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Aug 2014
5:14pm, 27 Aug 2014
70,818 posts
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santababy
And you've read all. Y blogs since I started ultra running, agree with r&r. Chill out and enjoy the journey, I think you've a to to give and once you find what works for you you'll be brilliant.
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Aug 2014
5:16pm, 27 Aug 2014
70,819 posts
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santababy
All the preparation in the world won't help if you just happen to have a crap day, we all have them
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Aug 2014
6:14pm, 27 Aug 2014
2,442 posts
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FenlandRunner
To answer HappyG over the page I believe a marathon is mainly about athletic prowess. An ultra is all mental. Particularly once you get to 40-50 miles.
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Aug 2014
8:05pm, 27 Aug 2014
22,654 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
FR, it's def not *all* in the mind! Training def comes into it.
To do well (by which I mean strongly and sure, a decent time, but only "decent for oneself" not up at the sharp end like the MikeR's and Andy's and Rossy and yes, santababy and so on) you will do better if you have trained well and prepared well.
I agree that if it all goes Pete Tong on the day (a fall, a break, a bug etc.) then nothing can fix that (tis same with mara - perfect training and prep, but then you get a bug or someone trips you etc. and 6 months training lost, bye bye PB.)
Ultras have more to go wrong - like triathlons, cos there's just more kit, more obstacles, more logistics.
And I understand that if you aren't determined enough, strong enough mentally, then no matter how well trained, if your head drops, you've got wrong attitude etc. then when the pain sets in (which it does for everyone, from what I've read of the top guys and gals to the middle to longest out there) then you've got to be mentally tough and to want it.
But no matter how strong you are mentally, if you've only run 25 miles a week and your longest run is 12 miles, you're not going to do 100 miles in 24 hours.
Sants, yip, consumed your blogs, and many others. Trying to learn from all of them. But was just wondering if anyone had distilled all these different learnings into a book, a published training approach etc.
I actually found some great sites with more just a list of lots of stories/blogs about 100 milers. Still not a plan though!  G
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Aug 2014
10:38am, 28 Aug 2014
855 posts
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RedWineRunner
This all falls under 'different strokes for different folks' but I would always suggest for people starting out in ultras to relax and enjoy the journey the first couple of times while they figure out how it even feels for them to run 50/60/70+ miles. After that - make some adjustments and improvements with the benefit of hindsight and then go out to do the very best you can.
I think if you approach a big race for the first time with military precision you set yourself up for a bigger fail if it doesn't go correctly...or you may not even make the start line. You are correct in saying in longer races there's a bigger scope for things to go wrong, and when they go wrong they go verrrry wrong. If you reach the start of an ultra having run every single run on the plan you wrote 4 months ago, and eaten everything Scott Jurek's website told you to, but 30 miles in you find yourself unable to continue for whatever reason, then it's very easy to stamp your foot and say you don't understand why because you did everything right. Right according to who, though?
It is my belief that a more flexible and holistic approach to ultra training and racing reaps the bigger benefit for middle of the pack runners like myself. Thanks for the flattering comments about my blog musings HappyG, but in your same reply it becomes obvious that we choose to approach racing in a different manner; so maybe you ought to disregard my thoughts! You're a superb road runner and your times are the stuff of dreams for me - there's a reason why you've managed to achieve those times and I bet it's not taking the laid back approach to training that I do!
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Aug 2014
10:56am, 28 Aug 2014
2,449 posts
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FenlandRunner
I agree RWR, one person often repeats the war maxim that any plans become worthless after first engagement with the enemy.
Be flexible, enjoy it.
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Aug 2014
10:59am, 28 Aug 2014
2,450 posts
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FenlandRunner
...also HappyG I was talking to a guy on the coach back to the start after the Highland Fling and he runs considerably less than 1,000 miles per year, but has a sub-10 Highland Fling and has completed the WHW, can't recall the time.
In fact you might know him as he is Edinburgh based.
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Aug 2014
11:11am, 28 Aug 2014
50 posts
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idle_wilder
Think I'll be getting my list of food and kit ready today - thinking about everything except the kitchen sink, probably about half of which I'll use! This will very much be a case of seeing what happens - no idea what to expect, just want to enjoy it
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Aug 2014
11:19am, 28 Aug 2014
2,451 posts
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FenlandRunner
It's a good idea to have a wide range of food. Sometimes your tastes change mid-race. Until last Saturday I'd never eaten sweets during an Ultra, but the wine gums and cola bottles seemed to help.
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Aug 2014
2:16pm, 28 Aug 2014
70,822 posts
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santababy
so true re- dfferent strokes. For every person that says back to backs are a must you'll get the likes of Kate Jenkins, 8 times or more winner winner of whw saying she never does them and didnt do over 30 miles in training
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