It’s the little thing in life that drive us crazy. Since I don’t have a real coach I look towards the interwebs for direction. What questions do I ask? Who do I ask? I either get so much information I can’t digest it or I get meaningless information. So here is the dilemma. The races I have this year are up to 100 miles but the elevation is equally as brutal climbing over 20,000 feet in one race. So do I train distance heavy or elevation heavy? Where is the balance?
Upcoming Races: PA Triple Crown
Eastern States 100 = 20,000+ of elevation gain.
World’s End 100k = 12,000+ of elevation gain.
Hyner View 50k = 4,300+ of elevation gain.
Generic math. Say on hills I average 15 min miles. That would be 4 miles per hour. On regular road runs I will average 10 min miles. That would be 6 miles per hour. Here is the breakdown.
Hills 20 miles = 5 hours(ish) around 5,000 feet of gain
Road 20 miles= 3 hours(ish) around 2,000 feet of gain
Training is training. I am just as destroyed after completing either or. So what do I concentrate on the Distance or the Elevation?
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Rosser Runs 
I struggle with the same question…so I try to incorporate both, and look at overall time spent week over week. My high elevation weeks may not be as mileage heavy, but I want the time on my feet to be at least equal (it usually ends up being a little more).
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