ultramarathons
Sleep Deprivation Ultramarathon Training
Doc Ott recently wrote a blog post about his strategy for ultra training. He essentially came up with a method that allows him to hit high mileage and still spend time with his family.
His methodology brought back not-so-fond memories of my early days as an ultrarunner. I was more or less in the same boat- I had a finite amount of time to train but needed to build an endurance base to handle the rigors Read More...
Electrolytes: Do I Need Them?
Back when I started running ultras, the consumption of supplemental electrolytes was more or less a given. If you were runnign long, you needed to be consuming a product like !S Caps, Salt Sticks, or good ‘ole rock salt. The logic made sense- you lost salt via sweat. When combined with water consumption, runners risked hyponatremia.
I would take one S! Cap about every hour or so depending on temperature. My sweat would get saltier and Read More...
Complaining About Races: Don’t be a Little Bitch
Jay Danek, a Facebook friend and fellow ultrarunner, recently wrote a post about complaining to race directors. I liked the way Jay handled the situation, which included jumping to a conclusion before cooling off. Hats off, Jay.
Over the last few years, I’ve noticed an increase in the amount of complaining in races. Here are a few examples:
Lady at Western States in ’11 was bitching to an aid station worker because they didn’t have enough flavors Read More...
The Value of a Pacer in Ultramarathons
A pacer is a runner that runs with you during an ultramarathon.In most cases, pacers are allowed to join you in the later stages of a race. While many shorter ultras allow pacers, they’re most commonly found in 100 milers.
Pacers serve as a guide, motivator, coach, entertainer, and cheerleader. A pacer does so much more than simply set the running pace. A good pacer keeps you on the course. They remind you to eat and drink. Read More...
The 100 Miler Bucket List: Seeking Challenges
Sometimes people ask why I run ultras. While there are a lot of reasons, the challenge is a major draw. Specifically, I love the challenges presented by 100 milers. Every race is wrought with potential problems that need to be solved on the fly.
Top of the foot hurts? Better re-lace my shoes.
Quads are starting to burn? I have to adjust my gait.
After 30 packets of Gu, I feel like I’m going to Read More...
Last Minute Grindstone Preparation, Clinic in North Carolina!
I’ll be starting the Grindstone 100 miler tomorrow evening at 6pm in Swoope, Virginia. It’ll be my second attempt at the race after DNFing last year. My preparation has improved dramatically. Last year, my training went something like this:
I ran Western States toward the end of June. My lone run over 12 miles was a road marathon the week before Grindstone (Freedom’s Run in West Virginia). My average weekly mileage rarely surpassed 20 miles.
I didn’t run any technical Read More...
Grindstone 100 Miler Preparation
In about three weeks, I’ll be attempting the Grindstone 100 miler in Swoope, VA for the second time. The first time around, I DNFed around the half way point. It was an abysmal failure, but a great learning experience. My preparation for this attempt feels much better.
Last year, I was overly confident based on my positive experiences at Western States. This was my thought process immediately before the race:
I ran very Read More...
Nine Bizarre Tips to Help You Finish an Ultramarathon
Running long distances can be difficult because you eventually hit a point where you will want to stop. If the distance is long enough, no amount of willpower or determination will get you to the finish line. However, there are a few tricks that can be used to help increase the odds.
Trick #1: Expect the pain. Ultras hurt. Acknowledging and expecting the pain is a good first step. It’s also useful to know the pain Read More...
