The Marathon As Springboard
By
Jeff Hagen
of
Marathon & Beyond
Here's How to Use the Marathon as Training for Your First 50-Miler.
So you've run several marathons, you've reached your goals, you've heard the
words of Peggy Lee's "Is That All There Is?" during your long runs, and you've
anticipated that at some point you might get bored with 26.2 miles. You realize
there's more running beyond the horizon. Rumors of ultramarathons filter back to
you and your running friends. Those runners who go "beyond" the standard
marathon distance pique your interest.
As you continue your marathoning pursuits, the lure of ultrarunning hangs out
there like an artfully fashioned fisherman's fly enticing a largemouth bass.
Don't despair! Perhaps all you need is that little push-or rather, that little
lure-into the wild and wonderful world of ultramarathoning. And you've already
got a stride up: You're a marathoner.
Since virtually all ultramarathoners were marathoners before they attempted
their first ultra, it seems reasonable to view the marathon not as an "ultimate
distance" but rather as just another step in the quest to find one's limits.
From this viewpoint, moving from marathons to ultramarathons is a natural course
of events, very similar to graduating from 10K races to marathons, but much
easier.
If you're a marathoner who has been thinking about attempting an ultra, you
may be wondering whether you'll be able to finish a race that goes beyond 26.2
miles. This is understandable, because through your own experience you are
probably well aware of how difficult and painful the last few miles of a
marathon can be. The prospect of pushing yourself even an extra five miles to
complete a 50K race may seem unappealing at best, and nearly doubling the
marathon distance to finish a 50-mile race may seem virtually impossible.
Your Invaluable Marathon Experience
The good news is that your past marathon experience is a valuable asset that
can be used to your advantage when you train for and run your first
ultramarathon. You've learned how to train for running long distances, including
how to alternate hard and easy days and how to increase gradually the length of
your long training runs. You've learned how to drink adequate amounts of fluid
during a race to avoid dehydration. You've learned how to pace yourself, knowing
that if you begin a marathon at 5K race pace you'll suffer greatly later in the
race. You've also learned how to deal with the dreaded marathon "wall" that
appears when your body runs out of energy and wants to sit you down to eat a
quarter-pound cheeseburger and watch the rest of the world go by. Finally,
you've learned something about how your mind works during the marathon, and how
to make it work for you instead of against you when the going gets tough.
The Value of Marathon Experience
- You know how to train for a long race.
- You know how to stay hydrated.
- You know how to pace yourself.
- You know how to deal with "The Wall."
- You know how to make your mind work for you, not against you.
