Longest Run

az2wp0sye65487

Hi all,

I've been running for a little over a year now, and just completed the DCM this week. That was the reason why I started running in the first place; it was a goal I had set myself. An ambition. I began training last September and I finally achieved my goal on 25th October 2010.

I was hoping to finish under 4 hours, but ended up finishing in 4:09:46.

During the past year I've developed a fondness for running, I enjoy heading out the door (most times) and experiencing all the highs and lows that my body goes through.

I read a couple of Hal Higdon's books, and followed his 'Novice 2' training plan to get me ready for DCM. I've also read and heard about people who run ultra distances, like Tony Mangan, Dean Karnazes, David Goggins etc. and it got me thinking, "Is this something that I could achieve?" I'm not talking about setting world records, or any records for that matter. Just for my own personal achievement.

During my DCM training, the farthest distance I ran was 32km (20 miles). I'd love to find out if I'm able to go further. Say, 50 miles...

I know that this would be a huge committment, and would take a long time to build up my fitness, endurance, and ultimately my weekly mileage!

I must admit, there is an ulterior motive. If I'm honest, I've been disgusted with myself for walking in parts of DCM. If it wasn't for the numerous walking breaks I reckon I could've finished well inside 4 hours. My (crazy) reasoning is that if I can build up to 50 mile LSR's, next year's marathon will be as easy as this year's half.

I'm just rambling now, and as you can probably tell I haven't put a lot of thought into this. Anyway, just wondered if anyone here has experience with ultra running; and if so I'd love your feedback!

Thanks, and sorry for the Ultra-Long post!

Stephen.

village runner

Check out mithrils log............

RacoonQueen

Why not train for an Ultra if you want to run 50 miles?

az2wp0sye65487

RacoonQueen wrote: »

Why not train for an Ultra if you want to run 50 miles?

Why not...

I'm a little apprehensive based on my inexperience. I'd first like to experiment with building my mileage gradually with a view to it increasing my endurance for my next marathon.

I suppose there's no real reason why not.... maybe I'm just afraid to make that commitment yet!

Van.Bosch

Romina Billions Narrator wrote: »

Why not...

I'm a little apprehensive based on my inexperience. I'd first like to experiment with building my mileage gradually with a view to it increasing my endurance for my next marathon.

I suppose there's no real reason why not.... maybe I'm just afraid to make that commitment yet!

I had the same experience as you in the marathon, ended up walking parts. I wouldnt necessary say you need to run 50 miles to prevent this, plenty of people run non stop and just do 20/22 miles in training. My plan is to run 22 miles about 3 times before the next maraton as well as plenty of long runs too (20,18,16 etc). I felt that the HH novice plan didnt have enough of those type of runs. In fairness it is only a beginner plan.

Corkie100

HOw many 20 mile long runs did you do for DCM? YOur marathon experience sounds exactly like my first marathon a year and a half ago, thought i had a 4 hour marathon in me, had to take numerous walking breaks and came in at 4.13. I had done 4 runs of over 16 miles (16 x2, 18 and 20). THe following year, I did many more runs of around the 20 mile mark, my longest one was 22 and I ran the whole thing and came in at 3.53. So I think it's quantity of long runs, not necessarily the actual length. I just found in the 2nd one that I didn't struggle until much much later in the race (around 22 mile mark) whereas the first time I was seriously pushed from about halfway on. DCM last monday was my third, I followed same strategy, plenty long runs approaching the 20 mark and this time -even more than in the 2nd one- I held a very steady pace (even slight negative split) and came in under 3.40. But in all three I never dreamt of going over 22 miles, I just think the sheer volumeof long runs over the year and a half has seriously increased my endurance. I haven't really increased the speed of the long runs either (bit more speed work on track alright though so that's probably helped time too). Anyway, just a few ramblings... It's just your account of your first marathon was very familiar to me! Well done on completing your first marathon!

tunguska

Romina Billions Narrator wrote: »

I must admit, there is an ulterior motive. If I'm honest, I've been disgusted with myself for walking in parts of DCM. If it wasn't for the numerous walking breaks I reckon I could've finished well inside 4 hours. My (crazy) reasoning is that if I can build up to 50 mile LSR's, next year's marathon will be as easy as this year's half.

I'm just rambling now, and as you can probably tell I haven't put a lot of thought into this. Anyway, just wondered if anyone here has experience with ultra running; and if so I'd love your feedback!


Stephen.

It wouldnt really make that much of a difference stevie. I mean if you did 50mile runs in training, sure you'd get through a 26miler on race day no bother. But you wouldnt do it much faster than you would do the 50miler. As was said already, getting a decent quantity of long runs under your belt is a big factor in avoiding a period of walking during a marathon. But also what is just as important is race pace training. If you were aiming for a sub 4hr marathon your race pace would be 9:00min/mile. Which means that in training, on your long runs, you'd want to be hitting 9min/mile regularly. It wouldnt be 22miles at 9mins/mile or anything like that, but 10, 12 and up to 15miles at marathon race pace would be spot on. If you did that you'd be well prepared for a sub 4hr marathon without having to run 50miles in training.

TFBubendorfer

I ran my first marathon 6 years ago, Dublin, in a similar time (4:06), and would not have thought it possible to run a single step further.

Well, things changed after a few years of training. I ran the Dingle 50-miler last month and I know that I can run further - a lot further, in fact.

I am convinced that anyone, and I really mean anyone, can run these distances but I would not recommend doing so after just one marathon. Run some more, see how it goes, and after maybe 5 marathons or 2/3 years of experience you can think about an Ultra.

az2wp0sye65487

tunguska wrote: »

It wouldnt really make that much of a difference stevie. I mean if you did 50mile runs in training, sure you'd get through a 26miler on race day no bother. But you wouldnt do it much faster than you would do the 50miler. As was said already, getting a decent quantity of long runs under your belt is a big factor in avoiding a period of walking during a marathon. But also what is just as important is race pace training. If you were aiming for a sub 4hr marathon your race pace would be 9:00min/mile. Which means that in training, on your long runs, you'd want to be hitting 9min/mile regularly. It wouldnt be 22miles at 9mins/mile or anything like that, but 10, 12 and up to 15miles at marathon race pace would be spot on. If you did that you'd be well prepared for a sub 4hr marathon without having to run 50miles in training.

Thanks for the advice, I do appreciate it. But as well as trying to improve my marathon times & run:walk ratio, I also genuinely want to see what distances I'm capable of covering.

Maybe I'll concentrate on the marathon distance until I have some more under my belt, as tunguska suggested. Then aim for the longer distances...