Your Ultra-Training Bag of Tricks: Speed-Based Workouts

The Importance of Speed
Ultrarunners are tough. We must be in order to fulfill the demands we ask of our bodies and minds during long distance events. Undoubtedly, there comes a time in most races when an ultrarunner’s mental and physical mettle is put to the test. Though short in duration, performing challenging speed-based workouts is a way to simulate pushing through difficult race-day scenarios by learning to overcome the body’s desire to slow or, worse, stop.
The need for speed work has been hotly debated in the ultrarunning community. Geoff Roes and I present our respective cases in Bryon Powell’s book, Relentless Forward Progress.


Your Ultra-Training Bag of Tricks: Speed-Based Workouts

Sharman Ultra: How to train for...Western States 100

This posting continues my irregular articles with tips on how to train for various major world ultras which I've personally run several times. I've been top 10 at Western States in 2010, 2011 and 2012, having run two different snow routes and the official course too (finally!), with a best time of 15:54 and improving my time each year by 46 minutes exactly. So I now feel that I've learned enough about the race to be able to give a few useful pointers for anyone planning on running this iconic event. This isn't a definitive guide and many people are far more experienced with the course than myself, but there are things I've learnt along the way that you may find helpful, as have runners who I've coached for the event.

Sharman Ultra: How to train for...Western States 100

Over the Peak and Through the Pines: Hardrock Impressions

The reason the air feels extra thin isn’t any environmental reason (as a matter of fact, most areas are more humid than traditional dry peaks because there is so much greenery and water flowing everywhere (even in this dry year), the reason the air feels thin is because fear/stress in the human body causes inefficiency: increased blood pressure, headaches, asthma, etc. etc.. So, when they say “you have nothing to fear but fear itself” it’s basically, “you have nothing to fear but fear ruining your race.” Acclimation in this sense can’t be achieved only in an altitude tent; it has to be done in these massive mountains, in a hale storm freezing you to your core, in the middle of confusing cross country navigation, at the base of a gigantic climb, in the moments you hike past your comfort zone with confidence intact. This acclimation allows impossible performances like Kyle Skaggs CR, and Kirk Apt’s 17 finishes.

Over the Peak and Through the Pines: Hardrock Impressions