Peak Weeks -- Leadville Trail 100

X2 with the only things that come across my mind would be maybe one more night run with a few hours of sleep and then hit it again after the sleep for at least double digits.  also, how are you on nutrition?  all systems go it appears otherwise!

I've been thinking specifically of Ellie's taper for WS in terms of not doing much of anything when I get to CO, but now that I look again at what I've planned, I need to take some of that running time/mileage down and make it more like a 2.5 week taper.  Perhaps the following:

7/30 - 8/5: 100 miles / 15.5 hrs of running

8/6 - 8/12: 30 miles / 5 hrs of running/hiking in CO

Good idea on moving the night run earlier.  I'm going to do one as part of a double, and after a full day of work to sim the exhaustion, so next Friday 7/20, I'll run an hour in the morning, work 8 hours, stay up, and head out when the sun goes down.  I'm planning on going out to this remote area called Stinchfield Woods, where I've memorized the trails -- but they have no markers -- and try to run as long as I can and use my night gear.  I figure if I can do that and not freak myself out too much then I can do the night thing on race day.

Everything is feeling really good in the joints and tendons so far, especially since I started going easier/slower in my training.  That was another good piece of advice I picked up from a BTer on this forum.

re: sleep/night run, are you suggesting that I sleep for a few hours (say, ~3hrs), then run at night, then sleep more, and then try to run 10+ miles during the day?  Or, is it sleep for a few hours (say, ~3), then try to run for 10+ miles at night?

Nutrition for 50M has been pretty good.  I know that I need to stay aggressive on taking hydration and salt or I dig a hole rather quickly.  I've tried eating some solid foods like pbj, bananas, and granola bars on long runs, and I ate salty potatoes on my 1st 50M, and all of those work fine, but I might try some pizza in training for its salty goodness and to see if my stomach can handle the cheese.  Any other suggestions for solid foods?

I think your training is super solid and the taper plan will put you in a golden position to be very successful. You're doing everything right.

As far as foods; I'm a fan of eating little bits of everything available (assuming I like it). Pizza, soups, fruit, salty stuff, hot dogs, quesadillas, mac & cheese, etc., etc.; I've eaten it all. It's this 'real food' that keeps you going after mile 80. Goes for fluids, too; water, coke, g-ade, everything.

FWIW, I'm a believer in electrolyte supplements, also; especially when it's warm and at altitude.

re: sleep - do your normal run in the morning, work all day (sim exhaustion) then when the sun goes down or later get out and run double digits, get home, sleep for a bit, then go back out in the morning for another double digit..........

nutrition:  hard to say on the foods because everyone is different.  i agree with the poster about the chicken soup tho, that stuff is like liquid crack sometimes!!!  (tho at the kettle 100  their "chicken soup" was actually some ramen noodles put in some not so warm water without the flavoring. tasted like complete crap!)  i do like special K meal replacement bars tho, peanut butter/chocolate...........

Good Luck!

My Trainer is running it, he gave me a packet if we wanted to go out there to cheer him on.  He did the marathon last month and told me that he thought the course would be more technical.  Changed up his training to fire roads instead of "trails". 

The Ann Arbor Nighttime Trail 50k is complete.

31.2 trail miles run overnight, and 42 miles run over 24 hours on 2 hours sleep.  I did 1.5 hours in the morning, commuted to and from work on bike, worked until 9pm, went grocery shopping, ate pizza and pop tarts, and ran 2.25 hours at 11pm.  Then I slept from 1:45 - 3:45 and left for the 2nd run at 4am.  I really liked this workout, thanks djdavey!  I think the chance to practice some solid foods while running late, along with the mental toughness it takes to keep moving even if it's slow in the dark will help during the race.

There were definitely some weirdos out there in the wee small hours, but I think I was one of them.  When I got home, all I wanted was a double packet of ramen noodles and to sleep, perchance to dream...of trails.

The good: 5 hour energy, boiled salt potatoes, pop tarts, ramen noodles, Ensure, MYO RXP 2 headlamp with 140 lumens, and the Hal Koerner interview and songs I listened to.

The bad: pizza -- stomach wouldn't settle.  Also, I'm pretty slow in the dark, too cautious of my footing.  

The ugly: Getting up in the 3 o'clock hour with very sore legs and getting out the door was horrible.

Hope this helps for future training ideas.

wgraves7582 - 2012-07-28 7:16 PM

yeats - 2012-07-28 7:53 AM

The Ann Arbor Nighttime Trail 50k is complete.

31.2 trail miles run overnight, and 42 miles run over 24 hours on 2 hours sleep.  I did 1.5 hours in the morning, commuted to and from work on bike, worked until 9pm, went grocery shopping, ate pizza and pop tarts, and ran 2.25 hours at 11pm.  Then I slept from 1:45 - 3:45 and left for the 2nd run at 4am.  I really liked this workout, thanks djdavey!  I think the chance to practice some solid foods while running late, along with the mental toughness it takes to keep moving even if it's slow in the dark will help during the race.

There were definitely some weirdos out there in the wee small hours, but I think I was one of them.  When I got home, all I wanted was a double packet of ramen noodles and to sleep, perchance to dream...of trails.

The good: 5 hour energy, boiled salt potatoes, pop tarts, ramen noodles, Ensure, MYO RXP 2 headlamp with 140 lumens, and the Hal Koerner interview and songs I listened to.

The bad: pizza -- stomach wouldn't settle.  Also, I'm pretty slow in the dark, too cautious of my footing.  

The ugly: Getting up in the 3 o'clock hour with very sore legs and getting out the door was horrible.

Hope this helps for future training ideas.

Great work. Now you know to say no to pizza sorry about that Better slow and on your feet than fast and face first into dirt or worse!

I was bummed about the pizza because it's such a treat, but my stomach had other opinions.   Totally agree about being careful at night with the footing -- didn't fall once -- and that's a victory!

Do it!  If you get a chance, I'd be grateful to hear about your experience.  I have so much to learn about this great sport.  

You can do this, Darren!  It won't be easy, but endurance sports aren't meant to be, right?  Say hi to the night creatures for us. 

EEEEAAAAWWWWsome job BigDH!!!!  night time running on a trail is just so much fun!  especially seeing all the little critters that come out and join you...............be glad it wasnt a skunk!