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

Why can't we just be happy on here for people if they're happy tackling ultras. People run for different reasons and anybody completing a 50 mile ultra, no matter the time, had to put in some work. We're not all elite runners. I can be excited for a friend when they crack 16:00 for 5k just as easily as I can get excited for the trail runner that tackles a 50 miler.

Good luck OP.

Former ultra guy... wrote:

As a former ultra guy I'll give you an honest assessment of the entire gig.

Competition is low. Most ultrarunners are there to socialize and cover the distance only. The guys who win local ultras, and I was one of them, are very mediocre runners.

Thanks for being honest and admitting what everyone else on LRC is thinking. I don't think people here have a problem with people doing these events and enjoying them for what they are. I think the problem comes when ultra people (and I know some like this) are braggadocious and condescending to those of us choose not to run ultras, like what they do is more difficult than what we do. Running a 6 hour 50 miler is just as tough as breaking 4 in the 1500m, maybe more so. COMPLETING an ultra is not something to brag about to runners. We know better.

It's really no different than those people who invent records to break when in fact the only reason they have them is that no one gives a rip to do them. They do it just to puff themselves up and make themselves feel good. ("15 'thons in 14 days in 13 cities" or "482 consecutive 'thons on 7 continents"). Garbage.

But isn't this the same for any number of distances ?! I know plenty of people who have 'done' loads of marathons - but in the 5-6 hour timeframe. That's not 'running a marathon', but rather going for a pretty long walk with maybe a little running at the start/end. At the other end of the spectrum, there are lots of people who 'run' a 5k parkrun in 35-40+ mins. Is that running ?? I'm posing the question - no answering it - so don't flame me!

I'm nothing more than a local club runner (18:47 5k, 3:27 marathon) and have RUN (!!) several 50ks. I completed a 42 mile event in 7 hours, and ran about 90% of it.

I'm starting to build a training plan for my first 100k. I wont be going into this with the intention of running it all. My intention is to complete it in the quickest possible time (sub 12). There is no point 'running' up a steep trail at 12 min/mile pace and then having to run the next 2 miles at 10 min/mile to recover when you can power hike the hill and get back onto 8 min/miles at the top. Its all about efficiency and always moving forward to the finish.

I assume all those commenting about terminology of running vs completing are just having a casual troll. It doesn't matter how you get to the end - but a) that you do, and b) the time on the watch when you do.

This was a long time ago -- 1980. I was gunning for a sub-2:50 marathon, but stupidly overdid mile repeats and strained an achilles. This was October, in Buffalo.

In December there was a 50 miler in Delaware Park, about 28 laps.

So I thought -- well, why not? My achilles was fine and I thought it would be an interesting thing to try. Before that, my longest had been 27-something, in training.

Self-supported, and I think maybe only 20-25 people in the race. There was a table for you to put your own drinks on. I put out sweetened tea.

I had no idea what I could sustain, so I started out around 8 mins/mile. Most of us ran two laps (about 3.5 miles), stopped at the drinks table, and then walked up a short hill (maybe 150 yards) and started running again at the top.

I liked it. Felt good.

By the time I went through the marathon, I was still running easily and was no longer worried about finishing.

About 40 miles out, I remember thinking -- this is cake, 10 miles to go, that's nothing, so I speeded up.

Bad decision. It meant stopping every lap rather than every other one.

I finished fourth overall in 7:21, and was pleased. I have fond memories of that race, but I never did another 50 miler. I never will again, except by walking.

Hahaha

Just go slower. It's not that hard.

I ran my first 50 mile on the back of solid marathon training. If you can run a solid marathon you can finish a 50 mile. I am a heart rate runner and it has never let me down. The key components to finishing on your feet. I always look at the total time of the race, 8 HRS of total running time. I have to be aerobic for 6.5 HRS and anaerobic for 90 min (90 min of running that does not feel easy). Hills, talking, heat ,humidity, dehydration, etc all raise HR significantly and are accommodated by slowing down/recovering. Keep your HR and pace extremely easy for the first marathon-focus on drinking and just small amounts of food. Don,t over due the sugar and caffeine in the first 35 miles. Keep up and downhill sections under control. The final miles depend upon easy early aerobic miles and fat burning-Low HR. Over the last 15-20 miles relax and go with the flow- many highs and lows will occur just keep moving. I just can"t stress enough how important the slow start is, ultra runners are a very silly bunch-WOW.