muffs
New Member
Posts: 17
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Post by muffs on Apr 23, 2008 13:10:24 GMT
Firstly let me say good luck to all those competing in this years event.
Having this year completed my first marathon i am completely hooked on running and want a bigger challenge. For some months now I've been looking into running an ultra marathon and after loads of searching on the internet I have decided I would like to enter next years Highland Fling (does anyone know a date yet?)
If any of you have a bit of time and alot of patience would it be possible to give me a bit od advice i.e. type of trainers, books to read, magazines, training programmes etc.
Thank you. I currently run about 35 miles a week my longest run is usually about 20-22 miles. But am unsure quite how to the bridge the gap from marathon to ultra and if my current running shoes will be suitable.
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Post by Tim on Apr 23, 2008 16:43:11 GMT
Hi Muffs,
As long as you go from marathon to trail ultras, you'll find the gap relatively easy to bridge. The combination of softer surfaces and walking breaks make it easier than you might think (but for God's sake don't tell anyone this ;D).
Beware the 50K though, because it's only 5 miles longer than a marathon, one tends to approach it like a marathon which can make it harder than a longer one! My one and only 50K was the most painful ultra I've ever done.
Trainers etc. depend on the terrain of the events you plan to do. Many folk do the whole WHW in road trainers but others prefer trail shoes. I believe a few folk even use out and out fell shoes (Walshes etc.).
Regarding books, every runner should have a copy of "Feet in the Clouds" by Richard Askwith. "Why we run" by Bernd Heinrich is a fascinating read too. I'm sure others will recommend many other books.
As far as training goes, a bit more emphasis on building endurance and probably a bit less speed (although speedwork has its place). Ifyou can do you long runs on trails, so much the better for your body and your sanity. You don't have to run huge miles to complete an ultra. In general more is better but you have to find out how many you can run without injury for yourself. As you get older this will tend to decline but increasing cussedness gives you an edge. ;D Too many ultra runners don't make it to the start line through trying too hard in training. The old adage "Better 10% undertrained than 1% overtrained" has more than a grain of truth to it.
I'll stop here and give other folk a chance to share their wisdom.
Cheers!
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Post by jkynaston on Apr 23, 2008 18:10:12 GMT
Hi Muffs Interested to read about your desire to run an ultra. About 18months ago I first heard about the whw race and trained and ran it last year, as well as the Fling. I'm getting ready to run the Fling again on Saturday and then the whw race again in June. I have being running most of my life from a school boy and I'm now almost 50 but running ultras has given my running a new lease of life. I decided to start a blog when I was accepted for the whw race last year and have kept it going. One of my aims was to put all my thoughts and the lessons I learnt about training for the whw on the blog, hopefully to help others learn from my mistakes! It has grown over the 18months and there is a lot to read now! I have also done video clips and photos. This year a number of other runners have also started blogs to record their thoughts which you will find really interesting. Here is the link to my blog and you can access the others from there. Please get back to me either through here or email me at jkynaston@bigfoot.com west-highland-way-race07-training.blogspot.com/John
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georger
Junior Member
Pass the weak Hurdle the dead
Posts: 82
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Post by georger on Apr 24, 2008 14:40:42 GMT
Hi I change footwear depending on conditions and terrain. Would like to run all the Fling in Montrail Hardrocks but also have run a lot of WHW route in Inov8 flyrocks and also road shoes will have all with me just in case.
Both books Tim mentioned are good reads, I also like Dean Karnasas Ultra marathon man but he is not for everyone, also a new nice little read is life on the run coast to coast by Matt Beardshall.
Marathon training + a back-to-back run on the weekend are all you need to go from marathon to a shorter ultra.
Long days out on the hills walking or easy running to build up endurance and practice eating and drinking are worth their weight in gold.
Think about doing some of the longer hill races to get used to the terrain like Larig Ghru hill race 28 miles just a small step up from the marathon.
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johnk
Junior Member
Posts: 99
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Post by johnk on Apr 24, 2008 16:46:57 GMT
I echo all the above. I don`t Know where you are based but The LDWA challenge events make great training runs in good company and you get fed as well and yes most of them welcome runners well worth the 13 quid subscription to just to get the strider Magazine and Events diary (although you don't have to be a member to enter the event`s). If you don`t mind a bit of traveling its even possible to do one virtually every weekend. All the best maybe see you around
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Post by Tim on Apr 24, 2008 17:59:11 GMT
I echo all the above. I don`t Know where you are based but The LDWA challenge events make great training runs in good company and you get fed as well It's a great shame that the organisation doesn't really seem to have taken off in Scotland the way it has south of the border. There's only one group and I could never find any events I could go to. :-( (btw, regarding the avatar Muffs, t'was me what done it. If you don't like it you can change it yourself or drop me a line.)
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johnk
Junior Member
Posts: 99
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Post by johnk on Apr 24, 2008 18:36:45 GMT
Not sure how to work the Quote thingy but in reply to Tims comment on the LDWA in Scotland, it has always surprised me that the association is not flourishing north of the border after all the scope for event`s is phenomenal, the annual hundred for example could be one of the most memorable ever staged.
Maybe it is down to the comparatively low population density, i don`t know but i feel the LDWA as a body are missing a great opportunity by not trying to grow the and promote the group north of the border.
sorry to go off topic but i feel it is still loosely relevant
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muffs
New Member
Posts: 17
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Post by muffs on Apr 24, 2008 19:51:12 GMT
Thanks all for your advice. I'm deffinately up for the challenge now. No Tim I don't mond the photo. It could have been far worse. Unfortunately it's a nickname i've had since four that I can't shake off. So rather than condem it i've had to embrace it.
It will be a fair journey for me. I currently live in Leicester. Hope it's worth it.
Thanks again
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Post by Tim on Apr 25, 2008 7:34:35 GMT
It will be a fair journey for me. I currently live in Leicester. Hope it's worth it. Thanks again Of course it's worth it! ;D You might like to have a look at the "Long Distance Challenges" thread on the fell runners forum for events nearer you. forum.fellrunner.org.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=4Tim
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