While necessary for a healthy existence, balance is something that, at times can be difficult to find. We must devise ways to balance work and family, child one with children two, three, and four, our diets, our budgets, and any other number of things. Without balance we will eventually fail.
When I first started ultra training, I knew that my training time would increase, but I figured I could get my long runs in in the early morning before my family was awake, or late at night after they had all gone to sleep. To some degree, I have been able to do this, but with winter bringing temperatures below zero on what seems like a nightly basis, my initial plans to balance running and family have been a bit shaky at best. Couple frigid nighttime temperatures with increased familial obligations and I am left feeling like my ultra training has gotten a bit derailed.
My main concern is my fueling strategy, or rather, the lack-thereof. I am fairly well convinced I can push forward despite blisters or severe chaffing, but I am not so sure how I will do if my body runs out of fuel. I have been running with Honey Maxx, an all natural honey-based electrolyte drink and this works great, but in terms of real food, I have not a clue what to do.
After training for the last three or four months, it would seem that I have failed at the hardest part. Anyone can get out and train, run mile after mile, one foot in front of the other, but I managed to miss a key variable in the ultra-equation: food.
With the race a mere five weeks away, any testing, any real training is over. I have entered that “crash-training” window. Nothing I can do will readily improve my performance for April 6th. I have made my choices, balanced somethings more poorly than others, and there is nothing I can do. The only solace is that this will be the ultimate in learning, and I can hopefully glean something to help me through the VT100 in July.
Luck to you brother.
LikeLike
Obviously having never run longer than 15 miles at a time, I have zero advice on how to fuel for an ultra. BUT I’m really excited to hear how this goes for you! I hope you get a clearer picture over the next few weeks!
LikeLike
Gonna have to figure something out… Jerky, bacon, maybe a tube of mayo… Sweet potato… Who knows?
LikeLike
I can’t really offer advice. I know you can read and probably have on how to fuel for the actual event, but yeah, I can commiserate on not fueling well while training. I struggle with food in general and really have not supported my training with some choices…Live and learn!
LikeLike
I can make it through a marathon without food but in that last three miles I start to feel it a bit, and I’d like to stay ahead of that come 50 miles. Just have to do more test 50s… Ha.
LikeLike
Honestly, I can not make it through a 10K without some item of food… well I can…but I race better if I have some carbo pro mid race. I like the tiny red potatoes..but I have a pretty good stomach and can just eat and run and run and eat. My issues is the crap I eat after running a good 20 miler…it’s never nutritional…it’s just what I can inhale.
LikeLike
Good luck man! Not sure about that distance, but in my last full I was taking my Gu’s and also a couple bananas they handed out on the course. And a few ounces of Powerade at the aid stations.
LikeLike
You should check out a book called The feed zone by Biju Thomas and Alan Lim. My running coach in Jspan suggested it to me while training for my first triathlon. Lots of simple, easy, recipes. It taught me a lot about nutrition and fueling properly. He originally created the recipes with professional cyclists in mind, but it’s good stuff. Give it a go!
LikeLike
Thanks for that. I’ll have to check it out. I’m always interested on learning more about this thing we do.
LikeLike
Pingback: for each of our kids, a dream of success | Why Not Fathers?