So you want to run an Ultra by Andy Mouncey

Author:Andy Mouncey
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781847978318
Publisher: Crowood

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It is less physically stressful

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It develops mental strength as you have to get yourself out of the door a second time*

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Great for ultras where a race is checkpoint to checkpoint, and lingering in relative comfort is a real temptation.

Races as Training

One of the things I noticed with hindsight was that as I reached my forties I struggled to cope with combining racing the short runs while preparing for the longer ones. I guess it’s obvious on one level, in that shorter and faster is higher impact, and therefore the risk of breakdown is greater. I was getting the same soft tissue problems in my calves – little muscles that do a huge amount of work – but it was only later looking back in my diary that the patterns emerged. I love to race, and moderation can be a fleeting state even today – but the result was that I was compromising training consistency, which was a problem because consistency is a key component of confidence. And in ultras, as we all know, confidence is the currency.

Over the last few years I’ve become increasingly comfortable with the idea of using medium distance races to test kit, strategy and tactics, and/or to complete them at less than 100 per cent effort and/or to use them as part of a back-to-back training block. It’s a more measured approach that is less physically and mentally stressful, and all the outcomes are positive because the whole thing is just framed as one big learning and building exercise.

Know Thyself

Knowing yourself means that one runner’s road to performance longevity is just that: one runner’s. We all need to find what works for us and what we can handle, particularly as it would appear that the normal rules don’t apply as the race distance goes up beyond the marathon. There is a great deal of consensus about how to prepare for, and race, distances up to marathon, but beyond that – and certainly getting towards 100 miles – the curious among us are still figuring it out, and what science there is, is often inconclusive.

The only way to really know is therefore to be cool with experimenting – which means that periodic disappointments are simply learning opportunities – to pay close attention to the results you get, and to keep track of it all in a diary. Over time you will see patterns and trends in the evidence you record that will help you figure out your unique success formula for consistently high personal performance.

Remember: If you are sufficiently motivated and practise the skills of perseverance and learning, you will always achieve what you want – it just might not be on your first choice timescale.

Colour Code your Training Sessions

Otherwise known as ‘traffic lights’, I have US ultra runner and coach Ian Torrence to thank for this one, which has transformed my ability and motivation to monitor at a glance what is happening in my world and my running. Torrence gets his runners to colour code their

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