Hi readers! Here’s a deeper look into my 100-mile race at the Sulphur Springs Trail Race in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, on May 24, 2025. I wanted to give you an insider look at what goes on during an Ultramarathon; the depth of logistics, the mindset, the emotional phases, the hiccups, and the strategy. Feel free to leave comments! Enjoy :)
The Night Before - 7PM
[From my Instagram Post - FYI this picture is called a “Flat Runner Photo” where we lay out our gear to showcase race day outfit and equipment. It’s a ‘hit multiple birds with one stone’ way to get mentally prepared, logistically prepared, and showcase our preparedness. It’s gotten quite popular as a pre-race ritual among the running community. A good habit to form.]
”1 more sleep 😬 until the @sulphurspringstrailrace 100-mile race in Ancaster, Ontario. It’s not my first time at the rodeo, so I feel both the confidence from years of experience but also some mounting expectations to podium as I’ve won this race before … twice before. I’m expecting this race to pose a thermal challenge especially with the last few days of continuous rain making for some muddy course conditions along with the windy and chilly spring temperatures - key 🔑 is to stay warm and as dry as possible.
My mind always gets very calm at this stage. I practice acceptance of the un-controllables. I ground in gratitude. I trust that everything that will happen will happen for a reason. And I prepare for the cyborg Julian to come out come sunrise to absolutely crush it!!! 🦿🦾🤖 🚀
I’m going into this race feeling redemptive and focused. We had an extended winter 🥶 which decreased quality training time on trail (about a month), I had a back injury that set me back 3-weeks, and yet I squeezed out some clutch training sessions where everything just clicked. I trialed some new training and fueling protocols and am excited to see how they perform. Focused on running a very consistent race. Feeling locked in 🔒 💪.”
PRE-BED HOT TUB - 8PM
I was lucky to be hosted by my friend Kevin, who’s a former Team Canada Olympian, and has amenities like the hot tub, sauna, and ice bath. We were able to talk strategy, keep my mind positive, and he also knew to give me space. His place is 15 minutes away from the start, which is always very key to a race. So I took full advantage of getting my body relaxed and mind calm with a pre-bed soak. I did my Flat Runner Photo, prepped my bin of food and drink, packed my bags, and jumped into the hot tub for 8pm. Then went to bed around 9pm. I woke for 4:45am. Race started at 6:15am.
THE MORNING OF - 6AM
Upon arrival, it was lineups for parking, so I’m glad I arrived at 5:20am. Gave me time to put my belongings in this super awesome 100-mile club “home-base” tent, reserved just for us 100-mile racers. This race is unique in that it is a 20km looped course. So us 100-milers have to run 8 loops (160km). It’s great to come back to home-base every lap and see your supporters, and refill on fuel, water, gear swaps, etc. Also very convenient for crew (supporters who assist with the function and strategy of a runner’s race). Hence why this race has doubled in popularity, as it is a great introduction to trail running and ultra running distances. I found a spot to put my bin of fuel and gear, claimed a chair, and did a quick visit to the loo, then found my spot on the start line. As much as I love coffee, not on race mornings for me anymore. I found that it irritates my gut and forces a 2nd visit to the loo early in a long run. This is one of many key learnings an Ultrarunner has to figure out during training season.
The Start - 6:15am
In this photo, I’m feeling super stoked, can’t you tell?!? Excited to finally get this underway after 6 months of mental prep, and 3 months of heavy training. I’m so happy-go-lucky here, reminding myself this is a celebration of my training and super grateful to arrive at the start line healthy, positive, and determined. The start line is also the finish line of your training. A huge accomplishment in itself.
I don’t like being too cold at the beginning of a run, so I dressed very warmly. a bit too warm, which I’d pay for later on in the race. This amazing On Ultra jacket is actually a rain jacket, the lightest one out there for mountain ultras, incredibly advantageous because of how light it is. It deceives as a breathable windbreaker though. Not the right jacket to wear on a valley ultra where it gets very warm and insulating midday, but cold in morning and night. I thought it was going to rain, hence why I wore it. More on this in the next photo.
The race began very casually, with a few speedsters from the 100-mile relay jockeying for position at the front of the pack. The majority of 100-milers slowly jogged while in mid conversation, giddy to see old comrades from previous races. The mood was chatty and relaxed, but ready for the battle ahead.
2nd Lap - 10am
As the morning brightened, my pace was steady and strong at a 2 hour lap (20k) at 6:00 min/km. I thought if I kept up this pace, I’d be able to achieve anywhere between 16-18 hours. Somehow I had it in my head I’d get 17 hours! I also decided to run up the hills, like I did in training. Many non-pro Ultrarunners don’t run up hills as a way to save energy and save their quads. But I felt amazing doing it, and I kept saying to myself “if the pros run up the hills, so will I”. The combination of high muscular demand from hill running, and the rain jacket + running tights, became my silent killer. Ego and stubbornness, two qualities that can get you to do very ambitious things, but also get you into trouble.
[Here I’m wearing On Waterproof Cloud Horizon shoes, On Merino Wool high socks, but great choices for a muddy and cold-ish course]
Highlight of lap 2 - my client abhi!
Here on lap 3, I bumped into my client Abhi! Abhi has been one of my most successful clients. He came to me as a Software Engineer / Coder, with no experience in fitness training, let alone running. We’ve been working together for 3 years, and Abhi has run a handful of half marathons, 2 full marathons, and Sulphur Springs being his first Ultra marathon of 50km! He has followed my guidance very closely, and my proudest part of our work together is not in his accomplishments of finishing these once before feared activities, it is the fact that he hasn’t gotten any injuries! I am adamant about his mobility, recovery, sleep, and cultivating a lifestyle around holistic health and functional training. This is a very special moment for coach and student to be running the same race.
Start of Lap 4 - 60-80k - longest distance run in 2025
I was in the zone after 3 loops (60k) and on great pace. I was excited here to enter new mileage for the year as I had only maxed out at 65km continuous during training. It always feels amazing to break through new distances for the year, it reminds you of how far you’ve come amidst all the ups and downs of training.
Being on a great pace and on the high of new distance for the year, I didn’t want to stop, change clothes, and lose momentum, so I kept going in the same gear, big mistake.
I know that if I were to be a coach for my ultrarunner, I would have probably caught the mistake by asking a checklist set of questions like - “how are the morale and emotions? > be sure to check blood sugar and fueling frequency, how are the muscles and joints feeling? > check chafing, pacing and course terrain, you hydrated? > check water and electrolyte ratio, you running hot or cool, how’s the body temperature? > check gear / apparel and give a weather update, finally, how are the feet doing? > check feet for blisters, condition of shoe grip, dryness of socks. These are just a few of the things an ultra-runner has to think through constantly during the race.
END OF LAP 4 - 80KM - Uh OH … things aren’t going well
Still stubbornly charging up the hills, white salt stains and puddles of sweat continuing to build. This was the end of the 4th lap where I began cramping hard. I was sweating way too much too early on. I drank lots and stayed on my electrolyte and hydration game but it just wasn’t staying in me. Amidst my default face of smiling, when I returned on this lap, I could feel like I was going to hit a wall … you can’t smile your way through hitting a wall.
A small error or miscalculation in an Ultra can make or break you. One teeny tiny thing blows up into something huge later in the race. I paid for it on this upcoming lap. This was the beginning of my undoing.
LAP 5 - 80-100 KM - THE PAIN CAVE cAME EARLY
On that lap finish, I finally ended up taking off my rain jacket, changing shoes, to not make things worse, and suffered the consequences through lap 5. I was cramping everywhere; mainly my calves, hamstrings, and groin. My pacing was entirely off, and I knew my chances to podium were done. I was scared that I wasn’t going to finish with how bad the cramping was. So this lap was my most mentally and physically difficult. It took my family and supporters to pull me out of the dark. A voice inside just kept me going, instead it saying anything, it just moved one leg in front of the other. This is the ‘pain cave’ phase, where everything hurts, the yearning to stop is at its highest, yet you grit on through. I call it “the breakdown to breakthrough” magic. These are the tests that challenges our resilience, our backbone, our character, and end up making us stronger and more conscious.
END OF LAP 5 - 100KM - THE CHEERS!
Finishing lap 5 (in one piece), I return to home base to an entire crowd cheering for me after 100km of hard fought running. A month before this race, I had the pleasure of presenting a talk on ‘Eastern Philosophies and Mindsets for Trail and Ultra Running’, to two relay teams of runners from a phenomenal Movement Therapy Studio called Unda in Leslieville, Toronto. With team Unda, my On Ambassadorship leads Anoke and Pedro, and my twin brother, sister-in-law, and baby nephew, it was the best reception I’ve had in years for a race. At this point, I wished so badly that I was just doing the 100km, it would’ve been the fairytale finish. But alas, I had to truck onwards.
TWIN BROTHER SEES ME RACING ULTRA FOR THE FIRST TIME
Here’s my bro and baby Otto in the 100-mile tent, pointing his finger on my name among a huge list of 100-mile registrants. Out of 300 or so registrants, 169 finished, this is quite good, because for many 100-mile races, only 50% or less end up completing.
I’M THE ONLY ASIAN ULTRA WINNER I KNOW … IS THAT ABNORMAL?
I did often notice that at trail races or ultras, I was the only person of colour at the start lines, and on the podium. It would have been nice to have other people of colour with me, from similar upbringings and backgrounds, to relate to, and to deepen the sense of community and camaraderie. But the sport of Ultra in itself is very isolating, it attracts introverts, and isn’t known for being super social. So I didn’t think much of it. But the more I do, the more I realize how important it is for the future of the sport and society. I have connected with Crossing Lines, and I’m looking forward to contributing more to this initiative as a role model and leader. Hoping the POC community grows in the ultra world.
7th LAP - 120-140KM - RECRUITED A PACER!
As the evening drew closer, I was able to push through a near-fatal phase of cramping during lap 5. I took a longer pause to chow down some much needed Chinese Congee (rice porridge). Throughout lap 6, I hiked up the hills instead of running up. I took longer rest breaks to regulate my temperature and restored my hydration and electrolyte levels. I was fortunate to have my friend Tony pace me for lap 7 - “A pacer is just as powerful as a pain killer”. Having someone to chat with to keep your mind off of the pain of 13 hours of non-stop running is extremely helpful. The pacer also monitors you and keeps you on a certain pace. Tony did an amazing job, especially since we didn’t pre-orchestrate this. Huge thanks to the recruitment work of my friend Pedro to pull off this clutch move. With the help of Tony, I was able to run a relatively fast lap which kept me in the top 5!
FINAL LAP - 140-160KM - A VICTORY LAP
Last lap! With all of my warmer morning apparel and gear back on, plus headlamp, I solo’d the final 20km with confidence and pride. This was indeed a victory lap. I took my time to thank all of the aid station volunteers, bode farewell to parts of the course that challenged me, wished all of my fellow 100-milers still on the course the best of luck, and soaked it all in. This last lap was a very different sensation compared to the two other times I ran this race, in 2023 and 2019, when I was being chased by 2nd and 3rd place runners to maintain my 1st place position. There was so much pressure compared to this time. So I really enjoyed “coasting” my way to the finish line.
THE FINISH LINE
I finished 5th out of 169 racers in a time of 18:35, 12 minutes faster than my championship winning race in 2023! This goes to show that the field of runners is getting faster, the race is attracting stronger runners, and that I’m getting faster and stronger as I age!
THE BELT BUCKLE - AWARDED TO RACERS WHO FINISH BEFORE 24 HOURS
Below is an excerpt from my Instagram Post:
[“I came in focused, all prepped, ready. Expectations to podium. No big reason to not.
I came on strong and steady, first 50 miles (80k) went smoothly as expected from training. But that’s where the comfort zone ended, and the “pain cave” began.
After 50 miles, I just couldn’t hold my initial pace. My competitive mind was gassed out, and lost hope. I got under my own skin about it and made small mistakes which compounded on the back half. I paid for it with major cramping and negative self-talk. It took the help of my community to pull me out of the dark.
Some ultra endurance athletes thrive in the pain cave. They have harnessed a tolerance to pain from other tough life events and have learned to transfer it over. Others, like myself, utilize it as a source of mind-spirit exploration; it’s the teacher that arrives when the student is ready.
I came through using a survival mode gear, one I haven’t had to utilize in a long time. A feeling where you’re hanging on by a thread, but not for moments, for hours. Where everything is telling you to fold, but something inside you, a mysterious executive functioning spirit, that teacher, who somehow gets you to forge on and finish. That teacher helped me accomplish the 100-mile race with the following meditation …
Friend: “Julian, how did you do it?”
Me: “When I think deeply on it, the how I did it comes from the why I do it. I do it because I can … for those who can’t, for those who won’t, for those who don’t but wish they did, for those who didn’t but were close to doing it, for those who doubt, for those who want to and will someday, and to honour the kinship brotherhood and sisterhood of incredible humans who have paved the way and interwoven my journey with that same thread of hope that interconnects us all.”]
TOP 5 TAKEAWAYS
1. Support is everything to an Ultrarunner - cheers from friends and family give us more energy than gels and bars, a few miles late in the race with a fellow runner is as potent as a pain killer.
2. It never gets easier, you just get better - better at preparing for the worst, planning for curveballs, tolerating the suck, managing the pain, and better at believing in yourself.
3. Embrace the suck - You know it’s going to be tough, but that’s the point, it’s not as valuable if it doesn’t push you out of your comfort zone, that’s where the good stuff lives.
4. Ultrarunners are explorers of the human condition - they remind us what it means to be human > resilient, courageous, determined, brave, adaptable, etc.
5. A great ultra race is all about the moments that make you forget about the miles - and the blisters, the chafing, the acid reflux, the cramps, the indigestion, the porta-potties, etc. 😝
THE QUOTE THAT SUMS UP THIS 100-MILE RACE JOURNEY
“💪 You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.”