Ultramarathon: yay or nay?
bendyourkneekatie
Posts: 696 Member
Oh I can't make up my mind. I was so miserable during the second half of my most recent marathon, and so deflated missing my pb by under a minute, and the idea of chasing time in a new race just makes me feel ill.
I love training and I love aiming for a new goal and I love trail running....
There's a 56km ultra in the middle of January a couple hours away from where I live. It's meant to be pretty hilly but fairly straightforward terrain-wise with beautiful scenery.
But it's an ultra! I've never thought I'd do an ultra.
Help me decide! Pros and cons:
Pros:
- a new challenge to aim for
- There are no other long races over summer around here to train for
- Trail running is wonderful
- The medal is a bottle opener
Cons:
- I mean it's an ultra
- All the gear: different shoes, hydration, food, gaiters, etc. probably can't even half *kitten* the socks like I normally do
- Summer could mean very hot
- Snakes?!?
- Have to figure out accomodation and transportation, possibly dragging my husband and two young kids along
- $$$$
- I'm sure I'm still gonna pressure myself to hit a certain time cos I'm pathetic like that
- Snakes?!?!
I love training and I love aiming for a new goal and I love trail running....
There's a 56km ultra in the middle of January a couple hours away from where I live. It's meant to be pretty hilly but fairly straightforward terrain-wise with beautiful scenery.
But it's an ultra! I've never thought I'd do an ultra.
Help me decide! Pros and cons:
Pros:
- a new challenge to aim for
- There are no other long races over summer around here to train for
- Trail running is wonderful
- The medal is a bottle opener
Cons:
- I mean it's an ultra
- All the gear: different shoes, hydration, food, gaiters, etc. probably can't even half *kitten* the socks like I normally do
- Summer could mean very hot
- Snakes?!?
- Have to figure out accomodation and transportation, possibly dragging my husband and two young kids along
- $$$$
- I'm sure I'm still gonna pressure myself to hit a certain time cos I'm pathetic like that
- Snakes?!?!
0
Replies
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if u can, do it at least once. my wife's cousin has done a ton of them... Maybe 5+ since I've known him? it's something worth challenging yourself with if you're even in the ballpark of capable.1
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You have managed to list more cons than pros...I think therein lies the answer...4
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My first ultra is booked next year, if you are capable you should, what an achievement, you’ll be the envy of other runners, the mental gains you’ll make in life, as for different shoes & gear well that’s simple Christmas presents, accommodation & husband n kids why not make it a vacation.bendyourkneekatie wrote: »Oh I can't make up my mind. I was so miserable during the second half of my most recent marathon, and so deflated missing my pb by under a minute, and the idea of chasing time in a new race just makes me feel ill.
I love training and I love aiming for a new goal and I love trail running....
There's a 56km ultra in the middle of January a couple hours away from where I live. It's meant to be pretty hilly but fairly straightforward terrain-wise with beautiful scenery.
But it's an ultra! I've never thought I'd do an ultra.
Help me decide! Pros and cons:
Pros:
- a new challenge to aim for
- There are no other long races over summer around here to train for
- Trail running is wonderful
- The medal is a bottle opener
Cons:
- I mean it's an ultra
- All the gear: different shoes, hydration, food, gaiters, etc. probably can't even half *kitten* the socks like I normally do
- Summer could mean very hot
- Snakes?!?
- Have to figure out accomodation and transportation, possibly dragging my husband and two young kids along
- $$$$
- I'm sure I'm still gonna pressure myself to hit a certain time cos I'm pathetic like that
- Snakes?!?!
As for $$$ I have a theory, look at long distance triathletes, the mental ability to do that sport is immense, the drive to train every day and for so long is immense, they all know that training gets in the way of work and family but they achieve it, in fact most prosper, work is easy compared to training lots of people I know get promotions whilst undertaking ironman events, well you’ll be one step closer to being a super human athlete.
You have to do it, enter it and the excitement will be overwhelming.
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Your first ultra means automatic PB... :laugh:15
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I did my first ultra (50k) in September and loved the experience, the community, and the training. What I loved most was that it was time based, not distance based. That took considerable pressure away mentally to think I could walk the whole thing and still be able to complete the event in time - which ended up happening as I pulled a muscle in my knee at mile 2!
Definitely take a trip out to the course if you can before you decide. I didn’t do that - asked the RD what the trails were like and he said mostly flat. Well, he meant mostly flat in perspective for New England states, not mostly flat from a general perspective. Coming from NJ, where we have a lot of trails at sea level with gentle slopes, the hills, rocks and roots of the Ultra trail system I was on for the actual event took me a little by surprise. I would have trained differently (more hill repeats) if I had known what I was up against realistically.
Either way, good luck with making an appropriate decision for your goals and lifestyle.0 -
I did 2 ultras (50 milers) and LOVED them! My mindset was completely different than for a marathon. I basically ran aid station to aid station and didn't worry about my time. Also, I wore the same gear the entire race - granted, mine were in the Fall so it was cooler. Good idea to scope out the course ahead of time, too.
Toad is spot on the your first will be an automatic PR, so please don't needlessly pressure yourself to meet certain split times. Enjoy the camaraderie and running with some new people, and of course, the post-race food!0 -
Why torture yourself?!4
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No opinion on the ultra, just had to post and say that even Down Under I hope snakes are smart enough to run the other way when a horde of runners pass by. Unless you're the trailbreaker they should be long gone! Are a lot of runners bitten by snakes in your area? Best of luck to you, whatever you decide!0
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IDK...if you were miserable on the 2nd leg of your marathon, I'd think you'd be pretty miserable running an ultra.
You also need to consider the time commitment for training...it's huge. I'm an avid cycling enthusiast and I know a couple people who like doing ultra cycling...it's basically their entire life when they're training and they don't have room in their life for much else. Personally, as much as I enjoy the bike, I have a great many other things in life that I enjoy as well so that kind of time commitment would be a non-starter for me. These guys literally ride everywhere, all the time...from purposeful training to commuting to going to the grocery store just to get in more saddle time.
I'm personally all about striking a balance between challenging myself and also enjoying myself. I'm really not at all about pushing myself to the point that I'm hating life and what I'm doing.
When I first started cycling my long term goal was a full century...after several 1/2 centuries, I pretty much knew I'd never do a full...maybe a metric, but not a full 100 miles. I found that 50 miles is my balance between a good challenge while also enjoying myself for the most part...I'm usually over it with about 10 miles to go but I can press on at that point and feel good when I finish and I feel like I accomplished something positive...but yeah, I see no reason to torture myself with something I know I'm not really going to enjoy in the end.
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Do you have the time to train? Ultras usually mean back to back long runs on the weekend - say 40 km on Saturday and 30 on Sunday. Can you do that? Do you enjoy doing long runs?
I'd love to have the experience of an ultra, but I don't enjoy long runs. They are pretty much torture. However I enjoy marathons, which have people, excitement, support, etc. The ultra community is generally really supportive, especially of newbies. But I don't think I'll ever end up doing one, just because of the long run issue. Plus the trails around here are very rocky and I have enough trouble staying upright on the roads. (Three bad falls in the past year.)
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You mention the terrain is hilly..... if this is a "trail" run it is a totally different animal than a flatter, pavement, city style marathon.
.
Like seriously different.
Be prepared to walk up the hills and down them..... maybe backwards.... passed a few people doing that near the end of the 50K I ran.
A friend convinced me to train and run one after I had completed my 3rd marathon.
It's only another 8K he said.
Yeah..... it's only another 8K, I could do that.
But you forget about the 42K you have to run before you get to those added extra 8K
I don't regret doing it but whoooo weeee, it was all out the hardest thing I've ever done.
,
What ever you decide...... prepare, prepare, prepare !
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I would never sign up for a race where I listed the actual distance as one of the cons.
You should run an ultra marathon if you *want* to run an ultra. Otherwise, find some fun shorter distance trail races and buy yourself a bottle opener.5 -
Sounds dreadful. Why not plan your own ultra course? Does it need to be an official race to mean something? Give yourself a set day, plan the course using online maps or by running sections, and buy yourself a nice present at the end with all the money you didn't spend on admission/hotels.1
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I ran my first ultra at the Haliburton Forest Run (50K) last year. I'm training to do the 50 mile winter Beast of Burden in February followed by the 100 miler at Haliburton next September. Prior to that I'd run half a dozen halfs and one full.
The ultra was amazing. I loved everything about it -- running in the forest on trails, the challenge and the camaraderie.
It's one of the things I'm most proud of having accomplished.2 -
It sounds like it would be a wonderful achievement; something I want to someday be capable of doing.
As to snakes... when I am trail running, I'm constantly watching the ground because of rocks, roots, etc. I've never had issues with snakes while trail running. While hiking, on the other hand... I'm not watching the ground very closely or very often because I'm moving more slowly and don't have a need to worry about it so much. Even then, the closest encounter I've had with a snake (timber rattler) was no problem because it let me know it was there before it got to the point of biting me. I'm not sure what kind of snakes you are concerned about, but most bites here in the U.S. are from viper species of snakes (rattlesnakes, water moccasins, etc.) and are on the arms and hands of young males. If those boys would stop trying to antagonize or play with wild snakes, there would be a lot fewer bites. It doesn't sound like that is going to be an issue for you, so your risk of a snake bite is not nearly as high as you seem to imagine.0 -
You already know the answer, you're just looking for a rational.
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bendyourkneekatie wrote: »Oh I can't make up my mind. I was so miserable during the second half of my most recent marathon, and so deflated missing my pb by under a minute, and the idea of chasing time in a new race just makes me feel ill.
I love training and I love aiming for a new goal and I love trail running....
There's a 56km ultra in the middle of January a couple hours away from where I live. It's meant to be pretty hilly but fairly straightforward terrain-wise with beautiful scenery.
But it's an ultra! I've never thought I'd do an ultra.
Help me decide! Pros and cons:
Pros:
- a new challenge to aim for
- There are no other long races over summer around here to train for
- Trail running is wonderful
- The medal is a bottle opener
Cons:
- I mean it's an ultra
- All the gear: different shoes, hydration, food, gaiters, etc. probably can't even half *kitten* the socks like I normally do
- Summer could mean very hot
- Snakes?!?
- Have to figure out accomodation and transportation, possibly dragging my husband and two young kids along
- $$$$
- I'm sure I'm still gonna pressure myself to hit a certain time cos I'm pathetic like that
- Snakes?!?!
I've done three ultras now, although all my marathons are on trail as well so similar in terms of both training and tactics.
Your training will have to modify a bit. You can wing a 50K on a marathon plan but for 56K you'll need to move to a different training strategy with more back to back longs. I'd be designing in those from weeks 6-12 of a 16 week plan.
Tactically you'll need to get used to walking the climbs. Notwithstanding the point upthread is generally always run the descents, although it's harsh on the quads.
If you're already into trail running I'd question the need for new shoes. I never bother with gaiters but do have a race vest for hydration and mandatory kit. I use Tailwind for preference, so you wouldn't need to get used to running with solid food.
I'd say go for it, but just manage your expectation about a goal time.0 -
Having only run a maximum of 11 miles myself (and only then once, with anything else under 10 miles), I entered a 50k trail ultra.
I do enjoy trail running generally and was in a particularly hilly part of England (West Yorkshire) - 4400ft of climbs.
I'd done some smaller competitive trail runs before, so knew it'd be walking up the hills - I think I stayed at a steady running pace for the first 10k or so.
Some of the later climbs were steep enough that hands were used! Ran on all the flat and on the downhills.
I made a point of doing an Australian-style (one day) carb load the day before, but this was a 'friendly' event which included regular food stops (my dog particularly appreciated the hot dog stop
).
Didn't have any problems with that.
Did experience my first ever 'cramp'. And legs weren't in great shape towards the end and much worse the next day.
Overall however; really pleased I did it!
I actually got some knew trail shoes for it; but only because my old ones were getting quite tired.
We had to have a set of survival kit with us 'just in case' (In other years there's been snow, hail, etc at that time of year), but nothing too bad.
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Cutaway_Collar wrote: »Unless you are training for the fricking olympics and are getting paid for it, marathons are a waste of time. Who has the time for that kinda stuff?
Some of us enjoy them. Some of us even enjoy the training for them. I love being in really good shape, the way I feel near the end of my training, when a 10 mile run feels easy.6 -
Cutaway_Collar wrote: »Unless you are training for the fricking olympics and are getting paid for it, marathons are a waste of time. Who has the time for that kinda stuff?
You don't have any hobbies?
I wouldn't expect to be paid for running a marathon or training, I do it because it brings me joy.3 -
Cutaway_Collar wrote: »Unless you are training for the fricking olympics and are getting paid for it, marathons are a waste of time. Who has the time for that kinda stuff?
That's like saying, unless you're actively training to enter the Great British bake off all cake making is a waste of time.5 -
smotheredincheese wrote: »Cutaway_Collar wrote: »Unless you are training for the fricking olympics and are getting paid for it, marathons are a waste of time. Who has the time for that kinda stuff?
That's like saying, unless you're actively training to enter the Great British bake off all cake making is a waste of time.
It's more like saying that unless you're actively training to become a contestant on "Chopped" practicing turning a random assortment of esoteric ingredients into a full-fledged dish in 30 minutes is a waste of time.
As a runner myself, I absolutely understand the motivation to run a distance race. That said, it's not foreign to me that it could be considered not the greatest investment in time...0 -
smotheredincheese wrote: »Cutaway_Collar wrote: »Unless you are training for the fricking olympics and are getting paid for it, marathons are a waste of time. Who has the time for that kinda stuff?
That's like saying, unless you're actively training to enter the Great British bake off all cake making is a waste of time.
It's more like saying that unless you're actively training to become a contestant on "Chopped" practicing turning a random assortment of esoteric ingredients into a full-fledged dish in 30 minutes is a waste of time.
As a runner myself, I absolutely understand the motivation to run a distance race. That said, it's not foreign to me that it could be considered not the greatest investment in time...
I mean, it's really *not* the greatest use of time (IMO). You're dedicating a lot of time to prepare for a single event and exercising well beyond the base needed for cardiovascular fitness. A lot of times you're rearranging obligations or other hobbies to make time for longer runs.
But that's irrelevant because we all typically do some things that aren't the greatest use of our time (watching television, doing fantasy football, knitting stuff that nobody really needs, learn ballroom dancing, etc). It's sufficient that marathoning is pleasurable for some people, that's all the justification that it needs.4 -
Cutaway_Collar wrote: »Unless you are training for the fricking olympics and are getting paid for it, marathons are a waste of time. Who has the time for that kinda stuff?
No it's just someone who live's to get a rise out of people.... and put the in there to cover his *kitten* pffffft! 3 -
Only you can decide what your goals are and what is important to you... As mentioned, you put together a pretty big list of cons--if you can't commit to doing what you need to do then you will probably be pretty miserable.0
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I'd forego the gaiters...If it's a normal ultra where you are strictly on trail and not an adventure run/orienteering meet, you shouldn't be frequently running through thorn bushes. And snakes should be scared off the trail by the time you get there.
If you are worried about the distance, but are looking for a new challenge and enjoy trail running, you might want to check out orienteering.
(ETA: the farthest I've done on both trail and road is about 13 miles..the former being a 6 hr mini-rogaine with some rough terrain-so a LOT of walking to go with the running).0 -
You should definitely go! Running a 56K would be easier on your body than a marathon. When I ran my first marathon I could barely walk for 3 days. The following year I ran my first 50K and recovered so quickly I ran 5 miles the next day.
As far as a goal time? I find that trails vary so widely, it's really hard to even set a goal time unless you've run the same course, in the same conditions.
Let me correct your list/change your perspective:Pros:
- a new challenge to aim for
- There are no other long races over summer around here to train for
- Trail running is wonderful
- The medal is a bottle opener
- I mean it's an ultra!
- All the gear!: different shoes, hydration, food, gaiters, etc. I can finally justify getting better socks than wear the probably can't even half *kitten* the socks like I normally do
- I might see some cool wildlife, like Snakes!!!
- I get to make a family trip out of the race! I could bring my husband and two kids. Maybe make them my "crew" so they could get involved in my adventure! I bed the kids would think that was pretty cool!
- Since it's a new distance, guaranteed PR!
- Did I mention the wildlife?!?
Cons:
- I mean it's an ultra
- All the gear: different shoes, hydration, food, gaiters, etc. probably can't even half *kitten* the socks like I normally do
- Summer could mean very hot
- Snakes?!?
- Have to figure out accomodation and transportation, possibly dragging my husband and two young kids along
- $$$$
- I'm sure I'm still gonna pressure myself to hit a certain time cos I'm pathetic like that
- Snakes?!?!
I don't know what to tell you about the heat...I'd rather run in sub-zero than over 806
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