[Flounder]

I did a 50 miler this last fall 2 weeks after my fall marathon - I felt that I was more than adequately prepared to do 50 miles with my marathon training - I just ran differently in the race - It the Glacial 50 in WI. Hilly enough that walked up the bigger hills.<br><br>
What is the condensed version of your 26.2 vs 50k vs 50 mile vs 100 mile training?<br><br>
My marathon training is a lot of miles and once a month I like to do 30-35 miles on Saturday and Sunday is usually an easy 15. So you can see how this lends itself to 50 mile distance.<br><br>
I am thinking for 100 mile doing (Once a month)<br>
40 in the morning and 10-15 in the pm Saturday<br>
20 in the morning and 10 in pm Sunday.<br><br>
Of course I do not think a 100 miler will work out until 2009 - So I am just curious?

 

[merigayle]

The amount of mileage people pack in for 100 mile training varies greatly, but very few people run more than 75-80 miles per week. The averages are closer to 60-70 mpw from what i have read on the ultra list. I think a couple 50 mile races in the months leading up to the 100 mile race would be your best training. Also, running through the night at least once really helped me in preparation for nighttime running, which i had never done.<br><br>
A lot of running a 100 mile race is not mileage, but mental training and being on top of your nutrition and your feet conditions.

 

[Flounder]

I think you hit the main point on the head - experience<br>
- I have never had to do foot repair and many other things necissary.<br><br>
Why do you think people do not run more miles to train for 100s ? I know you are trying to stress a different system - I would guess that some of the elite ultra people do 100+ miles weeks.<br><br>
a 50 mile race - I would run easy / recovery pace effort on the runable sections and walk the hills - this is in my comfort zone (I have experience)<br><br>
I do not comprehend the pace of a 100 mile race. I understand how to walk and I understand how to run - the slowest that is comfortable to run is 8:30 pace.<br><br>
I can eat and run - even @ 50 miles my stomache is fairly uneffected.<br><br>
I have no desire to do WS or any mountain goat type 100s - But I ha ve Umstead tentatively penciled in for 2009. My local 100 has a 38 mile night fun run - maybe I will do that in 2008.<br><br>
My post was really sparked by people asking for a 50k training plan - I do not understand h ow it is different than a marathon training plan - It is just a different racing plan.<br><br>
Thanks for the response - I have read some already - I think next summer I will put together a plan to follow after my fall marathon. I hope to tap you as a resource later on the thoughts -

 

[merigayle]

Trails vs road are the first thing to tackle. train on terrain similar to the race. On trails your pace is naturally slower and most ultras have big climbs and descents, which you never find at most US marathons. The 50 miler i did this weekend had a big 3 mile climb up and a 3 mile descent in the middle of the out and backs and the rest was pretty rolling. Not many flat ultras out there.<br><br>
People usually do not run more than 100 miles in training because of the increased risk of injury. It is all about dispersing your training correctly for ultras. A lot of my training is cross training, as well as ultra specific, such as hikes, downhill trail running, and run/walking on my long runs.<br><br>
the general rule is your 50 mile time is 2-2.5 times your marathon time, your 100 mile time is 2.2-2.5 (or more) your 50 mile time.<br><br>
you want to eat about 250-350 cals/hour in an ultra, starting in the first hour.<br><br>
as far as a 50k, it is not much different than a long marathon <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> The only training differences, imo, would be to get training time on trails. THe pace will be slower because it is on trails not paved roads (most ultras).<br><br>
as far as the feet are concerned, it is an always evolving art form-- taping, socks, shoes, etc. It only comes thru practice in long runs and races.

 

[Hippo]

I'm not much help, no 100 experience and I basically don't train for anything.<br><br>
I just put in as much easy volume as my crummy legs can manage. If there is anything left during the week I'll do an LT workout.<br><br>
I used marathons (raced, not easy) to train for 50M and 100K. Given my low expectations it worked fine.<br><br>
The one thing lots of people say gets them in 100 milers is quads, especially when there are lots of hills. If your quads go, the chance of a DNF is very high.<br><br>
I'm also always surprised at how many miles it takes of training on trails to be able to run them really well. The learning curve there might be longer than anything else in running.

 

[Floridaboiler]

I have only run marathons and 50K's. I basically use my marathon training plan for my 50K with the understanding that I need to watch my pace a little more during the 50K race.<br><br>
I want to try a 50 miler in a couple of years but I need to find the time to get in the proper training for that.