Ultra Discussion Thread

What's the point in the triple jump can someone please tell me??

I can understand the long jump but the triple jump? two long strides and then a jump - wtf is that about?

why not just confine it to the long jump?

Wrong thread? I suppose we could call it an ultra long jump.

No worries, I was only messing.

And 16 other Irish competitors, live link to results. Early days yet, leaders at 68k point.

Another Great result from Enduro.

Was watching alot of it over the weekend, I wonder if it is true that the winner of the CCC(100k) Petter Engdahl wore adidas road shoes for the race.

I'm just wondering if anyone here has done a 24 hour run? And if so what mileage, how long did they run in preparation? There's one in my home city, usually in April, there is 6 and 12 hour options as well. Just after my third marathon this year and think I'd really like to see how I'd get on, even over the 6 or 12 hour options.

Thoughts appreciated 😉

Hi thanks for feedback.

I hit a maximum of 56 miles before the most recent marathon. And that would be about what I did before the others too.

I've been running 40-50 miles per week, most weeks for about 4 years I'd say (with a few exceptions naturally). Parkrun would usually serve as my tempo run.

Am a regular runner since 2009.

The idea of a 24 hour or even 6 or 12 hour run fascinates me in some way, even though I'm sure it would be mentally excruciating🙂

You've got a good healthy base there. You'll be grand, is the scientific and specific answer!

If it helps I did my first proper ultra this year, Kerry Way Ultra, took 29 hrs. Was hitting approx 100km a week steady for about 4 months prior but very good base for 2 years before that, with peak volume at 130km (but that was the exception). And I loved every minute of the ultra, was brilliant

It's not a significant step up from the Marathon. If you have the time on feet to handle a marathon then you should be able for a 1.5 x marathon. A marathon training plan should work fine for the Conn Ultra. You could lenghten and slow the long runs a bit to get slightly more specificity. No need for radical changes. It's still in the same ballpark.

Those are relatively long loops by the sound of it. Proximity to home helps for emergency resupllies if you have a willing helper for sure. But its also a trap to be avoided.

Some people take breaks deliberatly, sometimes planned, sometimes on the fly / ad-hoc. Some people try to minimise breaks. At the top level no-one plans to deliberately take breaks. Personally, experience has taught me that breaks should be avoided as much as possible in my own case (N=1).

If you think there is potnetial for it to be cold then make sure you have the gear to deal with that, and have used winter to practice dealing with. You'll be slower and more energy depleted in the latter stages of a 24 hour so don't rely on nomral running heat generation to keep you warm. It's good to plan to need extra.

Similarly with music. Some people use it, some don't. There is normally plenty of chatting during a 24 hour race. I got to chat to tons of people on my first one, and that was one of the more enjoyble aspects of the event. A garmin watch would be a very expensive solution to music supply. A sandisk clip is the best thing I've found (I've never used it in a 24 hour, having said that, only much longer events where I'm on my own for hours).

My sandisk takes a few formats, including MP3. I've no idea if it works with a Mac but I can't see any reason why it wouldn't.

Yup, that's one of my issues with breaks. Restarts are hard and get harder the longer you go.

So question for you experienced folks.

I am thinking of doing a fundraiser in my locality next year which would result in my running 100k in 24 hours. It wouldn't be continuous though, it would be across 39 venues (GAA pitches) and it's a 1.5m loop in each. So would involve driving between them all, not much recovery etc. My pace would be a 10min mile pace, all flat.

How would you approach training for something like this and what sort of training would you do?

For some background on me: I just did DCM there and have done 9 marathons in last 9 years. I do a bit of mountain running and I did the 4/4/48 challenge a few years ago too. I've never ran further than a marathon though

Any help really appreciated as to what I should build towards.

I'm doing it this year too - deferred from last year. It's very achievable, not as runnable as some of the kerry way trails apparently. What sorta training you getting in? Lianne Van Dijk, a fantastic trail runner, was 1st lady home last year and has a blog about it here

I did 2 of the 3 loops last year and have been down for couple of recces as well. The 130k race changes direction this year and does the loop the opposite way to the way I've done it. Its a class loop, very mixed terrain. Few runnable bits of road and some challenging technical sections. Termons Ridge is a boggy 5k ridge top section near Waterville town with many many stiles, practice your stiles and your cursing. Unreal views though (if the weather is good!) The section from Derrynane to Waterville is as good as you'll find anywhere in terms of scenery. Depending on the weather, Eagles Hill can be very challenging. A very slippy descent when wet but we were lucky. It's going to be a very tough climb the other way around and is approximately halfway around. The good news is there will a long gradual descent off it this direction so very runnable and make back time lost climbing.

As darrenheaphy said, its very doable in the time allowed. A buddy and myself went down late last year and fast hiked the majority of the loop and came in around 7 hours. The hardest part will leaving Waterville for loop 3 in the darkness. I hadn't mentally prepared for it and let foot problems get the better of me.

Its a lovely vibe down there for the whole weekend with the other events on. The RD seems very accessible and responsive. The race organisation itself is good. You'll even find lads like Kevin Leahy out manning the aid stations.

Happy to try and answer any questions you have. Can forward on the race email from last year if thats handy? Suggest a recce if you can make it happen. Will definitely help on the day.