50k training 6 weeks out! Needs some advice Please and thank you!
Back here to ask for some feedback from this great community!
INTRO: Iam 6 weeks out from my 1st 50k. I have ran 5 marathons and have done several shorter distance races, and have been running for 4 years. Marathon PR: 3:39 Half: 1:38
Looking to try trail races for the summer
—Sooo I had the worst feeling Long run of 16 miles on the 2 loop course where I will be running the race yesterday. I felt gassed/tired 3.5 miles into the run and hamstrings started tightening up. It’s 3 miles of straight climbing left and still and a bit more after that, so I pushed through and hiked and took breaks to catch my breathe. After mile 8 it’s mostly downhill coming back but not all and I still needed to walk mostly. Started running out of water at 11 miles. Finished but I obviously ran out of water too early too.
This run ended up feeling like I just needed to survive 1 mile at a time. I haven’t felt this bad on a long run in a long time and I did this exact training week, 3 weeks ago and felt ok. 54 miles with back to back long run 12 then 16 miles and same route too! Except I did that 16 mile run at avg 12 min pace and yesterday I did avg 15 min pace. Only thing I added differently was some at home squats and lunges. Maybe my 8x400s this week was too much?
QUESTION: Was this just a bad week since everything else so far has been great? Getting warmer. Should I adjust my plan and reduce overall mileage per week? Maybe no more speed work since I am focusing on elevation 3-4 times a week?
GOAL: Last 2 weeks may have been difficult because summer days and I only have 3 weeks of building left. The part of training we all know too well of when easy days are also hard to want to get out there. Goal was to finish the 29.5 mile race (Bulldog 50k) with 5100 ft. elevation gain I. just under 6 hours but maybe too ambitious for my first ultra? That would be 12:10 pace per mile.