Training Mileage

[kirby111]

What kind of weekly miles did you guys put in up till your first 50K? I just wanted to see how my training stacks up to others. Also, what kind of long runs did you do?

[ultragirl]

Well I personally have only ran 1 official 50K(Helen Klein 50K-tomorrow will be my second at diablo) and I do anywhere from 35-45 mpw......I have had times when training for marathons I had 50-65 MPW but I realize I was overtraining.SOme of the more expierienced people will prob have better advice.I was told by some one(a couple of people really) that it isnt your MPW that counts the most for ultras (50k---50 miler) its the quality runs and the time on your feet that count. My long training run is on weekends and some weekends I will do a run for miles and that would be 15-20+ miles.Some I go for time on my feet and will run(more like trot) and fast hike for hours...

[kirby111]

Ok, thanks
I was just getting a little worried about if I had done enough, since I had to cope with the short practices for track. I have done about what you did. But this week was a little different. My training had me doing two 24 milers during the program. I did one tuesday and one today making my week total 80 . It didnt see like that much but here comes the best part of training, the taper.
Thanks again

[evilrobot]

I'm not so much into number of miles, as hours in the woods. 2 hours is an average run (not daily) with longer ones being 4-5 hours. If you have access to a trail system somewhere, it makes a huge difference in making it much less monotonous than if you're doing road running. Don't forget cross training, too. Make time for aerobics classes and strength training - it will work those muscles you're overlooking on your runs and help prevent overuse injuries.

[peterj]

I like to think of a 50K as a marathon with a warm up! This puts it into a perspective that many can grasp hold of!

[katemojo]

what about training for a 50 miler? (like the one in August)?

[pctrailruns]

Generally, I do:

50 Km - 3-4 hours 2 weeks before
50 Mile - a 50 Km 2 weeks before
100 Mile - a 50 miler one month before

Wendell (PCTR)

[katemojo]

thanks, Wendell. That helps. Hope to see you all at HH 50 miles.

[thr3ee]

I put a lot of thought and planning into the training for my first 50K over a year ago. I generally ran 45-55 mpw and did a number of 20+ milers with some back-to-back weekends where I ran 12-15 miles on Sunday after a Saturday long run. After the race I concluded that the most important part of the training was giving myself the confidence that I could "do the distance".

I have since run 5 other 50Ks, 2 50-milers and one 100K with a much less "scientific" training schedule. I try to get my training in the 55-65 mpw range, but only succeed about 2-3 weeks a month. I have basically been using shorter races as my main training for longer races and considered the rest of my training to be for the purpose of "maintaining" the fitness. If I have more than 3-4 weeks between races I will add in a couple of 20+ mile (or 4+ hour) training runs if I can schedule them in.

This seems to have worked well for me so far. I'll let you know in August if my remaining 50K and 50-miler are enough to carry me through my first 100!

[ultragirl]

we are training for our first 50m and have done one official 50k that we have finished.

We are using the hal higdon ultra schedule that he used for comrades.We tweeked it abit but overall its a great schedule.I used his for my first marathon and it had me in tip top shape,and actually I could have done a ultra then but didnt think that was possible.

The highest mileage is peak week at 75 mpw.Most mpw is 55-60.Most of the runs towards the end of this are back to back 3-4 hr runs. I think we will be ready

[john]

good run in pacifica yesterday. all had a good time