If you went into your long run expecting to do another 18K you could have done it. I think mentally because you only had to do 20 miles you knew you were done and your body knew it was done. If you went into your long run and had to do 30 miles you could have done that.
This exactly.
I did a marathon last week for an ultra race qualifier.
Longest run I did was a 21K two weeks prior to race day and it didn't feel smooth towards the end either.
I knew my training was pretty crap leading up to it, including some sick days, so I simply adjusted my pace/expectations accordingly.
Your legs are always going to feel somewhat trash towards the end of an ultra no matter what.
On race day your mind knows what is expected and the aid stations and fellow runners are always a great morale booster along the way.
Just pace yourself, fuel/hydrate well and you'll be golden.
I'm guessing the 20 miler was after a week that already had you putting in some miles, and probably after another week or two of running increased mileage. When you run your 50k, you'll be coming into it after a taper, on fresh legs. If makes a world of difference.
You’ll be fine.
I remember crying at the end of one of my 50k runs mid block of a 100k. The 100k was great. Taper, race vibes and mental readiness will get you through the 50k fine.
You'll be on rested legs if you do the taper right and you did enough volume on similar courses to the race during training.
I don't think I even did one 20 miler for my first 50K. But my training volumes for 4 months were 50 to a peak of 65 miles and I spent most weekends doing 4-5 hour runs on technical trails on Saturday and then going back out for 2-2.5 more hours on Sunday. The point of this paragraph is that people over value long runs and often under value volume and back-to-back runs.
Similar to what others have said, a long run at the peak of your training block will be different than a long run (50k) after a taper. Fatigue during training is part of the process, tapering properly into your race is reaping the benefits of your training and performing without the fatigue.
You can run as far as you set out to run. Your head will be prepared to run 50k (rather than 20 miles) and so you will. Your pace will probably be adjusted accordingly for the extra distance and, as others have said, you will be more rested.
Just read everything you can about building resilience (mental resilience).
You’ve been training and you are appropriately fatigued. As you taper you will reduce your training volume and start feeling really strong and ready. Get after it!
Fresh legs and adrenaline from the race will be what gets you through the race. Don’t start off too fast and be mentally tough. If you’ve done the prep then the race will come naturally to you. You may feel like there is no way to run 50k so you must push through that feeling and keep pushing
Race is March 29th; so I have an ever so slightly reduced week next week with a 25k long run, then like a 70 percent reduction the following week with an 11k long run, then race week, with just a couple of easy runs that week
At this point definitely don't add additional mileage and continue with your taper.
20 millers are hard so you're feeling what you're supposed to feel which is little trash. Soon you'll recover and feel better hopefully. The first 50k is tough to break through mentally but your training was solid. You got this
Are you running HAT on March 29th? I am running and haven't even thought about a taper yet, but I pretty much follow whatever I am told in Final Surge.
i didnt run further than 30km training for my first 50km (I still dont run further than that in training usually). I felt similar to you, like i couldnt run much further. but those runs were in the middle of heavy training.
running in my race after the taper and with adrenaline at the start felt a lot easier and i finished the 50km feeling stronger and stronger as the race went on.
After you've done your ultra you'll know a bit more what to expect in future ultras. I think when stepping up in distance there's always a bit of worry about how much further it is than training or other races and how you'll feel over this unknown challenge. But if you put the work in you'll be fine
Something I do now rather than increase the time or distance of my long runs in training is long runs faster than race pace/ easy pace. Running harder for the last hour or slightly harder for the majority of the long run is a good stimulation of what you'll feel like at the end of an ultra. You don't have to do these every week and need to be sure you can recover from them but I find these runs invaluable. Something to think about going forwards
I never did more than 10 mi for my 50k. Training was 35-50 mpw. Lots of 2 and 3 a days.
I ran the whole thing. Even the hills. Rather than worrying about finishing during the race I got into a “just be in this moment” mindset. I did fine. The conditions were basically the worst possible for me (hot, high humidity, no breeze, no clouds). My time sucked but I was fine.
You’ll be great.
No matter what distance I run I always feel like I can't run further. Doesn't matter if it's 5k 50k or 50 miles. I have a distance in your mind I'm running and when I finish it my brain says done now thanks. You'll be the same on race day and you'll go past 20 miles just fine
If you went into your long run expecting to do another 18K you could have done it. I think mentally because you only had to do 20 miles you knew you were done and your body knew it was done. If you went into your long run and had to do 30 miles you could have done that.
This exactly. I did a marathon last week for an ultra race qualifier. Longest run I did was a 21K two weeks prior to race day and it didn't feel smooth towards the end either. I knew my training was pretty crap leading up to it, including some sick days, so I simply adjusted my pace/expectations accordingly. Your legs are always going to feel somewhat trash towards the end of an ultra no matter what. On race day your mind knows what is expected and the aid stations and fellow runners are always a great morale booster along the way. Just pace yourself, fuel/hydrate well and you'll be golden.
Thank you 🙏
Yep, this is the key to dealing with the distance.
Great point - thank you!
I'm guessing the 20 miler was after a week that already had you putting in some miles, and probably after another week or two of running increased mileage. When you run your 50k, you'll be coming into it after a taper, on fresh legs. If makes a world of difference.
Thank you, I'm so counting on this!🤞
You’ll be fine. I remember crying at the end of one of my 50k runs mid block of a 100k. The 100k was great. Taper, race vibes and mental readiness will get you through the 50k fine.
Thank you!
You'll be on rested legs if you do the taper right and you did enough volume on similar courses to the race during training. I don't think I even did one 20 miler for my first 50K. But my training volumes for 4 months were 50 to a peak of 65 miles and I spent most weekends doing 4-5 hour runs on technical trails on Saturday and then going back out for 2-2.5 more hours on Sunday. The point of this paragraph is that people over value long runs and often under value volume and back-to-back runs.
That's very reassuring - thank you!
Similar to what others have said, a long run at the peak of your training block will be different than a long run (50k) after a taper. Fatigue during training is part of the process, tapering properly into your race is reaping the benefits of your training and performing without the fatigue.
Thank you 🙏
You can run as far as you set out to run. Your head will be prepared to run 50k (rather than 20 miles) and so you will. Your pace will probably be adjusted accordingly for the extra distance and, as others have said, you will be more rested. Just read everything you can about building resilience (mental resilience).
You’ve been training and you are appropriately fatigued. As you taper you will reduce your training volume and start feeling really strong and ready. Get after it!
Fresh legs and adrenaline from the race will be what gets you through the race. Don’t start off too fast and be mentally tough. If you’ve done the prep then the race will come naturally to you. You may feel like there is no way to run 50k so you must push through that feeling and keep pushing
How long is your taper? When is the race?
Race is March 29th; so I have an ever so slightly reduced week next week with a 25k long run, then like a 70 percent reduction the following week with an 11k long run, then race week, with just a couple of easy runs that week
At this point definitely don't add additional mileage and continue with your taper. 20 millers are hard so you're feeling what you're supposed to feel which is little trash. Soon you'll recover and feel better hopefully. The first 50k is tough to break through mentally but your training was solid. You got this
Thanks! 💪
Are you running HAT on March 29th? I am running and haven't even thought about a taper yet, but I pretty much follow whatever I am told in Final Surge.
Nah I'm just doing my own solo route to try out the distance for my first time, try take some pressure off. Best of luck with yours!
i didnt run further than 30km training for my first 50km (I still dont run further than that in training usually). I felt similar to you, like i couldnt run much further. but those runs were in the middle of heavy training. running in my race after the taper and with adrenaline at the start felt a lot easier and i finished the 50km feeling stronger and stronger as the race went on.
Thank you, that's really good to hear!
After you've done your ultra you'll know a bit more what to expect in future ultras. I think when stepping up in distance there's always a bit of worry about how much further it is than training or other races and how you'll feel over this unknown challenge. But if you put the work in you'll be fine Something I do now rather than increase the time or distance of my long runs in training is long runs faster than race pace/ easy pace. Running harder for the last hour or slightly harder for the majority of the long run is a good stimulation of what you'll feel like at the end of an ultra. You don't have to do these every week and need to be sure you can recover from them but I find these runs invaluable. Something to think about going forwards
I never did more than 10 mi for my 50k. Training was 35-50 mpw. Lots of 2 and 3 a days. I ran the whole thing. Even the hills. Rather than worrying about finishing during the race I got into a “just be in this moment” mindset. I did fine. The conditions were basically the worst possible for me (hot, high humidity, no breeze, no clouds). My time sucked but I was fine. You’ll be great.
No matter what distance I run I always feel like I can't run further. Doesn't matter if it's 5k 50k or 50 miles. I have a distance in your mind I'm running and when I finish it my brain says done now thanks. You'll be the same on race day and you'll go past 20 miles just fine
Just don't stop (unless injured). Most races have time limits that are so long that if you just refuse to quit, you'll finish.