question for elite ultra runners/trail runners....

Sponsorship comes from good results, so at least 2 years of solid performances might get you a good sponsor. My friend is on the north face UR team, and it took sub 20 hr WS effort and many top level performances before that to get a major sponsor. Training varies so much between people so you just have to find your own schedule that works. For UR long runs are key, especially back to back long efforts so work up to that.

here i'll translate:

I moved to colorado and started getting hosed in shorter races and i find that breathing at this altitude keeps me from winning my local running club workouts like i did back in the day. since i live close to boulder and want to think i am pro at something, do you think ultrarunning will be the quickest way for me to garner some sponsorship at a sport i have not even tried yet just because i have run a 1:09 half?

If you want to become an ultra runner the correct question is "when Do I stop?"

The correct Answer is one Day next Week.

Winning is not important to me, I usually pick out the most competitive races, I would much rather run fast or PR in something. Not many 35 year olds win races anyways you knucklehead. As far as a sponsor, I'm not talking all-out full blown sponsorship, but anything which helps some with motivation, at least with me. Trying to get some opinions, but always idiots like you on here.

I also knew a kid that got sponsored by North Face, and he could barely break 10 minutes for the 2 mile in high school. So it isn't just talent, maybe who you know? Either way, I think increasing my weekly mileage to 90-120 mpw, with a longer run 25-30 miles, and more longer split runs would be a good start.

SalukiAlum wrote:

I also knew a kid that got sponsored by North Face, and he could barely break 10 minutes for the 2 mile in high school. So it isn't just talent, maybe who you know? Either way, I think increasing my weekly mileage to 90-120 mpw, with a longer run 25-30 miles, and more longer split runs would be a good start.

Dean?

okay, i know 2

but this was a young kid in his early 20's

Dean had no sponsors I'm sure in his early days

I'm with the OP. I dig ultras. I'm more or less your size--6'1, 170# or so--and find that longer miles agree with my body. (But I sure as hell never ran no 1.09 half.)

As far as winning anything or getting a sponsorship, well, keep it up! Good luck to you. Sounds like you've got realistic expectations. There's no money in ultrarunning. This Dean K. business won't have as much popular traction in a year, and the current marathoning boom will have subsided in two or three more. But if you do weights and sleep and actually take some time off occasionally you'll be doing ultras forever and you'll make some great friends. There's good people in that scene.

search for "taco"

or CO-Runner's "post your training w/e ..." look for taco or pope t-bag?

you'll see king taco's training leading up to his first leadville 100 win - he was putting in close to 180 or 200 mpw - with huge net altitude gains over the course of a day.

also taco ran a 2:45 marathon at ~8500 ft leading up to his leadville win.

also, check out bernie boettcher's info

http://runtrails.blogspot.com/2005/07/mountain-goat-extraordinaire-interview.html

the #3 guy at leadville (corfield) just cruises around boulder a lot - does a few trail runs during the week - burns the downhills and doesn't let testosterone get in the way of running fast.

by mentioning all of your prs - you are a fast guy - and you will likely crash, burn and explode because of your emphasis on prs at shorter distances. the guys that do well at most of these events have a different set of gears than most and don't get in a hurry. bernie seems to race well at a variety of different events - but doesn't do the terribly long stuff.

thanks for the great info, this is what I'm looking for.

go on athleticore.com and check out anton krupicka's training log. he is taco, and if you can handle the kind of work he does you'll be an animal.

what part of colorado?

lizard king wrote:

go on athleticore.com and check out anton krupicka's training log. he is taco, and if you can handle the kind of work he does you'll be an animal.

I couldnt find anything on him on that site. Any help?

check out this site:

http://antonkrupicka.blogspot.com/

moved to Fort Collins in July

There is also an article a feature article on him in the latest Running Times with his training log.