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Ultra training for beginners

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Spleen Nov 2015 3:46pm, 13 Nov 2015 1,259 posts	Quote Pin Spleen Binks: What's exception management?
Rosehip Nov 2015 3:49pm, 13 Nov 2015 5,994 posts	Quote Pin Rosehip Being told I'd probably walked the extra miles before and after VLM (my first mara) and so I'd sort of done a 50K already helped me to get my head around it when my spring training fell apart (mum was ill) and I hadn't trained the way I wanted to.
K5 Gus Nov 2015 4:33pm, 13 Nov 2015 1,493 posts	Quote Pin K5 Gus HappyG said "I've retired from ultras after only half a dozen" - sure I saw your name entered for Cateran 55 miler next May, no ??
Derby Tup Nov 2015 4:40pm, 13 Nov 2015 18,577 posts	Quote Pin Derby Tup Haha
HappyG(rrr) Nov 2015 4:41pm, 13 Nov 2015 25,134 posts	Quote Pin HappyG(rrr) That's right Gus, but I'm just gonna plod it, not actually try and do it properly. i.e. no proper training, just try and keep ahead of the sweeper, enjoy the scenery, take a few pics, enjoy the social at the end, that sort of thing. Oh, and get the Quaich / buff / whatever other goodies are available (I've actually got Quaich, buff and hat already for marshalling!) I like the way no one even batted an eyelid at Binks's "... 142 - 153 - 3220" mile progression! Yeah, cos 3,000 miles is an "exception"?! It's certainly exceptional! G
Binks Nov 2015 4:46pm, 13 Nov 2015 6,826 posts	Quote Pin Binks Spleen - I think running is basically the same thing, no matter what distance you are going. At least it is until things go wrong. Exception management is how you deal with the stuff that is not quite right. It migth happen in a 5k but will most certainly happen in an ultra. hunger, thirst, sore legs, tiredness, brain demons and all sorts. So I think psychologically speaking any running training is fine for ultras. From then on being good at ultras just involves doing them as practice and learning how to deal with the exceptions. I think I summed it up in this graph on this t shirt. I honestly wasn't planning on spamming this group teespring.com
HappyG(rrr) Nov 2015 4:47pm, 13 Nov 2015 25,135 posts	Quote Pin HappyG(rrr) Oh, and the only other thing I'd say about a 50K v. a 50 miler (whether both raced or one as training for the other) is... don't extrapolate. (Actually, that's in Binks's very excellent article from about 5 years ago too, isn't it?) By which I mean, mara training: in the last 12 weeks before mara, a good half, 10K and/or 5K are good indicators of good shape for your marathon. Ultras (in my limited experience) don't correlate like that. Never mind that the terrain is usually different, both surface and hilliness, that the weather and location may vary a lot etc. But more because of the whole mental thing. You can have a total mare of a short, "easy" terrain ultra in perfect conditions, then do a longer one, in horrid conditions, up hills and down dale, and love it and do great. So take confidence from your successes, sure, but don't let tough ones get you down. A bad ultra isn't a set back, it's mental training and grist for your next ultra success. G
Derby Tup Nov 2015 4:48pm, 13 Nov 2015 18,578 posts	Quote Pin Derby Tup 3000 miles is a decent run out and certainly a step up from the marathon
HappyG(rrr) Nov 2015 4:50pm, 13 Nov 2015 25,136 posts	Quote Pin HappyG(rrr) Scripture... http://www.fetcheveryone.com/article-view.php?id=343
Derby Tup Nov 2015 4:54pm, 13 Nov 2015 18,580 posts	Quote Pin Derby Tup Sounds advice