From Benn Griffin on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 15:00:46 from 159.250.64.94
John - got a question. So I felt really good after 20 miles of the 30 miler.. Even if I failed to get my elusive "Ultra", I really want to try again!!! There is a Finger Lake 50s on July 3rd.. but I am concerned once again about hydration. Even though it is starting at 630am, 2 hours before the 20 miler, I don't know about the 50k.
I think a 50 miler is out of my league at this point, but I WANT that ULTRA! What should I do? I don't know if Emma would go with me because we wouldn't be able to afford to stay in a hotel again I don't think. They have free camping at the site supposedly.
Only positive would be that there are no cutoffs for the 50k
Sorry for the long post.. but what do I do? Do I wait for the fall for the 50k or do I go for it?
Signed,
Indecisive in MA
From Nevels on Wed, Jun 02, 2010 at 15:34:20 from 131.204.15.93
Benn: I'd say go for it. As long as you control the pace early, the added distance will be doable (maybe not easy, but doable) in the heat.
Hydration might not be quite as big of an issue as you think. Reading your report, 16x20oz bottles of Heed is a lot over 4 hours. Whenever I'm running an ultra that has Heed as the sports drink of choice, I usually mix it half-and-half with water in my bottle and try to just put a bottle away every 30 to 60 minutes, even in really hot weather (obviously, though, if I run into a rough patch, I'll drink to my heart's content to make sure to avoid disaster...).
That being said, it might be worth the while to train to handle the heat over distance. Maybe you could set up a long run or two (or three) between now and Finger Lake where you carry a bottle but can only fill it up every 3 or 4 miles (with whichever drink concoction you prefer - I'm starting to lean to the side of just drinking water and taking S! Caps for electrolytes, but it's entirely your preference), and also have a few foodstuffs available. You'd basically be practicing handling an aid station, which, as you saw last weekend, can really separate runners between efficient aid station folks, and loiterers.
You're in the shape for a 50k, trust me. You hit a good bonk last weekend (we all hit them), and you'll likely hit another one in whichever ultra you attempt (I usually do), but just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and you'll get there.
As far as 50k or 50 miles, a recent thread came up on the ultralist concerning that very topic. I think you can finish a 50-miler, the only issue would be a little added persistence and/or bull-headedness. Plenty people run 50 milers as their first ultras (full disclosure: I ran a 50k as my first). Pick your poison...
But by all means, shoot for the July ultra. With free camping, what do you have to lose?
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