You must have patience and you've got to be smart. It's definitely not a social event. It's not aerobics. In any footrace, regardless of the distance, the hills break up the packs. It is no shame to walk in an ultramarathon.
Most competitors pick their spots to limit the strain on their bodies.
Middleton is a strong believer in this. It's steep for a car. Baseball people talk about their game never being over until the final out. The marathon, once an inconceivable challenge for most, has become a race for the masses. Popular ones attract 20,000 competitors.