Running an ultra

Who has experience of running an ultra. I've followed Keith L's Comrades episodes and have been inpisred to maybe one day complete an ultra. How many people on here have done an ultra? Would you say you enjoyed it?

How many ultras would a runner sensibly be able to complete in a year. I'd imagine that you need to have plenty of recovery inbetween so I doubt that many ultra runners would run more than 3 or 4 a year? Is that the case or are there ultra runners out there for whom quantity is the aim?

What sort of weekly mileage would your typical ultra runner do?

I have run 2 Ultra's this year and 4 marathons.  I have 4 more marathons booked up for the remainder of the year.

My mileage isnt that high.  Only 30-40 a week.  nearer the ultras i would do 2 back to back long runs ie a 15 on a saturday and a 20 on a sunday.

They tend to be a bit more relaxed.  the runners arent all concerned with racing them like a marathon.  they are more into just completing them. 

Where abouts did you do your ultras? What was the thing you found most difficult about these races?

The 30 miler was in Milton Keynes around a lake.  it was a multi lap event so mentally tough aswell as physically tough.  I am fair skinned and it was in August, so the bit i found tough about this race was the heat.  Also, as its just a few miles more than a marathon i still 'raced' it.  so was a tough run.  Did it in 4hrs 45 mins.

The 35 miler was in Northants, was orienteering.  This was easier than the 30 as it is sufficiently longer than a marathon and people tend to just want to complete the distance rather than race.  As it was an orienteering ultra marathon you run along bridal paths, through fields etc.  quite easy to get lost and i did.  i ended up running 37 miles.  easier on the body than the 30 cos you are just doing the distance.  i did it in 6hrs 19 mins.

I have a 45 miler in january - aylesbury to central london.  i am a little anxious as i may get lost on this one also...

You are an ultra running machine!! That lake one must have been very tough, how many laps was it? At least on a non-lapped course you wouldn't be getting bored with that route, that must have been horrible.

lol - it was 8.5 times round.

get this, i am doing 2 back to back marathons in December around a lake.  17 times 'round, each day.

oh and then i am running four maras in 4 days in feb.  the same lake i did the ultra in.  so 104 miles (30 times) around the same lake in those 4 days.  the physical demands would be enough to send you mad, but seeing the same ducks in the same place will turn me crazeeeeeeeee

Wow that's impressive! Good luck with the marathons, hope you get through with your sanity intact!

Impressive indeed. Good luck!

Ultra running is pretty different to the 26.2 distance...surprisingly...but I guess it's what you get used to. My brain kind of switches off at 26.2 miles, if not before !!

I have done 3 ultras - but all were 'only' 30 miles. Those extra 4 miles do make quite a difference.

The hardest one I did was Doyen of the Downs in 2009. It was hard as it was so bloody muddy...at points mud up to your knees and no going around it !!  It was at one stage 2 steps forward, one step back. Leg burningly tough but awesome to get it done.

I'm not an ultra runner I've decided altho am looking to do 2 Oceans in Cape Town in the next few years. That is 34 miles and the fact that it is such a beautiful course and I have family there is giving me the umpf to do it....probably my next and last ultra...all being well. 

Comrades is a temptation as above, I have family out there.....but I just cannot see it ever happening for me. 2 Oceans will tick the box I'm hoping. 

How long do you have to train for a 30 mile race or more? Did your body recovery well? The Cape Town race sounds exciting

The Cape Town race sounds good, have you ran any races there before?

No, not yet. I was at the peak of my FLM in 08 when out in CT for 2 weeks. Doing my 2x20 mile LSR's up and doen the seafront with Table Mountain as a backdrop was awesome. 

I also hooked up with a local running club whilst out there and they took me on some lovely runs in the area so would love to do an official run one day whilst over there. 

Yeah that sounds great, you should definitely go for it!

Sounds like a good experience getting to run with a local running club out there, bet it would be a nice place to do a race.

i agree Nu - i have run a 30 miler and a 35 miler.  i found the 30 miler tougher than the 35 - those 4 miles mean you are still running at marathon pace, whereas the 35 i felt was more chilled