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Is this just what a long off road run does to your legs or are there strategies to combat this?
Yes and no, inevitably your legs will hurt and generally it depends on your training mileage how soon that point comes but also I think the mind has a big part to play and if your training has gone well you will get further before the pain becomes an issue as the goals are different if that makes any sense???
But also as you do more Ultras you will find your perceptions change, I did the Suffolk Endurance Life as my first Ultra too and it was agony for the last 7 miles or so but having done a few more ultras and worked up to 100 milers a 30 mile training runs seems less of an issue now.
It's all about building up mileage slowly, recovering well and finding time for lots of strength work and stretching!
Obviously if you stuff up pacing, hydration, nutrition, electrolytes etc you will in a whole different problem beyond sore legs!
Philipflop-
Yeah the last seven miles are a killer! I was craving some sort of incline on that course.
Might try and jump up to 100k on a rolling or flat-ish off road course this year and if I bail out halfway, I'll still be more than happy with it. Also got plenty of time to up the mileage. What sort of miles/week are people doing pre-ultras?
Also need to learn to run slow.
@duncs just took those fancy insoles out for a spin in some Speedgoats. Feel bouncier, definitely more comfortable on rocky sections (ie, jumping up and down off the kerb).
S_b
Thinking about entering Race to The Stones or more likely Race to the Castle this year.
I've done two ultras and a trail mara (Endurance Life Suffolk, Dorset, and Pembroke) and have always felt cardio and endurance wise fine for the distance, but have struggled with my legs getting super tight and painful about 60-70% of the way in. Is this just what a long off road run does to your legs or are there strategies to combat this? Will be planning in some weights this year, I already foam roll a lot. Been looking at calf sleeves etc...