Too ambitious?

[FetterSteve]

After a slow start I'm now up to doing 12 miles comfortably but have the chance to do a 100km rum in around 8 weeks time.
I figure if I increase my mileage by 5 miles per week that will get me close enough to being able to do the run on the day.

Looking for some advice from people who have done this kind of thing to see if that is too big a target in too short a time or if it is achievable.

Any takers?

 

[ttcycle]

The short answer is yes that is too much of an increase- the aim should be to increase by 10% each week in blocks of three or four with the following week being a week of less activity to recover, rebuild and restrengthen.

You might end up over training and doing yourself in by trying to heap too much on week by week.

 

[Banjo]

I did a 55 mile ride after only having done 20 before then within a few months did a 100 miler.

Both the 55 and the 100 were very flat routes. I couldnt have coped with big hills as well then.

If your doing it at your own pace then I would say no problem,if your trying to keep up with a group of more experienced riders I would say dont do it.

 

[Bodhbh]

If it's at your own pace, it's fine imo. Last time I was off the bike for months did 25miles from scratch and built up to 60-7miles within a month. That's not me being at all fit either, I got no exercise other than the bike and a bit of walking. If it's keeping up with roadies, etc, well no idea that might be different.

 

[Spinney]

If you want to do it, you can do it - just do it at your own speed.

If you are doing 12 now, try going straight for 20, and do a couple of those. Then try 30. Once you get to 30 or so miles without being totally knackered, it gets surprisingly easy to add another 10 (again, as long as you are doing it at your own pace, with plenty of food and drink).

And make sure your bike is set up right (plenty of advice on here about fiddling with saddle heights etc).

Not being of the girly persuasion, you might not have too much difficulty with becoming saddle sore, but I found that one of my restrictions on getting the mileages up was a sore bum. Padded shorts and a comfy riding position are the key here...I'll let male forumers give you any more detailed advice you need here

 

[darkstar]

The short answer is yes that is too much of an increase- the aim should be to increase by 10% each week in blocks of three or four with the following week being a week of less activity to recover, rebuild and restrengthen.

You might end up over training and doing yourself in by trying to heap too much on week by week.

Complete rubbish imo, the 10% is vastly under doing the possible rate of progress. Going from 12 miles to 60 miles in 8 weeks is easy, get out on the bike 5 times a week, one long ride per week and you'll be there.

 

[ttcycle]

Yes you may think it is rubbish and you're welcome to that opinion. However 10% is a good figure to work by and for people beginning in a sport is a good starting point.

Just a point to clarify when you say run...I interpreted that as running on foot.

If you mean cycling a club run, then by all means by keeping the intensity low it is possible yo do your100km. Just echo the advice of others eat well, drink well and listen to what your body needs ie don't push too hard

 

[darkstar]

Fair point, it offers a figure, I just think it stops people progressing at their natural pace. The human body is capable of far more than the limit we put on ourselves.

 

[FetterSteve]

Thanks for all the responses folks.

I'm going to try Spinneys suggestion and go for 20 miles this weekend and see how that feels before committing myself but I feel that if I keep at it I should manage without killing myself.

 

[zacklaws]

As some of the others have said, go for a big increase in distance initially and see how you cope, you may even surprise yourself and be able to do the full 100k within a couple of weeks, if you try to increase your distance by 10% a week it is hardly worth bothering with. 10% increase on 12 miles is only 1.2 miles, that probably equates to about cycling for an extra 5 minutes a ride which is nothing.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

if you can ride 50km you can ride 100km. How much you will enjoy riding the 100km depends on quite a few variables; bike fit, fitness, the clothes you wear, how many hills and how steep, how fast you go, your 'mental' toughness, eand how much prep you've done, etc., etc..

if you can ride 100km, or more, over 5 consecutive days, say 20+km a day, you can ride 100km in one day. That is how I found out I could do it four years ago, every 25km I got off, had a snack, a drink, took a photo, walked about a bit, a sit down off the bike, a stretch, and then got on with the next 25km.

Each time I've stepped up a distance since then 150km, 200km, 250km, and my limit to date 300km, I never ridden that distance in one go before, the last chunk has been uncharted territory for me.

YOU CAN DO IT.

But watch out, centuries are addictive.

 

[Glover Fan]

I did a 100km audax just 2 weeks after getting into cycling after 2 years out. Admittedly I had been running for a few months previous, so fitness was already there.

You'll do it no problem if you have the mental strength.

 

[FetterSteve]

20 miles done today with no major aches & pains except sore bum and that's because I hadn't tightened my saddle properly and it started moving about.
I'll probably do the same run tomorrow and then a few shorter runs during the week before increasing again next weekend.

Thanks for all the input guys.

 

[3narf]

Well done & good luck with the big ride!