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wannabe ultra runner?
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Thanks for the race description Ben - it sounds great!!! Still have to tell my other half that Im doing it... He's very supportive but thinks Im mental as it is!!!
I've decided not to do the Rosedale Rumble this year, even though it sould like a really good event. It would be the 1st 'required kit list' event I do and I have hardly anything from the list. I think it would turn out to be a pretty expensive race and only 2 months away. Will try and pick up all the gear gradually over the next few months because I would love to do more trail stuff
Less critical if running with obvious landmarks in daytime - but if in open countryside (and critically at night), you need to be able to know how fast you are moving over the ground.
Its actually very easy - once you know your "usual" pace you know how far you have moved in, say, one minute.
i.e. If you run a 60 min 10k, then 1k will take 6 mins, so each minute you will have moved 166m - which is 6.5mm on the map.
Maths is not easy on the hoof, so a pacing chart allows you to look up
2 min = 13mm
3m = 2cm
etc etc
Normally a chart will have different columns for different speeds - maybe "slow, average, fast"
For OMM I made about 4 of these, laminated them, and my partner and I had one each.
As I say prob not critical for daytime runs with good landmarks, but easy to grasp and worth knowing about.
2 hour run today. Gradually pushing the mileage up. Legs felt heavy in second half, probably light run tomorrow, then 2 hour again Friday....
When i did my first 100m (NDW) this year I did a reccy of about 3/4 of the course over a couple of weekends a month before and i can say it proved so worthwhile.
Obviously its a long way out still and many things can change but not the course i hope!! just thought i would put the feelers out for now.
I'm doing the course on Saturday as a training run aim to get parked up outside lamport hall for 7am, thankfully ive still for the useful showerproof map book the gave me in 2010! Let's see how many times I get lost this time......!
Loulabell Can I ask where about are you based?
Well did the first day yesterday. 27.5 miles. Nearly all off road. Mostly flat until mile 20. The last 7.5 was all hills. Feel OK this morning and off to do it all again!
Fellow Northants crew
Any of you told people youre doing an ultra yet? I decided to get it over with and told people at work and at my running club today.... I may have made it worse by also telling them that I put my name down for the 2014 MdS!!!!
I think they all thought I was mental - including the other runners! I dont blame them - Im always the slowest in the group and a bit curvier than your stereotypical serious runner..... I hate all the short fast runs - give me a half marathon over a 5k any day!!!
Still I was hoping someone would say 'wow, you can do it' etc rather than looking a bit horrified.....
guess its not important what anyone else thinks.....
Just been having a look over the northants route again ready for Saturday. All quote exciting really! Should be a great day of fresh air, freedom and some good music on the ipod.
Karen
It was exactly the same when I signed up for my first ultra, which was the Northants. You will get a fair bit of negative feedback, including some from people who should know better.
I worked in a running shop when I did my first ultra (still do), and I would be talking to a customer who had done five marathons with a PB of say 3.15, and when I told them I was doing an ultra they would say that I was crazy. In practice said customer could probably have handled the Northants ultra easily, if they had only had the audacity to try it.
Family are no better. They mean well, and will help you where they can, but they can be frightened by the idea and end up imposing their anxieties about it on you. They don't even know that they are having a demoralising effect.
In the immortal words of Rory Coleman:
"Never listen to anybody about ultra running unless they have already got to where you want to be"
Most ultra vets i know do not feel the need to talk about what they do... they just do it quietly, have respect for their fellow ultra runners and appear again at the next race.
Marathon number 2 is done. Just 2 to go. Legs are starting to get tired now.....
Remember Spoons
The brain is the weakest organ in a runners body.
If it starts to misbehave, then just switch it off!
Thanks all!! Great to get some positive feedback! In fairness my other half has been lovely, hes very supportive but isnt a runner and cant understand the appeal. As Ben said I think a lot of it just fear that I'll get injured or die in the dessert!!
The only reason that Im doing anyhting about MdS now is that the waiting list is so long. There are still waiting list spaces for the 2013 event but common sense prevailed and 2014 will be the earliest I think about doing it.
Think I was just a bit shocked by the reactions. The people I told at work are fellow runners, we regularly chat about races etc... The difference in reaction to saying you're doing a marathon (generally positive) as opposed to an ultra (shock!!) was just surprising. Like 'how far' said I think it will be a case of getting my head down and doing them - not bothering with other peoples opinions....
Lou - No, the kit list is something some races require... Especially if youre in rough terrain doing a longer distance. If the race demands you have certain things (waterproofs, compass, whistle etc) it will tell you on the website. Its just a bit pricey getting it all so it can make the 1st race of that type you do rather expensive.
Loulabell
As I understand it, there is noting to stop you from entering the Northants ultra now if you want to. Just go to the Gobeyond site and the calendar of events should have the relevant link.
Karen
Good kit is important, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune e.g.
Waterproof £40 for a good one less for an adequate one.
Compass £4 or £10 for a good one.
Whistle £1.50
Loula - I agree that most ultra events are pretty small and have a really good friendly bunch of people there.
Hope you can visualise some of that and it makes a bit of sense!
What you did several people also did this year so its easily done. At least you did not head off into N/hampton town like some runners did!!!
I will be running the course next w/end minus the Lamport to Cottesbrook bit.
Whats your next ultra race?