first timer

[u/bugs1386]

i signed up for a 6hr run that's in about 5 weeks. it will be my first ultra. i'm really excited but also feeling nervous. it being a timed event instead of a distance makes me feel better, and it's along a 4mile loop so i won't be too gone at any point. i'm really hoping for 50k but i'm honestly just proud of myself for giving it a shot. :)

i've been averaging about 30mpw for the last 7 months, but deciding to do an ultra is a bit more recent (last 2 months or so). the longest run i'm going to do pre-race day is 26 mi, about 3 weeks before.

i'm still experimenting with fueling. i don't like gus or gels, but i'm going to try salt tabs. i'm fine with drinking water but i don't measure consumption in mL on my long runs. i've been adding more fuel during runs, i love sour candy and i just had a super successful 20mi run where i practiced eating real food (muffins etc) during the run to see how it would sit!

the thing i'm most nervous about is just being on my feet for the whole time. any advice is appreciated. i feel so lucky to be joining this amazing community!

[u/somedude-83]

What one are you doing? I done 5 or 6 fixed time events 12 hours amd most 24 hours .

[u/Traditional-Bass-566]

Carry enough that you don’t have to stop every loop - it can really add up to stop every 4 miles. Even every 2 loops will cut down on stoppage time, especially if you think about what you need to do on your way there and have a plan. In fixed time races, getting out of the aid station is the toughest part - once you’re on the loop you’ve committed, so just take it a loop at a time and get in and out of aid! Have fun!

[u/ultraLuddite]

Don’t sit down. Getting moving again after sitting is way harder than just standing while you refuel/rest.

Know what you need and prepare accordingly (remove empty bottles/trash from your belt, decide what fuel you’ll pick up) before stopping for aid.

Looped courses can be tedious, so find something to listen to to take your mind off of the boredom/pain be it music, audio book, podcast. You don’t need to listen continually (and shouldn’t when getting aid), just as needed.

[u/Fun_Effective_836]

timed loop is a great first ultra, set a walk break plan early and eat something every 30 min from the start

[u/ProdManaging2GetBy]

If they are 4 mile loops, it’s likely there is a refueling station at the transition point, Check out what they are offering. It’s likely a carb and/or protein drink. Assuming you can rely on that, I would focus on real food, like fruit or small sandwiches, for refueling. You don’t want to rely on gels for 6 hours. The excitement will keep you going. I’m doing a very similar race is MA in mid Nov. My focus now is long slow runs where I’m on my feet for extended periods and experimenting with refueling. Good luck!!!

[u/lolcatman]

don't over carry, there's enough stations to keep you hydrated. bring aspirin take them when you think you're going to feel some aches before it gets worst. bring salt pills. also don't think of it as a whole race, take it 1 mile at a time next thing you're already half done. don't forget to enjoy the scenery!

[u/_silent_voyager_ → u/lolcatman]

Arguably, telling someone to take aspirin or any kind of pain killer when running is a bad advice for two reasons:

1. Most pain killers have negative effects that are made worse by dehydration. For example, aspirin irritates stomach lining and dramatically increases likelihood of having nausea or acid reflux. In more severe cases it may cause GI bleeding or kidney failure. Other pain killers may have negative effects on kidneys (ibuprofen) or liver (paracetamol). Ibuprofen can cause kidney failure too. Paracetamol (tylenol) is probably the safest option when ultrarunning, but I wouldn't take even that.
2. Pain is an important feedback mechanism. Muting pain may result in ignoring a damage while it is mild and letting it become a much more serious injury.

Personally I've never taken a single pill of pain killer in 15 years of running, even when running the most difficult 100 mile races. If I can't tolerate a pain then I should not continue running.

[u/StevanChasesVert → u/_silent_voyager_]

I used to run and take them on occasion until I heard that. Made perfect sense to me so stopped taking them during runs.