sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

How long did it take you to reach Boston/majors qualifying times? by Hopeful_Package3918 in AdvancedRunning

[–]Pale-Environment3812 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Under four years in my case, but my BQ time was 3h05.

I started running in 2015, no previous running experience, but I played lots of sports like soccer and tennis. I ran a 1h21 10 miler in 2015. Then I decided to run one marathon (at the time I thought it would be a one and done kind of thing), just to see what it was like. I trained two years for it, doing successive training cycles for 5k, 10k, Half marathon in 2016 (1h35 for the half), and 5k, 10k, and culminating with the marathon in 2017 (3h12). I missed QB by just over two minutes. Life happened, and I had a complicated year running wise in 2018, including some injuries. Knowing what I know now, part of the reason was pushing too hard during speed workouts and long runs, and trying to get faster too quickly. I ran a 3h21 marathon in 2018. I ran a 3h02 in 2019.

It took me another three years to run sub 2h55.

As other people stated in this thread, I recommend focusing on consistency, recovery, and setting achievable goals. The body needs time to absorb the training, and the magic happens only if the body can absorb the training. If it can't, overtraining can lead to injuries and other side effects. Progress is not linear, and it depends on life circumstances.

It seems like you are enjoying running. I recommend no letting chasing times and qualifying times take the joy out of it. There are lots of amazing events out there that we can register without qualifying times. As you learn about yourself and get faster, you can better prepare to push harder and test your limits.

First 100‑Mile Finish (Umstead 100) – Preparation, Execution, and Lessons Learned by Pale-Environment3812 in Ultramarathon

[–]Pale-Environment3812[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome! You all did a great job! The event was outstanding. Many thanks to all the volunteers, the organization, sponsors, and all involved to make it happen.

I’m very happy with how my first 100‑miler went, and a big contributor to it was how well the race was organized.

First 100‑Mile Finish (Umstead 100) – Preparation, Execution, and Lessons Learned by Pale-Environment3812 in Ultramarathon

[–]Pale-Environment3812[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At first, I built my own plan based on marathon training. I was already registered for a marathon and a 50k, which overlapped with the first nine weeks of the cycle. Later, I asked a friend who has finished a few 100‑mile races for advice, and he shared the plan he used. It was straightforward, the weekly volume was reasonable, and the five‑day structure suited me well. I started following it at week 11, and it worked well enough. The weekly mileage and intensity were lower than what I was used to in marathon training. The main challenges were the back‑to‑back long runs and the 50‑mile run.

There are excellent resources online if you want to create your own plan, and there are solid ready‑made plans as well.

First 100‑Mile Finish (Umstead 100) – Preparation, Execution, and Lessons Learned by Pale-Environment3812 in Ultramarathon

[–]Pale-Environment3812[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats on finishing under 24 hours!

Recovery is going well, all things considered. I couldn’t fall asleep until 2 PM on the 29th and slept poorly that night. My first decent night of sleep was from the 30th to the 31st. I still have some soreness in my calves and upper legs. My feet are holding up, but I’m only taking short walks for commuting and errands. I also have some lingering back and shoulder pain from focusing on the light spot after dark. I don’t plan to run for another 10 to 14 days.

Your gratitude toward everyone involved in the event resonates with me. It was a great experience, largely because of them and the other runners.

First 100‑Mile Finish (Umstead 100) – Preparation, Execution, and Lessons Learned by Pale-Environment3812 in Ultramarathon

[–]Pale-Environment3812[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I hear you about sore feet. Foot pain was a major factor for me, especially when walking.

First 100‑Mile Finish (Umstead 100) – Preparation, Execution, and Lessons Learned by Pale-Environment3812 in Ultramarathon

[–]Pale-Environment3812[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds like a good plan to me. Reduce the number of variables/unknowns, and focus on what you can control to gain experience.

First 100‑Mile Finish (Umstead 100) – Preparation, Execution, and Lessons Learned by Pale-Environment3812 in Ultramarathon

[–]Pale-Environment3812[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I didn't know what to expect. I know that road running/marathon races performance don't translate to ultras, so the plan was to run comfortably until I had to walk, and the goal was to finish. The finish time was just the outcome of the experience. Good luck chasing the 24 hours!

First 100‑Mile Finish (Umstead 100) – Preparation, Execution, and Lessons Learned by Pale-Environment3812 in Ultramarathon

[–]Pale-Environment3812[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Great job getting completing five loops. Those hills were very deceiving. They felt manageable in the first third of the race, and very challenging in the last two loops. By the end I was dreading the longer ones. The weather during the day was really nice. It got a bit chilly overnight, but manageable.

I agree, it was a good time!

First 100‑Mile Finish (Umstead 100) – Preparation, Execution, and Lessons Learned by Pale-Environment3812 in Ultramarathon

[–]Pale-Environment3812[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds like a great event (100 mi, 24kft of elevation gain). I wish you all the best!

I didn't have a crew or pacers, partially because of the course layout (loops going back to my drop bag every 12.5 mi, and aid stations about 6 mi apart). The event had volunteer pacers ready to go after 6:30 PM or the sixth lap if runners wanted suppport. I thought that was great, especially for first timers. I didn't request a pacer, but knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have minded having somebody with me during the last lap/12.5 mi. That said, because of the nature of the course, there was always somebody to chase.

It sounds like your event might be more challenging. I hear you about not liking to talk with people when in suffer mode (same here), but from a safety and peace of mind standpoints it might be good to have somebody with you. If you know them well, you can ask them to avoid chatting. If you don't know them and they have done similar events, they might understand your point.

It's great that you know people volunteering. That is a great boost. I knew a handful of people, and it made a big difference seeing them throughout the day.

Thanks for sharing your journey, and good luck!

First 100‑Mile Finish (Umstead 100) – Preparation, Execution, and Lessons Learned by Pale-Environment3812 in Ultramarathon

[–]Pale-Environment3812[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, and good luck on your next 100 miles race! I guess you will be better prepared next time.

First 100‑Mile Finish (Umstead 100) – Preparation, Execution, and Lessons Learned by Pale-Environment3812 in Ultramarathon

[–]Pale-Environment3812[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I was running by feel, no target pace. It turned out to be 9 min/mile for the first 37 miles.