Ultra Runners Chatty Thread

[RelentlessForwardProgress]

If you regularly run ultra, are planning your first or are kinda secretly mulling over the idea of doing one welcome to the party.

@54321nought it's not usually very far but there is definite swimming involved!

I am very impressed by @garlictwist I feel like we're in the presence of royalty - I've never met anyone in the flesh who's done a BG/CR/PB though I follow some people on social media who are very involved in that sort of venture. No way would I be fast enough to complete something like that, I am very much at the plodding end of the scale!

Hello. I did my first marathon (trail) last lockdown and because it was virtual I did 43.5km 'to make sure' so that makes me ultra, right?!

Currently training for my next marathon - meant be October but I tore a calf muscle two weeks ago and the marathon was cancelled (covid...) the next day, so the motivation gods are against me! I'm back running this week - just gentle flattish stuff until I'm confident that injury is behind me but my plan is possibly to aim for a solo marathon distance on the original October date or as recovery permits and then to up to marathon+ trail running.

I'm in Scotland, great trail running country

@LtGreggs

Hello. I did my first marathon (trail) last lockdown and because it was virtual I did 43.5km 'to make sure' so that makes me ultra, right?!

Currently training for my next marathon - meant be October but I tore a calf muscle two weeks ago and the marathon was cancelled (covid...) the next day, so the motivation gods are against me! I'm back running this week - just gentle flattish stuff until I'm confident that injury is behind me but my plan is possibly to aim for a solo marathon distance on the original October date or as recovery permits and then to up to marathon+ trail running.

I'm in Scotland, great trail running country

sorry to hear you've been injured. How did it happen? Any tips you could give us on how to avoid anything similar?

@54321nought There wasn't any one thing that I can point to causing the calf strain, so I think probably just a combination of building up mileage, neglecting to do enough strengthening exercises, and maybe a bit of overload by being out of routine in the summer holiday heatwave and eating/drinking/hillwalking on top of the running. Having read up on it since it seems a classic injury for middle aged amateur runners who have been doing hills! There was a bit of a niggle that I didn't think much of, then 5 mins in to a warm-up, jogging with my running club, it was like I had been hammered in the back of the leg! Luckily, recovery also seems to be following the descriptions I've read and I was able to start running & gently building up again after about a fortnight.

I guess I'd say listen to your niggles and be consistent in doing some strengthening exercises. Wish I'd been better at both...

To add to the shoe discussion above, I've currently also got the Asics Fujitrabuco for trail running. I like that they cope with a bit of road too - I generally run a few km on road from the front door to get to the trails. I've got quite wide feet, and also have Asics road shoes.

Hi,

I used to be on MN loads years ago when ttc/pg but took a break.
Wasn’t a runner then.

Since the DC have grown a bit I’ve gone from C25k to ultras. Can’t really believe it myself 🙄

I’ve got a marathon and an ultra booked for October - a week apart which isn’t ideal but I’ve done it before. Not aiming for speed just to finish them really.

The ultra is a 30miler with a 7 hr cut off so I should be ok. Don’t think the marathon has a cut off 🤞

I really want to build up to the hardmoors 30 or 40. However my crappy calf musles stop me doing any real distance training.

[quote LtGreggs]@54321nought There wasn't any one thing that I can point to causing the calf strain, so I think probably just a combination of building up mileage, neglecting to do enough strengthening exercises, and maybe a bit of overload by being out of routine in the summer holiday heatwave and eating/drinking/hillwalking on top of the running. Having read up on it since it seems a classic injury for middle aged amateur runners who have been doing hills! There was a bit of a niggle that I didn't think much of, then 5 mins in to a warm-up, jogging with my running club, it was like I had been hammered in the back of the leg! Luckily, recovery also seems to be following the descriptions I've read and I was able to start running & gently building up again after about a fortnight.

I guess I'd say listen to your niggles and be consistent in doing some strengthening exercises. Wish I'd been better at both...[/quote]
Thank you

Those of you who say you are slow - what kind of pace are you doing for an ultra?

nothing like 30 miles in 7 hours that @WithCatLikeTread mentioned!

I'm hoping to complete a marathon with a 6 hour cut off next week, but I think making that time is unlikely

I normally run about 12 minute miles, but not for more than about 5 or 6 miles, then it goes up to 13, or 14

I’ve done the same 30miler before twice, in 6.30ish and 6.50 I think.. as long as you’re under 7 the time doesn’t really matter - unless you’re one of the sprinters - they seem to manage to sprint all 30miles 😱

It’s an out and back so we (fellow slower but happy runners) try and see where we get to before they run back past us. And they never look happy. So we stick with plodding, chatting, singing and eating all the snacks obvs.

Was sold to me as 6 x 5milers with lots of picnics 😂

Was sold to me as 6 x 5milers with lots of picnics 😂

thats great!

I've done a few ultras, but I honestly have no idea of the times.

I did my longest in one day ultra - that was a 50miler, no idea of the time for that. It wasn’t really relevant.

Whereas road marathons it all seems to be about the time.
I cracked the 5hr magical limit once and that’ll do for me. No more ‘fast’ (for me) marathons.

Have moved over to some navigational trail ones which are much more fun. More of a day out really. And always plenty of good checkpoints for food!

@RelentlessForwardProgress - it took just less than 24 hours. Yes, I had lots of dark and fog but also luckily some lovely sunshine when it was daylight. I don't think I could do it now!

@TheWholeWorld

I am very impressed by *@garlictwist* I feel like we're in the presence of royalty - I've never met anyone in the flesh who's done a BG/CR/PB though I follow some people on social media who are very involved in that sort of venture. No way would I be fast enough to complete something like that, I am very much at the plodding end of the scale!

Ha ha, no sure about royalty! I am definitely more of a plodder these days. Some of the times people have been getting for the BG in recent years have been incredible.

6 x 5 miles with lots of picnics actually sounds quite enjoyable. And I reckon I could do that! Good thinking.

Oh interesting Bout decathlon trainers. My husband has those. He loves them too.

@WithCatLikeTread

Hi,

I used to be on MN loads years ago when ttc/pg but took a break.
Wasn’t a runner then.

Since the DC have grown a bit I’ve gone from C25k to ultras. Can’t really believe it myself 🙄

I’ve got a marathon and an ultra booked for October - a week apart which isn’t ideal but I’ve done it before. Not aiming for speed just to finish them really.

The ultra is a 30miler with a 7 hr cut off so I should be ok. Don’t think the marathon has a cut off 🤞

Is that the Stort30? I have signed up for that. I'm currently using the Relentless Forward Progress 50km training plan. I've never ran any race before so hoping it goes OK!

I'm not sure if I will need more trail like shoes or if my hybrid ones will be OK. Probably depends on the weather before how muddy it gets?

@WithCatLikeTread - sorry the formatting on my phone went crazy when trying to quote you above.

It is great reading the information from you all on here, I am really looking forward to my first ultra, even if it is a short one, and would love some ideas as what one to do next if I am still alive after it. Is there anything much between November and March?

Yes it is Stort 30.

It does depend on the weather the week before.

Even on the day it changes, once we went out in slippery mud and promised ourselves we’d walk back though it but it had dried up before we got there - so had to keep running lol. We did allow ourselves a walk here and there as the mud on the way out had killed our legs.

Some people seem to glide over it somehow! I’ll prob choose trail unless it’s been super dry beforehand.

I use ASICS foundation I think they’re called, discontinued now though so need to find a new pair.
Tried Brooks once and lost a toenail so they’re a no-no for me.

My trails are Saucony I think, I’ve never paid much attention.

Not really on a plan as such atm, just meant to the upping the mileage after a month off with a weird lump in my foot. Then I skipped Sundays lsr as I came down with a cold, just getting over it now (lots of negative covid tests). Hoping for a slow few miles tomorrow then tailwalking parkrun, then longer on Sunday if this cold has gone..

@TheWholeWorld

I am very impressed by *@garlictwist* I feel like we're in the presence of royalty - I've never met anyone in the flesh who's done a BG/CR/PB though I follow some people on social media who are very involved in that sort of venture. No way would I be fast enough to complete something like that, I am very much at the plodding end of the scale!

I'm hoping for a BG attempt next year, done some support legs this year, just want to get some more recces under my belt.

On a non ultra note, can anyone else who is running the London marathon make sense of all the changes? I’m starting to wonder if there’s much point in actually going to London … might as well run it virtually with less travel and cost 🤷🏻‍♀️