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Training for a Ultra advice

  • 31-10-2025 04:33PM
    #1
    sutrra
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29 ✭


    Hi, training for a Trail Ultra(Istria 69k) in April , and before that doing the Donadea50 in February.

    Better do training for the 50k and finish it under 5 hours, or focus on the Trail Ultra and hope that the required pace will be there in February as my current marathon time is 4:25:34 ( need so shave almost 30 seconds per kilometre to achieve that).

    Tagged:


Answers

  • #2
    EdMcG
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2 ✭EdMcG


    Sounds like you're gonna need to train specifically for Donadea so you can get in under the cut off time if that's important to you. I think you can still run Donadea and complete the 50k in over 5hrs but you wont be in the finishing times.Then you need to think about recovery time between the two races. Do you recover quickly? Have you alot of running experience and lots of miles in the legs?

    I've no trail experience but Istria looks to have alot of elevation. Would you be hiking alot more than running? Two very different races I imagine and going from a flat 50km to Itstria would probably work out well. Some speed endurance built up in the preparation for Donadea then on to more specific training for Istria.



  • #3
    TheRef
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 342 ✭✭TheRef


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427601/training-for-a-ultra-advice

    This seems like a massive ask but there should be no reason you can't particpate in both.

    I've done Donadea the past 2 years and while there is a 5 hour cut off, you can still finish after. Just that you won't get a time. Going from 4:25 marathon to a 5 hour 50k though is huge, but depending on your background and age, it could be possible, but that kind of assumes you are new to running and would make quick gains. The route there is pretty straightforward and flat, at least until the last couple of loops where everything gets harder. Anyone who ran a marathon in the past few months should have no issues though with proper training in finishing Donadea as its "only" 8k more and the terrain is not much different than running on a road.

    The trail would be a different beast entirely and that will require a lot more training, but 15 hours is a lot of time. Are you experienced running on trails? The Run The Line might be a good taster in a couple of weeks…

    If it were me, I'd be focusing on the trails at the weekends which will give you the strength and endurance with the occassional long Donadea pace runs thrown in.

    Regardless of how well you expect you would do, if you have an opportunity to do both, give them a lash.



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