I’d always been into long-distance running—half-marathons were my thing.
But one day, while sitting in my living room, I saw a YouTube video of the Bromo Desert 50K Ultra in East Java. That’s when it hit me—I had to run an ultramarathon.
The thought of running across the Bromo volcanic landscape—its wild beauty and harsh terrain—lit a fire in me.
It wasn’t just the distance—it was the challenge of running in such a raw, unforgiving place.
I thought, ‘If I could do one race in my life, it’d be this one.’
Plus, East Java is one of my favorite places to visit—that was just the cherry on top. I packed my motorbike and set off from Bali on a long ride to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park.
The Mental Shift: Overcoming the Fear of the Ultra
Running 50 kilometers sounded insane. I’d done marathons, but this was a whole new level. Ultras have a way of shaking you, especially with those scary big numbers staring back at you.
The terrain is tough, the conditions relentless, and deep down, you know you’re about to face something that will push you beyond what you thought possible.
But I couldn’t back down.
I spent months getting my mind ready for this race.
I had to prepare myself for the heat, the dust, the volcanic rocks. But nothing could fully prepare me for what lay ahead. I doubted myself more than once, asking, ‘Why am I doing this?’ Those doubts crept in on long training days and during the hardest runs. But every time they came, I’d remind myself—‘You’ve trained for this. You’ve got this.’
Ultramarathons are a mental game just as much as a physical one. You can train your body, but your mind has to be just as tough. I started focusing on the next checkpoint, not the finish line. T
hat shift helped me keep moving forward, even when it felt impossible.
Training for the Ultra: More Than Just Running
Training for an ultra isn’t about cranking out more and more miles. It’s about learning to push through pain and fatigue in a way I had never done before.
And the hardest part was those weekend back-to-back runs. Saturdays were long runs, and Sundays were even longer runs. When you’re sore from the day before, it takes an entirely new level of mental toughness to lace up and hit the road again.
The one thing I learned early on? Ultramarathons aren’t about speed. They’re about pacing yourself. I had to train my body to be on my feet for hours, not just to finish fast. Every weekend was a test of endurance.
Some of those runs were brutal. The soreness from Saturday’s long run never really let up by Sunday. But I pushed through it.
And then there were the days when I’d hop on my motorbike after a long Saturday run and ride an hour and a half to Batur Mountain, where I’d hike for six hours, climbing over 1,200 meters. Everyone else was probably lounging, Netflix and chilling, but I wasn’t about to let that stop me.
If I wanted to be ready, I had to make sacrifices. It wasn’t easy, but it was the only way.
Race Day: The Toughest Test of My Life
Race day was surreal. I stood at the start of the Bromo Desert 50K Ultra, feeling a mix of excitement and dread. This wasn’t just another race—it was my first ultra, and I knew it would push me farther than I’d ever been before. The clock was exactly 04:00 in the morning so it was still dark out there. As I gazed down the race course, I saw nothing but darkness which added more to the mystery.
The first few kilometers were brutal. I was already battling the heavy air, the terrain, and the unfamiliar demands of running in on sand. Sure, I had trained, but nothing could have fully prepared me for the desert’s brutal terrain. The volcanic ash underfoot felt like it was sucking the life out of me with every step.
The race consisted of doing two loops, each lasting 25 kilometers. My friend who already joined the race a couple of times before told me that the first loop is mainly a warm-up for the second loop. He also insisted that I pace the first loop If I wanted to make it to the finish line.
I didn’t listen to his advice.
When I hit the 25-kilometer mark, I felt I was done. I was out of energy and completely spent, but my mind was still in the game. Everything hurt—my legs, my back, my feet.
I was questioning everything. Was I really cut out for this? Now the sun was blazing, the sand kept slipping under my feet, and the temperatures have spiraled out of control.
At that point, I thought, Maybe today’s not my day.
But then something unexpected happened. I started talking to a runner from Vietnam, who was feeling just as drained as I was. We shared our doubts, and for a moment, it felt like we weren’t alone. Sometimes, that’s all it takes—one person to remind you that you’re not in this by yourself. We kept moving, step by step.
We trodden for miles and miles, trying to make the most out of any runnable sections while taking our time on the non-so-runnable paths and hills.
By the time I hit the last stretch, I was sprinting.
When I crossed the finish line, it wasn’t just a race completed—it was a full-on emotional release. Relief, joy, exhaustion, and pride hit me all at once.
I had done the hardest thing I’d ever done, and I was an ultramarathoner.
My partner was waiting for me at the finish line and she managed to shoot this clip as I was approaching the finish line. At the moment I was happy – well more relieved than happy to be honest.
VIDEO
The Ultra Lifestyle: More Than Just One Race
After the Bromo Desert 50K, my perspective on running completely shifted. It wasn’t about time or pace anymore. It was about mental toughness and learning to keep going when your body tells you it’s done. The finish line is just a small part of the journey—the real growth happens when you’re fighting to get there.
I’m already planning my next ultramarathon. But this time, I know that the mental game is just as crucial as the physical training. The limits I thought I had? They were all in my head.
Fueling and Hydration Insights
In an ultra like the Bromo Desert 50K, nutrition and hydration can make or break you. When you’re pushing your body to its limits, staying on top of your hydration and fueling strategy is crucial.
Managing Hydration in the Heat
As soon as I hit the course, I knew hydration would be a challenge. Although it was still dark at the starting line, I knew that the sun will be relentless just a couple of hours alter. If I wasn’t careful, dehydration would hit me fast.
During training, I’d built the habit of sipping constantly, not just waiting until I’m thirsty. The dry heat in East Java had me sweating buckets within the first few kilometers. At every aid station, I grabbed water, even when I didn’t feel thirsty. I carried a hydration pack, which became my lifeline. That constant sip kept me moving, even on the long stretches between aid stations.
Electrolytes were just as essential. The heat drained not just my water, but my salts, too. I relied on electrolyte tablets to keep my muscles working properly. In training, I tested different products, and found a mix that worked well for me.
Nutrition: Real Food vs. Gels
At first, I relied on gels, thinking they’d be my go-to for quick energy. But I soon realized that wasn’t enough. Long runs mess with your stomach, especially when all you’re doing is sucking down sugary gels. They give you a quick boost, but they don’t last.
During the race, I carried a mix of gels for that quick energy and real food for the long haul. Bananas were a lifesaver at the aid stations, and salty snacks kept me from crashing. The homemade passion fruit juice at one aid station was an unexpected gem—it was refreshing and packed with natural sugars, helping me through a tough patch.
The Importance of Testing Fueling Strategies During Training
You can’t wait until race day to figure out what works. As I’ve mentioned before, I tested my fueling strategy during training—long runs are for testing your nutrition plan.
I learned which gels upset my stomach, and which real foods kept me going longer. By race day, I knew exactly what to do when the fatigue hit.
Final Thoughts
Hydration and fueling aren’t just accessories to ultrarunning—they’re essential.
Your nutrition plan is your weapon in the fight against the desert heat and the challenges the course throws at you.
Keep testing it during training, stick with what works, and stay flexible when things don’t go as planned.
If I could give my past self one piece of advice before I started this journey, it’d be this: don’t neglect your nutrition. It’s about more than just surviving the race—it’s about learning how to push past your limits and keep coming back for more.