I've been dabbling with ultra running the last couple of years and I think there are some important lessons that can be learned for anyone who ventures into the wild. There are obvious advantages in the ability to cover long distances through the wild, this held true 10,000 years ago and has the potential to still hold true today- there are still many indigenous folk that run long distances daily. Ultrarunning forces you to travel light, when running 20, 30, 40 miles you don't want unnecessary weight, but at the same time you're well aware that something could happen and it forces one to put together a kit that if push comes to shove, you have the ability to survive.
Running long distances gives you a very straight forward crash course on nutrition. You learn that you have ~ 2-2.5 hour typically of glycogen reserves, when these run out and you haven't been consuming calories along, bad things happen
You also learn quickly that carbs are the choice for refueling on the move. When efforts go beyond 3-4 hours, you need to include some protein with those carbs or your body will use what protein it needs- and it does need them. If not consumed the body consumes them anyways, from protein rich muscle mass- not where you want your body shopping for protein! As efforts get even longer, a small percentage of fat needs to be added as well. Understanding and experiencing these phenomenon goes a long way in preparing oneself if the need ever arose where you needed to skedaddle somewhere in a hurry! Because ultrarunners are always trying to trim their load, they've perfected these nutritional needs into small, light packages (but not always tasty 
). I looked in my basement pantry sometime ago and discovered I didn't need to worry about storing extra food stuffs for emergencies- I easily had a weeks + worth of calorie rich food that was also compact and easy to pack, nothing I'd serve on a menu mind you, but would get a guy by just fine in a pinch.
You also get to learn (often by hard knocks) the importance of proper hydration, by experiencing both too little and too much. You also learn what an electrolyte is and why you want them in proper balance One interesting physiological change that occurs with long distance runners is that there bodies become much more efficient in regards to hydration and their body ends up needing less water than previously- this obviously could have some advantages in a survival scenario.
Understanding fueling and hydration could certainly effect the outcome of an emergency in the wilds.
Long distance runners typically are out in the hills (or deserts or mountains or other ecosystem) almost daily. This gives one advantages in navigating, route finding and how to best circumvent challenging terrain. All skills that are germane for anyone venturing out. After weeks and months, you also get very good at predicting weather changes that are coming. Being out almost everyday also lets your body better adjust to temperature/weather swings; it also teaches you that preparedness is not only a good idea, but a necessity. Believe me there is nothing more humbling than being half way into a long loop w/ bluebird weather in the upper 30's and having the weather change to a full-out blizzard w/ temps dropping into the low 20's (w/ the winds gusting to 40 mph!)- that's not the time to have forgotten your shell, hat and gloves!
I haven't touched on the health benefits as that should be pretty obvious. Less obvious are other things like balance- dodging obstacles at speed, running downhill, etc all do wonders for balance. This constantly changing terrain also does wonderful things for strengthening smaller accessory muscle groups, tendons and ligaments. I've twisted my ankles numerous times and at first it was an injury that waylaid my running for several days, those same twists now are nothing more than a reminder to pay more attention.
As anyone who has dabbled into survival you learn what an important role your mental state is, maybe the most important x factor??? The ability to push through pain and mental roadblocks is often the difference between making it and going to your maker. I can tell you with certainty that anyone who is regularly running long distances (competitive or otherwise) has overcome some major mental obstacles. Some that border on superhuman! This mental toughness is no doubt a very real advantage if one were to find themselves in a jam.
Folks moving light and quick through the wilds is nothing new, it goes back eons. Even in our not so distant past, the mountain men of the 1800's understood the importance of putting distance (quickly and efficiently) between themselves and say a band of angry Blackfeet
I'm certainly not advocating everyone needs to start on a ultrarunning regime, but I think there are a few lessons that can be gleaned from paying attention to them.
Running long distances gives you a very straight forward crash course on nutrition. You learn that you have ~ 2-2.5 hour typically of glycogen reserves, when these run out and you haven't been consuming calories along, bad things happen
You also learn quickly that carbs are the choice for refueling on the move. When efforts go beyond 3-4 hours, you need to include some protein with those carbs or your body will use what protein it needs- and it does need them. If not consumed the body consumes them anyways, from protein rich muscle mass- not where you want your body shopping for protein! As efforts get even longer, a small percentage of fat needs to be added as well. Understanding and experiencing these phenomenon goes a long way in preparing oneself if the need ever arose where you needed to skedaddle somewhere in a hurry! Because ultrarunners are always trying to trim their load, they've perfected these nutritional needs into small, light packages (but not always tasty ). I looked in my basement pantry sometime ago and discovered I didn't need to worry about storing extra food stuffs for emergencies- I easily had a weeks + worth of calorie rich food that was also compact and easy to pack, nothing I'd serve on a menu mind you, but would get a guy by just fine in a pinch.You also get to learn (often by hard knocks) the importance of proper hydration, by experiencing both too little and too much. You also learn what an electrolyte is and why you want them in proper balance
One interesting physiological change that occurs with long distance runners is that there bodies become much more efficient in regards to hydration and their body ends up needing less water than previously- this obviously could have some advantages in a survival scenario.Understanding fueling and hydration could certainly effect the outcome of an emergency in the wilds.
Long distance runners typically are out in the hills (or deserts or mountains or other ecosystem) almost daily. This gives one advantages in navigating, route finding and how to best circumvent challenging terrain. All skills that are germane for anyone venturing out. After weeks and months, you also get very good at predicting weather changes that are coming. Being out almost everyday also lets your body better adjust to temperature/weather swings; it also teaches you that preparedness is not only a good idea, but a necessity. Believe me there is nothing more humbling than being half way into a long loop w/ bluebird weather in the upper 30's and having the weather change to a full-out blizzard w/ temps dropping into the low 20's (w/ the winds gusting to 40 mph!)- that's not the time to have forgotten your shell, hat and gloves!
I haven't touched on the health benefits as that should be pretty obvious. Less obvious are other things like balance- dodging obstacles at speed, running downhill, etc all do wonders for balance. This constantly changing terrain also does wonderful things for strengthening smaller accessory muscle groups, tendons and ligaments. I've twisted my ankles numerous times and at first it was an injury that waylaid my running for several days, those same twists now are nothing more than a reminder to pay more attention.
As anyone who has dabbled into survival you learn what an important role your mental state is, maybe the most important x factor??? The ability to push through pain and mental roadblocks is often the difference between making it and going to your maker. I can tell you with certainty that anyone who is regularly running long distances (competitive or otherwise) has overcome some major mental obstacles. Some that border on superhuman! This mental toughness is no doubt a very real advantage if one were to find themselves in a jam.
Folks moving light and quick through the wilds is nothing new, it goes back eons. Even in our not so distant past, the mountain men of the 1800's understood the importance of putting distance (quickly and efficiently) between themselves and say a band of angry Blackfeet
I'm certainly not advocating everyone needs to start on a ultrarunning regime, but I think there are a few lessons that can be gleaned from paying attention to them.
