24 Hours Before A 100 Mile Ultra, By Lucja Leonard
Ultra X Ambassador Lucja Leonard is out in Hawaii for the HURT100. Here, she discusses how she prepares for a 100 mile race.
Ultra X Ambassador Lucja Leonard is in Hawaii for the HURT100, an annual 100 mile trail run situated on “the big island”, Oahu. We asked Lucja about her routine in the 24hrs before the race.
I’ve only completed one hundred miler to date and I’m aiming to have completed my second after this weekend. I’ve done a lot of long, arduous ultras and I know what works for my body in the lead-up, not that things always go to plan. It’s true that schedules and routines can easily get mixed up when you’re travelling to foreign countries but I try my best to stick to what works for me.
The final tune up to a 100 mile race is not just about the final 24 hours but really the whole week before. I make sure I lay off drinking alcohol and increase my hydration slightly by drinking more water and herbal tea. I also use the week to not only taper my training but also to eat well. Not necessarily eating bigger portions but including more carbohydrates in my diet to boost my glycogen stores. Due to my heavy training regime I tend to eat a high level of carbs anyway but I relish the opportunity to have them three meals a day.
The HURT100 starts at 6am so it’s a more ‘normal’ time to start a big race. Not only does that mean I’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep but I can also eat meals at a normal time. For me that will consist of a good breakfast on Friday, consisting of eggs, bacon and bread. I’ll try and snack during the day on some nuts and dried fruit, bananas and probably treat myself to a smoothie and/or a tasty pastry. For lunch I’ll have a filled sandwich or sushi and for dinner I’ll have a tomato based pasta dish with some garlic bread. I’ll be sure to hydrate well during the day and include a few extra drinks like coconut water (full of natural electrolytes) and juice or sports drinks. I’ll wake early enough to eat breakfast before the race commences. This will be a bacon and egg ciabatta eaten ‘on the go’ so I can munch on it in the car on the way to the start line.
The fuelling doesn’t stop there and I will start taking on fuel in the form of liquid energy from the get-go. I’ll aim for 60-90g of carbs per hour for the entire race. If I can keep that up I’ll be in a good place.
Good luck, Lucja!
