My First Ultramarathon!
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by user ActiveEnduranceSports
Saturday morning is supposed to be a 20 mile training run according to my “over the counter” training regiment for the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon. Instead, I will be upping the ante and attempting my first ultramarathon. My decision to run the 50K has in part been inspired by the many endurance athletes that I learn of everyday here at Active.com. My other source of motivation comes from my lack of experience at such high mileage. In fact, leading up to this point, I have never logged a run greater than 18 miles. The decision to go even further was not made in haste; it is based on careful research into ultra events. I’ve formulated a game plan that will take me to the finish line without risking my health for the race in June.
First and foremost, I have run the entire race course in sections already. This enables me to visualize my approach while maintaining a psychological edge when the going gets tough. Secondly, the goal to simply cross the finish line within the 8 hour time limit requires an average pace that is faster than 15 minutes per mile. This is easily achieved by utilizing the key stone of this plan; the 5:1 ratio. Essentially, after each five minute interval of running, I will walk for one minute and repeat this method for the five or more hours that it takes to cross the finish line, all the while conserving energy for later in the race by avoiding running up steep hills.
This race will also serve as a test of my in-race nutrition. I will finally be able to experience the stress on my Gastrointestinal system (GI), while ingesting water and an endurance fuel for a prolonged period of time. I’ll have a water bottle strapped to each hand and the first bottle will contain plain water which I will refill at the 7 aid stations throughout the race. The second water bottle is a highly concentrated blend of two endurance formulas containing a 7 to 1 carbohydrate / soy protein ratio. This fuel also contains all the necessary electrolytes and calories, allowing me to travel without any other fuel. At the 16.2 mile aid station, I will be received by friends who are coming out to watch. Here, I will access my drop bag containing fresh running socks, shirt, hat, sunscreen, Aleve, and more of my endurance fuel ready to go for the remaining fifteen miles of the course.
My nine weeks of conditioning, experience on the race course, in race nutrition plan, support crew and will to succeed should be all I need to achieve my goal of finishing the ultramarathon. I hope to be afforded an experience to better understand how my body will react during the stress of prolonged activity and high mileage. I will then apply this knowledge and make the necessary adjustments to both my training regiment and my in race nutrition to better handle the intensity of a faster pace during the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in 9 weeks. Check back in on Monday for a recap of this event and find out how it all plays out!
