Two to three months out, you should add in more technical runs that mimic your race terrain, especially if you will be racing on a trail. About four months from race day, add in one hill workout per week and one interval or tempo run per week. The first two months of training, simply focus on building up mileage with easy runs and long runs. Increase your total weekly distance or time by no more than 5 to 10% each week. īefore starting your ultra training, you should be able to run for about an hour. We recommend allowing about 6 months to complete an ultramarathon training program, but depending on your running experience, you may need even more time to build up. Training for an ultramarathon requires a steady increase in sub-threshold base miles, while incorporating speed work and interval training. You also have backyard ultramarathons, and these ultra distances can vary up into the hundreds. For example, you have 6-hour, 12-hour, and 24-hour races.

However, some other non-distance-defined races qualify as ultramarathons, too.

While the distance may vary, the same training fundamentals apply for any ultrarunning distance. You can also find 50-miler and 100-mile ultramarathon races. This translates to distances of about 31 miles and 62.1 miles, respectively. The most common ultramarathon distance is 50k, but 100k is growing in popularity, too. What Is an Ultramarathon?Īn ultramarathon is any race longer than a marathon.

In this guide, we’ll cover how to prepare for race day with a training overview, nutrition tips, and advice for how to prepare without getting injured.īut before we dive into all that, let’s cover some definitions so we know what we’re talking about. To train for your first ultra marathon, you’ll need to build aerobic stamina, and a strong body that can withstand running for several hours at a time. It requires an inner desire to accomplish something that most people will never even attempt. Running an ultra marathon takes grit and guts.

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