Listen to David. I just did my 2nd 50k with him gearing up for my first 50mi.

2yrs ago I did my first 50k a couple months after IM, with hopes of doing a 50 miler later that year. During the last few miles I lost that desire, thinking about doing another 19 was enough to kill that ultra bug I had.

This year with David's help I reached the last couple of miles (same course) and actually felt "good", thinking I could go another 19, it will be slow but I can do it.

This was after bad nutrition choices, only about 500 cal for 31 miles, technical, muddy, hilly for me trails, blown out quads, rolled my ankle enough times I stopped counting around 10, but I still had a smile and was having fun. I felt like hell... but it felt good...

A fiddy is a beast, but I am now mentally ready, I dont think I was 2 yrs ago.
I want to do a 100 next year but I might think differently after 50.

I've been on a run-a-day kick since the new year. My original, spontaneous idea was to run everyday of 2016, with a minimum of 3mi. Is this feasible still trying to tackle an initial 50k? I'm sure it's not ideal, but is it manageable?

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@floathammerholdon | @partners_in_tri

For sure! That being said, I think running streaks are not really conducive to high-level training solely because you will need to take a day or two off for injury at some point most likely. However, I say go for it! That 3 mile run should be interesting the day after your first 50k :)

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David Roche
Some Work, All Play podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/...ll-play/id1521532868
Coaching: https://swaprunning.com/

I entered leadville 100 but didn't get in.

However I am doing Ultraman (FL) which has a 52 mile run on day 3. The training has seemed weird to me compared to Ironman training, overall fewer hours per week, and more rest days. Typically with a big double each week (the most I have done is 18 miles Friday, 28 miles Saturday) with no running on the days either side (just 3-4 hour bike sessions and some swims). So my overall run volume has only been 50-60 miles per week, often less than that. Whereas in IM training I just shoot for consistent +-50 mile weeks without that big double. I will be able to tell you in 5 weeks whether it worked out or not! The furthest I have run before this is about 55k, so I'm for sure an ultra rookie.

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Are you ready to do an Ultraman? | How I calculate Ironman race fueling | Strength Training for Athletes |

There is also Badwater Cape Fear 50K/50M in March on Bald Head Island for those in/around Wilmington

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Rodney
TrainingPeaks | Altra Running | RAD Roller
http://www.goinglong.ca

I actually did the 50 miler last year for the Cape Fear Badwater. One of the better ran races I've been apart of. Pretty obvious that they have the whole "how to put on a race thing" figured out.

I would definetly recommend it to anyone looking for a good 50k/ 50 miler

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When all is said and done. More is usually said than done
Ba Ba Booey

Really? I did too, also did Salton Sea and crewed Badwater. They do put on great events in unique locations :)

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Rodney
TrainingPeaks | Altra Running | RAD Roller
http://www.goinglong.ca

Yeah the 100 I would suggest you don't even think about any of the mileage numbers. It will get you into serious mental trouble. I would use more about finishing "sections" of the course. Also be prepared to get to an aid station and want to just give up...I think everyone seems to go through that. I sat in an aid station for about an hour just planning to bail out but decided to keep going and I don't even really remember feeling low after that so it just turned around.

Twenty minutes after finishing my first ultra, someone asked which was harder - the 100 or an IM? I said this thing for sure was....by noon.

I am in for Bighorn and Bear this year. Probably another one late in the year, like Ozark Trail. I'll find five or six 50-mi and 50K's to keep me from slacking off. Also Leadville MTB, and some long gravel grinders mixed in throughout.

We (kinda) joke that I can get in more trouble on ultasignup.com than on ashlymadison.com

IM training is harder...100 miler is harder event. ;)

That makes sense then for selecting that race. I was just curious knowing how many beautiful mountain ultras there are in Utah and in the region. Flat like that would suck for me, but I hope he enjoys the course and has a great race!

Registered for 2 ultras this year. ( or 3, depending on how you count it )

In April I am doing the nimble bear 50k with 6,700 feet of climbing with apparently a lot of technical and steep terrain.

This will be my first ultramarathon race, and I can just drive there race morning.

August I am also signed up for Squamish that offer a 50 mile, a 50k and the 50/50 where you do the 50 mile race saturday and the 50k race sunday, which I signed up for.

This one is about a 4 or so hour drive from my house, but I can't wait!!

His videos are great, and I first came upon him when I was looking for local ultras when I came across his squamish 50/50 video!



Definitely can recommend watching some of his stuff.

Gorge waterfalls 50k was a great one too, and has now made my bucket list!

I will check it out for sure. Another person on YouTube that makes GREAT running videos with top notch quality is a channel called "Billy Yang Films"

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When all is said and done. More is usually said than done
Ba Ba Booey

Agreed, just watched his WS100 film a few days ago, and thought he did an excellent job on Western Time where he documented Sally McCrae's WS100 in 2014.

With a bad day at IM it is often possible to just dial it in and shuffle home. If you're race has gone to shit at a 100 miler, there is no easy way to finish. Good race or bad, they are all hard.

Love the ultrasignup comment. :-)

Ultra running 101: Beware the chair!

Admittedly, in the middle of the night during a 100 miler it is a provocatively seductive piece of furniture.

Well done on the turn around.

Unfortunately, I have no ultras planned for 2016.

I had my ultra running swansong in 2012. After running a dream race that I had my eye on for 18 years, my left knee decided it had seen too many miles and too many races, and it finally prohibited me from training effectively for subsequent ultras. I then recognised it was time to dial back my mileage and enjoy shorter distances.

Last year I visited Canada for a hiking holiday in the Rockies and curiosity drew me to the local trail and ultra running calendars. I ended up coming out of 3 years of ultra retirement to run 4 short ultras in 4 weeks, ranging from 50 km though to 50 miles.

I'm realistic enough to know that I may succumb to siren call again, should circumstances again prove irresistibly alluring. Whether that be 2016 or 2026, who knows?

I still would love to pull out another "final" big race, (Hardrock or Ultra Tour Mt Fuji being particularly attractive), but I am content with what the sport has given me.

I am going to remember this right here

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When all is said and done. More is usually said than done
Ba Ba Booey

This is something I need to work on. My concern isn't pulling a muscle, it is tripping and falling. Along those lines, if anyone has any good agility exercises they do for when they can't get to the trails, I would appreciate hearing about them. I find that running stairs helps, but I am sure there are better things.

Thanks so much Anna! Oh my gosh you're not being cheeky! Unless that's a term used for falling on your butt-cheeks on slippery downhills :)

It's a bit counter-intuitive, but the steeper the downhill, the more you should "chop." So on shallow downhills (like CA fire roads), open up and feel free to take long, loping strides that use gravity. But on steeper, technical downhills, focus on keeping your feet under you with strides that more closely resemble high knees. Remember that exercise you did as a kid where you did quick feet high knees? It should feel like that.

Here is a good video to see what I mean: https://www.facebook.com/...s/10155523187090346/

Max taught me most of what I know on this stuff--he won a World Mountain Championship almost solely on the downhill.

Descending like that will limit the chance of pulling a muscle. However, you may fall no matter what! The key with trail running is to remember that falling is rarely all that bad :)

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David Roche
Some Work, All Play podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/...ll-play/id1521532868
Coaching: https://swaprunning.com/

I'm on for Marathon des Sables April 8-18th. The emotional roller coaster ride between excitement and terror is very real!

I'm also doing Bryce 100 in June, because somehow running a nasty mountain 100 two months after MdS seems like 'a good idea.' I've done Bryce 100 before, so I definitly know what to expect.

My runs would be so much more exciting if I got to run in an environment like that. Wow.

These central florida roads are getting... old. :)

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@floathammerholdon | @partners_in_tri