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Ultra training for beginners

170 watchers

NDWDave Jun 2023 9:20am, 11 Jun 2023 18,271 posts	Quote Pin NDWDave A mistake some people make is eating and drinking too much and feeling sick or lethargic. 50k is basically a marathon plus 5 miles or so - therefore you shouldn’t need 1,000s of extra calories. If you get 200-300 per hour plus your reserves you start with, that should be plenty. That is basically a Mars bar or 500ml bottle of coke. I’ve seen people smashing down pork pies, cake, coke, bananas (maybe 750+ calories) and then wondering why they feel terrible later on.
kstuart Jun 2023 9:28am, 11 Jun 2023 4,827 posts	Quote Pin kstuart I'm also doing the London Ultra 55k and already possibly doing it with a pair of people from RW forum i know thru the forum only. We are a spread of speeds and if the weather is anything like this weekend i'll not be running huge chunks of it. No details on our start times yet but i think the plan is doing it as a group. Helps on not getting lost albeit i do have the course GPX on my watch. I'm fine with the distance as i'm off to do Glasgow to Edinburgh for 3rd year in a row in October just a little more wary about navigating around South London. Doesn't look to awkward and is meant to be signed so should be fine but i did get lost doing TP100 some years ago in the dark
geordiegirl Jun 2023 10:53am, 11 Jun 2023 20,589 posts	Quote Pin geordiegirl I use active root drink it gives you all the good stuff and keeps my stomach settled. I can’t take on much food and it’s got me round my marathon + runs, my last marathon I ate next to nothing as my stomach was playing up so it’s always in my bottle.
Vixx Jun 2023 12:37pm, 11 Jun 2023 1,892 posts	Quote Pin Vixx Thank you everyone for all of your great advice everyone - I really appreciate it It's nice to know other Fetchies are doing it also, I will keep an eye out for people! I did a long training session yesterday, nearly 20 miles with some cross training thrown in, and for each 2-3 miles I tried a different walk-run strategy to see what might work best. I am hoping to start as one of the first ones off and likely taking a good chunk of the day. The only thing for me is that I have to get a pack to run with, which I have never done before and don't really like the idea of I know it's necessary though so shall purchase one that's as minimal as possible. I can't eat a huge amount so shall just keep a couple of energy bars in my bag and I've been known to veer slightly off-course if I can smell coffee. I am pretty certain I know which pair of trainers I will have on and will have another pair in the drop bag for the finish. I do vaseline my feet, but my main problem is that the usual running gear I wear (for the legs) have changed the fabric they use and so within 3 miles they are soaked with sweat, so may get some cycling shorts to go underneath to help with that. I am really looking forward to the day though
geordiegirl Jun 2023 12:48pm, 11 Jun 2023 20,590 posts	Quote Pin geordiegirl Mine is from decathlon and it’s brilliant I have a 15lt but they do 10 & 5 too depends on what mandated kit you need. Other good recommendations is from Harrier UK. If you use Flanci10 you get 10% discount.
NDWDave Jun 2023 1:09pm, 11 Jun 2023 18,273 posts	Quote Pin NDWDave Other thing to consider is a waist pack if you really hate back packs. centurionultrarunningstore.com No idea what people buy but this is an example
Little Miss Happy Jun 2023 1:21pm, 11 Jun 2023 6,535 posts	Quote Pin Little Miss Happy Flat coke is good if you struggle to eat Vixx.
kstuart Jun 2023 1:59pm, 11 Jun 2023 4,829 posts	Quote Pin kstuart I have it on reliably authority there is a ice cream place more or less on the route which does good ice cream. Assuming it's a decent way in i shall test it out. In terms of flat coke you can 'flatten' coke too by adding a little salt and waiting for the fizzing to subside. Tastes a bit different though
Rosehip Jun 2023 3:26pm, 11 Jun 2023 29,155 posts	Quote Pin Rosehip In terms of flat coke you can 'flatten' coke too by adding a little salt and waiting for the fizzing to subside. Tastes a bit different though That’s a good tip - can’t make it taste any worse, I hate it! A pinch of sugar should have the same flattening effect - be careful or you end up withthe polo in coke bottle effect https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwyMcV9emmc
NDWDave Jun 2023 3:57pm, 11 Jun 2023 18,275 posts	Quote Pin NDWDave I wonder if more sugar could be added to coke at some of the races that use budget brands - I think Coca-cola has a way higher sugar content than most brands due to the sugar tax here which cc decided to ignore and keep the same recipe