I want to be prepared to handle not only the physical aspects of Sinister 7, but also the psychological challenges. My ultra running idol, Courtney Dauwalter, is a master at adapting under pressure and solving the inevitable problems that come up during training and on race day.
It follows that a big part of my preparation should be centered around those same adaptability skills.
M.T.U. Have Got to Be Kidding Me!
I have been joining a few free webinars hosted by highly experienced runners, many of whom are also professional trainers. There has been a lot to learn including season planning tactics, winter running tips and cross-training suggestions.
As mentioned in my last post, the most recent session on training specificity left me in low key panic mode. As a recap, the pro gave us a run down of something called a Mountain Training Unit (MTU™). Essentially every 100 meters of elevation gain should be considered one extra kilometer in distance.
Based on an approximate 2,300 meters of gain in the 50k at Sinister 7, I calculated an adjusted total distance of 73k (don’t worry, the math checks out). So, just add a half marathon to my 50k… no biggie.
Processing… Processing...
First step after absorbing this new information was to adjust my training schedule. When I looked up a 50 mile plan (80k to us Canadians), I noticed that the longest runs were not outrageously more than my original schedule.
As a matter of fact, the longest training run in my schedule for a 50k was 42 kilometers, while the 50 miler plan “only” goes as high as 48 kilometers. From what I have gathered, there is no need to ever hit the actual race distance during training. These ultras are super hard on the body, so it is pretty counterproductive to subject yourself to that stress multiple times.
It seems that the most important part comes down to actual hours on my feet, nutrition, and technical training on trails and incline. All are factors that I learned leading up to my ultra training. Back when I used to scroll YouTube imagining how crazy a person must be to sign up for one of these things… *nervous laughter*
Going Forward
I have already come across a few hiccups during my ultra training journey, specifically thinking of my winter slip and slide incident. After that debacle my training had to take a backseat so I could prioritize recovery. And now here I am readjusting the schedule yet again for these MTUs.
And so, we circle back to that concept of adaptability. There is a long, bumpy road ahead with many more obstacles to swerve. Flexibility will help me persevere and an ability to troubleshoot is sure to come in handy on race day!
