Training for Your First Ultramarathon: How to Build a Plan

Running an ultra marathon takes grit and guts. It requires an inner desire to accomplish something that most people will never even attempt. To train for your first ultra marathon, you’ll need to build aerobic stamina, and a strong body that can withstand running for several hours at a time.

In this guide, we’ll cover how to prepare for race day with a training overview, nutrition tips, and advice for how to prepare without getting injured.

But before we dive into all that, let’s cover some definitions so we know what we’re talking about.

What Is an Ultramarathon?

An ultramarathon is any race longer than a marathon. The most common ultramarathon distance is 50k, but 100k is growing in popularity, too. This translates to distances of about 31 miles and 62.1 miles, respectively.

You can also find 50-miler and 100-mile ultramarathon races. While the distance may vary, the same training fundamentals apply for any ultrarunning distance.

How Long Is an Ultramarathon?

When it comes to ultras, the sky's the limit — well, almost. An ultramarathon is any race longer than a marathon (26.2 miles), but from there, things get interesting. Let's break it down:

Common Ultramarathon Distances:

• 50K (31 miles) — The "gateway" ultra
• 50 Miles — A popular step up from the 50K
• 100K (62.1 miles) — A metric century of running
• 100 Miles — The crown jewel of ultras
• 200+ Miles — For those who think 100 miles is just a warm-up

But here's where it gets fun — not all ultras are about fixed distances. Some races are all about time:

• 6-hour, 12-hour, and 24-hour races — How far can you go before the clock runs out?
• Multi-day events — Because why stop at just one day?

And then there's the wild card:

• Backyard ultras — Run a 4.167-mile loop every hour until there's only one runner left standing. These can go on for days!

Ultramarathon Training Plan

Build a Base

Training for an ultramarathon requires a steady increase in sub-threshold base miles, while incorporating speed work and interval training.

We recommend allowing about 6 months to complete an ultramarathon training program, but depending on your running experience, you may need even more time to build up.

Before starting your ultra training, you should be able to run for about an hour. Increase your total weekly distance or time by no more than 5 to 10% each week.

The first two months of training, simply focus on building up mileage with easy runs and long runs. About four months from race day, add in one hill workout per week and one interval or tempo run per week.

Two to three months out, you should add in more technical runs that mimic your race terrain, especially if you will be racing on a trail.

Train at the Right Intensity

Stay focused on running within the right aerobic zone without straining your system. If you’re new to the distance, this will mean running at a slower pace than you’re probably used to running.

Transitioning to ultramarathon training from road racing may require a bit of a mental shift on pacing. You might feel really slow at first! Your base runs should feel easy (slower than race pace), and they should allow you to recover quickly.

As you progress your training, pay attention to your average splits over your runs. If you find yourself starting out fast and slowing down dramatically by the end, focus on starting your runs at a more conservative pace.

Coach Nate dishes out some great tips on ultramarathon pacing in this video:

Technical Terrain and Long Runs

As your race approaches, tailor your training to the specific conditions of your event. If you're running a trail ultramarathon, spend two to three days a week running on similar trails. Focus on technical skills such as navigating rocky terrain, roots, and varying elevations.

Start incorporating back-to-back long runs about three months before your race. This strategy helps your body adapt to running on tired legs and increases your mental resilience. Begin with shorter second-day runs and gradually increase the distance to simulate race conditions.

Speed Work and Hill Training

About four months from race day, introduce speed work into your routine. This could include interval training on a track or tempo runs where you maintain a challenging but sustainable pace for a set duration. These workouts improve your cardiovascular efficiency and help you manage different paces.

Hill repeats are invaluable for ultramarathon training, as they build strength in your leg muscles and improve your uphill and downhill running technique. Once a week, find a hill that takes about 60-90 seconds to ascend at a hard effort, and perform 5-10 repeats, jogging or walking down for recovery.

Recovery and Adaptation

As mileage increases, so does the need for recovery. Incorporate at least one full rest day per week and consider active recovery methods, such as yoga or light cycling, to help maintain flexibility and circulation.

Pay close attention to signs of overtraining, including persistent fatigue, decreased performance, mood changes, and sleep disturbances. Adapt your training plan as needed to ensure you're progressing safely and effectively.

Nutrition and Hydration

Practice your nutrition and hydration strategy during your long runs. Experiment with different types of energy gels, chews, bars, and drinks to find what works best for you. Aim for 200-300 calories per hour of exercise, along with regular hydration.

Maintain a balanced diet rich in carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to support your training. Carbohydrates are especially important for fueling long runs, while protein is crucial for recovery and muscle repair.

Mental Preparation

Ultramarathon training is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one. Develop mental strategies to cope with discomfort and fatigue. Visualization, positive self-talk, and breaking the distance into manageable segments can all be effective techniques.

Set achievable goals for your ultramarathon, whether it’s simply to finish or to achieve a specific time. Having clear objectives can keep you motivated and focused throughout your training.

Ultramarathon Training Schedule

Training for an ultramarathon is a journey — one that requires careful planning and progression. Let's break down your training schedule into key phases, each designed to build your endurance, strength, and mental toughness.

Here's a comprehensive look at your ultramarathon training timeline:

Now, let's dive a little deeper into each phase:

6 Months Out: Laying the Foundation

We're starting with the basics — building your aerobic base. This is all about increasing your endurance gradually and safely. Your body needs time to adapt to the increasing demands, so patience is key here.

4 Months Out: Turning Up the Heat

Now that you've got a solid base, it's time to add some spice to your training. Hill workouts will build strength and power, while speedwork improves your efficiency and teaches your body to handle different paces.

2 Months Out: Getting Race-Ready

This is where things get real. If you're tackling a trail ultra, it's time to hit the trails. Back-to-back long runs simulate the fatigue you'll feel during your race — they're tough, but they'll make you tougher.

7-14 Days Out: The Home Stretch

You've put in the work — now it's time to let your body recover and prepare for the big day. Don't worry, you're not losing fitness. This taper will ensure you're rested and ready to rock on race day.

Remember, this is a general guide. Every runner is unique, so don't be afraid to adjust based on your experience, goals, and how your body responds. The key is to listen to your body and progress steadily — you've got this!

Treat Your Long Runs As Unskippable Events

The church of the long run. It’s a silly saying in the running community, but for endurance events like an ultramarathon, it’s true. If you skip too many long runs, you’re missing crucial chances to improve your endurance and fitness.

Because an ultramarathon is 30 miles or longer, it’s not realistic to practice running the full distance prior to race day. Instead, to practice running on tired legs, ultramarathoners do back-to-back long runs.

For example, on Saturday, you might do a 16-mile long run followed by a 10-mile long run on Sunday. Now, like most of ultramarathon training, build up to back-to-back long runs gradually.

How to Add Long Runs to Your Ultramarathon Training

When you first start training, you should stick to one long run per week. About two months away from race day, increase the distance you run on the second long run day until you’re running close to your race distance over the two days.

You should also use long runs as an opportunity to mimic race-day conditions as much as possible. Run your long run on a hilly trail. If your race starts at 6 am, start your long runs at 6 am and practice waking up to eat a meal beforehand.

Use your long run to test out certain foods and hydration techniques so you know what works by the time race day comes along. After all, a lot of ultramarathon racing – especially the nutrition side of it – is a matter of trial and error.

Another way to prepare for race day is using half-marathon or marathon races as practice races in lieu of long runs. The race will allow you to practice your pacing, pre-race and mid-race fueling, and deal with all the other unpredictable factors of racing.

Practice on Race Course Terrain

Many ultramarathon races are held on trails passing over mountains, which means steep inclines and declines, rocky footing, and a variety of surfaces to cross. Naturally, the best way to prepare for the variety of terrain is to practice.

Aim to do at least one run a week on a trail. If you only have access to flat trails, make sure you incorporate hill training another day of the week, either on pavement or a treadmill.

Hill workouts are perfect for building stamina and strength early on in your training plan. In fact, the benefits of hill running are so great, they’re basically a requirement for any ultramarathon training plan, especially if your race is on a hilly course.

A simple but effective hill workout you should incorporate once every week or every two weeks is 10 x 30 seconds on a 6 to 10% incline at 5k to 10k pace, with a walk or jog recovery down the hill.

If you’re running on a treadmill, recover for the same distance you ran up the “hill.” As you get more fit, you can increase the duration of the hill interval, doing 8 to 10 repeats of 60-second hills.

Training for Steep Ultramarathons

As for steep inclines, remember that for an ultramarathon, it’s not a matter of if but when you walk. Focus on going up hills slowly. Every time you power up a hill, you go above your lactate threshold and take longer to recover.

The key to mastering steep inclines keeping your heart rate at a low simmer for as long as possible. Remember, it’s not a matter of who goes the fastest, but rather who slows down the least.

On the next steep hill you face, try this run-walk technique to manage your heart rate:

• Walk 10 steps
• Run for 20 steps
• On super steep hills, walk 20 steps and run for 10 steps

Test Your Fueling and Hydration

Okay, we’ve hinted at it enough: let’s get into the weeds on ultramarathon nutrition. As we said in the long-run section, fueling your body for running these long distances requires a lot of trial and error.

It’s also extremely important to fuel your body during your runs. When you run longer than 75 minutes, your body’s limited glycogen stores run out and cause you to “hit the wall.” That’s why runners refuel with fast-hitting carb sources like endurance gels and gummies.

Nutrition is specific to each individual, but a basic rule is to refuel with about 100 to 250 calories of a carb source per hour after the first hour of running. So, on a three-hour run, you might consume two gel packs. With an ultramarathon where you’re running for six or seven hours, you’ll need to consistently refuel every hour. Since those gel packs will likely get old, you need to find other food sources.

Practice Before Race Day

A key to the ultramarathon is fueling correctly and practicing your race nutrition and hydration over and over again. By race day, you should know how often, how much, and what to eat and drink.

Since everyone’s body and stomach are different, all the research in the world won’t match simply testing out what works for you. Use long runs and other runs over an hour as fueling practice opportunities. Try different gels, sports drinks, and other hydration products, and solid foods.

Many ultrarunners advise sticking with more liquid energy sources in the earlier parts of the race and switching to solid foods later in the race. For solid food options, try salty carb snacks like a salted baked potato, chips, or a pickle. The salt will help replace sodium lost through sweat. But remember to experiment, too. Ultrarunners are known to have weird mid-race snacks. Professional ultrarunner Courtney Dauwaulter has said during 100-mile races she’ll eat pancakes and McDonald’s double cheeseburgers.

For even more tips on ultramarathon fueling and nutrition, listen to Coach Mario Fraioli here:

Train With Injury-Prevention in Mind

We admit it, running an ultramarathon does require a lot of running. But it’s more than that too. You need your body to be strong, durable, and, if your race is off-road, ready for the ever-changing terrain of trail running. To prevent injury during your training, focus on strength training, mobility work, and running drills.

Add Strength Training to Your Ultramarathon Training Plan

Let’s start with strength training. Doing core and single-leg exercises are important not only for keeping your body strong but for helping you keep your form during the tail-end harder miles of runs. That way, running on “tired legs” won’t mean running with bad form.

When your form breaks down, you’re more vulnerable to injury. We get that it can be hard to fit in strength training on top of long training runs. To make it easier, break up your strength work into short, 10 to 15-minute workouts.

For more on strength training for an ultra, Coach Alex Ho has some tips here:

In addition to strength training, take time to stretch after runs and dedicate rest days to foam rolling and mobility exercises like yoga and dynamic stretching. We have a great dynamic stretching routine here that you can use after a run or on a rest day.

If you find yourself facing pain any time throughout your ultramarathon training plan, listen to your body and take needed rest. With a sharp or stabbing pain, you should probably take a few days off and, if it doesn’t go away, consult a healthcare professional. When facing a dull ache, like a tight muscle or general soreness, try working through it with foam rolling and gentle stretching.

Bonus: Some Ultramarathon Advice from Professional Distance Runners

Sometimes the best motivation is hearing advice from people who have already accomplished what you aspire to. Here are racing and training tips for new ultramarathoners from three elite ultrarunners.

“Patience, persistence, and a desire to get it done. No one else can run those miles for you, but if you are willing to put in the work and are nice to yourself in the process, you can complete an ultramarathon.” – Courtney Dauwaulter, via Redbull

“Start slow. The worst mistake you can make during your first ultramarathon is going out too hard. Conserve your energy for the later stages of the race. The goal of your first ultramarathon should be to finish.” – Dean Karnazes, via Long Run Living

“Focusing on small goals is key. Ultramarathons are hard to wrap your mind around. If I get 50 miles in, it’s hard to think about goals. Sometimes it’s getting to the next aid station. Other times, it’s catching the next runner or to the shady spot. Sometimes, it’s just one foot in front of the other.” – Scott Jurek, via Men’s Journal

Want more pro-runner tips? The Run Experience chatted with professional runner YiOu Wang about all things ultrarunning. Check it out!

Conquer the Ultramarathon Distance

Now you know what an ultramarathon is and the typical ultramarathon distances, it’s time to pick a target, build a plan, and make it happen.

Let us help!

For more running tips, workouts, marathon training, and more advice to get you across the finish line, check out our app or our YouTube channel.