training question for ultra marathoners

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2008-10-02 4:55 PM

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Champion
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Subject: training question for ultra marathoners

I have a marathon 3 weeks before my 50 miler to get ready for the 50 miler. 

Should I taper for the marathon or should I just train threw it and taper for the 50 miler like I would taper for the marathon?

Since its only 1 marathon in long time I do not think it will be too hard to recover from and if I train through it I will probably slow down my pace and not try to PR.

2008-10-02 5:02 PM
in reply to: #1713354

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Expert
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Subject: RE: training question for ultra marathoners
train through it. I am assuming you are not looking to break any records in the marathon 3 weeks prior to your 50 miler. Treat the marry as you would any other long run.
2008-10-02 5:05 PM
in reply to: #1713354

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Champion
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Subject: RE: training question for ultra marathoners
If the marathon is just a training run... no taper.
2008-10-02 5:14 PM
in reply to: #1713354

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Subject: RE: training question for ultra marathoners

Use the marathon as a supported training run. Do not attempt to race it, just run it like any other training run. I've used a marathon as training for another marathon a few weeks later and it worked just fine.

When are these races? Not in the immediate future hopefully, as your log indicates you only ran a little more than 50 miles in September. That comes out to about 13 miles/week. Kinda light for doing any kind of long race in the next month or so.

2008-10-02 5:18 PM
in reply to: #1713354

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Subject: RE: training question for ultra marathoners

I got plenty of time.  It is on 10/12 so lots of time to train.

I trained more for this one than I did for my last ultra marathon and 3 marathons.

2008-10-02 9:43 PM
in reply to: #1713354

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Subject: RE: training question for ultra marathoners
Todd,

I don't know what your training plan has looked like or what your aspirations are for the marathon & the ultra, but I actually did the identical thing in '05, with a smaller gap between the marathon (NYC) & the JFK 50 as they were just 2-weeks apart. I had a very good training cycle leading into the marathon & actually PR'd (2:49) off of primarily ultra-distance training. That was then followed-up w/ a solid 50 only 14 days later.

I'd be happy to dig a little deeper into this if you like, but honestly I did a very traditional, fairly high volume cycle leading into the marathon. The exception to this was my long runs peaked at 35 miles vs a 22-23 mile long run in a traditional marathon program. I had essentially done zero training at/near MP (Marathon Pace) & ~4-weeks outside of NY, ran a 1/2 marathon & PR'd (shockingly!) off of nothing remotely close to HMP. That 1/2 helped me establish what my potential was for the marathon & over those final few weeks included some extended MP'd efforts at least 2x per week.

Both race reports from NY & JFK are posted here if you're curious, but drop another post or shoot me an e-mail if you'd like additional specifics.

2008-10-02 10:13 PM
in reply to: #1713426

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Subject: RE: training question for ultra marathoners
chirunner134 - 2008-10-02 4:18 PM

I got plenty of time.  It is on 10/12 so lots of time to train.

I trained more for this one than I did for my last ultra marathon and 3 marathons.

10/12 as in less than 2 weeks? Is your main goal to just finish or to actually run the entire race? If all you're doing is just finishing then it really doesn't matter what you do. Almost any reasonably fit person can finish a marathon if they walk a good portion of it. I'm not trying to pick on you or be overly critical, but there is a huge difference between just finishing and actually training and racing.

2010-02-24 5:25 PM
in reply to: #1713354

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Elite
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Subject: RE: training question for ultra marathoners
Lol October 2012 I belive.
2010-02-24 5:33 PM
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Subject: RE: training question for ultra marathoners
Baowolf - 2010-02-24 4:25 PM Lol October 2012 I belive.


haha, considering that last post was 10/2/2008... I'd hope he was talking about 2012... otherwise his notion that 10 days is "lots of time to train" is much different than what I'd think ;-)
2010-04-01 1:13 AM
in reply to: #1713354


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Subject: RE: training question for ultra marathoners
I agree with everyone's advice to train through the marathon and think you should reread donskiman's advice again.  Do not attempt to race the marathon.  Walk the aid stations to be sure of that and to be sure you hydrate and fuel properly, on this your last long training run.  Your statement "...I will probably slow down my pace and not try to PR." scares the hell out of me.  "probably" and "PR" have no purpose in that statement.  Only an insane person would try to run a PR marathon 3 weeks before a 50 mile race.  If the 50 miler is your goal, the marathon is a training run.  DO NOT RACE IT!!!!!!!!!

Avoid telling anyone you are even running the marathon, so you won't be inclined to seek a "respectable" time.  If you haven't registered yet, use a nom de guerre (nom de ped?)----a phony name.  That way your time is separated from your ego.

Take an ice bath after.  Then shackle your legs and reread everything ever written on tapering. 
2010-04-07 2:53 PM
in reply to: #1713354

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Subject: RE: training question for ultra marathoners

Another vote for train right through it.  Don't get caught up in the race and stick to a plan.  If you have trained properly then you should be very well adjusted to the distance and will enjoy the start watching all the runners full of anxiety as you are enjoying another long training run.  I did the same thing last year about a month before a 50 miler I ran the whole race with my wife who was doing her first 26.2 and had a great time being her pacer.

2010-04-09 12:55 AM
in reply to: #2774895


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Subject: RE: training question for ultra marathoners
That's a very good idea Frogman. 

Recruit a slower friend or first time marathoner to run with, then enjoy the fact you helped pace them to the finish.  They keep you going slow (training pace) and you can explain your slower time as due to helping a friend. 
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