I'll be honest, one of my long term goals - before I am 30 years old - is to be running ultras. I know it won't be next year, and 2015 will most likely be the year for first 26.2 mile distance, but someday I want to be running 50ks, 50 milers, 100ks and 100 mile races. I'm just curious as to how some of you knew when you were ready for those longer distances, your experiences along the way, mistakes and what you learned from them.

1.   When, in your running journey, did you feel ready for ultras?
2. When did you start amping up your mileage and training with plans of running ultras?
3. How did you start preparing and experimenting with fuel? 
4. Was there an injury (serious or slightly serious) or were there many before, during training and during your first ultra?
5. While out there, did you start to feel doubts that your body was capable? 
6. How long after your first were you ready for another?
7. Did you make any mistakes, did you learn from them?

I had more questions, but my toddler demands my attention. 

1) I ran for about 1/2 of the year in 2011, started tracking my mileage and racing in 2012.  I ran my first and 2nd 50k's this year (April and October) and I'm signed up for a 50 miler in October.

I decided to run a 50k after training for a marathon all winter.  I ended up with some tendonitis in my feet from the marathon training and the whole plan fell apart.  I opted out of the marathon because I wasn't going to be able to hit the paces I wanted and the whole being obsessed with pace thing was getting old.  I had it in my head that I wanted to do a 50k or a trail marathon.  My GF planned a girls trip for late April so I found a race to keep me busy that weekend and it was a 50k.

2) I never really amped up my mileage.  I've never been able to sustain more than 45mpw for any amount of time.

3) I started preparing by doing some 20+ mile runs and shifting about 30-50% of my weekly mileage to trails.  I haven't experimented much with nutrition, but using a handheld with a Hammer perpetuem mix and a hydration pack of water works for me for 5 hours without much issue.

4) I always develop TMTS type injuries (mostly foot tendonitis type stuff) due to a lack of consistency and not adjusting accordingly, but nothing serious.

5) Not really, I had done 25 miles on similar terrain before and I could wrap my head around the extra 6 before I went into the race.

6) 5 months.

7) Yes

Buy John M.'s book 

1. I have been somewhat apprehensive of every ultramarathon starting line I have approached. I think my first DNF came about the time I felt I was ready for these things.
2. August 04, 1985 -- first time I saw a copy of UltraRunning magazine.
3. Eating/drinking a lot of different things?
4. Almost serious Achilles strain in August '85... before, sure.
5. During the first one? No, it was a 10-lap 50k, basically ran faster every lap--had no idea what I was doing, haven't progressed much.
6. First was January 4th, second was February 1st (same year).
7. Yes. No, at least no enough to keep me from making many of them again.

addena:  I took too long.  There were no responses when I started, distraction of listening to the Seahawks not taking the Rams seriously.  Thank you for the recommendation(s) and comment on my book.

I'll be honest, one of my long term goals - before I am 30 years old - is to be running ultras. I know it won't be next year, and 2015 will most likely be the year for first 26.2 mile distance, but someday I want to be running 50ks, 50 milers, 100ks and 100 mile races. I'm just curious as to how some of you knew when you were ready for those longer distances, your experiences along the way, mistakes and what you learned from them.

1.   When, in your running journey, did you feel ready for ultras?
2. When did you start amping up your mileage and training with plans of running ultras?
3. How did you start preparing and experimenting with fuel? 
4. Was there an injury (serious or slightly serious) or were there many before, during training and during your first ultra?
5. While out there, did you start to feel doubts that your body was capable? 
6. How long after your first were you ready for another?
7. Did you make any mistakes, did you learn from them?

I had more questions, but my toddler demands my attention. 

1. I trained for and raced marathons for 4-5 years. I started reading about ultras after my 2nd marathon, and my interest was piqued. However I was always chasing that marathon PR. Came up short of the PR (close but no cigar) a bunch of times for various reasons. In 2007 I really wanted to pull the plug and sign up for an ultra. I told myself I had to update my marathon PR first. I ran the Ocean Drive Marathon that year in late March. Horrible 20mpw headwinds (point to point course) for the entire distance. I crossed the line right near my marathon PR time. Results posted the next day. I set a PR by one second. The gods cut me a break and I was allowed to move on to the ultra world.

2. I had been ramping up my mileage for 4-5 years. By the time I started training for ultras I was comfortable with 7 days of running and 60-75 mile weeks.

3. Long training runs I'd hit convenience stores. we'd have snacks in the car, or aid drop locations. Found out I could eat about anything really. Rice crispie treats seemed pretty good at first. Sometime Christmas cookies. Always a few gels but I'd already been used to those from my marathon days.

4. I started training for my first ultra coming off of PF. Once it faded away, my first training ultra cycle might have been my best ever. Also the most fun.

5. No. I am a stubborn optimist. I gained confidence as the run progressed and trusted my training and fitness.

6. About 7-8 weeks. My first ultra was a 50k that I was using as an intermediary/goal race for a 50 miler.

7. I've made plenty of mistakes since, but I pretty much nailed that first training cycle and race series. My biggest mistakes have been in 100 mile races. Feet. Socks. Shoes. Last time too much salt I think. I still finished those races though. Always stuff to learn.

When, in your running journey, did you feel ready for ultras?
I never planned to run ultras. I just saw a race with a nice course, signed up and ran it.
That said, I have always been an endurance runner since I started at the age of 10 (now I'm 48), and therefore I had always eyed with running long distances, but I never thought I'd be able to even complete a half marathon.
So I ran "for fun", my distances increased because I felt good on long runs, so I made them longer.

When did you start amping up your mileage and training with plans of running ultras?
Never had a plan, never followed one, not for developing my ultra "career", nor for training.
After having started up again in October 2009 (after an extended break due to pregnancies and nursing), it took me a year to run a half marathon in a race, even though I had run similar distances (up to 12 miles) on my own before. 
Then I ran distances up to 30k for a year (alone, and a few races), mostly due to time constraints. I was not ready to take the time away from my family and my kids, who were still very young then.
In April 2012, I ran my first 50k. I had decided to run that race (and distance) 3 months before the start.
In October 2012, I ran my first 50-miler. I had decided to run that race after completing the 50k in April, but "training" was thrown off by pneumonia, bronchitis, and recovery, which took months.
ln October 2013 I ran my first 100-miler. I had trained for the 100-miler for 6 months, but not too seriously, to be honest (see my RR of the OC100).

How did you start preparing and experimenting with fuel?
This has just gone along with increasing the distances, and fixing problems as they came up. I got input from other users or running friends, researched on the internet, read a lot of scientific research studies on the subject, read race reports, and used my own intuition.
In the end, it boiled down to applying the science, and trying out what worked for me. But there's never "one solution" that will work for you every time, so expect not a permanent concept, but leave a lot of wiggle room to wing it when on your run or in a race. 

Was there an injury (serious or slightly serious) or were there many before, during training and during your first ultra?
Injury-free (except from falls) all my running career. Sometimes a niggle here and some discomfort there, but nothing that would not heal up soon again. Never had injury problems or significant pain in a race.
However, I had trouble recovering from pneumonia and bronchitis before my first 50M, that took at least 10 weeks out of my training period (so in fact, the 6 months of training for the race were reduced to 3 months).

While out there, did you start to feel doubts that your body was capable? 
Never happened to me to the point where I seriously thought I wouldn't be able to do it. But I had doubts, especially when there were longer phases where I would feel exhausted from even short runs. I guess this is due to getting closer to your limits in terms of overall training load, which you need in order to build up.
I definitely benefitted from the (involuntary) 4-week taper before the race! (the plan was, less than 3 weeks for tapering)

How long after your first were you ready for another?
Mentally as soon as I crossed the finish line.
I ran my second 50-miler 4 weeks after the first, and it was great.
After the 100, I felt physically ready for the next about a week after the race, even though I think some time to continue my routine running, and then some tapering, would be better before heading out for 100 again. I have not run an ultra since the 100M, it's been only 3 weeks since.

Did you make any mistakes, did you learn from them?
Too many mistakes to mention. I hope I have learned from them. 

I learned mostly from trying out things because I wanted to change something, or because I had met a dead end and needed to try something new. I learned just as much from other users on this (and the previous not-to-be-mentioned) forum over the years.

I never followed a plan for training, I always just run by feel with a long-term goal in mind. But that goal may be flexible, depending on other constraints.

I also never wear a watch or garmin on my runs, or during races, as this might throw off my "feel" (did I mention I'm focused on numbers, even when I don't know them?  .

I know most people use plans when training for specific races or distances, and they follow the plans more or less religiously. That's just not my way of running, it would probably take the fun out of it for me. I just run for fun, as long as I can, and I "train" with the long-term goal in mind, knowing what a training plan would demand for certain weeks, and trying to get in runs of similar distances, while working within my own boundaries (work, family, physical ability,...).

While training for my 100 (the 6 months from April to October), I barely ever got in significant B2B runs, and never did a really long run, the longest distance I managed to do was around marathon distance. I felt pretty bad about that, but I knew I had the experience on long distances from earlier runs and races. I would not recommend it, though, I think the long runs and some B2B's serve not only to build up, but even more to experiment with things, and as a confidence booster.

Some things that might bother you in a race, you'll never encounter in training, especially when it comes to 100 miles. There are several things which just don't show up before mile 85.

1. When, in your running journey, did you feel ready for ultras?

I was too oblivious (stupid?) to know I wasn't ready. I had only run one half marathon before I signed up for a 50K. I just didn't want to run on the road anymore and figured I would just slow down and eat and drink along the way. But it went pretty well except for one crazy set of muscle spasms

2. When did you start amping up your mileage and training with plans of running ultras?

I just took an easy marathon plan and added a few miles to the longest runs.

3. How did you start preparing and experimenting with fuel? 

I stumbled onto a very old web site that had a wealth of information, and then I found this group, which was over on RWOL at the time.

4. Was there an injury (serious or slightly serious) or were there many before, during training and during your first ultra?

No

5. While out there, did you start to feel doubts that your body was capable? 

I never had any doubts until I got into a situation where I underestimated the course and overestimated my ability. I got a DNF, and I learned more from that than I have anything else. I develop much clearer understandings holding onto a tree while dry heaving than I do running smoothly down the trail. Well, actually, I remember in that 100K race I went through a very low point at about the 50K mark. I quickly rebounded by putting it out my mind that I was only halfway to the end. The down period lasted for quite awhile longer, but I put the doubts about making it completely out of my mind. I just ignored the doubts.

6. How long after your first were you ready for another?

I was pretty sore after that first 50K, and I didn't run another race until December of that year, which was a 100K. I think that is the way it went. But I could have done another ultra much sooner. I just didn't have any close.

7. Did you make any mistakes, did you learn from them?

That first 50K was a good race for me. But I learned to pay more attention to my electrolytes. I really cramped up badly around 20 miles or so, but I was able to get those under control pretty quickly. But, my quads cramped up to the point that I couldn't move forward. So, I just drank a bunch of HEED and stretched it out next to a pine tree. I lost about 15 minutes there. After that, I had a couple of ultras that went very well, and I had a great deal of confidence going into my second 100 miler. I went into that second 100 in very good shape despite the fact that my long runs were not as frequent as they should have been. Nevertheless, I had the mileage/time on my feet to complete the race without too much suffering. However, the heat and going too fast beat me down. I knew better than to do what I did. And I made some critical decisions that were wrong concerning hydration, pace, time, etc. But, I'll be back at that race next year. Too much going on to get over there this year.

1. I felt ready for ultras after I ran two road marathons within 3 weeks. I wanted something "more".
2. I increased mileage during training for my first 50k. Probably averaging about 10 mpw more than marathon training.
3. I came on websites like this (and irunfar.com and read books) and just started eating/drinking different stuff on long runs.
4. No injuries, except a few blisters when I wore the wrong socks.
5. Yes, I always have doubts at some point during training/racing. I always think my mental fortitude is stronger than my physical, which helps push those doubts aside.
6. I signed up for my next ultra the night before my first
7. I've made a lot of mistakes. Wearing the wrong socks and not hydrating enough come to mind first. Getting ahead of what my body is prepared for is another. Make sure you check in with your body along the way (whether long term training, or during a race.) It's easy to get swept up in all the excitement of ultras. You have to put in the work. 

I have only done 1 ultra, a 50K but it was a challenging one with 12K feet of elevation change. 

When, in your running journey, did you feel ready for ultras?

I run, I don't "journey".  That being said I refused to do an ultra until I had successfully ran what I call a "good" marathon.  I defined "good" as successfully completing the marathon slightly under goal.  The "goal" was calculated from shorter race distances so that I knew what I would be capable of if I put in the training and executed the marathon race correctly.  It took me 4 marathons to get there but I did finally run a "good" marathon late last winter.

When did you start amping up your mileage and training with plans of running ultras?

As I was already averaging 70is miles a week from marathon training, I didn't "amp" my mileage up anymore.  Though I do wish I could have gotten more trail miles in, especially technical trail miles.  I had only run a handful of times on the trails before entering my 50k.

How did you start preparing and experimenting with fuel? 

I didn't, I winged it completely with gels, pretzels and a cliff bar.  Yeah, my stomach didn't feel so good 5 hours into the race.  This is something I'll definitely do better on next time. 

Was there an injury (serious or slightly serious) or were there many before, during training and during your first ultra?

Nope, though I did take a couple of spills during the race itself but nothing more than a couple scrapes. 

While out there, did you start to feel doubts that your body was capable? 

About the time I reached the 5 hour mark my body was ready to quit.  I had never been running that long and my stomach was queezy and legs were cramping.  But I knew I would finish no matter what. 

How long after your first were you ready for another?

As I have only done one I would have to say I could have tackled another about a month later.  In fact my son and I did 17 miles at the Grand Canyon a month later.  But the problem with Phoenix is the heat.  I didn't want to risk heat exhaustion during the summer months.

Did you make any mistakes, did you learn from them?

Two things primarily.  1) Not enough time on the trails before hand (I kind of did it on a whim). 2) Fueling, I just wasn't used to being out there fore 7 hours.

A little unsolicited advice.  Learn to be a better runner at short distances and try your hand at some shorter trail runs (10-20-30K distance) before setting super lofty goals.  I liked my 50K and I plan on doing it again this coming spring.  But I don't think I could ever force myself above 50 miles (and I'm not so sure about the 50 mile thing either).  I just have no desire to get out there and be slogging for the 24-30 hours it would take to do a 100 miler.