Andy asked this question in another thread, and could be useful for everyone.
First, the background. I've been preparing to run ultras for about eight years. During that time, I've read pretty much every ultra-specific resource out there, talked to a ton of ultrarunners from a wide range of abilities, and discussed many of these topics ad nauseum in forums. Based on that research and my own experiences, here's my best advice for those that are starting to run ultras aren't quite sure where to start or how to handle the often-contradictory advice given by those with more experience.
Keeping those three principles in mind, this is how I recommend you learn about ultras.
Step one- make a list of what you do now in training that seems to work well. This will give you cues to what may work in the longer distances.
Step two- seek out a wide range of ideas. My favorite source of information comes from race reports. Runners talk about what worked for them without getting to preachy. You'll also find a wide variety of contradictory advice... that's a good thing.You can also find ideas in books about ultras, websites dedicated to ultra training, or ultra forums.
Step three- test one idea at a time in training. This could include training runs, food, hydration, clothing, shoes, anti-chafing measures... whatever. If it seems to help performance, keep it. If it hurts performance, ditch it. If it doesn't seem to matter, always choose the simplest methods that require the least thought or logistics. You have a lot of things to keep track of during a race... the less you have to think about, the better. The idea is to develop your own personal set of best practices that work for you.
Step four- refine your ideas. Again, simplicity is important. Always work to distill what you learn into the simplest form possible. You'll appreciate this during your race.
Step five- reevaluate regularly. Some ideas may work well in the beginning, but others may work better once you get more experience or your body begins to adapt physiologically. Also look at new ideas you come across. Experiment to see how they may fit in with your current best practices.
Above all, remember this is a self-experimentation game. There are a lot of unknowns, and those unknowns increase with time and distance. Don't get too preachy about the methods that work for you as they probably won't work well for others.
First, the background. I've been preparing to run ultras for about eight years. During that time, I've read pretty much every ultra-specific resource out there, talked to a ton of ultrarunners from a wide range of abilities, and discussed many of these topics ad nauseum in forums. Based on that research and my own experiences, here's my best advice for those that are starting to run ultras aren't quite sure where to start or how to handle the often-contradictory advice given by those with more experience.
- First- recognize ultras are an experiment of one. What works for some does not work for all. It's up to you to figure out what works and what does not work.
- Second- understand the nature (i.e.- limitations) of research. Studies on ultrarunners is rare. The research that has been done isn't very good. Many people develop theories based on this data without discussing the gaps in knowledge. I've gotten into shouting matches with people because I do something successfully in ultras that is supposedly physiologically impossible. Understand we don't know everything there is to know about the human body, especially when running for 50 or 100 miles.
- Third- don't assume what works for elites (or anyone else) works for all. It's common for people to copy what elite runners do and expect the same results. We fail to realize the elites probably have a) different physiology, and b) other elements of their training/lifestyle that may affect their performance. This also pertains to the Tarahumara. Just because they wear huaraches and eat chia and pinole doesn't mean that's going to be our royal road to good performance.
Keeping those three principles in mind, this is how I recommend you learn about ultras.
Step one- make a list of what you do now in training that seems to work well. This will give you cues to what may work in the longer distances.
Step two- seek out a wide range of ideas. My favorite source of information comes from race reports. Runners talk about what worked for them without getting to preachy. You'll also find a wide variety of contradictory advice... that's a good thing.You can also find ideas in books about ultras, websites dedicated to ultra training, or ultra forums.
Step three- test one idea at a time in training. This could include training runs, food, hydration, clothing, shoes, anti-chafing measures... whatever. If it seems to help performance, keep it. If it hurts performance, ditch it. If it doesn't seem to matter, always choose the simplest methods that require the least thought or logistics. You have a lot of things to keep track of during a race... the less you have to think about, the better. The idea is to develop your own personal set of best practices that work for you.
Step four- refine your ideas. Again, simplicity is important. Always work to distill what you learn into the simplest form possible. You'll appreciate this during your race.
Step five- reevaluate regularly. Some ideas may work well in the beginning, but others may work better once you get more experience or your body begins to adapt physiologically. Also look at new ideas you come across. Experiment to see how they may fit in with your current best practices.
Above all, remember this is a self-experimentation game. There are a lot of unknowns, and those unknowns increase with time and distance. Don't get too preachy about the methods that work for you as they probably won't work well for others.
