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Ultra training for beginners

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Frobester Jan 2014 3:09pm, 20 Jan 2014 24,675 posts	Quote Pin Frobester I was only joking, Ogee. Maybe when I understand the difference between a 30, 40, 60 and 200, I can have highfalutin notions about different names. It's all a mystery to me currently anyway.
Frobester Jan 2014 3:19pm, 20 Jan 2014 24,676 posts	Quote Pin Frobester In any case, it'd be useful to know - in terms of building up a training plan for an ultra, should one schedule in the same sort of in-between training during the week as one would do for a marathon, but just increase the length and time of the long runs? Thanks.
HappyG(rrr) Jan 2014 4:20pm, 20 Jan 2014 21,670 posts	Quote Pin HappyG(rrr) I think 50-ish is going to be significantly different to 30-ish. And then 100 is going to be different again. However, I am just a newbie and very much guessing! :-)G
DerbyTup Jan 2014 4:31pm, 20 Jan 2014 9,088 posts	Quote Pin DerbyTup Joking apart 50k or 30-ish miles is a like a long marathon. 50 miles is different (much harder, re-fuelling comes more into play, greater chance of injury/blisters/chafeing/terminal cramp etc.) For many folk 100 miles is about finishing, first and foremost. A decent time (whatever that is) and feeling reasonably okay afterwards are bonuses
ogee Jan 2014 5:17pm, 20 Jan 2014 20,089 posts	Quote Pin ogee DerbyTup is right,treat 30 miles like a long marathon. From 40miles up you then have to think about nutrition & hydration a lot more. As in any other race, always have a back up plan. I go in with at least 4plans for every race depending on whats happening. Oh & if I give any advice that I feel you must listen to is that *Ultras hurt!* They hurt a lot & when you accept that fact then you'll be less prone to DNF when your body suddenly starts rebelling against what you're doing. I had 3 hrs the other day of climbing hills with blood pissing put of my nose as my body was trying to tell me to stop. I'm not saying that this will happen to you, I'm just saying that you have to acknowledge the fact that things do go wrong & that sometimes you have to push through it to achieve your goals.
DerbyTup Jan 2014 5:23pm, 20 Jan 2014 9,091 posts	Quote Pin DerbyTup Two of the best bits of advice I've ever heard were, 'If you're hurting, don't quit. It'll pass and you'll be able to continue'. Im sure most if not all experienced ultra-runners have overcome situations where they thought they'd have to stop, only to recover, and finish in decent shape. The other one is something along the lines of 'never quit in the dark' (for multi-day events). The uplift in spirits you can gain from simply 'seeing off' the night is sometimes unbelieveable
The Bogman Jan 2014 5:34pm, 20 Jan 2014 102 posts	Quote Pin The Bogman I've only run a couple of 100k's, a 50-miler and a couple of 50ks, so am still a greenhorn to all of this, but I would say that I found there is a huge difference even between a flat 50k and a mountain/hilly 50k, e.g. a flat 50k you can probably run most of not all of it, a 50k on tougher terrain means, for me, walking the steep bits and quite a bit longer on my feet. 50+ miles / 100km were a different proposition altogether and I guess the jump to 100 miles is probably more pronounced. I can't begin to comprehend anything more than 100miles at this point!
DerbyTup Jan 2014 5:38pm, 20 Jan 2014 9,092 posts	Quote Pin DerbyTup Once you go beyond 50 or 60 miles the distance doesn't really matter. It's all about how 'tough' you are and how much you really want it (imho)
FenlandRunner Jan 2014 5:41pm, 20 Jan 2014 322 posts	Quote Pin FenlandRunner Trying to run a fast (for me) marathon hurts way more than a 50-miler. We are all different and our bodies cope with the stresses differently.
ogee Jan 2014 5:49pm, 20 Jan 2014 20,092 posts	Quote Pin ogee You're right again DT, just seeing the sunrise has a massive moral boosting affect on me. It's been my motivation to grab some decent times as well.