My Forum

When I turned 50 I ran 5 marathons on 5 consecutive weekends - Paris, London, Orpington, Shakespeare and Three Forts - so yes it's do-able provided you've got plenty of mileage in your legs.

An ultra is to be respected (as is someone who attempts to run one).

From my own experience, although I had run a few marathons, I found the step up to ultras to be quite tough and best done gradually - an important part of my training was to allow time to rest, recover and replenish - that didn't mean doing nothing - I would have maybe two weeks where I trained relatively hard (building up the mileage) and then a step back "easier" week.

I also found that the distance involved with an ultra is just as much a mental challenge as a physical one and required a change of mindset (after all, who in their right mind would run an ultra) - rather than tackle each long run as a 20 or a 23 miler I'd divide each long run into sections - a half marathon followed by a 10K or a 5k followed by a half marathon followed by a 10k.

I'd start off each long run at a shuffle - barely a jog - and build very gradually into a pace well within aerobic threshold (a pace I felt I could comfortably run at all day)  - at first I didn't worry too much about how much distance I covered - I'd focus more on building up to running for two hours and then three hours and more - only when I thought I could run comfortably for long periods of time (sometimes walking on the steeper uphill sections) did I start to consider distance.

I found that getting used to eating and drinking on the run (small regular amounts and easily digestible) to be an absolute must.- I'd carry energy bars, and isotonic drinks with me or follow a route that took me past a petrol station or two or a village shop where I could stop off and get something.

Over time the body adapts -  aerobic threshold increases as does lactate threshold (the point at which legs turn to lead) - after putting in the mileage (there's no other way) I began to recognise the right pace to run at - managing to just eke out gradually those energy reserves bit by precious bit.

It does take time and experience - once you get it right though it's a terrific feeling knowing that with 49k behind you and with only 1 k to go there's nothing (not hell nor high water or any any other type of obstacle)  that's going to stop you getting to that finish line. Good luck.

When I was training for ultra marathons I'd run home from work from London E1 to Gravesend in Kent - some memorable hills included Vanburgh Hill in Greenwich, Shooters Hill between Kidbrooke and Welling, East Hill in Dartford and Stonebridge Hill in Northfleet.

Another good long hill I used to train on is Chiselhurst Hill.

Greenwich Park

Bruce - brilliant - that must be it - unless any one else can come up with any better suggestions?

Skinny, Rickster & Bruce - we're actually a large plc firm although a lot of our largest clients are in the public sector - anyway shouldn't you all be hard at work rather that wasting time on here?