Ultra Discussion Thread

deconduo

Barkley Marathons underway again 👀 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vS7bFn8RH5Na4vVxNijCsFCiHeYqRksDi5D9ddC9Fz4yK7nOQhEg8HwG78lz-PFVB2EkFn4QlJKEXMV/pubhtml#

Trampas

3 finishers this year

Enduro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120379075#Comment_120379075

It was epic. It's an amazing experience. Some year to be there. Totally lucked out!

Lazare

Latest ep of The Freetrail pod is an interview with John Kelly.

Fantastic listen.

boydkev

I have done a couple of Ultras in ireland over the past few years and i used running poles for the first time in the Ecotrail 80k last year. I have done a few trail marathons and didnt use them, Would there be a benefit in using the poles for this distance or even upto the 80k distance. Just wondering as there dont seem to be many people using them at the IMRA ultras that i have done.

darrenheaphy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120514911#Comment_120514911

Depends on the legs and the climbs. My own experience is they take the pressure of the legs on a hard mountain climb, like Seven Sisters for example, but in most other runs like what IMRA have or Ecotrail there's not enough climbing or length to justify them (in my own limited experience). Did you find them useful at Ecotrail yourself?

I used them on Kerry Way Ultra last year, mostly for that short sharp climb at the first half and for bits on the second but again there's not that much climbing, hard to know if I really needed them or not

event

Hi folks. I'm thinking of doing the 24hr race in Belfast this year, never done anything like it before. Closest is probably the 4/4/48 challenge 3 years ago. 

I'm training for Cork marathon on 4th June so hopeful that training will suffice. I'm planning on using it as a dry run of a charity event where I run 100k in 24 hours, planning 1.5 miles at various locations. For this I was planning to get up to maybe 45-50 miles in the 24hrs.

Few questions that some of ye might know:

Do you think it's achievable, based on marathon training?

My plan was 2 miles every hour at 10 min mile pace. Would stopping that much be recommended? 

Do people bring tents, chairs etc? 

What do people eat? 

Complete newbie to this world so any help be appreciated :)

Enduro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120391720#Comment_120391720

For anyone who is interested in the BM, this is a great video. Was privileged to spend the week with Billy and Chloe. Irish on tour!

https://youtu.be/sYR9-NtRNuM

Enduro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120514911#Comment_120514911

It's a personal thing, mostly. Some races don't allow them though. One thing I would say is that for most people it's not about the distance so much as the total climb. I've done 6 day races on the flat without poles (at times I would have been happy to have them,but a pair of crutches would also have worked :) ).

For me they are at their most useful at slow running speeds. That usually means steep climbs, or most climbs of any steepness on longer race (longer in my case meaning 100 miles+, as a guidline). They can actually slow you down a bit if you're trying to go fast.

I use them for speed gains, not for "protection". Hence I usualy put them away on non-technical descents. I used to be anti-poles, but my first climb on the UTMB caused me to change my mind big time. It was clear and obvious that they have advantages.

Most IMRA ultras are (or were, as I get older) a little too fast for using poles to be benificial from my POV (MMU etc). If I was doing the Beara Way Ultra I'd probably bring them though.

Again though, unless banned, its all personal choice.

One last point. Most people I see don't use poles to their maximum effectiveness. There are techniques which can be learned.

Enduro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120526428#Comment_120526428

50 miles in 24 hours off solid marathon training should be a piece of cake. Just walk it and you should exceed that easily (I've seen people walk 100 miles in a 24 hour).

Best strategy for any fixed time event is to keep your stopping to the absolute minimum required. There are only two things you should be doing during a race... moving forward, and anything required to help you move forward optimally. Stopping for 66% of the time is about as far from optimal as you're likely to get.

A lot of people bring tents and chairs. The majority probably. A lot of people have a helper, or a shared team of helpers.

If things are going well I eat nothing whatsover. I've won the race several times eating nothing whatsover. I'd recommend you keep eating to a minimum anf laugh at the noise of all the vomiters, rather than joinging them. If you are going to eat, eat something you want, preferabbly real food, not what somoebody has told you you need (or sold you on the basis that you need it).

Ask any questions you want. You'll get answers here. 24 hours seems daunting, but its really just anoher event. With your modest targets you'll be able to get maximum enjoyment out of the experience.

opus

Myself & a buddy are taking part in the Rennsteiglauf on Sat week, ~74k on a very well known (in Germany) walking trail. No goals in mind we just want to enjoy it & still be running at the end.

https://www.rennsteiglauf.de/