Tell me a bit about your running schedule leading up to a 50-miler. For instance, on your back-to-back long runs, did you do something like 25/25, 30/15, or would you do a long run, i.e. 30 miles, then a short easy run the next day, i.e. 3 miles.
I don't have the time during the week to do anything longer than 10 miles, and that's pushing the envelope, so all my long runs will have to Sat/Sun.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Leslie Living and Running Behind the Redwood Curtain -------------
Trail Runner Nation
Sally McCrae-Choose Strong
Bare Performance
You'll ruin your knees!
When I did them, I would shoot for 20/15 or 25/10 type runs. I almost never did back to backs that totaled 50 miles leading up to a 50 mile event. If possible, shoot for the 10 miler on Tue/Wed, with the long stuff on the weekend. I wouldn't think you should need a lot of weekends with back to back runs... just get the weekly mileage up there and play around with fuel and hydration on the 25+ runs...
You'll do great!
Lynn B
""...the truth that someday, you will go for your last run. But not today—today you got to run." - Matt Crownover (after Western States)
Like Lynn, most of my 'day 2' runs were shorter. I just don't have the time to devote to really long ones on both days...
I also like the what I call "mid long" during the week. Usually something in the 10-15 mile range. Sometimes life gets in the way though.
Self anointed title
Hardly ever did "back to backs". Almost never went over 20 mi in training - I find that the added benefit of running, say, 28 miles, as opposed to 20 mi, is outweighed by the effect on your running for the following day or two. I tend to rely on quite a high volume of training, with regular runs over 15mi, and a bit of quality thrown in.
Before a 12hr race in April (76 mi) I was probably running about 60 - 70 mpw for the 8 weeks before the event. I only ran a few 20 mi IIRC. Result was beyond my expectations.
Now in final stages of prep for a 24hr race 16/17 Oct. (Goal is 140 mi +). Have run most of my weeks at 100mpw + recently, again only a handful of 20 milers, but lots of volume, lots of runs over 15 mi.
My method suits me. Others need the psychological confidence of having "long runs" in the bank. Some people run a low weekly mileage (say 40 mpw) and run a v long run every other week (say 40 miles). This doesn't attract me at all. I definitely prefer the high volume with occasional speed work thrown in.
By running consecutive days of 20 miles (in doubles), with my longer runs in the morning, before I have eaten anything, I am ensuring that I am a) running fairly long with depleted glycogen b) constantly running on tired legs. This seems to prepare me as well (or better) than doing a v long run once in a while.
As we are all very well aware.... we are an "experiment of one" so what works for me may not work for you. It is simply a case of finding out what does work, sticking with it and then building on it.
Good luck!
Ultrachick
I have a slightly different model but has worked out OK for me.
I do a Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday running schedule. My back to backs are obviously on Thursday and Friday, they slowly built up to 13/13 miles and this coincides with an increase in the Sunday Long run distance to a max of 22 miles. Like Purdey I very rarely went over 20 miles but as I do this sport for my enjoyment I sometimes went off schedule and found that we were doing the extra few miles here and there.
My schedule will be taking on a complete overhaul during the next few months as I take on a competitive edge to my ultrarunning now that the base work has been done and I will start Sat/Sun back to backs ranging from 20/10 - upto 30/15 mile runs.
Jerry A runners blog-updated daily
Thanks, everyone. All this is being taken into consideration for when I sit down and talk with my coach.
Kelly - After my upcoming trail marathon on the 26th, I will get about a 3-week "non-competition" training break (plus a 10-day vacation!), then will start gearing up. I have a 50k scheduled for Dec 6 (Desert High), will look for a short race in Jan to keep the juices flowing, then do a final 50k on Feb 20 (Hagg Lake in OR). I think this will work very well.
I'm liking the idea of a mid-week of about 10, an LR on Sat and a easier run (8-10) on Sun. This sounds doable without training completely taking over my life.
Thanks, everyone. All this is being taken into consideration for when I sit down and talk with my coach. Kelly - After my upcoming trail marathon on the 26th, I will get about a 3-week "non-competition" training break (plus a 10-day vacation!), then will start gearing up. I have a 50k scheduled for Dec 6 (Desert High), will look for a short race in Jan to keep the juices flowing, then do a final 50k on Feb 20 (Hagg Lake in OR). I think this will work very well. I'm liking the idea of a mid-week of about 10, an LR on Sat and a easier run (8-10) on Sun. This sounds doable without training completely taking over my life.
Yup, sounds like those races will fit in perfect! However, "without training completely taking over my life" anyone out there besides me who's first impression was 'she needs to get her priorities straight' ? Come on Girlfriend! What else is there? The Hubby? The cats? Work? All highly overrated! Gotta go! Bye!
Long dead ... But my stench lingers !
Caution! DoppleBock's marathon training would make the average ultra runner faint. His ultra training is another thing entirely....
In fact, DoppleBock's cutback weeks would make most ultra runners faint.
buzz
Caution! DoppleBock's marathon training would make the average ultra runner faint. His ultra training is another thing entirely.... In fact, DoppleBock's cutback weeks would make most ultra runners faint.
Guess that means don't look at his training log.
I agree with everyone that pacing is going to be a huge issue. {heavy sigh} After my trail marathon yesterday (), it hurts my brain to think about the 50-miler.
Kelly - . . . . . . Kelly, Kelly, Kelly . . . .
I still think I have a valid point ... You do not have to be running 30-40 mile runs to do a 50 miler.
I personally do not buy the back to back stuff - "Learn to run on tired legs" When I do back to back, its because my legs still feel good and I want to get more miles / another long run in.
I would rather see someone do one nice long run and then recover from it.
But I do believe that more people subscribe to the back to back stuff than my way of thinking.