100 mile race off marathon training

On the week do bunch of hiking.

You should not have a problem, I'm signing up for a 100k three weeks after my first marathon this fall and I'm only shooting for 2:45. 100Mi is a different beast... but still shouldn't be a problem. Learn how to manage calories/fluid/electrolytes, don't spend too much time at aid stations unless you need to. You will have a ton of fun. (This will be my 6th 50/62miler).

- RunnerSam

wonderer of thoughts wrote:

My marathon build up would include 100 mile weeks, and 20 mile long runs at a pretty quick pace, all aiming to a sub 2:30 marathon.

I can actually give some advice on that one. I've got a 2:26 marathon but focus mostly on ultras.

So, you can definitely do this and with 100 mile weeks and sub 2:30 fitness you are way better prepared for a 100 miler than most ultrarunners. However, you say

wonderer of thoughts wrote: With that fitness, i don't see how walk jogging 15 minute miles would be that hard, even for 100 miles.

Let me tell you: It will be the hardest thing you have ever done. The marathon will be way better, but the 100 miler at 15 minute miles will hurt far more. You will need to get through some shlt you're not prepared for. But your fitness will help you and all you need to do is push through and be mentally strong and flexible. Just keep going whatever happens (unless you break your leg of something).

If you want to actually do some specific training after you have finished your marathon, do some long hikes. Like 5 hours and longer. Just get your body used to low effort long duration stuff.

I think based on 100mpw marathon training you'll be fine as long as you figure out logistics like what and how much to eat on the move. I don't think you can get by on just gels for a 100 miler. Also how good are you at going a day without sleeping?

Non running mother's and very overweight people finish tough 100 miles at the pace you're shooting for.

If you can't do it, it's because you went out too fast, don't eat or hydrate properly or are a frail person. The best training you could do are night hikes.

Jane Robertson wrote:

Non running mother's and very overweight people finish tough 100 miles at the pace you're shooting for.

If you can't do it, it's because you went out too fast, don't eat or hydrate properly or are a frail person. The best training you could do are night hikes.

FALSE. STFU troll. Ive done 6 100 miles and i have never ever ever seen a fat person or someone not trained run 100 miles and finish it. Maybe a 50k.

Youre an idiot.

A 15 min mile for 100 miles is incredible considering the rest and hiking that is due mainly to the elevations. Morons on this forum think that ultrarunners hike becuase they choose to when in reality they have to due to the elevation gain in some parts of the race. Not to mention the extreme conditions of some trails. In reality a 9 minute mile on a tough trail is like running a 7 minute mile on some smooth road or track. Why oh why do road runners always seem to think that a road marathon mile is exact to that of an ultra trail. I can guarentee you ultra runner times are slower becuase of the terraain not the level of fitness.

Most people running ultras are running 50 miles a week or less. Running 100 miles a week training for a road marathon is probably better preparation than most. Yes the guys winning big ultras are running 100 mile weeks with 20,000(?) feet of elevation gain a week. But the op was just asking if he would be prepared. He probably is if he starts slow enough.

Such a stupid comment. A 2:35 or 2:40 marathoner will not have the same level of fitness as someone who trains for 100 mile run. Iv’e seen so many marathoners think they can just run 100 miles and then.....reality hits them. They get to mile 60 and walk off the course because they either bonk and see “non marathons cough non elites or w/e dumb shhit they have in thier elitist mind” flying past them at a faster pace...OR....thier fragile ankles and feet can’t handle over 15k of elevation and they get bruised up running down some loose rocks and branches that thier never used to on thier precious smooth track or road.

Now, if a 2:40 marathoner trained specifically to run 100 or 50 miles on tough trail then that is a different thing and of course they will run it faster than most. But to think they can just step onto a 100 mile course and do fine is beyond ignorant. I’ve seen it many times folks. They wonder why at 50 miles they are at a 13 min mile pace and can’t fathom how what theyu assumed was a slow pace is now fast.

Most pople running marathons aren´t running anywhere near 50 mpw.

Most people running ultras are running 100 miles a week. You’re comment is just blatantly false.

Let me fix it: Most people who are fat and represent all forms of mediocraty at any sport will run less than 50 miles per week. These are the fat people you see at your local 50k posting on facebook and finishing 50/55 people in the race.

Reality: Most competitve 100 milers require a qualifier and so people that qualify and have finished the qualifying race then have to get by y chance through a lottery. IF and IF they get into the race if it’s thier first time or they weren’t top three in the year prior, they then have to pay like 200 bucks and probably pay an extra 300 dollars for hotels and maybe airfare. What on earth makes you think that the level of commitment, even if they aren’t elite, means they will not run at leats 100 miles a week for the race????????

You’re simply a moron who is generalizing and basically doing identity politics which is the worst form of debating.

I’d say i represent most people. I finish mid pack in nearly all 100 miles I do and I run about 70-120 miles a week. Just an average guy with a wife and kids and a desk job. Marathon is a 2:52 and I just prefer ultras as they are more engaging to me. I’ve found that this is just a hobby for me and that’s fine. But to say “most” of us run under 50 miles is just disingenuous.

Your fitness will be more than good enough, but you will have to do vert/downhill to get your legs ready. Also be ready for the technicality of the trails.

But the main thing is to have the right mindset. Talking about running 15 min miles seems so easy when you are used to running sub 6, but you have to do 2 things:

1) Respect the distance. Its not 4x harder than a marathon. Its gonna be 10x harder than a marathon. Know the course. Start slower than you want to and stay like that for most of the race.

2) Go in with the mindset of no surrender. Stuff is gonna get weird man. You may piss blood, spend time hiking while vomiting incessantly, have minor hallucinations, be cramping muscles you didn't know existed. When you are mentally prepared to deal with this and have strategies to mitigate them you will succeed.

I broke my toe at the halfway point of my last 100 miler, and was like well F' it I am gonna finish this thing no matter what. Learn to push the pain out of your mind.

Also know what works for fueling and hydration.

Based on a 230 marathon you could probably be a success, but prepare for it and dont just think you can step off the road onto the trails

Learn to eat solid foods with training. Go in with mindset of slow and easy. Be patient. Deal with any nagging issues during your 100 immediately(ie blisters, chafing). You can do it!

wonderer of thoughts wrote:

So recently I've been thinking a lot about trail races, and the training to complete them. It seems like the majority of ultra runners are just pretty normal people who go out and suffer far beyond their training/fitness level to walk/jog (but mostly walk) a hundred mile race.

Finishing a 100 mile race is on my bucket list, and I'm wondering what y'all think about skipping the specific training, and just running it a few weeks after a big marathon peak? keep in mind, i wouldnt be racing all out, i would just try to finish faster than the average ultrarunner.

My marathon build up would include 100 mile weeks, and 20 mile long runs at a pretty quick pace, all aiming to a sub 2:30 marathon. With that fitness, i don't see how walk jogging 15 minute miles would be that hard, even for 100 miles.

Running a hundred miles is going to be much more difficult than a sub 3 hour marathon for you. What is the course you have chosen? What is the elevation? If it's got a lot of elevation and steep hills you will indeed be walking but not by choice. Please do not assume that most people walk mainly 100 miles. That's a fraudulent statement. If you want to push yourself you will be running or jogging the entire thing. Walk only when you must. I'd say do a 50 miler first. You have no idea how your body might respond at mile 75 if you have never ran at least 50 before.

wonderer of thoughts wrote:

So recently I've been thinking a lot about trail races, and the training to complete them. It seems like the majority of ultra runners are just pretty normal people who go out and suffer far beyond their training/fitness level to walk/jog (but mostly walk) a hundred mile race.

Finishing a 100 mile race is on my bucket list, and I'm wondering what y'all think about skipping the specific training, and just running it a few weeks after a big marathon peak? keep in mind, i wouldnt be racing all out, i would just try to finish faster than the average ultrarunner.

My marathon build up would include 100 mile weeks, and 20 mile long runs at a pretty quick pace, all aiming to a sub 2:30 marathon. With that fitness, i don't see how walk jogging 15 minute miles would be that hard, even for 100 miles.

Normal people, yes.

"who go out and suffer far beyond their training/fitness level to walk/jog (but mostly walk) a hundred mile race." No.

They might be normal people but they are far from lazy. Run you 100 miler with only doing a marathon and then tell me how it went. Guarantee you DNF.

I ran my first 50K and 100K two weeks after the LA Marathon in November 2021 and March 2022, and I did really well. I ran the SAMO 100 last week and actually ended up running around 112 miles (got lost twice). Anyway, for training, I just switched to 2-3 trail runs. I worked up to doing 20 miles runs on Wed (8 road, 12 trail) Saturday (20 trail) and Sunday (20-22 trail). The 100 Miler is tough during the second half of the race. If you did a few weeks of back to back 20 mile trail runs, you would be good to go.