Ah, the taper! The most enjoyable, but most nerve-wracking period of any training plan.
As I enter the taper for the Hundred Hills 50k trail race (my first ultra distance race), I can’t help but question whether I have done enough to respect the distance. On paper, I have done all the right things. I have engaged in a period of progressive strength training, albeit muscular endurance rather than maximum strength, I have gradually upped my weekly mileage to ~50 miles per week, I have practiced fuelling with real food, as opposed to relying on just gels, and I have practiced carrying race kit. All good then, right?
In truth, training for an ultra while trying to study for the final project as part of a Masters degree is hard work, particularly when you work full time and are also a single parent for 50% of the time. I would have loved to have added more vertical metres into my training, but getting out into the National Parks just hasn’t been possible. I have spent a few days in Leicestershire, running around Bradgate Park, but even those days have been limited. As my study deadlines get closer, my project isn’t progressing as quickly as it probably should. So I’ve resorted more to running from my front door, rather than driving even 30 minutes to get some elevation.
There are a considerable number of hills just around my local country lanes. I’ve been running 18-22 miles and clocking up more than 350 m of elevation gain (yes, if you’re new here, I mix my metric and imperial). The rolling hills can be nothing but helpful, but they aren’t big climbs, and my runs haven’t matched the average elevation gain of 30-35 m per mile that I will experience in the race. Neither do they include the amount of mud that I’ve been warned to expect.
So I’m a bit nervous. I’m happy with the time on feet training, but not so much the specificity aspect. As I type this, I am away in the Yorkshire Dales for this upcoming weekend on a Fell Runners Association led navigation course, so I do hope to pick up some elevation (and mud!) there. We are now just two weeks away from race day though, so there’s not much more that can be done at this point. Just keep ticking over, try not to overdo it but don’t let myself become sluggish through a lack of training either.
For the final two weeks, my plan is for one, short hill sprint session surrounded by easy runs in the penultimate week, with a long run of maybe 12-14 miles. Then, during race week, just three super easy runs, with some 30 second strides thrown in to keep the legs moving.
For the race, my initial target was 5 hours 30. I did the Broadway Marathon, which has a similar elevation per mile, in 4:17. I figured a further six miles, plus some faffing at aid stations (I need to check in at each aid station for HH50k) should have me finishing around an hour or so later. However, I am forever pessimistic and am wondering if it may take a little longer.
I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself. This is not only my first ultra distance race, but it’s also the second beyond the half marathon distance. I’m trying to look at this as an adventure, and a stepping stone for bigger and longer events. I am genuinely looking forward to it, and any nerves are only because I care. I mustn’t write those off as unhelpful. Onwards to race day…
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