I just entered my first Last Runner Standing event, and I would love some advice on how to tackle it.
—Brent, Asheville, NC
I am going to start with a semi-controversial statement, and then work backward, so I’m not hiding the ball. Here it is, get ready. OK, I officially oversold this. Anyway: Peak performance in long ultra events requires less training than peak performance in road marathons.
That seems counterintuitive, but it all gets back to the idea that physically and mentally every athlete in a longer ultra is entering the unknown. Where that unknown lies varies based on background and training status. For a professional ultra-athlete, somewhere around five to eight hours, they may be approaching physical demands they never touched in training. Long runs beyond that come with risks to the musculoskeletal system via injury and nervous system via overtraining that outweigh any long-term physiological benefits.
Plus, excessively long runs outside of training races can cause athletes to slow down as they put out less power at the same effort level, reducing the running economy. And, psychologically, I’d rather athletes just be really, really fit and healthy rather than worry about the unknown too much. You don’t need to put your hand on the stove to know it’s hot.
This story is from the Summer 2021 edition of Trail Runner.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Summer 2021 edition of Trail Runner.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
You Cannot Erase us
Over the years and through thousands of miles of running, I have thought about the words that marked the beginning of colonialism on the land and the end of Indigenous sovereignty.
Take it Easy
How to stay at aerobic pace when you live in the hills
Here Comes the Sun
Where pessimism meets its match
Connecting the Dots
How Laura Cortez uses her passion for trails to build community.
This Wild Life
ONE MAN’S 92-MILE RUN OF GRIEF AND SELF-DISCOVERY.
Lose Weight with a Shake
Being a health and nutrition correspondent means that companies frequently send me their products, and ask for my stamp of approval.
THE DIRT DIVA
A vibrant and vivacious personality, Catra Corbett is a confident and omnipresent competitor. And she’s running for her life.
Grounded by Legacy
MEET DINÉE DORAME, THE ONE-WOMAN HOST, CREATOR AND PRODUCER OF THE GROUNDED PODCAST, ON THE INTERSECTION OF RUNNING, CULTURE, LAND AND COMMUNITY.
WEARABLES
The best watches for trail runners.
Dean Revisited
Ultramarathon man Karnazes wont stop. What keeps him going?