Training for Ultra Distance

So, despite a good dose of man-flu (still ongoing), the first 5 weeks of my schedule seem to have gone well (touch wood!).  Training for my first 100 mile ultra seemed a bit daunting when I first decided to take on the challenge, although things have become clearer with a time-line in place, and the programme under way.

Once thing that I was unprepared for, is how consuming things have become.  I did think that after having spent the best part of 20 years training for, and obsessing over boulder problems, that this would be kind of okay, although this is so much more involved - a completely new level to be honest!  That said - I do like to keep busy, and without a focus tend feel slightly aimless and defunct.

I did have a minimal head start, in that I put a lot of training in for the Patagonian Marathon, having first considered the 63km.  The 63km was pulled for 2017, so the 42km (marathon distance) became the focus instead.  I was running around 40 miles a week for 8 months for that, so felt pretty strong afterwards.  As I've mentioned before, I also run each week in the Welsh mountains (so far, up to 12 steep miles most weeks, plus miles on the flat). This has helped me prepare for the schedule I put in place 5 weeks ago.

From reading various blogs and articles, I figured I should take sound advice and start with a shorter ultra distance, so with this in mind I have decided to condition myself for a 'Solo' 50km trail run, which I'll (hopefully) be ready to run in April (April 28th if anyone's keen to give me a shout out for luck!).  I've put the chart that I'm following below, as it seems to work really well, with my shorter runs (up to 10 miles) all hitting various PB's just 5 weeks in.  All of my trail-runs (marked in green) are focussing on taking in sections of the GB Snowdonia 100, which should sort out my fear of getting lost up there whilst tired/demented from the distance (like we need any extra miles, right!?)...

50km Training Plan (31 miles)

With work and family (I have three kids aged 7, 13, 15, a partner who's training for a marathon and travel to work each week), it is difficult to maintain the exact order, and I've dropped maybe 3 miles in total (over 5 weeks) just due to not having the ability to keep on top.  I sometimes lose the rest days, and have to cram, or even double session on some days to fit the mileage in.  The most important for me are the Hard Effort runs and the Trail.  The shorter runs do help with the constant, and ensuring my legs are getting use to training tired, although its the larger and harder miles I'm focused on right now.

Losing the rest days is something that I need to get on top of from next week, and the Trail runs are getting pretty long (20 miles plus), so I need the balance and rest to avoid injury and niggles creeping in.  Also - the mountains are so wet right now;  blisters from laps below the snow line are doing my head in (another lesson learnt - no brand new shoes for 10 miles of wet and muddy!).

Once this 'conditioning' phase is completed, I'll be taking a complete rest week (no running) a warm up week (two or three short (4 to 8 mile runs)) and then starting my 100 mile training schedule.  I'm going to use the programme below, although will start at Week 5:

By starting this at Week 5 , I'll be picking it up at a lower mileage that I left the 55km Plan on, but this will alow me to build back up, and then finalise with my 100 mile race on the 22nd of September (with time to taper as the programme suggests).

So, that's my update on how I'm aiming to succeed on my latest adventure, although if you want to leave any comments, any advice is fine by me.  

If anyone does read this with knowledge, one thing I'm concerned with is maceration (feet) with all of the wet terrain I'm expecting (it is Snowdonia after all!).  Answers on a postcard!

                                                     A view from last weeks trail,  The stunning Cwm Eigiau, looking over towards Pen Llythrig Yr Wrach, which leads on the 

                                                                                                                  Pen Yr Helgi Du (10 miles).