Question for all you ultra peeps!! Please comment!

[gatorphipps]

I MAY be doing a 40 mile trail "race" in October. I looked up some training plans and almost had a heart attack! I mainly was looking at Hal Higdons 24 week schedule. I have 22 weeks, but my mileage is up already so I should be OK.
I am also doing my Century Bike ride in September (not even a month b/4 the 40 mile race). My longest ride thus far is 40 miles.
My ave weekly running mileage is around 30 miles with some back to back short LRs...like 8/10 or 10/16 so I was wondering:

1. How should I train for the 40 miler?
2. Can I replace some of the runs with rides?

Any comments would be very much welcomed!

 

[xterratri]

Christa- haven't done an ultra yet either but planning on either the 50K or 50 Mi at Sunmart in early Dec but...

I never did a single back to back LR for Goofy and I felt great on Sunday and could have done it again Monday. What I did instead was I was doing a Winter Maintenance bike focused block so my Sat workouts were rides of up to 3.5 hrs.

Another thing is that I noticed that the Higdon ultra plan focuses on time rather than mileage after a certain point. I'm not really certain if it's about doing the cardio or hardening your legs for running. If's its cardio, biking is fine to sub for some of the runs and even if it's for leg hardening for running, well running fatigued is running fatigued. Doesn't really matter how you got fatigued in the first place.

Remember that my perspective is warped by the fact the I seem to do my best running after a swim-bike warm up

 

[gatorphipps]

Lynne - I like your warped racing and training...it must work b/c look at all you do!
THanks! That makes me feel alot better. I would not be wooried about the running plan if all I was doing was running.....but throw the century in and then that makes everything in Hals training plan all messed up...he has ALOT more running in his plans than I do even for marathon training...I guess that is b/c he does not look at xtraining as much.

 

[monte]

Wow Christa, you're my hero! Sorry I can't help you w/training tips since I haven't completed a full marathon yet, but I want to WISH you luck

 

[windwalker]

Wow Christa, you're my hero! Sorry I can't help you w/training tips since I haven't completed a full marathon yet, but I want to WISH you luck

Send Robert (Ultra MickeyMouse) a PM he is the daddy rabbit for a lot of the information out there on Ultras. If the truth be known he has a bit of experience to.

Good luck on your adventure. If I do well on the Goofy in January I plan to pursue a little Ultra action myself.

Dave

 

[ultramickeymouse]

gatorphipps: I have done a lot of ultras in another life but I would ask what are you goals? What time frame? Have you run distance on trails? Is it hilly(rocky)? What is your longest run(WDW)?

I usually trained for time for my ultras. My guess is that you will be looking at around 8 hrs for race time? I would plan to do a 4-5 hrs min trail training run. Running on trails takes a lot more energy than roads. Your legs will feel much better after the race as the trails are nice. I never did back to backs for training(my 1st back to backs ever where my 2 Goofy's)

Another factor is learning to eat during an ultra. Being out there so long, it is hard living off of just gels. Learning to eat sandwichs(P&J), potatoes, soup, etc is the key to keeping your energy levels up. Practice eating during training runs. Also learn to carry water. I usually always carried a 2 bottle fanny pack for trail ultras. Carrying the weight is something to get use to.

I had done lots of marathons/50K's before my 1st 50M and thought I was ready. I started to run out of gas after the 32 mile mark and thought I wouldn't finish but kept putting one foot in front of the other and ultimately finished. Old Ultra saying " when you feel good, you will start to feel bad sometime and when you feel bad, you will feel good again". Basically, how you handle adversity will be the key. Those 14 miles beyond will be tough. Jumping from marathon to 50K is easy but 40 miles is tough. I would look for a 50K trail race to use as a long training run.

Good luck and hope to help with what I can

 

[gatorphipps]

Thanks Robert!
I did the marathon on these same trails last year...I was planning for the 40 miles to take around 8 hours....I have done several marathons and Goofy but no true ultras. I am totally good with eating on the run...I do it now b/c I am ALWAYS hungry..this race has great support and lots of d-lish food (PBJ, Defized coke, and lots of other runner friendly food.).
However....
none of this matters now b/c I have another commitment that same weekend. I am going to see if I can find a good 50k to start out with. This will free me up to focus on my century ride in Sept.