Anyone ever attempted one? The one that interests me is the "Forget the PR" 50K at Mohican State Park near Loudonville. I've heard it's hilly, but, it looks manageable. Well, maybe manageble isn't the word I'm looking for. Thoughts?

Stationrun, I know your wife runs these crazy races.

A marathon is painful enough.

Gymshoes, my wife ran that one last year, loved the course and has already signed up to run it again this year. It is almost all on trails, less then a mile on the road, some pretty rugged terrain, a couple of water crossings and a lot of hills!. I volunteered at the Forget Your PR last year and the aid station I worked at was at the base of a 2 mile uphill climb to the fire-tower, yikes! You gotta be a bit crazy like her to run a trail ultra

???

I found it to be easier on the knees than road races.

The biggest adjustment was in strengthening the ankles. I rolled my ankles more when I first started running trails than I had ever done before in my life.

I can't vouch for this statement, but, I once heard an ultrarunner claim that an ultrarace was EASIER than a 5K. Maybe he was out of his mind when he said it, but, that's what he told me. He said the pace is obviously slower and the run (although about 10 times longer) was just easier on his body. He was exhausted to be sure, but, he said the pounding that his body takes in a faster 5k road race just wasn't there after an ultra. Amazing.

I know a 50k is not much of an ultra, but I've attempted 3 and finished one 50k. I didn't train for any of them really though as I was just in decent running shape and decided to test myself out at the longer distance. The two races I did drop out of were during days when it got up to around 90 degrees within a couple hours of the start. Though both were trail races, they both had long stretches without shade which did me in.

I think the most important thing for these races is knowing how to refuel with food, water, electrolytes, salt, etc. Before I try anything longer than a 50k I know I am going to purchase a fuel belt and do some long training runs practicing staying hydrated and fueled.

Good advice, Ralphus.

Gymshoe wrote: I can't vouch for this statement, but, I once heard an ultrarunner claim that an ultrarace was EASIER than a 5K. ...

Doesn't this depend on the relative effort put into the respective race???

Good point, Con_Alma. I think he meant it in a "my body doesn't hurt so much all over" sort of way. He claimed that his knees and hips didn't bother him nearly as much after an ultra when compared to a 5K. How that is, I don't really know as I have no way to compare in my own experience.

^^^

I understand but it still is dependent on the relative effort put in. I challenge anyone to go and bust it for 50 or 100 miles and tell me their body doesn't hurt as much as when they ran a hard 5K on pavement.