What are the best books for someone looking to move up from the marathon to a 50 miler? I've been looking online and i'm not seeing anything really other than biography type books. Thanks
What are the best books for someone looking to move up from the marathon to a 50 miler? I've been looking online and i'm not seeing anything really other than biography type books. Thanks
Definitely the best book:
http://www.amazon.com/Ultramarathon-Man-Confessions-All-Night-Runner/dp/1585422789
Also:
http://www.librarything.com/work/8159412
0/10
Ultramarathon Man is entertaining (kinda) but not really a helpful book if starting out.
THIS is THE book you want if starting out:
http://www.ultrarunning.com/ultra/merchandise/a-step-beyonda-definitive.shtml
I've done ultras for years now and still I refer to it. It is a great resource.
also, Ultrarunning Magazine is great--its nothing like the crap you see in Runners World, etc. Its mainly race results but there are informative artciles also.
But that book is I think the one you want.
good luck!!!
Run a lot.
frist grow your hair out and grow a shaggy beard that makes you look like one of the Geico cavemen. then practice moving very slowly, finally (and this is most important) practice how you will work your ultra into conversations.
"yeah ive done marathons but they're just too short for me, yep just did a 50 miler."
"I think a marathon is like a sprint."
" see I was doing this 50 miler and ..... (chose one) my calf cramped/I shit my pants/I fell down/I ate an entire pizza/I saw visions.
"I dont care about how fast I run, it's the experience."
"Sorry I can't be there I'm running a 50 mile race that weekend."
Jealous much?
pawt wrote:
Jealous much?
try to be funny by saying "much" much?
Why start a sentence with a non-capital letter?
My top 2 are:
Born to Run
The Van Aaken Method
I've read born to run and really enjoyed it. I'm just looking into a good book on proper training. Almost a how to book of sorts. I've run many marathons, and have averaged over 100 miles a week for greater than 3 years. Mileage/completion aren't so much the issue, i'm just curious as to how their day to day training differs from marathon training.
Join the ultralist and ask the experts themselves: http://www.run100s.com/list.htm
Obviously people train different ways, but when I train for a 50k to 50 miler (never run farther, and have no desire to) I don't train any differently than for a marathon. I do intervals one day a week, a longer tempo run (anywhere from 10-15 miles @ tempo pace) on Saturday, then a long run on Sunday, with easy runs on the rest of the days. My long run I usually do on trails, but the longest I'll run for a 50k is 24 miles. I usually go for a hilly long run because I don't do any hill workouts; it's just not necessary because you get the same strength from track and tempo workouts but at the same time you have faster turnover. Essentially it's pretty much the same as marathon training.
Thanks for most of the replies! I appreciate it. Not sure if i'll ever run one, but i'm definitely curious as to what goes into it.
For me, I had to get used to the time continuum. The training is very similar to what most people are doing now. Sure, some people believe solely in the weekly long run, but I always felt too much emphasis was placed there for a 50 miler.
I basically do a couple 2:00 to 2:30 runs a week, which might simply mean doing one run a day rather than a couple runs a day for the higher mileage folks.
In the six weeks or so before a 50 mile event, I try and get a couple runs around 4:00. Otherwise, I compromise the rest of the weeks doing that all the time.
Back to the time continuum thing. If your going to do a trail 50 in 7:00 - 8:00 hours, then the steady 2:00 - 2:30 runs a week help you forget about the time spent running. Most other runs are 1:00 to 1:30. You have to learn to forget about time. The bonus is, if your competing, then you do spend time thinking about beating people. You also think about taking care of yourself. To me, it is just one long cross-country event.
Ultras are like most long distance events. Weekly miles trumps the long run. It does not replace it, but someone doing a steady 70 miles a week should beat most people doing 40 miles a week with 30 of it on the weekend. Just my experience.