How to know if you're ready for a 50 miler?

Multi-function vest, hand-held hydration flask with hand strap (so that you don't drop your water bottle from your cold, lifeless hand somewhere overnight primarily), ironic tee and several large/multicolor tattoos? A couple HID lights and a collapsible drinking straw too

If so, I'd say you're ready

When you bought a truckers hat and jog 10 min miles talking about how your high fat keto diet is optimal for ultra marathons.

78EnduroK wrote:

I'm a flatlander, searching to run my first 50.

I've got some 3h 30m and 4h long runs later down the road in my training, and my ultimate goal is to break 11h, with breaking 14h (the cutoff for this race) as a last resort. I know for the shorter distances there are some key workouts for 5k/Mile/Marathon that can help predict or something that can give you confidence. Where can I find this for ultra training?

Please, something other than "run 75% of your goal distance at race pace"

I'll operate under the assumption you're not trolling. Not likely to find "key workouts" for ultramarathons. I guess you could look into Jason Koop's book, but I don't remember specific "predictor workouts".

Back to back long runs is probably the number 1 thing for confidence building and fasted long runs is probably number 2. Lots and lots and lots of hills is number 3. There's not a lot that can give you confidence when its extremely difficult to replicate race distance in training. For what its worth, I've run as fast as 8:30 on a 50 mi course with 9k ft of gain, and have a big buckle from leadville and I trained for both in Michigan, so your goals are achievable. Good luck.

How's your beard coming along? Have you found a way to store your snickers bars and mountain dew while you jog?

Do u have a trucker hat bro? wrote:

Multi-function vest, hand-held hydration flask with hand strap (so that you don't drop your water bottle from your cold, lifeless hand somewhere overnight primarily), ironic tee and several large/multicolor tattoos? A couple HID lights and a collapsible drinking straw too

If so, I'd say you're ready

....and a maximum speed of 10 minute miles cannot be exceeded to be true Ultra.

Otherwise, they'll pull your Ultra credentials and you'll be expected to only enter races with actual racing going on.

You will know when:

-you have the trucker hat

- you have a beard (men only)

- you have purchased copious amounts of gear from REI, Rock Creek, and your local running store

- you have a gopro

-you have your Instagram game dialed in TIGHT!

-you have a blog/vlog

Then an only then will you be ready.

Ignore the snark ...

I ran a hilly, technical 50 miles last Saturday in under 11 hours with only one training run longer than 20 miles. And no back-to-back long runs. My legs are a little sore a few days later, but I'll be back to training tomorrow.

If you can run a marathon, you can finish 50 miles. Just manage your effort and fueling.

Depends on the 50 miler. Most are on trails and most are pretty hilly. In that case you'll be power hiking a lot of the race. If you can't get on hills in your area then set the treadmill to 15-20% incline and hike away. Back to back long runs work well too. If just finishing is the goal then really dial in those things that can ruin your race: nutrition, hydration, injury, blisters, chaffing, etc... Practice eating on long runs at regular intervals. Stomach issues seem to be a major reason for people not finishing ultras. If the race is in the heat then train for the heat. Find a shoe/sock combination that won't cause you issues. Get a good running vest. Otherwise it's just a matter of how stubborn you are.

"How to know if you're ready for a 50 miler?"

Simple. Keep an eye on your marathon times. If it becomes clear they're never, ever going to amount to anything worth bragging about, it's time to "step up".

Don't forget your camel pack and gels belt!

Running 50 miles is boring.

/thread

No joke, I recently did a 50 under that time off of ~20 mpw avg training for 12 weeks before the race in about 21 minute 5k shape. In the last six weeks I avg about 2 weeks per run, all long runs with walking in the long runs and more walking as cross training the same day. Go long and prosper.

Ultra Blast wrote:

I avg about 2 weeks per run

WTF kind of training were you doing??

When you transition from you Vibram 5 fingers to Hoka Hoka One One Clifton's you're in baby!

From someone who just ran 50 miles wrote:

I ran a hilly, technical 50 miles last Saturday in under 11 hours...

No, no you didn't RUN a 50 miler. You ran SOME of the 50 miler, but WALKED the rest. I'd be willing to bet you ran maybe 30 and walked about 20.

This "running ultras" crap is why real runners can't stand these arrogant pr!cks. Is it easy to COMPLETE 50 miles in 11 hours? No. It's difficult. But stop saying you are running.

Why would anyone do this?

When you can do 40 to 50 km at a decent pace and not feel dead, you should feel ready to complete 50 miles. Your weekly mileage should be at least 50 miles, but I suppose you can get by with less. I know many people do. Which race are you running?

Honestly, I dont think running for more than two hours actually helps you. Even if you are only trying to break eleven hours, or roughly two 5:30 marathons, the key is speed work and shorter training. I have done about ten 50 mile events, and my fastest one was my first. Before my first one, I had not run more than 12miles in training, and I jogged/walked in a bit over 9 hours. Simply put, I dont think long slow training over 2 hours has any benefit and likely hurts your fitness as it takes longer to recover. Look up Matt Carpenter and his training for what would be the course record at Leadville 100 when he was also training for a 5k. Sure, if you want a test, go do a 50k similar to the race, but with a goal of 11 hours I woukd just focus on speed and fitness. Hill repeats even for a flat course are good.

Depends how much walking you are planning.

Snark Tank wrote:

From someone who just ran 50 miles wrote:

I ran a hilly, technical 50 miles last Saturday in under 11 hours...

No, no you didn't RUN a 50 miler. You ran SOME of the 50 miler, but WALKED the rest. I'd be willing to bet you ran maybe 30 and walked about 20.

This "running ultras" crap is why real runners can't stand these arrogant pr!cks. Is it easy to COMPLETE 50 miles in 11 hours? No. It's difficult. But stop saying you are running.

Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry I didn't use the exact right word that meets your approval. I completed 50 miles in under 11 hours last Saturday.

But there was that time I ran a hilly, technical 50 miler in 8 hours. Oh, wait, I walked up a couple of the steeper hills. Damn it. I guess I just completed 50 miles.

But there was that time I ran a 3:08 marathon. Oh, wait, I walked through one of the aid stations. I guess I just completed a marathon.

Pretty sure you're the arrogrant pr*ck here.