In an ultra, your mistakes can really add up.
In an ultra, your mistakes can really add up.
"A marathon? heck, that's too short for me, that's like a sprinters race!"
Doi wrote:
In an ultra, your mistakes can really add up.
Just like the marathon.
And the half marathon.
And the 10K
And the 5K
etc...
There's a lot more time for those mistakes to add up in the hundo. That's why it's such a challenge (and also why most are afraid to try one, btw).
Not enough aid stations for the average 5ker to refuel in a hundredthon. I need mine every 1.5 miles or else I bonk for realz.
I've done a few half marathons and a few ultras but never an actual marathon (one trail marathon, but that's more of an ultra than a marathon).
The reason why is that I've never felt well trained enough for a marathon. If I did one I'd want to at least run sub 3:00, and the training and commitment I'd need to do that would be huge compared to what I do for an ultra.
Training for ultra's is easy: run. Run most days of the week and run long once a week, really long once every second or third week.
For me - running a 50km, 50mi or 100km isn't _that_ big of a deal. I know I can go slow and hobble through most any distance. But "running" i.e. what you do in the marathon and below - that's scary. that's hard.
Maybe my song would change if I was talented, I dunno.
lol
Doi wrote:
In an ultra, your mistakes can really add up.
I thought ultras were harder because they were longer distance. I mean, I assume we are talking about racing a marathon and racing an ultra.
More serious, You can't go off course and die in an average marathon.
sissyfoots wrote:
More serious, You can't go off course and die in an average marathon.
how far exactly is an "average marathon?"
Tres funnay. You know what I mean.
harder in which way? they are longer and require more work so if your definition of "harder" is measured in work required, then ok. but what is easier to accomplish? a sub 15min 5k or sub 3hr marathon?
OFF TOPIC!
It depends on where your strength and talent lies. For me, it's a hell of a lot easier to go out and run an 8 some hour 100K than it would be for me to ever run a 15 min 5k (damn good time for a woman too). Training to be GOOD at the 100k is HARD FECKING WORK. It requires a serious committment if you care about performance.It's like marathon training in the sense that you need to still do quality speed, but you do it on high volume so you don't die after 70k. Psychologically, it's easier for me to go out and autopilot all day than it is to hammer the shorter distances. It's a big misconception to think you don't need speedwork and tempo to be good at a 50k or 100k -YOU DO if your goal is to perform.
Nutrition- you MUST have a tried and true plan. You can be really fit, but if you can't geet calories on the course at the right times, you are effed. Also, expect the unexpected and be able to cope with changing situations(weather etc.) during the race. Marathons are predictable, but anything can happen in an ultra when you are out there for a long time.
99% of letsrunners understand racing a 5k because they've done it.
85% understand racing a 1/2 marathon or so because they've done it.
75% understand racing a marathon because they've done it.
3% Understand racing an ultra-marathon because they've done it.
I'm making up the numbers, but hopefully you understand my point. Training for and racing any distance to the fullest of your capability is hard, but so often the comparisons focus on a specific time for a 5K/marathon vs. participating in an ultra.
Branchy is From Canada wrote:
I've done a few half marathons and a few ultras but never an actual marathon (one trail marathon, but that's more of an ultra than a marathon).
The reason why is that I've never felt well trained enough for a marathon. If I did one I'd want to at least run sub 3:00, and the training and commitment I'd need to do that would be huge compared to what I do for an ultra.
Training for ultra's is easy: run. Run most days of the week and run long once a week, really long once every second or third week.
For me - running a 50km, 50mi or 100km isn't _that_ big of a deal. I know I can go slow and hobble through most any distance. But "running" i.e. what you do in the marathon and below - that's scary. that's hard.
Maybe my song would change if I was talented, I dunno.
___________________________
This is the same information that most ultra runners tell me. They even go as far to tell me that they think a marathon is harder, and makes them sore longer after the race
sissyfoots wrote:
More serious, You can't go off course and die in an average marathon.
Count up the number of people that have died in marathons and compare that to the number of people that have died in ultras.
*shamed*
ultras are harder because you have to run more miles
The people I've know to move to ultras did so because they got older and slower and decided to go to something less "race-like" and easier on the body. It's the same reason they left racing the 10,000 for the marathon.