This is long, but this is an attempt to answer a few questions that have popped up along the way in the past few weeks as I try to describe this whole entire race. 1. I cant answer why. It is one of the hardest questions any ultra runner cant directly answer. I like the quote - If you have to ask why Im doing this, you probably wouldnt understand any of my responses. 2. An Ultra marathon is any distance greater than 26.2 miles. Most come in the form of 50k, 50 miles or 100 miles. It is a non-stop race, meaning there is not an overnight stay at the Holiday Inn or campground. You stop to refuel (more on that later) at aid stations, otherwise you are moving. There is a 30 hour cutoff that you need to get in under. If you dont make it into certain aid stations in a certain time, theyll pull you - I came in with 1 minute to spare at mi 80. 3. One does not run the entire time unless youre an elite (and even they have to at least pitstop once in a while). Most of the uphills, youre power walking and toward the end youre dragging your gimpy limbs along. I would say I probably power-walked/hiked about 50% of the time. 4. There are aid stations once every 5-7 miles. They are manned by volunteers and are probably the nicest human beings on the planet (well, at least during the race). You refuel at the aid stations by refilling water (I use a camelback - others may use water bottles), drinking electrolyte drink (usually Heed) and eating the fare - invariably pb&j, bananas, gummy bears, m&m, potato chips, etc. - basically anything salty, sweet and has carbs. Some of them take it to the next level, though with grilled cheese, egg and cheese, soups and the best being the platter of bacon. Mmmmm ... Baaaacon 5. Additionally, I had both a support crew and pacers. Support crew members help you when you get in to certain aid stations to refuel and refill, but mostly theyre there for exactly what the name says - support. Getting your ass out of the chair and back on the trail. Encouraging you that you can do it. Pacers are allowed to run with you along the course making sure you are running as much as possible or at least walking at a good clip as to get in at certain times. I had 3 throughout the day/night starting at mi 41 until the end, running with me for 20 mile clips. Although, not all runners have crew/pacers, most do and I guarantee I would not have finished without them. 6. You go along the course ... Nuff said. It is outdoor living at its best and thank God for baby wipes. 7. There are actually a lot of these races and the number of people that participate has grown dramatically over the past few years - mostly due to exposure through books like Born To Run and profiles on some of the bigger names like Killian Jornet, Dean Karnazes and Scott Jurek. Look these people up - their accomplishments are unbelievable. There is probably one or more 100M race every weekend somewhere in the U.S. I looked it up and only about 2,500 people finish a 100M every year (stat is from 2007, so Im sure its higher at this point, but not considerably) 8. I trained for probably 4 months. I did a combination of Crossfit and running. Usually 3-4 days of Crossfit and 3-4 days of running where one of those was a long run of 14-22 miles. I also sprinkled in two 50k races and a 50 mile race. While every training regimen is different, the general thinking these days is a mixture of cross training (strength, bike, swim, yoga) along with running (as opposed to trying to log as many miles as possible). Note: I was able to train while holding down a full time job, raising two kids with their extracurricular activities and still able to have a social life. Id like to think I did so without letting it interfere too much with family life. 9. While I am a huge proponent of Crossfit for general health and wellness (fitness/strength/diet), the results to my running are amazing. While I got stronger - and that translated to faster times and longer distances - the most amazing results was in recovery. I have felt fine after almost every race (albeit, Im writing this laid up in bed right now :) and have been recovering so much quicker that I was mowing the lawn and bounding up and down the stairs the day after my last 50 miler. 10. The hardest part of the race has less to do with physical strength than it does on diet - what you eat, when you eat and how much youre taking in. That is why the aid stations and crew are so important. I didnt manage it as well as I could have, but I guess it was good enough. You only learn through trial and error, hence why I ran the other races and there is as much training and different strategies on diet as there are people running these things. I also brought with me my own gels, bites, sandwiches and other food that my crew had waiting for me at the aid stations when I saw them. 11. The second hardest part of the race is mental fortitude. Ive run quite a few races over the last few years, but my mind was in the darkest place Ive ever been at 3 am Sunday morning, sitting on top of The Pinnacle (top of mountain), 29 degrees out and wind whipping at 20 mph. I had just climbed 800 ft up in less than 1/2 mile and was 75 miles in. How I didnt quit is beyond me, but what helped was the encouragement of my crew and one of the aid station workers looking me in the eye and explaining mile-by-mile, aid station to aid station how I was going to finish the race. Finally, Ill close with this. A lot of people have said, I could never do anything like that. Believe me, Im not going to minimize the achievement of what Ive just accomplished - its huge. However, if I have learned nothing else from this experience its that the body and mind are capable of a lot more than we think. Theres a big difference in my mind between I cant and I dont feel like trying. You just have to want it, so get out there and do it!
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 23:40:16 +0000
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