The Forum of Benfleet Running Club

Pammie · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 275

I have recently thought about posting this but kept putting this off, but i would like to run an Ultra, oops i said it.
Even years ago its something that i always wanted to do, its like one of those lists, things i'd like to do before i die.

I'm 40 next year though as a woman i am already a vet but i'd like to do something to mark this historic occassion.

But i'm completely in the dark about all this, what training should i do, long runs i expect, can i still do my 5kms each month work permitting.
What about food and nutrition.
What about feet the best way to care for them.

I have done one marathon and even before that i spent the winters since 2003 running up to 2½ hours training for 15 mile races (yep i've done Benfleet twice)
Of course i will have to run more than that in training 3½ hours last summer

So will i hit submit if i don't i'll be the only one who knows
Oh what the ... before i chicken out

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I'll put something interesting here when i've thought of something, in the meantime heres some music.

Graham · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 227

First Karl, now you. What the bleeding hell is wrong with having a 40th party and just getting slaughtered? I'm saving for mine already. Hopefully the Chili's will have come down in cost in 5 years time.

I'm in no position to give advice. Well not good advice. There's far more knowledgeable and professionally qualified people on this forum. Before Sunday both myself and Jez hadn't done any long stuff since the spring marathons. And I'd never gone above that distance before. I'd trained heavily before the weekend, but a lot of that was cycling and swimming. My novice opinion, after 20-25 miles for me it was mostly mental so find someone around your sort of pace and do an ultra with them. And get an iPod....a water proof one.

Hope you do it Pammie!!

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1538 Location: Rayleigh

Go for it Pammie - 40th birthday - 40 miles, sounds great idea - glad it is catching on (just don't tell Mikey!)

When is your birthday ?

If you are serious you need to find a race, book in and focus towards that goal.

Anyway, as GB says, there are plenty of "proper" ultra runners in the club and on the forum to chat with.

But if you want another one of us "first-timers" advice -

I had not run more than 27 miles in training before the race. This year I have run more miles consistently every month, than last year. Always tried to do a regular long run on a Sunday, baring all else. Again, these varied from 10 miles up to 20 miles. I have done two marathons this year, and one 26 mile race. But the weekly long run seems to be the key.

GB is right - after 26 miles it is all in the head and staying focused for that long - that is the hard part.

Ernie · Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 156 Location: Hockley GORC

Well Pammie, thats quite a revelation.

I'll see if I can help with a few pointers but with me I am very unconventional and for instance am not a great believer in mp3 players and such .
All the Ultras I have done have been above 50 miles so for me a 30 or 40 miler wouldn't seem like an Ultra although technically they are.
I think that Karl would probably agree with me on this point now he has gone over that magical 50 mark.
I dont know what sort of runner you are but it may pay to do an Ultra without the added pressure of being timed out .
As for Nutrition try to eat foods that you enjoy, have high Carbohydrate content etc but speak to Mike Mason about this as he is well versed in this topic whereas I can eat just about everything but I have learnt not to drink too much milk during such events.
As for feet, I tape every toe individually, grease any bare skin, and one good tip is to grease ones feet with vaseline, put socks on and then sleep with them (uncomfortably) for a few nights before a major race.
But what do I know, my feet are wrecked and I have only 2 toenails left.
With Training I suppose the more mileage one puts in the better but for me before the last Ultra (GUCR) I did I probably only averaged out about 10-15 miles per week for 5 months before the race due to injury and finished the race with hardly any muscle soreness which I put down to getting a good pre-race massage at "Nigels" 2 days before the event.

If you really want to run an Ultra I believe you can do it as it is more of a test of mind than body.
What sort of speed do you train comfortably at for say 10miles ?

mikemoreton · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 500 Location: Hockley, GORC.

Nutters, complete madness. But go for it Pammie. Glad I have passed my 40th and not mentioning the 'U' word. Ultra. There I've said it. But if I ever combine the following words, in 1 sentence, have me shot. Those words are: Ultra. I. Would. Like. To. Do. An.

So there you have it. 1 Marathon was enough for me.........I Think

Pammie · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 275

Evening amd thank you very much for the replies

Graham - plan to still get slaughtered on my birthday, and will probably still do it

Karl - my lips are sealed, birthday is June 19th, as for a race i did a little search a few weeks ago really looking for 40 miles @ 40 found one tring 2 Town emailed Rory who organises (its more like 45 miles but who's counting (may regret i said that), he recommended the sunday race, on the saturday they do town 2 Tring. Some onRW and fetch are doing both OMG. But thats first weekend in February - gives me 6 months

Ernie - thats quite alright thanks for the advice there My training currently arond 11 minute miles have had a few months where i couldn't run due to minor injuries (wrong shoes) but hoping thats behind me @ full fitness train at 10 - 10½ min miles for the steady/long runs.
Rory also said he had a guy 75 who did it in 12 hours this year so hopefully that will be possible.
Oh i know about milk, you know those milk drinks similar to slim fast i used to drink half a can before a long run at the weekends to keep the energy reserves up, soon discovered my body didn't appreciate it. So now i don't
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I'll put something interesting here when i've thought of something, in the meantime heres some music.

Pammie · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 275

Karl/Graham how are you now nearly a week on
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I'll put something interesting here when i've thought of something, in the meantime heres some music.

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1538 Location: Rayleigh

Pammie - the tring2town is also on my list next year !

Fine thanks - haven't run since sunday and all seems a bit surreal to be honest. Still can't quite believe we ran 52 miles...!!

Pammie · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 275

Thats great Karl i was going to do a 10 miler in Wales on the Saturday but i guess i can always do another one.
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I'll put something interesting here when i've thought of something, in the meantime heres some music.

mikey · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:04 am Post subject:

Karl Isn't the Tring2Town race 39 years Early ?????

It's a slippery slope this Ultra running thing .... Be warned

Mind you 40 years old .... That's when the madness begins

I did my first Olympic Tri to celebrate ....

Followed 4 weeks later by my first Half Ironman !!

So can see where you're coming from Pammie

Key has to be preparation, get your head round that, and the rest will follow

Jez · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 173 Location: Eastwood

Hi Pammie,

Just to add a few hopefully wise words from another novice.I would definately agree with the others that over marathon distance is all about your mental attitude in finishing rather than just fitness/distance training.

Take Graham and I s run on Sunday, we ended the race having averaged 8min 30 per mile which is approx 2min 30 slower than actual marathon pace.This seemed to us a comfortable pace and "managable" for the distance.I think the key to training would be slower/time on your feet rather than fast miles. You could also include a long bike ride into a cardio routine to avoid injury through just running for the sake of running.

As for nutrition again you will probably already know some things that disagree with you but protein takes longer to digest than carbs especially if your stomach is on the move.The slower pace means you can probably get away with eating more things that you perhaps wouldnt eat in a faster paced run.To give you some idea I reckon i ate about 2 go bars, 8 gels, 2 bananas and a mars bar.( I reckon i probably have more gels than most people do but they work for me!)

Whatever race you decide to do Good luck, if you think you can finish and want to badly enough you will!

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1538 Location: Rayleigh

This ultra was a 40th birthday "mid-life-crisis" run and I wanted to get past the 40 mile mark.

In the end I did the full 52.4 miles, but the spooky thing is I can 40th !!

Ernie · Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 156 Location: Hockley GORC

I am much on a par with Jez regarding what to eat during a 50 odd miler although as he mentioned I wouldn't have quite so many gels.
A rough example of what I would eat during on of these 50 mile races would be 5-6 gels, 2 bananas , at least 1 "red" salmon roll (roll must be fresh and soft ),maybe 1 small rice pudding , 1 museli bar, 1 small chocolate bar, 1 or 2 cups of white tea (quickly guzzled down at stops) and whilst running I may carry with me dried Mango, jelly babies, Dextrose sugar tabs and Trail Mix. I would also consume 2/3 strength 600 ml+ GO Electrolyte Sports Drink (Carbohydrate Energy Fuel) an hour plus drink water at every checkpoint.
Longer Races I would be eating things like potatoes, Egg Rolls, Rice puddings and Protein/Carbohydrate Drinks especially those containing Whey Protein.
As you may have guessed I'm a big eater.

One very important thing I have somehow forgotten to mention is to get yourself a good Support Team and maybe someone to run with you when things get tough.

My Mid-Life crisis came when I was 50 and my birthday present to myself was to run the Grand Union Canal Race (the first time), I'll have to come up with something really special for my 60th.

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1538 Location: Rayleigh

food - I had two bananas before the start, and then all I (seemed) to have was jelly babies, carbo-gel every lap (1.5 hrs) and carbo and isotonic drinks at every lap. Oh and a mars bar to celebrate my finish.

With a special cup of tea made by Ernies' fair hand.

Pammie · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 275

Hello there and thanks for all the food advice
Ernie that is certainly a lot of food

Well i've gone and done it now
Entered Feb 3rd Tring to Town. So by my reckoning i have 6 months to get fit enough both physically and mentally

I really like to thank you all. It is good to here from both experienced ultra runners and hearing from those who have just done there first

Am i mad quite possibly
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I'll put something interesting here when i've thought of something, in the meantime heres some music.

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1538 Location: Rayleigh

February 3rd - I will check my diary !

Can we all come ?

Pammie · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 275

The more the merrier

my workmates will think i've flipped

one of them celebrated her 40th last month she had her belly button pierced
They thought that was mad!!!!!!
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I'll put something interesting here when i've thought of something, in the meantime heres some music.

Karl C · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 1538 Location: Rayleigh

Well done for taking the hardest step - and entering.

You need to make yourself a plan. One running, one social and work around each to get to next February in one piece, with enough miles in your legs, and enough positve mental attitude to see you through.

This sounds like it could turn into a Benfleet Jolly Boys/Girls outing....

http://www.ambitionevents.com/tring2town/

staying the saturday night ? - book now for £ 26 !

https://www.travelodge.co.uk/make...;rr=0&rw=A01A40&cr=A04A40

Pammie · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 275

That looks a fine idea.

So any ideas on plans.

Going up on the Saturday and stay overnight seems a sensible plan
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I'll put something interesting here when i've thought of something, in the meantime heres some music.

Graham · Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 227

Good on ya Pammie. I'm doing that run too! Wicked stuff.

runningman · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 119 Location: my office

EXCELLANT, SEE YA THERE !!!

Pammie · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 275

Yep see you there

Didn't get the normal email notification from RW aftewr entering. But an email from Rory confirms i am on the list
Guess the work starts now.
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I'll put something interesting here when i've thought of something, in the meantime heres some music.

Pammie · Joined: 30 Jun 2006 Posts: 275

190 days and 15 hours to go according to Fetch
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I'll put something interesting here when i've thought of something, in the meantime heres some music.