Ultra training for beginners

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paulcook Dec 2023 8:52am, 15 Dec 2023 3,960 posts	0 paulcook Others may disagree on the length of the long runs, but I think that looks pretty good, especially if the race is 32 miles. I haven't done much more than those distances for either of my last 2 ultras (40 and 36ish miles). I also look at time as much as distance if the long run are tricky terrain. As for mental training, most of mine is around visualisation and mindfulness, the latter both before and during races and/or runs. I also started to count steps occasionally during tough long runs and it's tended to get my focus (and pace - did an 8-minute mile on mile 37 of my longest ever training run when I first tried this trick) back on track.
NDWDave Dec 2023 9:15am, 15 Dec 2023 18,897 posts	0 NDWDave I’ve done some pretty long races the last two years on about 35-40 miles a week of training (1,700 miles ex races in 2022 and 1,600 so far this year). My long runs are rarely more than 15 miles and 10 is usually a good outing I’ve got on well with double days with say 6 miles in the morning and 5 at lunchtime which seems easier to fit in than a 10 miler - particularly on a weekday
Badger Dec 2023 3:07pm, 15 Dec 2023 16,829 posts	0 Badger Dave, it might be worth pointing out that there's a lot of ascent in most of your training runs so that's significantly more intense than 35-40 miles around Cambridgeshire
NDWDave Dec 2023 3:22pm, 15 Dec 2023 18,908 posts	0 NDWDave True you could add say 20% versus flat training (I average about 5,000 metres of elevation of a month)
paulcook Dec 2023 3:27pm, 15 Dec 2023 3,965 posts	0 paulcook That'd be the same elevation gain as me then though mine was completely front loaded this year. Why I sometimes measure time rather than distance. Two of my better long runs for this year's ultra were only 15 and 16 mile but 4 and 5+ hours in total. Though I still think 20 miles for a max long run in prep for a 32 mile race is still good training.
Derby Tup Dec 2023 3:37pm, 15 Dec 2023 62,789 posts	0 Derby Tup A very good runner friend was always cautious in the past about doing too long runs. If you're not careful you end up with doing your long run or recovering constantly. I doubt I did more than 20 miles in one go run in the Lakes prior to my BG. I did do stuff like a 20 mile run Sat followed by say 12 mile walk Sun
The 12 Days of Vixxmas Dec 2023 4:13pm, 15 Dec 2023 2,050 posts	0 The 12 Days of Vixxmas DT - I've always tried to do a long run, or time on feet on the first day and then a second day with a walk at a decent pace. If you're doing a walk as part of the second day (or all of) then do you think it should be at a certain pace as opposed to a stroll for example?
Derby Tup Dec 2023 4:16pm, 15 Dec 2023 62,794 posts	0 Derby Tup Depends how big the hills are Vixx I think getting out of tired achey legs is good 'toughening' plus actually helps with recovery I'm doing the Haworth Hobble in March - c 31 miles / 4,400 feet. It'll be my tenth. I haven't run further than about 10K in probably 18 months
The 12 Days of Vixxmas Dec 2023 4:21pm, 15 Dec 2023 2,051 posts	0 The 12 Days of Vixxmas DT - depends which 'home' I am in (mine or the wife's). My home is on the Worcestershire border (I'm on the Midlands side of it) and we have some decent hills nearby. With the wife's home I am about 25 minutes drive from the Pennines but she won't let me go and play over there on my own and I am too slow to expect other people to come along and join me.
fetcheveryone Jan 2024 11:18am, 14 Jan 2024 30,070 posts	0 fetcheveryone Hello wise people! I’m aiming to do my first ultra-distance event this year. What’s your favourite tip for noobs?