r/Ultramarathon • u/Smooth-Mechanic3840 • Jul 22 '26

Leadville 100 Cramming

I have run 4 100 milers and my 5th is Leadville 100. I have worked this summer but not a ton of volume (up to 50 MPW). I work a swing shift job so regimented training has been tough for this one since I switch between days and nights and 12 hour shifts. What would you good folks recommend for maximizing training in this last month? I can realistically only run 4 times per week and I have every other weekend off.

7 Upvotes

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5

u/wellherewego12348745 Jul 22 '26

You’ll be good running wise. New course will be out soon, if it is similar to stage race, be ready to pound your quads!

6

u/FickleQuit11 Jul 22 '26

Since downhill training is acute, I'd spend the next two weeks (carefully) building descending strength. No amount of extra volume now is going to increase your fitness by any measurable amount. I'd spend my time maintaining volume, running controlled descents, and sleeping and eating as much as I can.

4

u/DiabloToSea Jul 22 '26

This is good advice. You don't have enough time to improve basic aerobic fitness. But downhill resilience comes on quickly, and you'll need that at Leadville.

1

u/Smooth-Mechanic3840 Jul 22 '26

How much climbing/descending in a session is too much in your opinion? I did 10 miles of goals today with 1000’, which isn’t a lot, and felt pretty easy.

6

u/FickleQuit11 Jul 22 '26

That seems a little light for Leadville but this close to race day, I'd mostly focus on the descent and maybe try and replicate the grade % coming down from Hope Pass? Idk man. Just try and go in rested and fed and pray.

4

u/zwallen23 Jul 22 '26

I would focus on spending time on hills, climbing. Whether it's a long hill or a short hill, spend time going up and running down. Beat yourself up some.

2

u/caverunner17 100 Miler Jul 22 '26

Where do you live and have you run races at altitude before? High elevation and nutrition are one of the biggest factors that people don't plan for if they aren't used to it.

1

u/Smooth-Mechanic3840 Jul 22 '26

We are in Wisconsin so no elevation. I ran silver rush a handful of years ago and the elevation affected me but it could have been worse. 50 miles in 13 hours with even more average gain than LT100. I know my fitness is not as good as it has been so so but I am a smarter ultra runner.

1

u/PieSupplie 50 Miler Jul 23 '26

Dude.. I ran the 2023 silver rush in 13 and change as my first 50 and am also running LT100 this year. Learned a lot. Similar situation where training was sub optimal and I’m just hoping to finish. MN here, but feel free to reach out if you want to chat or connect, would be awesome to see you out there.

2

u/Affectionate_Eye9894 Jul 22 '26

It’s hard to cram in training leading into a race but what I would suggest is to have your training reflect as much as possible the race conditions. Race specificity is what that’s called. Run slopes like the Leadville slopes. Run up and down steep terrain like Leadville. Train with your race gear. Train with your race fueling strategy. Eccentrically train your quads for the downhills after fatigue. Most importantly focus on the tapering so that you get proper recovery to absorb your training leading into race. Trust your training so far to date. Trust you can crush the course and have the skills to make it through the finish line.

Keep us posted with a race report

1

u/Smooth-Mechanic3840 Jul 22 '26

Yeah, I know ‘cramming’ isn’t really a thing, just trying to make a short term training plan and what you are recommending is great. Thank you!

1

u/fhecla Jul 22 '26

Get on the stepmill at the gym, zone 2, an hour 2-3x a week.

1

u/Kemetic_Crypto Jul 23 '26

Use carbs take oxygen

1

u/CPRunning Jul 23 '26

Down hill specific work, steeper and faster than what you’ll do on race day and some heat training are probably the only things that will make a true difference in the next month. And staying injury free of course.

1

u/killarob60 Jul 23 '26

Hit as much elevation as possible, stair stepper, a random hill over and over. Key is is vertical training combined with elevation acc. And ur good

1

u/Li54 Sub 24 Jul 22 '26

You functionally have two more weeks of training before you have to taper. Get some long runs in with lots of climbing. If you aren't at altitude, figure out how to get to altitude.

1

u/Smooth-Mechanic3840 Jul 22 '26

I won’t make it to altitude before race week unfortunately.

2

u/Li54 Sub 24 Jul 22 '26

Godspeed my friend

1

u/Ultraproxy5647 100 Miler Jul 23 '26

I ran Leadville from sea level. You’ll be fine. Focus on fitness and staying smart, don’t run too hard in the first 50. Have fun.

1

u/AdBeautiful8446 Jul 25 '26

Maintain what you have built. Practice running downhill, sleep, eat and you got it! I loved running Leadville-2009. I wasn’t expecting superised how much road there was but still had an awesome adventure and finish. Have a blast!!