Toying with the idea, I find it to be a good exercise to present to some new friends, and of course, my loyal readers some perspective on running a 50-kilometer ultramarathon.

Of course, people who know better will, and might not agree…especially the ones who-is-always-right.

I’d present it anyway!

First things first.

1. Consider your fitness before trying out something new on race day.
2. Consider your own decisive on this matter.
3. Consider your vast experience as a pool of better strategy.

However, if you are one of the beginner, you have to be very cautious about trying it out.

Here goes. Doing something like this is just like cooking:

• you need to decide what to cook. you cannot not be undecided here. you will be the one doing the cooking – not others.
• you need to check what ingredients you have. you will only be ready to cook when you have all you need. you can’t cook a fried chicken if you don’t have a chicken, cooking oil and fuel/fire.
• you need to taste it to like or hate it. experience will tell you exactly what is a blah and what is a hurray!

THE MENU

Running A 50K

THE INGREDIENTS

• Registration. I DO discourage running on bandit mode.
• Study your training. Just look at it. Do you see anything you like? Like some spots of PROGRESS? Signs of strength?
• Assess your own capability. Count your inventory of experiences. Find anything relevant to the plan at hand?
• How are you when you last run a 42K? Do you think you can still laugh when you add another 8K? If so, good for you!
• While gears may not matter that much, you still have to find out if your most reliable and comfortable gear is up to the challenge – as you are.
• Can you endure under any weather? What is if it gets hot as hell? What if it rains like forever?
• Are you willing to waste precious time on buying your own hydration along the road? Would you rather carry? Would you ask for a support?
• Will you be racing? Jog-Walk-Running? Gallo-walking? To just finish? To PR? To record your best run? To just have fun?

THE HOW – highly dynamic and easy to modify. just use your creativity – subject to the agreement with your own body.

1 Break your race in 10 segments of 5Ks

• it’s an incredible feat of intervals, not necessarily at Interval Pace. you get to rest and drink and stretch every 5K. this so far is one I would usually use. you get to finish strong due to the rest and recovery stops. proper pacing is key here, and good hydration.
  

2 Break your race in 5 segments of 10Ks

• this is actually quite easy for someone adventurous enough for a long interval. again, proper pacing is key, and good hydration.
  

3 Break your race in 2 segments of 25Ks

• this one is easy only in the mind. again, proper pacing is key, and good hydration. muscle memory plays a big role too.
  

4 Break your race in 2. A 30K and a 20K race.

• if you have trained well on 30Ks, this one could be easy. the last 20K might just be a walk in the park.
  

5 Break your race in 3. 2 segments of 21K, and an 8K.

• training plays the biggest role on race day. the last 8K will not worry you once you completed the 2nd 21K. muscle memory, proper pacing and a good hydration plan.
  

6 Break your race in 2. A 42K, and an 8K.

• I’ve known some people use this. I tried it too. It’s to your advantage and own comfort only if you are still running at a good pace by the 42nd kilometer. Else, the last 8K is hell of pain.
  

7 Break your race in 3. A 40K, and 2 segments of 5K.

• same as #6. only, the comfort comes after the completion in good pace of the 1st segment of 5K, followed by so much bliss upon reaching the finish line.tried this before. it’s a challenging one.

Why is it that I never mentioned something or anything about any meal? That’s up to you to find out. You get hungry too. As for me, I eat only when I’m hungry, and every 1.5 hours of running. If and when, I can.

©marmarilag©