Ultra Marathon Training

The main section of the book gives fun runners and ambitious runners alike a knowledgeable introduction, enabling them to draw up a structured training plan for the ultra distances. Runners are provided with plans for 50km 100km, 24hr and multi-day races and shown how to achieve these performances. They are shown that the training required is also possible for interested Marathon runners, and is not so very different from good Marathon training. They are given information on correct nutrition, orthopedic problems, typical injuries and even mental training, thus providing an optimal preparation for successful ultra running. The book ends with tips on equipment, a bibliography and useful internet links. As well as these training aspects, the book also gives an understanding of the fascination of this sport, bringing the scene to life with brief biographies of 10 top runners as well as selected running anecdotes.

Wolfgang Olbrich, born 1968, is himself a passionate ultra distance runner and has completed more than 70 ultra distance races since the Biel 100km in 2001, as well as successfully finishing over 50 Marathons. These races have ranged from 50km races, various multi-day races, to the Spartathlon (raced over 153 miles with a maximal time limit of 36 hours). The author is a German Athletics Federation licensed high-performance running coach, and looks after diverse ultra Marathon running groups ranging from beginners to junior international level. He plans and leads German Ultramarathon Foundation (DUV) Performance Development training camps, to which up to 30 elite ultramarathon specialists are invited. He is also responsible for all sports and high performance-related issues concerning the German Ultramarathon Foundation Championships in a voluntary capacity.