How did I train for 50km

Getting to the start line of any race requires preparation especially if you plan to enjoy it.

Mine started at the end of 2023 when I got a place in the London Marathon. I had never had any desire to run a marathon. It seemed like a lot of work and the distance was out of my reach, yet I had a place so I had better start training.
Now London is a very big busy road run, so I decided to also book myself something more fun and adventurous to run. A trail ultra marathon in Maderia. I had seen some pictures and an old friend of mine who had done it the year previously. It looked great and the polar opposite from London.
If I was going to get fit for a long run I may as well do 2.  

So at the start of 2024 I did the standard 12 week training block of marathon training it went well and ticked of a marathon.
I then switched to trail training. Routine hills or speed work during the week, a 10km technical trail run. The long runs or hikes usually in trails and hills to build time on legs.
As part of my training I now ran with a hydration pack, slowly adding additional items each week. Getting used to run with it, drink from it and generally running with a bit of extra weight and figuring out where things should go.

As part of my build up to trails I ran outside Hope round in the peaks a 20 mile round with about 1000m of vertical, the yorkshire 3 peaks another 1000m of vertical over 24 miles. Plus a 12 hour night run which I covered 50km in but did have a 5 hour nap in the middle. Several 25km trail runs with 1000m of elevation helped me with both navigation and the mentality it is ok to walk on a run.
Several local weekly runs round trails to help build confidence on trails and strengthen the stabilising muscle groups in my legs. Long walks round Holyhead and Wales mountains just to get time on feet in the gear I would be running in.

This year I have covered about 1500km and 26000m of elevation.

I also joined a gym the first time in many years, doing stair climbing, strength and conditioning and generic fitness to try and strength the muscles which usually ache after a long run. I also focus on training to run down as well as up hills, usually the down is recovery in a hill set but I knew it would be useful to train.
I also managed to aquire a set of running poles from a member of the running club who did not use them, admittedly I only used them once fully in training but could see the benefit on the up hills.

So preparation was going well, very few injures and feeling ok with my preparation. I was still nervous.
Never had I tried to cover 2200m+ of elevation and 50km before in the heat. But that is why it is a challenge.