Where are all the ultra runners?
Mon, 05/02/2007 - 12:59
I have just been looking at some of the ultra chat from this time last year, and I am wondering why it is so quiet on the ultra forum. Are you all just too busy training or is it that you don't want us to know how well it's going? I bet you are all out doing special training and are now running at 6 minute mile pace, and you think that if you tell us we won't bother turning up. Well, me being a slowcoach, which doesn't bother me at all, I am proud to say that I am going along very nicely at my usual 9 to 10 minute mile pace, and last weekend ran a very enjoyable 30 miles in 5 hours 20 minutes. It was much more hilly than Connemara, so it has given me a lot of confidence that I can do it!
I'm telling you this because I am hoping you ultra nuts will get on here and tell us how your training is going. Let us know if you have done it before, or if it is your first time let us know how you feel about it. We might even be able to offer advice if you need it, but we can definitely offer encouragement!!
This will be my 3rd Conne ultra in a row. The 1st took 7 hrs 7 mins, and last year took 7 hrs 54 mins 'cos I had been ill leading up to it. This year I just want to be well enough to enjoy the whole experience and collect my well-earned medal at the finish. I've got a 35 mile ultra on the 18th Feb and I will let you know how I get on, as it will be a good indication of my progress.
PLEASE get chatting about your ultra hopes and dreams, training progress and general feelings leading up to the big day.
We look forward to hearing from you ...
Best wishes
Jelly Bean
Tue, 06/02/2007 - 13:13
#2
Hello guys - its good to hear from others doing the ultra - this is my first one, and up until last weekend I was a bit worried - I feel better now after a 28 miler on Sunday - Started a bit frosty - but finished in Glorious Sunshine - Felt pretty good afterwards, and did a small run on Monday - just to loosen out - feel good today and am looking forward to a good run over next weekend - a bit shorter though! Hopefully I'll get up to around the 30 mark before the end of Feb. and taper from there.
Its good to hear what the old hands are doing!
I dont really care about time - Just finishing.
Wed, 07/02/2007 - 15:52
#3
It's great to hear from people about the ultra. Gilly, sounds like you will do great. As for the maths, I can't even do it when I'm not running. I just keep running until they tell me to stop! I hate to try and advise people what mileage they should be doing as we are all different. I will do 35 miles on Sunday 18th and that will be my last long run, but others may do it quite differently and get on really well. Not worrying about time means we can be a lot more relaxed about it than the more 'competitive' runners. Last year I ran 9 marathons and 3 ultras, so I am used to running long distance about once a month and it suits me. Some experts say you should never run more than 2 marathons a year, so who knows what is good or bad, or right or wrong?
Mel C - sounds like you are going well too. It's good to go over marathon distance, and because you had a good run and felt well afterwards, you can be confident that you will do well on the day. Going into it with a positive attitude and good thoughts about the whole thing will help you to enjoy it on the day.
Keep up the good work, both on the tarmac and on the chat!
Best wishes.
Jelly Bean
Fri, 16/02/2007 - 22:14
#4
hi jelly bean,
its also my third conne ultra in a row. sorry i have been a strainger to the site, but as usual work takes priority. at the moment i am only averaging about 30 miles a week, will have to up the miles very sharply or i will be in trouble on the day.
i was in killary adventure centre the first time i done conne. looking forward to seeing you and the gang again on the bus as we head to the start.
please god the weather will be a bit kinder this year. if not , what the hell we will enjoy it anyway.
best wishes
dave
Tue, 20/02/2007 - 15:04
#5
Good to hear from you Dave and pleased you are going for your third.
I really don't want to tell you all this, but I have bailed out of the ultra. I haven't even got a good reason, as I did my 35 ultra on Sunday and it went really well - 6 hrs 6 mins - 25 minutes faster than last year. I enjoyed it too and felt good all the way round.
My only excuse is that I always miss out on the social side of the trip with my group. I have to go to bed early, get up and out before they wake up and miss breakfast and all the excitement with them. Then after the race they all wait around in the cold (and rain last year) for hours waiting for me to finish. So this year I want to do the whole thing with them. There will be 4 of us doing the marathon and several doing the half.
I may do the ultra again next year, as I have got mixed feelings about bowing out. I have got a marathon a week on Sunday and another one 4 weeks after Conne, so I was wondering if it would all be too much. (Really I'm just a big chicken looking for excuses).
I wish you all the best and will miss seeing you all on the coach on the way to the ultra start. I have to say I am looking forward to the marathon now though!
Best wishes.
Jelly Bean
Tue, 20/02/2007 - 19:36
#6
PLEASE get chatting about your ultra hopes and dreams, training progress and general feelings leading up to the big day.
We look forward to hearing from you ...
Best wishes
Jelly Bean
JB - only last week? Come on... just do the Ultra - you will only regret it! :twisted:
Tue, 20/02/2007 - 20:50
#7
Hello Billy Goat
You made me read what I recently wrote - what a let-down I am. You are right though, I probably will regret it on the day, but it was a hard decision and I have made it. Although I am hoping for good weather this year, that would make it worse that I changed to the marathon. It took me so long to run the ultra last year, and I got quite cold, that I think that has had some influence on my decision. However, the year before was lovely and makes the whole thing quite different. It is not so bad for the faster runners as they finish before they have a chance to get cold, but if you keep stopping to walk it can be difficult.
This way I will be running with my friends, and will meet more people along the way. I may well do the ultra next year though.
I still want to read comments from everyone else doing the ultra, and expect you to all do well and have a great time doing it. Mel C - sounds like you are really on form, well done.
Best wishes to everyone.
Jelly Bean (wimp, wus-bag, chicken etc...)
Wed, 21/02/2007 - 07:18
#8
I think you have made the right decision and I guess you,ve not arrived at it lightly.Yes there is a great sense of achievement pushing against the odds to finish a race like the ultra,but first and foremost running should be fun.Have a great time with your friends pre and post race.
Best of luck and there is always next year
Thu, 22/02/2007 - 11:14
#9
Hello again everyone
Right then, this is embarrassing, but I have changed my mind again - womens prerogative and all that. I am now back in the ultra (just you wait 'till I see you Billy Goat)! Jimh - thank you for your support and kind words, and you are right, it should be fun, but you won't believe how bad I felt for dropping to the marathon. I felt that I had let myself down and that I really would regret it on race day.
Ray has been brilliant, he is either very understanding or he didn't want some cry-baby of a woman begging him to let her run the ultra on 1st April. It would not be a pretty sight! (I hope I don't start crying and beg him to let me run the marathon instead)!!!
I will behave now, I have thrown my wobbly and got over it (I think). I will tell my friends not to wait for me at the finish and that I will meet them back in Oughterard but I know my husband will proudly wait for me as always. We will all stay in Oughterard until Tuesday so there will be time to relax and enjoy plenty after the run.
Billy Goat - you had better run fast 'cos I will be after you!
Best wishes.
Jelly Bean
Thu, 22/02/2007 - 19:43
#10
JB
I feel guilty now but I hope you have a fantastic run!
This myfirst time staying in the area but if you are in or near Clifden and are in the Station Hotel on Sunday night I'll buy you and you good man a drink.
You have made the right decision.
Billy Goat :wink:
Sat, 24/02/2007 - 22:49
#11
Thanks Billy Goat, I am sure I will have an enjoyable run and am very much looking forward to it again! Don't feel guilty as you helped me realise my need to do the ultra. Even if I get very tired I know I will feel a huge sense of satisfaction when I cross the finish line - you can't beat that feeling.
We will not be near Clifden as we will be staying in Oughterard the whole time, but thanks for the offer of the drinks. I'm cheap to keep too, one glass of lemonade lasts all night, but my husband loves a real Irish Guinness (or two....)
Mel C and Gilly - I hope your training is going well, let us know how you are doing.
Keep running everyone, it's nearly time to taper - yippee!
Best wishes
Jelly Bean
Sun, 25/02/2007 - 21:27
#12
Hi JellyBean,
Great to hear you are running - I am sure you will be delighted with the decision when you cross the line. If the head is right then the rest will all fall into place.
Billy Goat, I hope to be in the Station House on Saturday night but will be travelling straight back to Dublin on Sunday evening (hopefully not by ambulance!!)
I had a good run this morning, cool and sunny. Managed 30 mile in just over 4hours but very heavy legged at end. Not sure how I would have faired over another 9 miles?? Happy now I am nearly ready. Will try a 33 mile next week and taper then or is that too early?? Not sure when to do so maybe it should be two weeks before the race - any views on when best to taper.
I hope all your training is going well.
Gilly
Mon, 05/03/2007 - 12:24
#13
Jelly Bean et al
I did not realise that you had a mini crisis Jelly Bean, Good to hear that you have come around. Looking forward to meeting all the ultra veterans as this is my first.
Training not too bad, went over 30 miles on Saturday last, tired badly in the last few miles. I think it was because of the lack of a decent breakfast in advance. Thats my last big run, off to Scotland for the Rugby International next week - Come on Ireland :lol: . I think it will be a nice break from the long run - altough I intend to bring the running gear - just in case!
Less than 4 weeks to go now!
anticipation starting to grow.
Looking forward to it all.
Mon, 12/03/2007 - 10:17
#14
Hello Billy Goat, Mel C, Gilly and everyone!
It sounds like we are all ticking along nicely and enjoying the taper. I ran a cross country marathon 8 days ago and feel ready for Ireland! The conditions were ridiculous - gale force winds, heavy rain that hurt, and mud that would suck your shoes off if they weren't done up really tight! Now I am ready for anything (though I am praying for sunshine). I cannot wait to get to Connemara and just start running. I know I am slow but it gives me a chance to really take in the scenery, and I love the tranquillity of it all.
Enjoy these last few weeks (less than 3 now) and I look forward to meeting you all on 1st April.
Best wishes
Jelly Bean
Wed, 14/03/2007 - 16:42
#15
Oh my goodness, its getting close. I haven't felt the pleasure of anticipation like this in a long time (maybe ever) I just can't wait. This is my first one, I did 50k twice during training and am tapering now, hope I've done enough, look forward to meeting you all in a couple of weeks. Good luck! SW
Wed, 28/03/2007 - 07:44
#16
Hello Stephen, nice to make contact. You will love it on Sunday and I am sure you have done enough as the atmosphere of the event itself will help you finish, even if you are tired.
I ran 6 miles Monday evening and will not run again until the big day. I have a few sessions at the gym though so I am not just lazy! I have taken up spinning classes in the gym and am convinced they have made my legs stronger, which really helps on these long runs. I have also been strength training since January and feel ready for Connemara - BRING IT ON.
Lots of love and best wishes to everyone doing it.
Jelly Bean
Thu, 29/03/2007 - 11:24
#17
Hi everyone!
Just wanted to wish you all the best for Sunday. I hope you have a great time. I'm really looking forward to it now, and I'm quite happy to be 'only' doing the 26.2! (But I do admire you lot!!!!!!)
((((((UltraRunners)))))))
Thu, 29/03/2007 - 18:34
#18
I am not sure I like reading about how other people have been successfully doing long off-road runs in bad weatehr, or very long and seriously hilly runs as part of the preparation!!!!!
David
Thu, 29/03/2007 - 22:01
#19
The very best of luck to all. Really looking forward to a sunny and warm day Sunday. We will se Connemara at it finest (assuming we look up from the road!)
:roll:
Thanks, Jelly Bean,for all the motivation! See you at the start.....
Gilly
Tue, 03/04/2007 - 16:03
#20
All the ultra runners must be too knackered to type at this stage. :lol: Here is to next year
Wed, 04/04/2007 - 12:31
#21
That was my first time in Connemara and I had a great time. Many thanks to Ray and co for putting on an ultra-marathon in Ireland for us. I've just been out for my first post race run and the 10 miles might have been slow but they were painless. I must not have tried hard enough on Sunday. I hope everyone enjoyed the day, even half as much as I did.
Wed, 04/04/2007 - 13:12
#22
You've been out for 10 miles already? Respect.
I thought about doing 4 miles this morning, but decided against it. The quads are still too sore, maybe tomorrow.
I don't even want to think about double figures yet.
Wed, 04/04/2007 - 15:42
#23
What a brilliant time we had. Loved the run, the atmosphere, the scenery, the weather, the people........
Thanks to Ray and team for doing this for us, excellent as always. It was good to see some old faces and chat before the run, and to meet some new ones - especially Gilly - how you knew it was me Gilly I will never know. I hope everyone enjoyed their run. I got a pb and dipped under 7 hours for the first time (3rd attempt).
I did a spinning class this morning and it was good. The legs are back to normal so I'm ready to roll!
Well done to everyone who finished their run.
Best wishes
Jelly Bean
Wed, 04/04/2007 - 19:32
#24
Jelly Bean - It was good to meet you in person. Wasn't that a super setting and weather for a run. You did very well to break the 7 hours. I was speaking to Brian after the marathon.
I finished the marathon in 4.35. I did it in 4.14 last year. I will try to improve.
I'm looking forward to Belfast marathon in early May. I'll keep you posted on the training runs.
You are in with a clan of superfit people. It has inspired me to train hader at home.
A happy Easter to Brian and yourself, Regards, Seamus.
Wed, 04/04/2007 - 22:10
#25
Well, what a fantastic day. We saw Connemara at its very best!
A big thank you to Ray and ALL the volunteers who were just great. We just turn up for the race but we sometimes forget all the hard work that goes on to make it a successful day. Well done!
Jelly Bean I knew it was you as you had the broadest smile and looked the least apprehensive!! Delighted to meet you and sure we will do so again. Did a PB second time round taking 45 mins off last time. Goal was to break six hours and came in 27 mins ahead of schedule!! Couldn't help it with all the encouragement from Marathon and half marathon runners urging me on. Its a real delight to be amongst such fit and happy people!
Back for more next year...
Gilly
Thu, 05/04/2007 - 11:21
#26
Hi Gilly
Well done on your fantastic run, you must be chuffed to bits. I was so happy with my time I cannot imagine doing it in the time you did - congratulations. You say I looked the least apprehensive and I have to say that I was very relaxed with the whole thing. I am sure the weather helped to put us all in the right frame of mind to get out there and do it. I was so happy all the way round.
I met Seamus who I have chatted to on here over the years and that was really nice. We stayed at the same place which was lovely. Seamus, I have spoken to you on your other chat! Good luck with Belfast and keep in touch in the meantime.
Mel C - I am sorry I didn't get to meet you. I hope you had a good run, let us know what you thought! Also the same with Stephen, I hope you had a good day too.
Happy Easter to all, and well done.
Best wishes
Jelly Bean
xx
Thu, 05/04/2007 - 11:27
#27
Whoops - Mel C and Stephen, I have just seen your posts on the thread before this one - WELL DONE both of you!
Best wishes
Jelly Bean
Sun, 17/02/2008 - 19:35
#28
Can anyone please sell me an ultramarathon place , id love to entere this years event im very ill and dont have long .
Regards
Adrian 0857 444526
or email me at a_nghtn@yahoo.com
Thanks
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Hi Jelly Bean,
Number two for me. Finished 2004 Ultra as a ultra novice not having a clue what was ahead of me. This time I do KNOW but got such a buzz finishing last one that I had to go back for more. Mile 30 to 38 was tough and interestingly could not do simple maths...39 minus 32 miles done means ???? miles to go!!! Anyone else out there have this problem.
Did 6hrs 18mins last time but a couple of years older this time so just aiming to finish fresher by managing pace better. Was too fast through 26 miles last time and was bushed for hills later. It's all about finishing - not time!
Did Dublin marathon last October and no races since so have put in about 10 miles 4 nights a week and did 20 miles 3 hours last Saturday and five next day and felt pretty ok. Building up to do a 30 mile in four weeks time and hope for the best after that... what do you think? Should I be doing more longer runs? Body is fine but knees achy a bit after 20 miler.
Let's get the chat going as the silence is worrying!
Gilly