50k Preparation…how do you know?

^ One of my favorite memories: grabbing a double fist full of Swedish fish and marching up through the Pioneers here in Idaho. Brought me back from the grave. Slurping coke from a paper bowl like a dog from one of the backcountry aid stations that had forgotten cups, same thing.

I did one 8 hour run on just gels…only did that once! Plain ol granola bars and stroopwafels for me in training, whatever sounds good during a “race.” No need to get fancy!


I stay away from the Swedish fish because I’d eat all they have! But I do really like fruit snacks on ultras! Pizza is great during longer races, like said above whatever sounds good. Uncrustables are a good one.
 
Punting to my wife who is a total bad ass. She recommends the mad moose races such as the Moab red hot or the yeti trail runners are having a race in NM. She is a “strength runner” and trains low miles with a lot of strength training, and says there are lots of training plans out there. Kettle bell swings are her friend. She recommends doing a 50k then a 50 mi before you shoot for a hundo. It takes races to figure out nutrition, shoes, and how you will react when shit hits the fan with your body. Her goal is 12 min miles on long runs when she is training. She just added look up David Roche’s mountain legs to tag on to the end of your runs. Feel free to PM she is happy to help out.
 
Punting to my wife who is a total bad ass. She recommends the mad moose races such as the Moab red hot or the yeti trail runners are having a race in NM. She is a “strength runner” and trains low miles with a lot of strength training, and says there are lots of training plans out there. Kettle bell swings are her friend. She recommends doing a 50k then a 50 mi before you shoot for a hundo. It takes races to figure out nutrition, shoes, and how you will react when shit hits the fan with your body. Her goal is 12 min miles on long runs when she is training. She just added look up David Roche’s mountain legs to tag on to the end of your runs. Feel free to PM she is happy to help out.
What’s “low mileage” for her?
 
I’ve got it in my head that by 40, I will run a 100 mile mountain race. I’ve been running consistently for 2 years and just recently I’ve been running with more intentionality. Before I jump into a big mile race I’m going to have an inch-stone goal before 39 to do a 50k.

My question is: how do you know you’re ready? What’s a respectable pace to maintain and not get kicked off the course? Any New Mexico or Utah races to look at that won’t murder a 1st timer with elevation?

I’m older now and purposely carry a little more muscle mass than typical for runners (209 at 5’11”)so that’s also in the back of my mind as a possible factor that serves to slow but I want to do this and maintain overall strength along the way
Coming from someone who couldn't run more than 3 to 4 miles at a time and just completing a half marathon without stopping in a little over 2 hours flat, I never thought I was ready. However, I learned its about patience and respect your pace you can sustain and stick to your game plan. Always someone that will be faster and you don't wanna gas out.

I can relate to having more of an athletic frame at 6'3 and 230lbs. I am sure you know but figure out your nutrition you need and what your body needs throughout the race. It helps tremendously.

Good luck and awesome goal! My next goal is a marathon and thats probably it. Kudos to you!
 
Good pump. OP, how are things? @JD Jones

I'm definitely not going to get a 100-miler in this year. But I have a 50 miler on the calendar, mid-July, 50 miles with 12,000+ feet of gain. Training is going well - I'm "following" (or, at least, taking as a template) the Uphill Athlete Large Vertical plan, which has one good muscular endurance workout per week, and I've added one general strength workout to maintain general strength.

No injuries so far, averaged 40 miles a week over the past month. My goal is to put myself in position to do 50 miles per week w/11,000 feet of gain per week for the 5 weeks before the taper. I might just get there. Knock on wood.
 
I'd be surprised if there's anybody here whose resume would get them into Barkley

While there is a certain amount of resume needed to get into Barkley, I do know of someone where I live that got in and, other than completing a few ultras, had no resume to speak of. Perhaps he wrote a really compelling essay.
 
I'd be surprised if there's anybody here whose resume would get them into Barkley
I unsuccessfully applied for Barkley in 2020. I ran the Barkley Fall Classic 50k the following year, 2021. Since then my racing resume hasn't been what it once was so I haven't bothered applying again. It's still in the back of my mind though.
 
Good pump. OP, how are things? @JD Jones

I'm definitely not going to get a 100-miler in this year. But I have a 50 miler on the calendar, mid-July, 50 miles with 12,000+ feet of gain. Training is going well - I'm "following" (or, at least, taking as a template) the Uphill Athlete Large Vertical plan, which has one good muscular endurance workout per week, and I've added one general strength workout to maintain general strength.

No injuries so far, averaged 40 miles a week over the past month. My goal is to put myself in position to do 50 miles per week w/11,000 feet of gain per week for the 5 weeks before the taper. I might just get there. Knock on wood.
Been a little MIA with some big life changes over the last year. Still training still getting miles and lifting hard as ever. I did struggle with some injuries as I got my mileage up

Lessons learned the hard way. My nutrition was not dialed as it could have been with the load (weights and big runs). In short I wasn’t able to eat enough

Lifting is huge for me and I learned that as I got into the bigger weeks I just wasn’t recovering. This lead to setbacks in training.

Time. The way life shook out for me, I was not able to be a dad/lift/run and handle a divorce at the same time.

On the back end, I have struck a good balance but I’m not quite ready to run this race. I appreciate the bump (accountability)! Don’t cont me out
 
Been a little MIA with some big life changes over the last year. Still training still getting miles and lifting hard as ever. I did struggle with some injuries as I got my mileage up

Lessons learned the hard way. My nutrition was not dialed as it could have been with the load (weights and big runs). In short I wasn’t able to eat enough

Lifting is huge for me and I learned that as I got into the bigger weeks I just wasn’t recovering. This lead to setbacks in training.

Time. The way life shook out for me, I was not able to be a dad/lift/run and handle a divorce at the same time.

On the back end, I have struck a good balance but I’m not quite ready to run this race. I appreciate the bump (accountability)! Don’t cont me out

Life with kids is hard to keep up on a strict high time requirement training schedule, not to mention other stressors and doing other hobbies or housework.

Sorry to hear about your divorce. Great job keeping on with the training!
 
^ One of my favorite memories: grabbing a double fist full of Swedish fish and marching up through the Pioneers here in Idaho. Brought me back from the grave. Slurping coke from a paper bowl like a dog from one of the backcountry aid stations that had forgotten cups, same thing.

I did one 8 hour run on just gels…only did that once! Plain ol granola bars and stroopwafels for me in training, whatever sounds good during a “race.” No need to get fancy!
Did a 50k a couple months ago on just gels. I was so nauseous by mile 26 that I couldn’t even drink water for the last little stretch.
 
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