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Post by keyalus on Feb 27, 2011 21:55:02 GMT -5
Hi all,
In an effort to try something new with running, I've been bitten by the trail running bug! My first trail race was the Red Top Rumble and I loved it. I just ran the Thrill In The Hills half this weekend and that experience pretty much solidified my decision to pursue this thing a bit further.
I am interested in doing an ultra and targeting the Pine Mountain in Dec. I've run a full marathon before but that was back in 2008 and I basically stopped running for a year after that due to pregnancy (and weight gain!). I'm back on my feet now and I've done about 5 half-marathons since last year but nothing longer. I hate dealing with the heat so I don't anticipate running any full marathons before I would need to start training for this race.
Would I be able to handle this type of training coming from this background? A lot of what I've read seems to indicate that you should have run a full marathon recently and that is not the case for me nor will it be. Does this mean I would need a really long training cycle for this race to build up to the distance? Most training plans I see (for 50Ks and 50M) take about 18-24 weeks. Just worried that I would be behind - especially since I won't be running much in the summer heat before I needed to start training.
Any thoughts?
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bgood
GUTS Member
Posts: 84
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Post by bgood on Feb 28, 2011 9:51:52 GMT -5
You can’t compare those races with Pine Mountain. The race at Pine Mountain will be cold (most likely), the trails will be full of rocks and roots covered with leaves. And there will hard hills and slick water(stream) crossings. If you don’t live too far away, go and run sections of the trail between now and then. You might try and do a 50k first like SweetH2O (16 April).
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Post by keyalus on Feb 28, 2011 14:03:59 GMT -5
Thanks for the response.
Not attempting to compare the races at all... Just wondering more if ultra training would be doable for a lower mileage runner who has only run half marathons in the past two years? Running a full marathon anytime before Fall is just not going to happen for me. I don't want to do any intensive training in the summer heat and I don't really want to run early fall marathons. My only marathon run was done during 70 degree temps and I hated it. Can't do it again. I thrive during the winter cold though!
I am not 50k ready at this point given that SweetH20 is 7 weeks away. The max mileage per week that I've been doing this past year is about 25 miles.
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Post by jcremers on Feb 28, 2011 18:00:07 GMT -5
I'm the last person to tell anyone how to train, but Pine Mountain is in early December. If you keep some base of fitness going during the warm months and then hit it hard for September/October/November, I would think you would be ready.
For me, I mix it up with the bike and swim when it is warm, but that fits my schedule etc. Pine Mtn is a very good race. I should also say that I ran a 50k and a trail marathon before I tried a 40 miler.
John in Cartersville
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Post by keyalus on Feb 28, 2011 20:18:55 GMT -5
Thanks for the response! I do CrossFit 3x a week and I would continue doing that and indoor cardio like step aerobics as well as some running. I just don't like running outside or racing from May to Aug. The treadmill at the gym can be pretty hot and miserable too in the summer!
I would hope to incorporate a few marathons as part of my training in the Fall. I would try a 50k but I don't see any local ones scheduled. I can't really travel for a race due to my husbands work schedule and child care.
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raff
GUTS Member
Posts: 80
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Post by raff on Mar 1, 2011 19:37:25 GMT -5
The best training you can do for Pine Mountain is to try and get out as much as you can on technical trails, and preferably get some long runs in of 6+ hours at a stretch. In my opinion you'll find that type of training will benefit you much more than "any" road marathon would. Try to mix in some short/intense stair work, even when it's warm and hot. Pine Mountain is a great race but for comparison you could expect to double your road marathon time. There are some great 50k+ races in the fall (or even the Mystery Mtn marathon...that one is awesome) that are fairly close by...check out the GUTS calendar and pick a couple if you can arrange it.
Be prepared for climbs and rocks...it is a beautiful course but pretty darn tough (13,000 feet of elevation gain).
best of luck, charles
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Post by keyalus on Mar 2, 2011 16:02:01 GMT -5
Thanks Charles! Giving it some thought, I'm going to suck it up and start training early in the summer (sigh). I'll do the North Face 50k in mid-October which is out at Pine Mountain as well - not sure if the course is similar though. I will feel more confident having a 50k under my belt.
I live near Kennesaw Mountain so I probably have to do most of my trail time there. The portions that I've run on don't seem extra technical though. I know I haven't hit 1/4 of the trails out there though.
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raff
GUTS Member
Posts: 80
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Post by raff on Mar 2, 2011 19:32:52 GMT -5
Sounds like a solid plan! I haven't run North Face so don't know if it covers all of the Pine Mtn course but it probably follows most of it. As for Kennesaw my favorite thing to do there is up and over both peaks and back, starting at the Burnt Hickory crossing. That'll get you 1800 feet of climb and some pretty technical sections in about an hour and a half (that's combo running/walking up). Haven't been out there in a while though... take care, charles
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Post by keyalus on Mar 4, 2011 20:47:54 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip! I usually just start at the Visitors Center and head to Cheatham Hill. It doesn't seem very technical to me (in my limited experience) but it is a little hilly in some spots. I'll definitely investigate the area you mentioned for more of a challenge.
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epicdad
Dazed & Confused Runner
Posts: 27
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Post by epicdad on Jun 2, 2011 6:56:54 GMT -5
keyalus You are no longer a FORMER runner I assume; I assume you are running again now. I would like to say that last year, the Pine Mountain 40 was my FIRST ultra and my FIRST time being on anything other than smooth surface road 26.2's. Don't make the mistake I made. Do some training on trails, and not just any trails, hit some really good (difficult) technical trails. As for fitness, you can do this. I was at a level where I felt that 26.2 was getting to easy and boring. (Maybe I wasn't pushing myself hard or fast enough in them?) Anyway, I cannot stress to you enough that there are no trails anywhere around Kennesaw Mtn or Cheatham hill that I know about that come anywhere close to how technical Pine Mountain is. If you get a chance, you may want to go down there (it's not far at all) and do some training on site. As for can you do Pine Mountain. Yes of course you can, but what you need to be asking yourself is not "if" you can, but telling yourself that "yes" you can. I felt that I was ready, and aerobically I was very much ready; however, the miles were not the issue. The trail was. It's not easy, but if you do the prep and put in the work, you can do it. And here's hoping we have mild weather again this year! Cheers!
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epicdad
Dazed & Confused Runner
Posts: 27
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Post by epicdad on Sept 6, 2011 15:12:01 GMT -5
keyalus, did you sign up yet? Registration is open now! Hope to see you there in Dec!
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Post by keyalus on Sept 21, 2011 14:44:12 GMT -5
Hi epicdad!
I'm actually going to do Lookout Mountain 50 instead. The family started talking about a potential trip the day before Pine Mountain. I didn't want to spend months training only to have a conflict.
Since posting this thread, I've been training and doing a few hard trail races (H9). I feel good about December!
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