Whats a Ultra Marathon like

average_runner

Have done 2 marathons and was wondering what does it take to do a ultra-marathon? Around 50 mile mark?

TFBubendorfer

average_runner wrote: »

Have done 2 marathons and was wondering what does it take to do a ultra-marathon? Around 50 mile mark?

Anything longer than a marathon is an ultra. The shortest "standard" ultra distance is 50K, though there are people who refuse to call anything below 50 miles an ultra.

If you can run a marathon, you can run an ultra.

Magnet

I would say follow an ordinary marathon plan and add a longer run the next day to the planned long runs, so when you have 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 miles planned run 10, 14, 18, 20, 20, 25 on the days after, gives your legs a feel for running tired and your body a chance get accustom to running slightly hungry...
From there on...
It`s like that time in a marathon between 22-25 miles, where you`re slightly uncomfortable but excited to be almost finished and you`re almost sure you`ll finish..(Me anyway and Ive only done 2!)

ultraman1

average_runner wrote: »

what does it take to do a ultra-marathon?

Time and an understanding wife...

Oisin11178

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Anything longer than a marathon is an ultra. The shortest "standard" ultra distance is 50K, though there are people who refuse to call anything below 50 miles an ultra.

If you can run a marathon, you can run an ultra.

Id like to meet one of these people who dont consider 50 miles the minimum for an ultra. Probably find them in duffys circus because they are all clowns.

TFBubendorfer

Oisin11178 wrote: »

Id like to meet one of these people who dont consider 50 miles the minimum for an ultra. Probably find them in duffys circus because they are all clowns.

I would not call Yiannis Kouros a clown under any circumstances.

Oisin11178

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

I would not call Yiannis Kouros a clown under any circumstances.

If he said that he is an eliteist fool. Is that better? An ultra is anything over 26.2 miles. Anything else is personal opinion.

TFBubendorfer

Oisin11178 wrote: »

If he said that he is an eliteist fool. Is that better? An ultra is anything over 26.2 miles. Anything else is personal opinion.

You're getting the completely wrong end of the stick.

What he meant was that "short" ultras can be run purely by being physically fit enough. Long efforts (say, longer than 12 hours) require a completely different mental fortitude, and it's from that point on he regards it as a real ultra. Basically, an effort that requires digging seriously deep.

Oisin11178

Yeah i suppose its a matter of perception. For some people 5 miles is their limit. Obviously for that guy who can run all day long 50km is a light training session. Though it can look very eliteist to beginners for people to say stuff like that even though they mean nothing by it most times. I just dont like to see statements likd that.

jeffontour

Oisin11178 wrote: »

If he said that he is an eliteist fool. Is that better? An ultra is anything over 26.2 miles. Anything else is personal opinion.

Yes, that's the dictionary definition as such but I think you need to push on a bit further than a 50k to really understand ultra running. In my mind, and this is just personal opinion which by definition is personal and varies from individual to individual, until you've run through one night into another in an ultra you haven't really experienced the challenges/spirit/addiction of ultra running. The challenges that come on the 2nd night are entirely different to those prior to it.

To get back to the original question however I believe the following are required to run an ultra.

A lack of understanding of what you are about to do. Ignorance is bliss. An understanding of what you are about to do. Information is king. Ultra running is a world of contradictions is what I'm trying to get at here. It doesn't make sense to put your body through it yet when you do you become inspired to do it again. Embrace this slightly nutty edge to ultra running and you'll enjoy it all the more.

Sufficient time to train but more importantly time to recover properly from the increased training you should be doing.

A healthy dose of ignorance/self loathing/stubborn streak. This will see you through the inevitable periods of self doubt where you wish you'd done more training, recovered better and researched your nutrition strategy more.

Become a creature of habit. Know what shoes you can wear for 8 or 10 hours on end, know what food you can eat for this time without upset stomach, know your body and the signals it gives you. Do not change from these habits during or in the run in to a race.

For what it's worth my 1st ultra was around the 50 mile mark and I struggled but I learned a lot through that struggle. That's the last thing I'd say you need, the ability to learn on the go. Ultra running training methods are not as well studied as marathon running. You'll find things that work for you which make no sense to other ultra runners. Learn from your successes and mistakes equally.

Finally, if you're considering it, go for it. You'll learn pretty quickly if it's for you or not.

Enduro

Perfect post Jeff!

jeffontour

Enduro wrote: »

Perfect post Jeff!

Ah shucks, cheers.

Oisin11178

Yeah it was a very good post. You seem to have a balanced view. Just annoys me when people say things like "50k is just a long marathon"
They may not mean anything by it but imagine what that looks like to people who are spilling their guts training for a shorter distance race.

Enduro

Oisin, the thing is if you're into ultras, then the short races are the gut-busters, and the ultras are calmer and more relaxed... which is yet another reason to give one a go!

iamjenko

jeffontour wrote: »

Ah shucks, cheers.

Yeah, good post man! Nice to get personal points of view from those that have been there done that!

I have only done 3 marathons but signed up for the dingle ultra last week! Go for it!

Oisin11178

Enduro wrote: »

Oisin, the thing is if you're into ultras, then the short races are the gut-busters, and the ultras are calmer and more relaxed... which is yet another reason to give one a go!

I agree, i like the longer stuff. Did my first ultra last week a 50k. I intend doing as far as 50 miles this year. All i was saying is weather your a 5k runner or a 500 mile runner making remarks like "Anything below 50 miles is not an ultra"
Or a 5k runner saying "ultra runner only do them because they lack speed" I just think remarks like these are a little idiotic.
A little thought goes a long way:D

Izoard

Profile of an Ultra runner...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056157106