The Just Races ultra training plan

Next Saturday I'll be doing my first 50 miler in Las Vegas.

I completed 50 miles at Across The Years in Phoenix, over New Years  weekend. I completed 35 miles, then went back to my hotel for 6 hours. I returned at 4am to complete the last 15.

I've wanted to do a 50 miler for a couple years. I just didn't want to do the required training runs. I googled "minimal ultra training", even those plans seemed to take too much time.

I wanted to do ultras but I don't want to do the training runs. Hmmmm... looks like I'll have to come up with my own plan.

As much as I dislike training runs, I love the actual races. I love running in new places.

I'm also obsessed with shiny marathon medals. Here's some of my collection...

An idea began to form in 2011.

At that point, the only marathon I completed in 2011 was in February, in New Orleans. Since that time, I was doing half marathons, about one a month.

What if I used races as training for my 50 miler? I get the mileage and shiny medals! It's so crazy that it might work!

That's been my plan since last October.

I began with a half marathon in Denver, I added distance to get in about 16 miles.

In November I did the St Louis marathon. I ran/walked up to 18 miles, then just walked to the finish.
I also did San Antonio in November, increasing my run/walks distance to 20 miles.

December was crazy, I had already signed up for the half marathon in Las Vegas. It was held at night and the course was on the Strip. I wanted to get at least 22 miles in so I did about 10 miles before the start of the race. I was weaving in and out of casinos and dodging drunk tourists.

At the end of December I did my first timed event, a 24 hour race in Phoenix. I completed my goal of 50 miles, with a 6 hour nap after about 35 miles.

This year I've completed a marathon a month. January was Phoenix, February was Austin and March was Las Vegas. I topped it off with a 12 hour, 40 mile event in Boise, a couple weeks ago.

All my long distance training was in races. I think the longest I did at home was about 6 miles.

Next weekend I'll find out if this was a good plan or I was out of my mind.

My first grain free ultra

12 hours, 40 miles
No grains
Done!

I completed the Pickled Feet 12 hour race last Saturday in Boise. This race was my last one before my 50 miler in April. One of my goals was to stay on my feet for the entire 12 hours. The other goal was to stay away from all the processed carbs that are offered at these events.

Holy cow, there were lots of carby treats. The food tent was full of pizza, muffins and bagels. Luckily I came prepared with my own food bag. I brought bananas, apples, a grain free protein bar and a baked yam.

I'll be back later with a full report..