50K: check!

As previously promised/threatened, I finally finished my first 50K race. That's slightly more than 31 miles, for us Amurricans. After the race I originally trained for got hurricaned out, I ended up running this trail 50K organized by the Baltimore Road Runners at Gunpowder Falls State Park, north of Baltimore. Here are some pics:


It was a blast. Even when I got all hypoglycemic and footsore on the third lap. Seriously.

But, no joke, my evaluation is that a typical marathon training program would prepare you for a 50K. I ended up doing more and longer long runs than in a typical marathon plan (3x20mi, 2x22mi, 2x24mi) and also doubled up on the weekends, running, say, a 20+ mi long run Saturday and then a 10 miler on Sunday. This was helpful, but I think you could still make it just with one long run a week. The thing is, most ultras are run on trails, which means that the impact damage and pain are less than with a typical road marathon (but definitely still there. Owwww.). Also, you're not running fast like in a marathon. It's really just a nice day out in the woods.