Anyone completed one of these? I fairly certain I'm going to do (or attempt) the Tussey mOUnTBACK Ultramarathon here in State College on Oct. 15. Logistically I think I have a solid race plan. Support vehicle, equipment, comfort items, etc. However, I've never run close to 50 miles at one time, marathon distance is my longest to date. And I must mention, I'm doing this on a WHIM. Basically, I betting that my Ironman base will carry me for what I'm considering "a long workout." Is this foolish? My run base is strong and I consistantly can train at volumes over 50 miles a week. But as far as a [B]real training regiment [/B] for this event: [B]NONE!![/B] I just got the application and decided it was really the last year I would have to give it a shot (hopefully, I'll be in Kona mid-Oct. '06). I'm not looking for a course record, just a finish, maybe 9-10 min./mile avg.
I welcome any thoughts or slaps back to reality for that matter. Any special nutritional intake info. or condsiderations would also be great. Thank you!
on a whim,
no doubt. i once did a 12hrs trail race on a whim. it was pretty rough '12hrs of roots and rocks' in hawaii. i got a free entry so i decided to do it two days before the race. my running leading to that had been 50 miles a week tops. i had a lot of fun. it was a challenging 2.5 mile loop trail that every competetor walked up and ran the way down a mile or so. i managed 45 miles....could have done the 50 but settled. the time and distance do not give justice to the difficulty of the course (any of you ever ran on tantalus in hawaii?) i'm sure there are a lot more difficult courses tho. i guess it was a lot 'easier' since it was a loop and i took brief rests (that eventually became longer and longer) at every lap. i do believe you can do it.
tear it up
marzian
As a beginner triathlete I guess my training perception or advise would be trash to you.
But I have to say 1 thing:
There's nothing more powerfull than our minds. I bet you can do this if you set your mind to it.
Good luck.
I'll be waiting for that race report.
I certainly dont have much experience with ultras however i did do the JFK 50 miler last nov and the HAT 50k this past march.
I am signed up to do the JFK 50miler again this Nov.
For me the training was no different than training for a marathon. I did some 20 milers and on sme weeknds leading up to it i did back to back long runs on sat and sundays. Since it was a trail run, i also tried to run trails at least once a week to be prepared for that type of running.
With the right attitude and with mental toughness i knw it can be done. Youhave a good base. I would suggest however running it a slower pace than yourun your marathons at. It is a long day and a long distance . I did my 50miler in 9hrs and 2min, much slower than i would run a marathon and i felt fine the entire way. In fact the recovery and impact of that race was much less than a marathon, i htink due to the slower pace and the softer sufrace.
My two cents is to go for it!!!
Thank you, for the great advice, pointers, and vote of confidence! I consulted with a close friend, and "coach", he too said it would not be a problem. His biggest area of concern was the pace; I run a around a 7 min/mi. marathon, so he was worried I'd have trouble toning that done to 9-10 mins. for this event. I don't think so, 50 is a long way! Although, I will have to constantly monitor my effort to ensure I'm not going overboard.
This course is extremely difficult. It is thru Rothrock State Forest in central Pa. I've spent plenty of time in the past training on the major segments of the course. All of my long runs for IM training are done at this location. There is a plenty of grade. A mix of gravel and paved roadways. Total elevation gain is +5,000 ft. over the 50 miles. But having seen most of it I feel pretty comfortable.
Iindab, good info. on recovery, I was concerned about that as well. I want make sure I'm ready for the Phila. Marathon, don't want to miss the Boston qual.
Again, thanks, I'll fill you in on how I make out.
jason keep us updated with your training. I like the idea to do one some day.
panchotri,
After reviewing the calendar and establishing a game plan; this is what I came up with. I'm going to try and log as many miles as possible over the next two weeks. I'll work on high paced shorter stuff (6-8 mi.) during the week and use the weekend to double up on the long distance.
I took some advise from this post and hit two long runs this weekend. Saturday I went out for 2hrs. and did the same today (Sun.). I did so at an easy 8-9 min./mi. pace, just trying to settle in to the pace for the long haul. All things being equal, I felt pretty good coming off the Sat. run (which was followed by a 2000m. swim later in the day) and hitting it again today. Not too bad! Check back next week when I go for 20 mi. back to back, that will be the TRUTH!
This log as many miles in a short period was the best 2 week prep. I could come up with. As I mentioned, this is really just a spare of the moment undertaking. Given more time I'm sure I would prepare a little differently, but I'll make due with what I got. I'll let you know how it goes.
jason
sounds like you have a solid plan for your upcoming ultra.
i too am training for mine, so last friday sat and sunday i did two back to back long runs as well (friday and sat) followed by a 70mile bike ride on sunday.
this sat i plan to run another 20miler and sunday i plan to run 4hrs on the AT.
i think those back to backs help.
just remember to keep your pace slower than a marathon pace.
good luck
linda
sure man.... left... right... left... right.... over and over again!! its mind over matter!!
Hey Jason, it's really mind over matter, as they all say above. That's all an IM is remember? The only thing is to make sure 'your' matter can handle the distance and not break below you. You can psych yourself up, but unless you have the stamina and the goods well..... Sounds like you have the endurance though. An IM should be good prep for the ultra length. BTW do you have a run schedule set up yet? Another question would you mind sharing that schedule? I would be very interested to see what your doing for miles and just the regular routine of training for this kind of event.
Inquiring minds want to know!
BBB
I also might do a 50k soon without much planning. I was looking at one at the end of August, but an injury kept me from it. Now I'm looking at mid-Nov (so I have a bit more time than you, Jason). Also like you, my longest to date is a marathon, and I did an IM earlier this year. Hope yours goes well! It was great to read the tips you got here. I should do some back to back long running this weekend.
The First Time I ran 50 miles,my training log quote for that week was.."They are able because they think they are able.(Heroditus)" That about says it...Attutide is everything..A positive outlook makes for a good day.
I have finished 15 ultras including 8 fifty milers...my first fifty on only two 18 milers!
Take your time,relax...most ultra runners will tell you to run on the flats and down hills and walk the up hills.
Eat! Drink! Be merry!
Do be careful your first time at this distance...you can trash yourself and not realize it till months later.
You will have an inner tiredness for awhile afterward and that's normal..
So...Elenore Roosevelt said.."You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
Have a great day and let us know how ya did!
Oh ...check out this web site [url]www.ultrunr.com[/url]
Done by a friend of mine and is full of great info on ultras...enjoy
hahaha... Anton I came across that site in some random browsings yesterday and bookmarked it as one of the best resources I've seen for ultras! Tell him it's great!
I was thinking about stepping up to an ultra or even the ultraman tri.
After IM this year I am doing the Goofy Challenge at Disney in January.
1/2 marathon, and a 5k on Saturday, full marathon on Sunday.
42.4 miles over 2 days. I'll see how I feel doing that first.
The [url]www.ultrunr.com[/url] site looks cool. I'll check it out some more.
mmm ultraman looks fun! Goofy challenge does, too... but Fl is so far away!
They are going to be doing a 1/2 marathon at Disney land in California next September.
[url]http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/dwws/en_US/westcoast/listing?name...
They might add a marathon if it become popular enough.
Since I started thinking about IM seriously I have looked at the Ultraman.
[url]http://www.ultraman.com/[/url]
[url]http://www.ultramanlive.com/[/url]
I figured I could be a SUPER Masochist
Yeah.... there is also supposedly a decaironman -- yup, 10x each distance! And an offroad ironman... yay hills and trails!
Disneyland half seems odd... I guess it could all be in the park, but the area around disneyland doesn't seem too nice and race friendly to me.
Check this guy out!!
[url]http://www.bobbysrun.co.uk/ironman.html[/url]
That is some crazy dude!!.
Of course I would have said that a couple of years ago befor my first marathon.
An Xterra Ironman?
That is crazy... it sounds kinda fun, but I think the lap factor would drive me crazy. I'm kinda sleepy just from reading it. The laps are also what is keeping me from (so far) attempting the double and triple IMs in the US (if they are even held any more... not finding much new info on them ... [url]http://www.oarevents.com/readnews.asp?id=112[/url]) ...
Xterra-style ironman: the off-road IM - [url]http://www.oarevents.com/event.asp?id=44&catID=1[/url]
Well, should this be true, it's lunacy
BBB
I think the laps would get to me too. I like the change of scenery as I go along.
BBB-if that dude did that Decairon he is seriously mental. 2 years to recover?? Yikes
The recovery might also drive me crazy....
Recovery wouldn't be so bad.
Your first 30 - 60 days would be in rehab to rid you of your addiction to painkillers.
3 hots and a cot, and group therapy. maybe a walk in the garden. Hooray!!
Then some physical rehab for a few months.
Don't worry you'll be kept occupied. ;)
heh...
oh and here is a better link to the double and triple IM...
[url]http://www.usaultratri.com/welcome.html[/url]
it's in about a week! who's in? :D
Did you check out the prices?
$ 350 for a double tri
$ 400 for a triple tri
Considering an M-Dot is at least $450 and it is only a single I think they are quite a value.
Inflict 2 and 3 times the pain and suffering to yourself for less than the cost of 1 IM. :eek:
Now that would be a sales pitch.
I would go but I have an appointment for electroshock and some self-flagellation next week, Sorry,
Oh! Wow what a deal! I'll take three triple tris please!
BBB
I would like a strawberry shake.
and can I get some tri's with that shake. :D
I did see the prices... they were part of the motivation to do one... although it makes sense... it's a very very very lapped race, and you provide your own support. Really cuts down the costs since you need fewer volunteers and fewer aid stations of stuff. And less support and course patrol.
My tris come with some shake.... ;-)
That is a heck of an accomplishment - Double and triples - Wowzers!
Is that what is in store for us???!!! :eek:
How do you keep track and even more so how do you keep from getting dizzy - with all those loops?!
[QUOTE=kyillee]I did see the prices... they were part of the motivation to do one... although it makes sense... it's a very very very lapped race, and you provide your own support. Really cuts down the costs since you need fewer volunteers and fewer aid stations of stuff. And less support and course patrol.
My tris come with some shake.... ;-)[/QUOTE]
Yeah Baby!!!(with Best Austin Powers Accent of Course) :D
Race Report
Well, thankfully that's over! I made it the [B]whole 50 mi[/B]. in just a shade over 9 hrs. I set a 10 min. mile pace from the gun and was pretty steady all day long. I took between 2-3 mins. to hydrate and get some nutrition at each of the 12 scheduled aid stations along the course. Believe me, that little break works wonders! Had a great day to run, but the course is brutal. I know the trails well, but somehow it just seemed to be worse after oh...an extra 20-30 miles. I guess that will do it.
I have a new appreication for the athletes that compete in these events on a regular basis. Bottomline, Ironman is fun, running for 8-9 hrs. is not (at least for me). Especially at 10min. pace, those marker just don't pass by fast enough. Too much time to focus on the pain and the mileage remaining. I'm certainly glad that I did it, however, you're not going to find me back on an Ultra course any time soon.
[B][[I]B]Thanks, everyone for your advice prior to the race, it must have been good, I finished.[/B][/I][/B]
Congrats! Nice job!
Hey that is a heck of an accomplishment! Great job! :D
Only 50 miles?!?!
Well I am sure you can do better next time ;)
Great job!!!
Only ONE 50 miler?!!
Congrats...a wonderful accomplisment.
In a couple of weeks though, you'll start thinking about it again...
great job on the 50 miler good training habits also... I have done 4 it is fun each time:))) I like the off roas 50"s..... I am doing my 1st im wis in 2006
Hey massageman90 - See you at IMWI 2006! :D My first IM too - There are several here that are also from the area doing it also - hopefully get some together and do some training rides on course next year.
hey there rv sounds like a plan .who else is a imwis virgin in 2006?
[url]http://www.trifuel.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3503[/url]
IMWI 2006 link
RV