running 🏃‍♂️ in a day than ive done in 10 years

I hate running but this video inspired me to run and I ran 2.4 miles which is the longest I've ever done non stop. Mark you're an absolute animal running that far.

Epic. Mark, you demonstrate the long distance event mindset brilliantly. "I'm never doing this again, this is stupid" is then followed in the summary by "next year I'll do sub 14". Pain, or rather the accomplishment of something despite pain, is such a wonderful motivator. Crack on!!

Showing up for a 100km run and doing 104.88km is where it's at! Amazing effort!

Just wanted to say that after watching this video I decided to lace up and go for a run and i managed to PR my longest distance. 16.15km!!! So thanks for inspiring me. Im always in my head that im too heavy to be a long distance runner. But you doing all that at 100kg, really changes the game.

My first ultra marathon is in 3.5 days!!!! I know this is a year old but I still love your breakdown and channel. Thanks!!

Bit of a long one folks - but if you enjoy, check out this one as it's really similar in format but with more cute doggy 😁🐶 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BioR7tImeSY.html

I was an Ironman Triathlete in my 20's and watching your mind melt during the race gave me goose bumps. I remember vividly the times when my body was broken, mind melted, blisters shooting pains and thinking to myself, "I'm not going to make it, this is stupid, why do i do this to myself?" and yet I finished every race, then signed up for another. It's something that can't be simulated and it's special. Ironman changed my young life forever. I've got dad bod now, 20 years later but It's always in the back of my mind that when I WANT to get healthy - I'm certainly capable. Thanks for sharing this video!

"There's nobody here", the mantra of a distance runner...lol!

Ok so as a 44 year old former pro fighter who's never ran more than 10 k in a go ever this video has made me want to try and challenge myself way more and maybe try a marathon or something before the end of the year. Inspiring stuff for sure.

This is pretty motivating, I loved that closing bit - overcoming that large part of your brain that wants you to stop. That's what I love about endurance sports - telling your brain to shut the hell up.

Hi, Enjoyed your video. Was in the tent with you at the last stop. You ended 15 min ahead of me and I was following your head torch for a while. Had hip flexor problems too and ran first half too hard. Will be back near year to break the 12 hours a much wiser runner

Most of the stuff I watch on RU-vid my wife looks at, wonders why I'm letting myself being sucked in to buying something else and looks away. This video however she got pulled in and watched it all the way through, she likes running, but only at the half marathon distance. This was really great content, watching the journey from you feeling great at 10km to being angry at gate at 90km really showed how incredibly tough the event was, awesome accomplishment to finish and definitely above average video! Also, I recently bought a kickr bike after watching your reviews, so Wahoo and Garmin need to start going you some credit for your feedback!!

I don't usually click on "...without any training!" videos, but I'm glad I did on this one. Not only well told, but the detail in the reporting and analysis makes it quite useful for those of who who are .... or intend to be ... trained for their first 100km race.

Reminds me of that episode of "How I met your Mother" where Barney runs the Marathon: "Step one to running a marathon: You run. There is no step two." Awesome job!

Love your work. “104k is a proper distance”. Brilliant.

Loved everything about this! Goggins in there, your run, your analysis, your grit, Goggins lol. Thank you for sharing!

This is amazing to watch!! Huge congratulations on such a massive achievement. I was on the cheer squad for the 50k mark in the afternoon and embarrassingly I can hear myself in the background! 🤣 Well done!! 👏🏻👏🏻

This is the most informative video I have ever seen about pacing and time management, pluss gear control. Really appreciate how you explain what time you run and what you should have done. Great video!

What a great video! I've watched many ultra marathon videos from various people with various backgrounds and degrees of experience, but the style you adopted for yours is really something I haven't seen before. Big fan of the embedded reviews between the actual race segments. I also like that you pointed out the stuff that didn't go that well and that this wasn't just motivation porn. Great job with the run and great job with the transformation! I'll go check that out as well. All the best!

I really really love this video. Great insights, and I enjoy your sense of humor. I'm also glad you mentioned that "without training" means something completely different when you are running an ultra. You also summarized what I love about long distance running so much: it's simple. It's not always easy, but it's simple. You just need to keep moving forward.

Congratulations on finishing the race! This might be my favorite fitness channel!

Thank you for the play-by-play commentary. I’ve signed up for my first ultra, a 60k trail race next May, and this is exactly what I needed to see about the mental aspect of an ultra. Well done.

That is far out. Really amazing. I was gutted that you missed the crossing. Pleased that you managed the measurements of distance versus time. Nice going. I love the post race descriptions. These are one of the aspects of your video’s that I love! The addition details. The collapse, the blanket, the food sources, the vital aspects of recovery! And to think, I considered the Bob Graham round in my fifties. Why oh why do we inflict this amount of pain upon ourselves? Because what doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger, right?😎👍🏽

quote: ‘suns out, that’s a bit annoying, could do with that going away.’

Just come across your channel, so inspirational! I walked this event last year but you've inspired me to get to above average and run it! Love the content, great motivation.

So much inspiration…so much humour!! This is the video that made me subscribe! Please make another ultra marathon video! I truly enjoyed witnessing the mental process of completing an ultra marathon! Very informative!

This was such a great video - I live right next to the Thames, and walk along the paths regularly- it was so funny to recognize where you were! I’ve never even considered walking all the way along the path, let alone running it. Excellent work, very inspirational 💪

Mark I'm new to your channel and all I can say is that you are spectacularly amazing at getting yourself in bad situations.

Very well done and what a fabulous compliment from the chap when you crossed the finish line! Huge (belated) congratulations 🎉

This was great to watch. I remember my first ultra…I went through every emotion possible and got angry with everything. Tree roots, stones, hills, grass, the weight of my watch, the chirpy supporters etc, etc. Hated it all, but post race and after the worst DOMS ever, decided Ultras were the best thing ever. Done a few and now training to get back into them after about 5 years away from them. Keep up the great content. 👊

You are quite an inspiration! It is enjoyable listening to you discuss your strategies/self-analysis and hearing how intelligent you are.

Great effort Mark, I completed the Thames Path Challenge 50km with 10 colleagues/friends on the Sunday, felt great at the end so might tackle the 100km next time! It was a fantastic event and a stunning route.

Bold move sharing your effort and mistakes with the world! I feel for you. Many years ago, after what at that time was my most important endurance event, I was given a nickname that stuck for many years: Wrong way, Greenway. Great job finishing! Thanks for posting.

I loved your video. Your shared the ups and downs during an ultra in a very honest way. Plenty of lessons in there. Well done!

Epic effort! You should be extremely proud - so mentally strong. 💪

I'm always impressed with ultrarunners, but doing this the way you did amazes me. Congratulations on finishing 👏 I'm surprised your body recovers that quickly after such a big effort, even with your high fitness level. Great video, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thanks for inspiring me as a keen but heavier and so limited runner. Was fun to watch the last half of your run and you did incredibly well.

Great summary video Mark. Reminded me alot of my experiences of doing the Thames Path challenge a few years ago. Made me chuckle at your comments knowing I thought exactly the same thing - "stupid gate", the cows, and I definitely can't afford to live around here!

This was a fantastic effort, inspirational. Amazing how many of us fall for the classic starting too quick mistake, weve all been there...interestingly according to statistics women are able to pace themselves a lot better. Looking forward to see how well you do next next, now youve got this experience I bet youre gonna take hours off your time

How do I like this video more than once?! Thank you for making and sharing it. Well done and I hope you do it in 2022 and you smash it.

WOW! I’ve watched a few of your videos over the past week or so and had no idea about the weight loss challenge you did! Those before and after pictures are crazy, congratulations!! Love this content!

When I make a nav error during an ultra ride it is the biggest gut punch. I've learned to be hyper focused on proper nav due to my many errors. You have a solid f-up. great work dealing with it. I would of been fuming for far too long - wasting energy and crying like a baby.

Thank you so much for sharing your journey and thoughts. Found it very inspiring. Hopefully I'll do one of these one day. Good luck for next year.

Awesome Mark. Took me ages to watch this but it's really inspiring, when i get my Fenix 7s and I've recovered from my crash and it doesn't hurt to walk, i am going to start jogging thanks to this.

Great video. What a journey! Thanks for helping motivate me, I’m training for my first half marathon in part because of you. Stay at it man. Good stuff.

Well, well above average Mark. Superb effort, well done. Really interesting race and post race analysis, thanks for sharing the experience.

Firstly, well done for you achievement! Great account and information provided. I have my first big race this weekend and this video has offered some first hand experience of what to focus on. Many thanks 🙂👍

Mark, I was so happy to see you finish this. Congrats. 👍👍

Great video, Mark. Well done on finishing in such an amazing time. One of my regrets for that day was that I didn’t take my GoPro with me to record that experience but watching your video brought back the amazing memories of that day.

Love the video's mate. You crack me up every time. That aftermath bit was epic :) (probably not so for you, but hey, you can't have it all). Awesome result as well. 104k run.... not in 104 years for me, I'd rather stick to my bike :)

Amazing video, really unique style. Congratulations on the finish! "I don't know where I am, but I can't afford to live here. " That cracked me up. Running 50ks undertrained is my favorite hobby! I'm thinking 50 miles next year. Sadly as an insomniac, my average body battery reading on a normal day is 35 or less. It'll drop to single digits at least once a week... and that's even on recovery weeks! I've learned that if I want to accomplish anything in my life, I simply have to do it tired. Your channel is hugely motivating, I hope you plan on more ultras of any distances!

Such a great video...just shows how many aspects here are into a run that long. I've been jinxed with action challenges so far and next year (third time lucky and a lot of education later) I will be across that finish line...crawling if needs be! Ta for sharing! X

Loved this, sir. Really puts things in perspective. Great walkthrough and brilliant achievement.

You nailed the thought processes that occur when running long distance. Just keep moving forward.

Awesome job, cracking determination and will power to go for that long. Congrats man.

This is a fantastic overview and a great dive into the data. Good work!

Thanks for sharing your experience. Was interesting, informative, and inspiring!

Great effort loving the videos. I've done an ultra myself as a big lad and your commentary is exactly how you feel. Super optimistic to depressed in 30 seconds. The mind is your best friend and worst enemy a 100 times an hour🤣 love it💪

Just subscribed... Amazing video. Loved the editing, the honest view of how you approached it and your learning from it.

Great video. I've just started training properly again for the first time since March 2020... I was in pretty good shape back then and the pandemic put a stop to that and I put on loads of weight... It's taken me a while to get back on that horse but it's happening and videos like yours are making me excited about what lies ahead. Stay Hard!

First video I've seen of yours, really enjoyed it! I'm not a runner, but I do enjoy a long day out on the bike, often without enough training and can definitely relate! Pacing, the highs and lows, it being a mental game as much if not more than a physical one etc. Anyways, congrats :)

Your storytelling is so good it's making me watch your journey of a 100k run and enjoy it. Very nice. And it's inspiring especially at 100kg ish...

Really great video Mark! I loved how you structured this video. . .great to see sections of the course inter-cut with testimonial-like insight! I just started dabbling with Ultra Events myself at 46 years of age and I had to laugh every time you voiced the exact thoughts I find in my head while running! I'm finding that after all the prep-work and training, the hardest part is always silencing that inner-voice that wants to remind you that it would be easier to simply stop! :) Thanks for the great video, I just subscribed!

I am not a big fan of running but I joined a friend of mine at a 24 km obstacle-run. The furthest distance I did before was 18 km. I was proud that I made it. Congrats to your achievement!

By far my favorite channel right now. Great content Mark.

Loved every minute of your video. Ran three 100ks in my late 30ies with a best of 11:24 but I had been focusing 100% on running. Congratulations to you - doing this nearly like a challenge, while also cycling, rowing, etc. 👍💪

Loving the honest assessment of the effort….we all go out too fast sometimes but it’s adjusting and carrying on which shows true strength. Well done sir 👍

Awesome effort Mark. Well above average as others have said. Timely one for me. I'm starting to plan my longest ever bike ride. I have until mid December to train. Aiming for 400km (with significant climbing) my longest previously is 220km. So a timely reminder to put in solid prep work is awesome. Thankyou.

Really interesting summary and I recognise a lot of what you went through. Brought back a lot of memories of the TP100 .. I experienced that lack of energy on a 100 mile race (I'd trained for) and I believe that for me it was down to work stress playing with my head.. went back the next year less prepared mentally but happier and did it.

Congratulations on your achievement, and thank you very much for publishing this video. I've never ran a marathon before, but I have done other distance events. I have it in my mind to run 50 miles next year, and videos like this one help dreamers like myself to find a way to make life goals a reality.

I appreciate this video! Thanks for sharing this process. 🙏🏻

I have to say there is something odly relaxing in watching a nearly 50 year old bloke from england doing an ultra marathon and is equaly as tall then you and equaly as heavy as you (but is 15 years younger than me and has at least 15% lower body fat percentage), while you are doing your slow and steady cardio session on your indoor bike. Keep it up it's great motivational content and shows that you can still achieve amathing goals, even if you were unhealthy and fat in your 20s.

I’m new to this channel and I really enjoy it. Thank you so much, so entertaining and informative

Very much appreciated you video! Great advice and enjoy the honesty. Congrats on the 100km!

Great video Mark. Really well made and lots of details. Makes me want to do it next year.

I love how the starting line of an ultra is such a casual, strolling affair. No need to rush now, we have light years to suffer.

Great motivational video, the mental toughness it takes to keep going after going 4k the wrong way is exceptional! Fantastic mental and physical toughness and determination to reach your goal! Reminds me of the time I completed my second marathon despite knowing I missed the registration deadline and I was not going to get a metal! I did it anyway!

Mark - Great run. Fabulous video. Well done. Never stop.

What a great achievement. Thank you for taking us through the race like this, enduring the pain and suffering so that we don't have to, or at least think twice before singing up for an ultra. Especially the after-race-recovery bit made me laugh, sorry for that.

Great analysis and helpful views. Congratulation on the 104km Mark

Stumbled across your channel. Huge respect for finishing that run. I've managed 3 half marathons over COVID and am fighting hard to get back to at least that level of fitness. This time I'm taking it slow and building back with a support system. Really hope it works.

Love it!!! thanks for sharing your experience!

Last bit... lovely summing up. All life is movement be it fast or slow.. just keep moving. Thanks Mark.

Always great to see you in races I've done or want to do in the future. Keep up the amazing content mate

Found this absolutely fascinating and whilst I’ve not run an ultra, I have done London 2 Brighton 100k continuous walking … I could relate to every single thing you said (and did including the detour!) awe inspiring stuff 😍😍😍

My god, had me on the edge of my seat! Bloody well done, Mark!

I'm in my peak training block for my 1st 100km trail (4000m elevation), it's about 5 weeks ago, training has been hard so I'm kind of terrified more then excited for the race at the moment.. Your video has been so helpful and you're an absolute beast haha. Thank you!

Wow brilliant really well done for carrying on and finishing. I think it’s actually more of an achievement if you do struggle and push on. 💪💪💪👍👍👍 great watch too.

Mate you're an absolute boss. Mega inspirational, keep up the fantastic work 💪

Meticulous rundown of the mindset of doing an ultrarun. Enjoyed it pretty much and kodus on finishing your first 100k mate 💪🤟

Really enjoyed this, refreshingly honest and interesting!

I love this Mark. So honest so real. By REAL I mean we all set a goal and then do not train enough. Full of positivity we set off to the inevitable. You meet yourself and make the best of it. It's not the unrealistic finish you imagined/hoped but you did not give up in the slightest and you finished!. Also, incredible how the 4K detour consumed you mentally. I listened to the Sam Harris 911 and feel asleep. You finished 104km! It's only 4% of the race but those 4km consumed you for hours. I totally get it - I have been there. For many it would have been enough to throw in the towel but you did not! Huge respect Mark! Question: if you were not documenting everything on RU-vid and you did not have that accountability do you think you would have finished?

Great Video and Congratulations! Just finishing an ULTRA is an amazing feat! I hope to do one someday but I still have a ways to go... and I can tell you the time will not be pretty...lol!

This is definitely beginning to be one of my favourite channels. Somehow you keep hitting specific subjects that I am interested in and you do it so well without any bullshit and with such good information! I have been planning on doing one of the Ultra Challenge 100k events this year and now you have settled it for me and it'll be the Thames Path Challenge. Ill just count it as my long run for the London Marathon 3 weeks later lol

I love those ultraa, done a few. Massive fan of 100ks. I think they are the perfect ultra distance,. Great video, sounds like you learned alot!

Loved it! Thank you for sharing!

Brilliant recap. Well done on the run. Well done video. Thanks.

Hey Mark, great achievement, great video, super entertaining to watch. Will need to check out more from your channel!