From Ultra to More Ultra

Background: I had signed up for the Chicago Marathon way back in March 2013 and began an 18 week training plan for the race that began in June. I left my racing schedule open-ended after the marathon, in case I wanted to do an ultramarathon. While I had this goal in mind when I started training for the Chicago Marathon, I did not specifically create a training plan that would lead up to an ultra. I specifically wanted to train for Chicago and see what I was capable of in that race. With that training under my belt, I knew I could continue training for an ultra or two should I have wanted to do so after Chicago. It turns out I did want to train for those ultras.

NYRR 60K (Nov 16) through Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic (Dec 14)

Week 1: Monday Nov 18 – Sun Nov 24

• Run Miles: 30
• Total Time: 9:40:24

Mon – still in NYC for the NYRR 60K.

• 30 min walk to Central Park
• 6 miles (1:14:05)
• 45 min walk

Tue – 2 miles (20:00) on the treadmill

Wed – 7 miles (1:15:15)

Thu – 1:40:00 (25.17 miles) trainer Bike

Fri – Day Off

Sat – 12 miles (2:05:00)

• 1:20:00 (17.5 miles) trainer Bike

Sun – 3 miles (31:02)

Week 2: Nov 25 – Dec 1 – Thanksgiving

• Run Miles: 48
• Total Time: 8:10:00

Mon – 15:00 trainer Bike

Tue – 7 miles (1:10:00)

Wed – 6 miles (45:00)

Thu – 20 miles (3:15:00)

Fri – 12 miles (2:15:00)

Sat – Day Off

Sun – 3 miles (30:00)

Week 3: Dec 2 – Dec 8

• Run Miles: 20
• Total Time:

Mon – 60:00 (13.64 miles) trainer Bike

Tue – 4 miles (40:00)

Wed – 3 miles (30:00)

Thu – 3 miles (30:00)

Fri – Day Off

Sat – 8 miles (1:22:00)

Sun – 2 miles (21:00)

• 30:00 Strength

Week 4:  Dec 9 – Dec 15 – Race Week

• Run Miles: 56
• Total Time: 8:41:30

Mon – Day Off

Tue – 4 miles (38:08)

Wed – 2 miles (20:00) treadmill

Thu – Day Off

Fri – Drive to Tallahassee

Sat – Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic 50 miles

Sun – Day Off

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NYRR 60K

Where: Central Park, New York City

When: Saturday, November 16, 2013

What: 9 loops + some,  around the Central Park inner loop (about 4 miles)

Race HQ in Central Park

Photo finish!

my biggest fan 🙂

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	5:56:33.7	38.17	9:20
1	9:45.6	1.00	9:46
2	9:44.1	1.00	9:44
3	9:30.9	1.00	9:31
4	9:41.8	1.00	9:42
5	9:26.8	1.00	9:27
6	9:39.8	1.00	9:40
7	9:10.9	1.00	9:11
8	10:13.8	1.00	10:14
9	9:15.6	1.00	9:16
10	10:03.3	1.00	10:03
11	9:16.2	1.00	9:16
12	9:46.0	1.00	9:46
13	9:00.8	1.00	9:01
14	9:03.1	1.00	9:03
15	8:58.2	1.00	8:58
16	10:01.8	1.00	10:02
17	8:57.3	1.00	8:57
18	8:58.5	1.00	8:58
19	8:58.4	1.00	8:58
20	9:02.1	1.00	9:02
21	9:03.5	1.00	9:04
22	9:26.8	1.00	9:27
23	8:51.2	1.00	8:51
24	10:16.5	1.00	10:16
25	8:53.7	1.00	8:54
26	9:18.9	1.00	9:19
27	8:45.5	1.00	8:45
28	9:08.7	1.00	9:09
29	9:19.2	1.00	9:19
30	9:46.6	1.00	9:47
31	8:39.9	1.00	8:40
32	8:52.5	1.00	8:52
33	9:48.4	1.00	9:48
34	9:22.1	1.00	9:22
35	9:13.1	1.00	9:13
36	10:38.6	1.00	10:39
37	8:29.8	1.00	8:30
38	8:10.3	1.00	8:10
39	1:53.3	0.17	10:49

Logistics: First off, I decided to do this race the Monday of race-week. I was searching around runningintheusa.com for an ultra that coming weekend or the one after that. I found the NYRR 60K and decided that would be the race. It worked out well since Helena still has an apartment in NYC and it’s a road ultramarathon, much like the Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic, which is what I was getting ready for. So, I booked a flight for Friday after work. Well, our plane to NYC was delayed and I don’t think I laid down for bed until about 1 AM. Luckily, Helena had already ordered my pre-race breakfast and some groceries, which were waiting for us at her building when we arrived. Needless to say though, I slept very little and woke up around 5 AM to have breakfast and get ready for the race.

Race: The race went very well and was not all that eventful. The weather turned out AMAZING. It was raining before the race started but cleared up almost immediately as we began running. It was in the mid-50’s for the entire race. I felt really good through about 30 miles and started to get a little tired on the last few loops. I credit my pacing and fueling for a great race. I held back a little to make sure I finish and wanted to save some in the tank for my 50 miler next month at the Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic. This one was a great success in my book for a first ultra.

OFFICIAL FINISHING TIME: 5:55:38

From Marathon to Ultra

I finished the Chicago Marathon and wanted to keep training and racing. I usually like to leave an open window for part of my season. If Chicago felt like the end, I would have called it a season. If am hungry for more, I go on.

Well, I decided to go on and picked the 50 miler at the Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic (TUDC) in mid-December. Between the marathon and TUDC, I wanted to get a 50K run (or longer) under my belt to prepare for the challenge of a 50 mile ultra. I eventually settled on the NYRR 60K, which took place on November 16th. It was great timing since it was about a month after Chicago and a month before TUDC.

Below are the weeks between Chicago and NYRR 60K. The first two weeks were about recovery and the next two were some quality training for TUDC.

Week 1: Monday, Oct 14 – Sunday, Oct 20

• Run Miles: 10
• Total Time: 7:40:00

Mon – 60:00 trainer Bike

Tue – 1:15:00 trainer Bike

Wed – 35:00 Elliptical

Thu – 30:00 trainer Bike

Fri – Rest

Sat – 2:20:00 trainer Bike

Sun – 10 miles (2:00:00)

Week 2: Oct 21 – Oct 27

• Run Miles: 15
• Total Time: 8:00:00

Mon – 45:00 Elliptical

• 1:15:00 trainer Bike

Tue – 5 miles (50:00)

• 40:00 Strength

Wed – 45:00 Elliptical

Thu – 4 miles (36:00)

• 1:09:00 trainer Bike

Fri – Rest

Sat – 30:00 Elliptical

• 30:00 Strength

Sun – 6 miles (60:00)

Week 3: Oct 28 – Nov 3

• Run Miles: 50
• Total Time: 8:50:10

Mon – Rest

Tue – 5 miles (50:00)

• 30:00 Strength

Wed – 10 miles (1:36:40)

Thu – 5 miles (53:50)

Fri – Rest

Sat – 18 miles (3:00:00)

Sun – 12 miles (2:00:00)

Week 4: Nov 4 – Nov 10

• Run Miles: 40
• Total Time: 7:25:15

Mon – 50:00 trainer Bike

Tue – 7 miles (1:05:00)

Wed – 7 miles (1:15:10)

Thu – Rest

Fri – 6 miles (60:00)

Sat – 10 miles (1:41:00)

Sun – 10 miles (1:34:05)

Week 5: Nov 11 – Nov 17

• Run Miles: 48 miles
• Total Time: 7:35:38

Mon – 3 miles (30:00)

Tue – 4 miles (40:00)

Wed – Rest

Thu – 3 miles (30:00)

Fri -Rest

Sat – NYRR NYC 60K

Sun – Rest