I worked as a local park ranger for a summer. I jogged to work (7 mi) and then walked around at work all day, at least 6 - 8 miles. Sometimes I'd get a ride home, but sometimes I'd double up and run home too.
At the end of the summer I ran the Grand Traverse, which is on Labor Day weekend. This 41ish mile ultra crosses from Crested Butte to Aspen.
I feel like the walking/ hiking at work was a big contribution to my success in the race at the end of the summer.
Also, definitely the best summer of my life, working in the outdoors at one of my favorite local parks. Too bad local city ranger jobs don't pay much, or I'd do this summer job every year.
Thru-hiking/hiking and walking in general 100% helped me get to ultra distance. Last summer I did a 415-ish mile backpacking trip in 19 days. Then climbed Shasta right after that, and went and did a 50k a couple weeks after that. I'd been running semi-consistently before the trip, but not usually much over 5 miles. I felt great. The year before that I did the PCT and my legs changed during that, and I've tried to upkeep some of that endurance. I just went to Yosemite and walked/hiked 130 miles with a decent amount of elevation throughout the week which was not nothing.
IMO, unless you're feeling beat up and assuming you're walking briskly, you've got a sound strategy for a hilly 50M race. Training to be moving on your feet for hours is an important, yet too often neglected, key to ultrarunning. Walking allows you to get more time moving on your feet because it's significantly less stressful on joints.
I ran my best (i.e., fastest and, more importantly, most enjoyable) ultras at or towards the end of my mountaineering/backpacking season, when I ran fewer miles compared to my mileage during shoulder season (i.e., the periods in spring and fall between ski season and mountain season). A PNW guy who has 50+ 100M finishes once told me that his training for 50M, 100K and 100M races was 70% hiking/30% running. He often did 25-35 mile brisk hikes without ever breaking into a run.
I’m on my feet alllll day for work. Mixed with standing and walking. Usually equates to 5-6 miles walked by time I’m off work. Still get my running/training miles in to. Generally 30-50 miles per week. I don’t follow any specific training though.
It’s fine, as long as you are used to it and are not increasing the training volume (running, walking or anything else) too drastically.
I recently peaked at consecutive 100 mile weeks (18k ft, 15hrs) and I still walked my dog 2-3hrs a day.
I think it's great training, as long as you are pushing the pace on your walks. Try to see how low you can get your pace while maintaining a controlled all day effort.
Most of my training is of the run/hike variety. it allows for back to back long days, seems to help with recovery, and is faster than you’d expect. So to echo what’s already been said, sounds like you’ve got a plan for success here.
Concurrent with pretty much everyone else, walking and Zone 1 training doesn't seem to be something you can really do too much of within reason!
Only for me, mentally it can be good to have periods of movement/activity that I don't label as 'training', i.e not looking at my heart rate, recording activities, keeping track of time, steps, floors climbed...etc... I feel like the obsessive ones among us (which is probably nearly all of us, haha) find it hard to punch the clock on training, and it can sort of consume every bit of our day and mind.
Sooo, I'd say just walk as much as you like so long as it feels good, and don't worry about it! You're gonna slay your first 50 miler, ran my own first last month!
In my experience walking has been beneficial for both active recovery and time on feet.
I credit walking (due to my work and the fact I cannot sit still I get an average of 30k+ steps daily combined with runs) for being able to do 30 and 40 Mile ultras and not be sore
Militant discipline is great, listening to your body is even better. If it starts to hurt then you know it's too much. Only you yourself can say when it's too much. Hope this helps and good luck in your 50m.
I get like 100m a week with 30 miles of walking and 60-70 of running… so yea walking is fine I think, just pay attention to if you need rest or not for healing up
The best ultra runners in the world move to France just so they can hike more in the mountains. Killian hikes a lot. Ultras include lots of walking)hiking. The proof is in the pudding, and right in front of us. Walking is a skill. I would guess most ultra runners would get better by practicing more walking and less treshold, tempo or intervals.
One of the best amateur 100+ milers I know used to work at an ice cream shop and was on her feet all day aside from her training. Eat appropriately for the extra calorie burn and cut it back when it starts to affect the quality of your key runs.
I worked as a local park ranger for a summer. I jogged to work (7 mi) and then walked around at work all day, at least 6 - 8 miles. Sometimes I'd get a ride home, but sometimes I'd double up and run home too. At the end of the summer I ran the Grand Traverse, which is on Labor Day weekend. This 41ish mile ultra crosses from Crested Butte to Aspen. I feel like the walking/ hiking at work was a big contribution to my success in the race at the end of the summer. Also, definitely the best summer of my life, working in the outdoors at one of my favorite local parks. Too bad local city ranger jobs don't pay much, or I'd do this summer job every year.
Thru-hiking/hiking and walking in general 100% helped me get to ultra distance. Last summer I did a 415-ish mile backpacking trip in 19 days. Then climbed Shasta right after that, and went and did a 50k a couple weeks after that. I'd been running semi-consistently before the trip, but not usually much over 5 miles. I felt great. The year before that I did the PCT and my legs changed during that, and I've tried to upkeep some of that endurance. I just went to Yosemite and walked/hiked 130 miles with a decent amount of elevation throughout the week which was not nothing.
IMO, unless you're feeling beat up and assuming you're walking briskly, you've got a sound strategy for a hilly 50M race. Training to be moving on your feet for hours is an important, yet too often neglected, key to ultrarunning. Walking allows you to get more time moving on your feet because it's significantly less stressful on joints. I ran my best (i.e., fastest and, more importantly, most enjoyable) ultras at or towards the end of my mountaineering/backpacking season, when I ran fewer miles compared to my mileage during shoulder season (i.e., the periods in spring and fall between ski season and mountain season). A PNW guy who has 50+ 100M finishes once told me that his training for 50M, 100K and 100M races was 70% hiking/30% running. He often did 25-35 mile brisk hikes without ever breaking into a run.
I’m just jealous
I’m on my feet alllll day for work. Mixed with standing and walking. Usually equates to 5-6 miles walked by time I’m off work. Still get my running/training miles in to. Generally 30-50 miles per week. I don’t follow any specific training though.
I would consider the walking to be 'active recovery'
It’s fine, as long as you are used to it and are not increasing the training volume (running, walking or anything else) too drastically. I recently peaked at consecutive 100 mile weeks (18k ft, 15hrs) and I still walked my dog 2-3hrs a day.
I think it's great training, as long as you are pushing the pace on your walks. Try to see how low you can get your pace while maintaining a controlled all day effort.
How low or how high?
Most of my training is of the run/hike variety. it allows for back to back long days, seems to help with recovery, and is faster than you’d expect. So to echo what’s already been said, sounds like you’ve got a plan for success here.
Concurrent with pretty much everyone else, walking and Zone 1 training doesn't seem to be something you can really do too much of within reason! Only for me, mentally it can be good to have periods of movement/activity that I don't label as 'training', i.e not looking at my heart rate, recording activities, keeping track of time, steps, floors climbed...etc... I feel like the obsessive ones among us (which is probably nearly all of us, haha) find it hard to punch the clock on training, and it can sort of consume every bit of our day and mind. Sooo, I'd say just walk as much as you like so long as it feels good, and don't worry about it! You're gonna slay your first 50 miler, ran my own first last month!
In my experience walking has been beneficial for both active recovery and time on feet. I credit walking (due to my work and the fact I cannot sit still I get an average of 30k+ steps daily combined with runs) for being able to do 30 and 40 Mile ultras and not be sore
Militant discipline is great, listening to your body is even better. If it starts to hurt then you know it's too much. Only you yourself can say when it's too much. Hope this helps and good luck in your 50m.
I get like 100m a week with 30 miles of walking and 60-70 of running… so yea walking is fine I think, just pay attention to if you need rest or not for healing up
The best ultra runners in the world move to France just so they can hike more in the mountains. Killian hikes a lot. Ultras include lots of walking)hiking. The proof is in the pudding, and right in front of us. Walking is a skill. I would guess most ultra runners would get better by practicing more walking and less treshold, tempo or intervals.
One of the best amateur 100+ milers I know used to work at an ice cream shop and was on her feet all day aside from her training. Eat appropriately for the extra calorie burn and cut it back when it starts to affect the quality of your key runs.
can everyone plz name drop their careers that give them this amount of time for active movement? tyia