The training I did for my first 50-miler

It seems like I run fewer days and less miles than other ultrarunners. I usually only run three or four days a week and the majority of my normal runs are 3-10 miles. 

I approach my running as fun. The only thing I do that could be considered real "training" is a weekly speed workout (either a tempo run or some intervals at the track). Everything else I do as enjoyment, or as a break from the rest of the world (also enjoyable). 

I feel like I've learned a lot about running in the last seven months since I signed up for my first ultra and that is what compelled me to post the training I've done.

Besides my weekend long runs, everything else is even below most marathon-training-level plans. 

Training in January-March, up until Chuckanut 50k, I averaged 30-mile weeks, with long trail runs between 13 and 20 miles, with at least a couple thousand feet of vert. After Chuckanut, I started running quite a bit more to train for Sun Mountain 50k, summer mountain outings and White River 50m.  

Here are my weekly details (races are in bold, as are weekly totals):

1-Apr	0	0	4	4.2	0	4	20.8	33
8-Apr	0	6.4	0	8	0	12.3	0	26.7
15-Apr	6	8.1	0	6	0	24.1	0	44.2
22-Apr	0	6.4	1	8.1	0	3.75	14.65	33.9
29-Apr	0	8.1	0	15.5	0	2.75	24.8	51.15
6-May	0	6.4	0	8.1	0	8.2	0	22.7
13-May	3	6	0	0	0	0	29	38
20-May	0	0	0	3.6	0	23.45	0	27.05
27-May	0	6	0	8.1	0	18.4	0	32.5
3-Jun	0	6	7	0	0	47.2	0	60.2
10-Jun	0	2.1	3.6	8.1	0	27.4	0	41.2
17-Jun	0	3.1	3.6	15.2	0	19.5	0	41.4
24-Jun	0	3.6	8	0	0	42	0	53.6
1-Jul	0	4.75	6	0	0	32.4	0	43.15
8-Jul	0	7.25	0	5	0	34.1	0	46.35
15-Jul	0	4.5	0	8.2	0	6.2	4	22.9
22-Jul	0	3.2	0	0	0	50	0	53.2

With my long weekend run addiction, I also like a lot of vert, especially with the mountains melted out. While this pales in comparison to some people, it felt good for me. Below are my vertical gain totals for each month (as recorded on my Garmin/Strava):

April: 15,151'

May: 16,801'

June: 38,425'

July: 26,916'

June was by far my biggest month of training, with 215 miles and the vert above. July would have been big if not for White River, but it also was nice to rest a little....sort of...

It feels weird to be recovering from White River, but also tapering for Angel's Staircase next weekend. I miss the mountains.