Stepping up from 42 km to 50 or 100 km changes everything — pace, fuel, kit, sleep. The training emphasis shifts from speed to time on feet.
Mindset shift
An ultra is a long day out, not a long race. You walk hills. You eat real food. You troubleshoot blisters at aid stations. The runner who finishes is the one who solves small problems.
Time on feet beats mileage
Two back-to-back long runs (e.g. 4 hours Saturday, 3 hours Sunday) build durability better than a single 35 km run.
Hike with a vest. Most ultras involve hours of fast hiking. Train for it.
Fuel & kit
- Practise eating 200–300 kcal/hour from real food: rice cakes, potatoes, bananas.
- Test every piece of mandatory kit on long training runs.
- Bring a head torch even if the cutoff is daylight — emergencies happen.