The Long Run
“A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts, who can punish himself into exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more.”
– Steve Prefontaine
Long is of course up to everyone’s interpretation, but for the most part here’s a good way to train for any running event longer than 800 m. I use this formula when I am preparing for ultramarathon of 50 miles, a unit’s PRT test of 1.5 or 3 miles, or a local 5K.
Some terms to familiarize yourself with;
Casual pace- typically two to three minutes per mile slower than your race pace. For example if the fastest mile you can run is a six minute mile your casual pace is around an eight minute 30 sec or nine minute per mile pace.
Race pace- just what it sounds like. As fast as your two little legs can pump for the distance that you going. That last part is important. My race pace for a 1 mile PRT is not the same for three-mile PRT.
Threshold pace- typically a pace that is one minute to two minutes per mile slower than your race pace.
Saturday and Sunday- this is perhaps one of the more important combo training days when running. For the ultra marathoners, this is the key to the kingdom. Saturday and Sunday are back-to-back long days. For the 5K and PRT people these are still back-to-back long days with less mileage. Ultra marathoners should be running for a minimum of two hours each day initially, toward a closer time to race date ultra marathoners should be running somewhere around four hours each day not to exceed 18 miles each day. I’ve never seen any benefit to doing a run longer than 18 miles when preparing for an ultra. The only exception is if you’ve never done an ultra before you need to get a 25 or 30 miler in four months or so before the race. For 5K and PRT folks, Saturdays and Sundays should be a minimum of a one hour run initially each day, and runs no longer than two hours each day not to exceed twice the race distance ( i’m putting this in here for some of the units and organizations to do a 10 mile time to run for their PRT. ) The pace for PRT and 5K folks is a casual pace. The pace for ultramarathon at the fastest is a casual pace, but realistically is somewhere around a 9:30 to 10:30 min pace.
Monday- off (remember that somewhere around 50% of all physical activities gains are from recovery. This is true for lifting weights, running, cycling, anything. This is difficult for runners to adhere to who are training especially after they begin to get runners high.)
Tues- 5K and PRT guys threshold pace for one hour. Ultra marathoners, casual pace for two hours.
Wed- 5K and PRT guys 1 mile repeat sprints at race pace. It will depend on how many of these you can do as to the total work out. For a 5K I will typically work up to doing four or five 1 mile repeats with the amount of rest in between the runs the time that I ran that 1 mile in. I have found way more success in PRT and 5K races using this formula for my “sprint” day as opposed to the typical 800 m, 400 m, 200 m, ethos of old. Ultra marathoners- two hour run at a casual pace preferably doing hill work if possible. I have never found hill work to be a necessary part of of an ultramarathon even when I ran ultra’s in the mountains like the iron Mountain 50. However, with that being said keep in mind that without hell work you will never keep up with the guys from out West.
Thu- 5K and PRT guys one hour casual pace then one hour at threshold pace. Depending on the distance you’re running, this could be 30 minutes and 30 minutes or 45 minutes and 45 minutes, etc. Ultra marathoners three hours at a casual pace.
Fri- off
Throughout the schedule ultramarathoner’s need to constantly be running with full kit (full water bottles, all gus, and salt tablets), and also experiment with wet socks, different carry methods, different clothing, body glide, sunglasses, hats, etc. Shoe choice can also be fine tuned during this. PRT and 5K guys should be occasionally training in a racing flat that they will run in on the day.
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So… …is someone actually chasing you for 50 miles? Or did you just decide to punish yourself for that distance?
For reals though, hats off. That is a whole other level of gut check.
This was VERY helpful. Thank you. Great way to break it down and understand it.
I am confused by the THU description though – it appears to recommend 1 hour casual pace and 1 hour threshold as minimums, but then it says 30 minutes/30 minutes for casual and threshold, respectively, or 45 minutes for both depending on distance? I’m not tracking with what’s being said here.
I have super high respect for people who run and bike long distance…I have known 5 people who did this type of physical lifestyle, none live to be 70!
That’s scary also
Definite compromise in qualify of life for these folks as they age.
This is almost my exact running schedule these days. When I prepped for my last 50 miler I was hitting 40 miles a week, using Saturday and Sunday as stated, to log my long runs. Worked out great though, first 50 miler was 11 hours and 51 minutes.
Another good speed workout for 10k distances is 3 sets of 2 mile repeats (threshold pace) with a 5 minute recovery jog between each. I would use this on Thursdays. You could spread this one out over a few weeks, starting with 6 sets of 1 mile repeats the first week, 4 sets of 1 milers with a 2 miler the next week, 2 sets of 1 milers with 2x 2 milers the following week, and then 3 sets of 2 milers last week.
Have fun running!
Thank you for the input
I ran 50 miles… cumulatively… over the past decade. It was awful. 🙂