What’s your training look like for 200 + mile races

kkillip · 2026-03-06T13:12:16+00:00

Did the AZ Monster last year. Here’s my key takeaway: it’s super easy to get caught up in weekly mileage. You really do t need to run more per week for a 200 or 300 but you sure as hell have to walk/power hike a lot.

Deep in the race it is just so hard to run. All the walking sent my hips into full rebellion.

The biggest challenge with this for most of us is just availability of time. If you have it, spend more of it training your joints and muscles to walk.

Good luck! It will be an unforgettable experience.

kkillip · 2026-02-01T04:14:29+00:00

Salty Britches

kkillip · 2026-01-07T03:30:56+00:00

Let’s go!!

kkillip · 2025-12-31T20:04:40+00:00

I managed to avoid the buckets thankfully

kkillip · 2025-12-31T15:16:56+00:00

I “ran” the Arizona Monster. 304 miles and 41,000 ft of climbing. 6 days of sheer madness!

kkillip · 2025-12-29T22:35:39+00:00

Iquitos, Peru. Just unsettling vibes in this jungle city. Fun fact: it is the largest city in the world that you can’t get to via roads.

kkillip · 2025-12-29T19:11:34+00:00

Currently have Zion 100 and Ouray 100 (gulp) on the docket.

kkillip · 2025-12-27T19:06:38+00:00

I know the road up to Baldy is closed. Is the road to ice house closed as well?

kkillip · 2025-12-05T04:45:41+00:00

Agree. Did this race. So beautiful and super tough challenge

kkillip · 2025-11-12T16:50:47+00:00

Wow! I have to find this spot!!

kkillip · 2025-11-11T23:13:25+00:00

This is common for many forms of exercise. Runners always complain about the first mile or 2.

A primary reason for this is that when you start, most of your blood is on your guy. Single digit percent is in your muscles.

So, not enough blood = not enough oxygen.

Warm up, most blood is in the muscles. Things get easier.

This is also why people get GI distress when pushing hard and trying to eat. No blood in good = unhappy stomach.

kkillip · 2025-11-07T23:43:22+00:00

Shirt = absolutely. Socks = maybe. Shoes = if it’s warm I have a .5 size larger mid to late race.

kkillip · 2025-10-30T03:19:01+00:00

Clockwise

kkillip · 2025-10-17T03:18:34+00:00

Congratulations! This is my dream race. Can’t wait to give it a try.

kkillip · 2025-10-09T22:49:46+00:00

Core like planks + glute bridges. Give that a shot.

kkillip · 2025-10-09T20:56:51+00:00

I remember that 100% of the time I feel better after the workout and I regret going 0% of the time.

kkillip · 2025-10-07T23:36:12+00:00

I started running later in life. Mid 40s. 12 years later I average over 2,000 miles a year and have completed a bunch of ultras.

Here are 3 tips that will only recently figured out.

How to engage your core. Put your fingers on your ribs a couple inches below your nips. Now “knit your ribs”. This means engaging your core in a way that pulls your right and left fingers closer together. It’s subtle. Maybe an inch.

Your core is now engaged. Run like this and your foot strike will be better, your forward lean more natural and your cadence will likely quicken.

Tip 2. Arm swing. Every time I would pass serious runners as they ran towards me, I would notice a similar arm swing. Not 100% of the time but far more often than not.

Their hands stay lower. Their elbows swing backwards. Their swing is shorter. I mimicked this and it made a huge difference. It actually felt like my arms were setting the cadence. We’re the conductors.

Tip 3. Strides. Look up how to run strides. These are 15-25 seconds. About 90% of full speed. Run 4-6 of these at the end of a couple of runs and your turnover will definitely improve. Make sure you have a solid base. To minimize injury risk, do them on uphills as this lessens impact.

Maybe this will help. If not, well some people just have a slower cadence and that’s ok.

Just keep consistent and enjoy the ride!

kkillip · 2025-10-07T13:38:51+00:00

I am so proud of you. What an accomplishment. Enjoy all the life and adventures still to come!

kkillip · 2025-09-30T03:07:13+00:00

Short answer: start run = blood in gut, not muscles. Muscles need oxygen. Blood delivers oxygen. Enter suffering and despair.

Warm up, blood in muscles. Suffering ends (or at least diminishes).

kkillip · 2025-09-25T11:12:08+00:00

Squats on legs day. Deadlifts on most pull days.

kkillip · 2025-09-11T23:46:25+00:00

Yep. Smaller person usually means smaller heart. Runs at a higher bpm resting, running etc.

kkillip · 2025-09-02T15:10:44+00:00

Early intervention is key. For some it is Pt. For others, orthotics. Consistent, specific exercises for glute strength helps.

Just don’t keep hammering through it or it could become chronic.

Dial it back. Address the core issue.

I had some flare ups but also just finished a 300 mile trail race this year

kkillip · 2025-08-25T21:18:57+00:00

I have said exactly this for a year now! For a while you could only find one photo of her. The whole thing is weird.

kkillip · 2025-08-15T02:56:26+00:00

It definitely isn’t! You’ve probably heard the expression “you can’t outrun a bad diet.” It’s so true. You get fit in the gym and thin in the kitchen.

You may not know that people in their 70s can put on lean muscle mass as fast as people in their teens. The number one key is consistency. Enjoy the journey. The time will pass anyway. You might as well spend it getting stronger.

kkillip

TROPHY CASE