Thames Path 100 - Page 3 - Ultra / Adventure racing

mr f

28/06/2011 at 16:40

Rich, nice tactics of take that driving duties! Well thought out! So your wife brought you an mds entry as a 'surprise gift'. Wow, impressive skills!

Training wise I'm not going to get near 100m per week. I usually go into these things completely under prepared, and this probably won't be much different! Last years 24hr thunder run went ok on the back of insufficient miles and I did 78miles over a tough XC course with some quite devilish hills. I just accept that it'll bloody hurt!

Which other ultras have people done? You sound well travelled AJH!

Ultra AJH

pirate

28/06/2011 at 16:52

TBH I havent done that many ultras or that long.....

Done JW Ultra 30 miles x 3

Draycote water 35 miles x 2

Tring to Town 40 x 1

I've got a 30 miler on Saturday in Bletchley.

The ones my OH considers a bit nuts are IM and 10 maras in 10 days. The way I see it, all these things are as much mental challenges as physical, and if you have the right mindset then it will go a long way to ensuring you suceed.

That is not to say of course that things cant go tits up!

78 miles on xc sounds pretty impressive Mr F!

mr f

28/06/2011 at 17:44

I live 5 mins from draycote water!

Tits up indeed. I'm totally with you on the mental think. I've found the secret is keeping the doubt from your mind. At 3am, in the cold and often lonely, if your head drops and you get the negative thoughts going round they just manifest themselves in your brain and drag you down. You need to remember that you will go through a few rough patches that will test your resolve to the limit, but if you cam keep going you come out the other side feeling much better!

Edited: 28/06/2011 at 17:57

Rich1

28/06/2011 at 18:22

Mr F - surprise gift......nah.....she logged on and got me the place - the financial burden is all mine

Mental challenge - totally. You have to want to do it and you have to think you can do it - and that's half the job done. Most people wouldn't want to and wouldn't think they could. I would say that most endurance athletes have huge self-belief, and can't see a limit or keep on moving it.

I used to have a great Nike sweatshirt which said "There Is No Finish Line"

andy the deestrider

29/06/2011 at 00:01

what sort of weekly mileage mileage will people be doing before this 100 miler. i`m currently on 60per week. with a long run every few weeks of 30miles, whats everyone else doing. cheers.

mr f

29/06/2011 at 08:13

I shan't be doing 60 per week that's for sure!

40 per week will be my limit!

Ultra AJH

pirate

29/06/2011 at 10:07

Yeah I think I will err on the lesser side.

I always think that there is too much risk of injury if I up the miles too much.

One thing I will try and do though is back to backs when tired. If I learnt anything during the 10 in 10 it is that I wish not that I had done more miles in training, but that I wish I had done more tired miles in training.

Cos boy are you going to be tired

I am looking at the Kent 50 in a few weeks just as a plod it round and try out a 25, 5 strategy. Just got to work out if I cab get there and stuff.

Vixx76

29/06/2011 at 10:23

I'm looking at doing this and was wondering what advice could be given as to the likelihood of me completing the race, training etc.

I did the Lightning Run earlier this year, and Edinburgh Marathon last month. I shall be starting from a marathon-distance base, but have been recovering from an ankle injury that was done during the Lightning Run.

My running has been minimal due to the ankle injury but I have been cross-training and doing core stability in order to build up strength. I am looking to start building that up again over the next few months as I have marathons and half marathons in the Autumn to do.

At the moment I am looking at this and assuming I will need the full 30 hours as my base level. I know that I have not really done any other ultras, and have a tendency to jump right on in at the deep end (my first ever race was the London Marathon). Where should I be looking for a good training plan?

Any advice would be gratefully received

mr f

29/06/2011 at 10:56

Vixx, I've got a 100 training plan I can email to you makes interesting reading and.in principle its really good, but as you know I struggle for quality training time.

Vixx76

29/06/2011 at 12:59

That sounds good Mr F. Will message you my email addy.

GKD

29/06/2011 at 13:08

Vixx there's absolutely no reason you can't be ready for a 100 between now and next March, as long as you have the mental strength and you put the work in you'll be fine.

Have a look here for a training program and then have a look at the other races worldwide, be prepared to waste a few hours though

Vixx76

29/06/2011 at 13:16

Cool - thanks Lirish!

Vixx76

29/06/2011 at 13:33

Am also wondering about where to stay the night before etc etc - anyone got tips on that sort of thing - should I travel light, do I rely on my 'support' to sort out looking after my bags etc?

GKD

29/06/2011 at 13:39

Vixx I haven't done a hundred yet so I can't comment on how it works in practise but every event is different, some allow full support some don't, some allow drop bags and some don't, have a look at the website and see what the rules are and go from there, only you can really say what'll work for you on the day. And night. And part of the next day.

Vixx76

29/06/2011 at 13:46

GKD

29/06/2011 at 13:59

I would suggest however you do a few ultras before then, a hundred is a huge step up from a marathon and the mentality is completely different, see if your body is up to running longer distances and whether you are happy mentally thinking in terms of time on feet rather than mins per mile. It is a different world believe me

Vixx76

29/06/2011 at 14:06

I'm too slow in marathons to think of minutes per mile - it's all about time on feet for me anyway. I have a couple of friends who are going to train with me to keep me motivated and we are going to do some of the Trans Pennine trail as well on Sundays, which I will follow up with a long run on a Monday (my regular day off) to let my legs get used to running whilst tired.

When I am in Birmingham I will be running over the Clent Hills to just get my hill work in. Am doing the Thunder Run in 4 weeks as part of a team and am hoping for 5 laps minimum there too.

mr f

29/06/2011 at 14:31

Are you joining us too lirish?

Vixx, hoping to stay in motor home the night before I'd I cam get my support team off the ground!

GKD

29/06/2011 at 14:39

I'm not sure yet Mr F, plans for next year are still fairly fluid, I'm entering the ballot for the UTMB if I complete the CCC and Hardmoors later this year, if I don't get in I'm going to try for one of the big American 100s like Leadville.
The Thames 100 is attractive simply because it starts about twenty minutes from my door and I know quite a bit of the route

andy the deestrider

29/06/2011 at 22:52

Thanks people, i feel better for knowing what your all doing as apposed to feeling dwarfed previously.