I know the ridgecrest one is known for being a good beginner one (an experienced ultra guy recommended it to me). I believe the other one is new, but knowing a bit about the area I'm guessing it would be the harder course.

And besides, isn't part of the fun of a new activity jumping in without knowing? :)

So did you sign up for the one Anton might do as well, and that was almost full?

Ahh. Is the 24 on a track? Or a bigger loop?

Heh... I wish! Probably not going to make that big of a trip for an ultra this next year. Already have a big trip for a half IM, and a smaller trip for another half IM. And there are some good ultras near me.

Good job on the run mileage Star!

Not to get the thread too off topic ;) but here is my plan for the rest of this year/next year:
Now - end of year: a couple mtn bike races
start of Dec: 50k
Jan: maybe 50 miler
March: CA 70.3
July: Vineman 70.3
Sept: Muskoka 70.3

Of course a couple little local sprints in there, and maybe my first olympic tri! :)

You guys are impressive... I'll get my butt back out there! Have ran a couple times since IM, but since I know my body I'm working hard to be good and not push it yet -- I've tried for that same 50k the last 2 years and the same injury flared up for me each time!

So yesterday I met the FUR’s at o’dark hundred to run 23 miles…my third longest run ever, next to the two Iromman marathons. My goals for the day were:

Try eating more solid food (i.e. Hammer nutrition bars in addition to my liquid nutrition); Try using caffeiene before and during the run; Make it through the whole 23 miles without dying!

So, in the dark we walked a few minutes to an opening in the woods where stash our coolers, because its at the start of the 7.7mile loop, so we’ll have a chance to refresh before heading out again. There were five of us who ran the first loop in the dark…having more people makes more light. We chatted and laughed in the dark, and all made it back to the “aid station.” After only 7.7 miles, my stomach was growling, and I knew that I wouldn’t be able to make it through another 15 miles like that, so I ate a Hammer bar, drank some coffee and water, and felt better immediately.

Three of the more experienced (I’m talking, athletes who have run several 100-mile races) took off and Julie and I worked our way through loop #2. It was getting sunny and hot, but things went well. I’ve learned that everyone in this group brings music and I did too this time, so I had some entertainment to keep me pumped up. Julie started having stomach problems, but we kept on going.

Back to the rest stop and we took some time to sit and stretch and eat (another Hammer bar, coffee and water). We decided to run the loop backwards for giggles and a change of scenery. A mile into the final loop, I had physical problems..my body did NOT want to move. It took a lot of talking and walking for a few minutes to get it into gear again. With Julie’s stomach issue and me being tired, we ended up walking a bit more than in the other loops, and actually walked the entire last mile. I was happy to see our coolers, where we sat and drank cold water and explored our cuts and scratches from the brush. Total run time: 4.5 hours!!!

Afterward, we walked back up to the cars, showered off and joined the others drinking beers. I was happy I had those Hammer bars with me…they saved my run…and I’m quite surprised that I didn’t have stomach issues eating solid foods. Good sign for the future. The caffeiene? Not sure that it helped…I would say yes in the first two loops, but that last one was a bugger! I still felt a bit jittery once I got home and was unsuccessful at napping :( Next weekend will be the same course in addition to a 5-6 mile run the day before. With another weekend or two like that, I should be in good shape for the 50K…which will only be one more loop ;)

Outstanding Star! Ultra run training at it's best...try this...as an experiment on your next run...
Dtsrt tsking walking breaks early. Many folks out for their first ultra run,run,run then kind of fold and walk a lot near the end. Find a method that works for you. Run 10 minutes walk 1, run 5 minutes walk 1, some folks run a mile,walk a minute... whatever...it's will keep your legs fresher longer and helpd reduce the chance of injury...
You know you're an ultra-runner when you long runs are longer than some people's bike rides!
For more You know you're... see ultrunr.com that site I put you on to sometime go...good info on walk breaks too.

Your schedule does look a bit running heavy..
I'd skip the 10 miler on Wednesday and just spin..
and I'd stop lifing with the legs if you are doing that...you'll need to maintain good upper body strength to run ultras, but you are really wacking the legs right now...so skip the squats and such...
Try the walk breaks...experiment. Right now I'm using, for long runs, 5/1... run five and walk one and am still able to turn in 10 to 11 minute miles, which is my long run pace. for my 7 to 10 mile tempo runs I don't walk...

The long runs now are key...going shorter during the week is fine. Most UR schedules have you running every other day and being off or cross training the other.
You're about a month out from Croom, right? Better to concentrate on getting miles on the legs than lifting...Still got to hit the u b as running long distances takes a fair ammount of u b strength, just like biking.
No cost!...I believe in the open sharing of information especially if it helps someone open the door to a better self...

Until your body adapts...long runs can knock the snot out o' ya!
JFK Training is going well...I had planned to do a Double IM as you may know, but it fell through when I started to have left hip problems (see the blog)
It's improving but to do a race that long, not 100%, could cause real damage.(If it were just an IM I'd do it)...long runs are building, I'm doing back to backs...this weekend though I'm planning on a long bike Saturday and half marathon race on Sunday with a 22-24 miler and 10 miler the next weekend...

Yeah...I'm stretching more...I've started Yoga...going to PT...opened up my position on the bike and and tweeked a few other things....altogether they seem to be working.

A. Ask them to slow up a bit!
B. You'll injure yourself running harder than is normal for you without the requsit build up over time.
It's sort of like training for an IM...You have your scheduled pace and HR and you go out to ride with a group and it turns into a hammer fest...leaving you trashed for your downstream workouts the rest of the week. Wern't you trashed after your last long one?
C. involve some folks more your speed to do one some of the laps with you...
D. Learn the trails quicker (ok, that was a joke...but it would help)
E. Do your long runs somewhere else that you are familiar with.

If any more pop into my mind...I'll let you know...
Train smart...

Sounds like a plan!

Just awesome Star...good job.
You seemed worried that you took walking breaks...don't be. I've seen UR gods walking in races they have won...It's part of UR.
Goodness knows it's part of IM marathons...which for some reason seems to upset some people when it shouldn't.
It's about covering the distance and building endurance and teaching the body to burn fat instead of glycogen.
Good plan to be off next weekend...But who are the Irish fighting? Hopefully not the English again... Oh...sorry, football. ( I'm not much of a fan)

The Croom 50 mile would be good...I really feel it's important to get some experience under your belt before attacking a 100 miler...I have yet to ,but I'm ready...I've done 50k,50 mile,100 k
12 hour, and one 24 hour where I didn't break 100 (:( sniff)...
The jump to 50 miles is big...the jump to longer stuff is bigger still...to give you an idea...take your 50 mile time, double it and add two hours should equal your 100 mile time.. Go for the 50 miler, then step up...the body really starts doing strange stuff over 30 or 40 miles...
After you taper for the 50 k...that last loop will go just fine. You have the toughness and the endurance...

We'll see how the 50k goes first... but then I'm considering the Avalon 50 in January. Haven't looked into spring options much yet. I don't know what my class schedule will be like added onto working!

That would be awesome! I did a similar idea (199 miles in a team of 12) that went through part of northern CA and it was a blast.

*grin* the one I did had a single person do it solo: Dean Karnares.

But Anton, I thought you were about experiences... how much more fun would it be on a team with me and Andrea?? And maybe Beads... or any other trifuelers we could convince!

I wonder what my school vacations will be like... I totally forgot about having to factor that part in again next year!!

I think I'm up for any team 3 person and up, depending on if I can get the time off (work and school) for it. Heck I'll even see if Mike is interested (running or supporting us).

I'm going to grad school to get a masters in GIS (geographic information systems) -- I'm excited in a geeky way!

yeah, 6 would prob be better... I'll run *giggle* it by the boy tonight.

Mike says it could be a lot of fun (running would depend on how much, supported and hanging with tri people at least though)! So now just to wait and find out what school schedules look like, and verify if we have anything else going on then next year ;) I know IHAVETO did a similar race this year.

Hmmm.... does it fill fast?

Wow that colorado one will have a fun elevation challenge! Starts at 5000 ft and does go over 10000 :) It is also about 5 weeks before one of my big tris for the year (Ironman Muskoka 70.3).

The same group puts on another in Vermont in June (21st - 22nd)... http://www.greenmountainrelay.com also looks pretty! Not as much climbing though (I'm trying to decide if that is good or bad).

I've sent off an email to try to find out dates for the school program.

The California event (which I have done before) is during one of our breaks - April 19-20.

The Oregon Hood to Coast (which I think IHaveTo has done) is also during a break - Aug 22-23 - but close to my other race.