The more I particpate in this sport, the more I believe that, unless you are an elite, and maybe even if you are an elite, there are many ways to acheive the same goals in ultra running.

Really depends on your goals.

I am finding that while I LOVE to run, I love the races more than the training.

However, this isn’t true when it come to crossfit training – I truly love the training because it’s intense, varied, and highly productive.

I never want to be a really light, rail thin runner, so long mileage forever and a day, are out for me.

I want to be that athlete that continues to both improve in my training AND improve in my overall functional strength and multi-sport activities.

I do the ultras for the challenge. Perhaps that’s why I like ‘em nasty and hard and gnarly and messy.

Good luck in your ‘fitty, and you better come on back and let me and the other blog readers know how you did.

I had talked to you back in January about training for a 50 miler. I just wanted you to know, we created a great training plan that has really paid off. We are one month out from our run and feeling very confident.

The way the training works is junk miles during the week (to stay loose) and back to back long runs on the weekend. For instance, we just did double 20′s this past weekend.

By using a 3 week build period followed by one easy week we have stayed injury free (knock on wood). Our full plan is posted on the web site mtpocono50.com.

The event is May 31 and we only have 3 more build weeks left!! Just thought I’d share our progress. Thanks!

-Paul

That makes more sense. After all, 50 miles is almost 20 miles longer than a 50K.

After finishing some of my recent 50Ks and thinking about tacking on another 20 miles??? ….o, man.

I am planning on running my first 50 in November at the JFK. I have run 21 marathons but have never tackled something this far. I have run 2 50Ks and a 60K but that was 7-8 years ago. I have been looking for advice online for setting up my training program, but yours is the only thing I have found. I am concerned about overtraining and getting injured. I run any where between and 4:30 and 5:30 hour marathon, depending how trained I am. You can find all kind of marathon training programs but nothing for farther. Any advice?

Thank you for your comments. In my experience, 10 miles a day, with no differentiation in training, could possibly be inefficient. I am no pro, but this is just my observation. Are you choosing this route as a similar approach to what Dean Karnazes did for the American River 50 as his first 50?

I think dean is a little more ‘elite’ than most of us, and can get away with training just about any way he wants to finish races …{grins}

Again, not being a pro, but I would suggest a little more rest than you are planning to give yourself. I would also run one or two days a week of intense hill training, some speed training, some junk miles and of course, the obligatory very long run on the weekends.

I believe that switching it up is good for both race and muscular development – and too much consistency can get the body “used to” a particular movement or exercise or training method and instead of growing all-around, you end up just growing in that specific training method.

Good luck.

I might also add that’s important to stay hydrated and electrolyte balanaced – especially during the long run.

For electrolytes, in my opinion, Succeed Caps are the superior choice.

Lastly, long runs, once you build up to them, are the staple of your training. I am running a bunch of 50Ks close together as my very long runs since it’s hard to run 20+ on your own free will (at least for me it is.)

Plus, the races are just more fun.

I am not an elite runner, and thus, I don’t “race” anyone but myself and the clock, so these 50Ks work out as perfect training runs for my upcoming 50-miler in March.