Thoughts on a 35 Mile Run

Tour d'Esprit 24 Hour Run - 9/30/11 - 10/1/11

This is a great event that draws a super competitive relay division, teams out for fun, walkers and... those masochists trying to run as far as they can.   The scene takes on a "Woodstock" feel as runners set up camp and hang out all day and night.
The  event offered a perfect controlled environment for me as I begin testing myself and strive to make the jump from 50k ultras to 50 miles... and beyond.   The course is a one mile loop that combines smooth pavement, grass, gravel and dirt.  Each lap bring runners right back to the "pit area" so it makes for a convenient setup.  My goal was to see how far I could go in one shot and test nutrition, hydration and sleep deprivation.  I am not yet doing the really long ultra mileage so i didn't expect a huge number.  Just wanted to see how far I could run without hurting myself.   So here goes:

8pm:  The weather was perfect and off I went.   My (chronic) foot was a bit stiff from the start so I knew that would be the #1 battle of the night.  Lots of runners and walkers on the course and tons of positive energy.  I lost count of my laps after... three or four??  Ultrarunner extraordinaire, Feb Boswell, passed me and chatted briefly.  I asked his advice on walking breaks,  His advice was spot on and served me well. Feb lapped me all night on his way to 80 miles.  Amazing.  

10pm: Two hours in and I am purposely not looking at the lap readout each time I cross the timing mat.  It doesn't matter how many laps I have run.  Just keep moving.  I am asked how I feel?  After only two hours it was still easy.

Midnight: Four hours done and I still feel good.  My foot is stiff and cranky but it is not a new pain.  I take a break to eat something, refill my bottle and change socks and shoes.  I typically do not get blisters.  Call me lucky.  But my second toe on my right foot was getting a doozy.  Lesson: when you first feel that hot spot, take care if it.  I didn't.   The fresh shoes (different brand) made my foot 10 times worse.  Made it two laps and stopped to change back into the first pair.  Much better.

1:30am:  My first trip to the "dark place" came around the five hour mark.  Legs were heavy and stiff, mind was wandering, and I scrolled through all of the reasons I should stop and go to bed.  I have been to the "dark place" before and know enough to just keep moving because the bad spots will pass.  A little food, a walking break... and all of a sudden I am running again.  Lesson:  the rough patches can pass as quickly as they arrive.  Just keep moving.   


2:30 am:  Really?  Am I really running in the middle of the night?  Actually it was pretty cool ... and surreal.  I never really felt sleepy.  I was awake and alert. Even at this late (early?) hour there were other runners in the "pit area" who offered encouragement on every lap.  Just a simple "great job" or "go Kevin" goes a long way.  I even had a few friends jump in to pace/ distract me for a few laps. Thanks to all my friends out there in the dark!  Lesson: Runners are awesome.

3:00 am: I checked my lap count and it was 32 miles.   Every step from here would be the farthest I had ever run.  Sweet. "Ok, relax, focus and let's get to 35 and see how we feel".  My feet were barking LOUDLY.   No cramps or stomach problems though.  And the whole lack of sleep thing was no problem.   The trail grew very still and quiet at this hour as the only runners still up were those going for mega-mileage and the super fast relay teams running endless mile repeats at 6:00 pace.  I enjoyed the serenity and actually turned off my iPod for several laps to soak in the whole environment. The second "dark place" came along around the 7 hour mark.  I really felt good but my foot was screaming at me every step.   Lesson: This was just a long training run... and no medals would be given for heroic actions that lead to a season-ending injury.   Just get to 35 laps and then reassess.

3:30 am: Welcome to 35 miles.  Quick self-evaluation: stomach: zero issues, muscles and joints: tired but no cramps; foot: really pissed off; mental state:  loving the event, the distance and the test.  I stopped at the pit area to eat and make a decision on what to do next.  I chatted with some other runners.  My friend and teammate, Charlie, recommended getting some sleep and then running again.  I declined because I wanted to bite off one big chunk of mileage AND I knew I would not feel like running after a nap.  He then suggested walking a lap to recover and then make a decision.  Great idea!  I grabbed a snack and a drink and then made the fatal decision:  instead of sitting on the hard cooler that I had used during previous breaks... I sat down in a comfortable chair to just relax for a minute.  Within 10 minutes I was shivering as my body temperature dropped.  I decided to get up and walk a lap to see if I could continue.   When I stood, my legs and hip flexors went into total lock-down.  That small blister that I should have addressed at midnight felt like a razor in my shoe and I could not stop shivering.   It took all of about 10 seconds to realize I was D.O.N.E.   There was no deliberation.  I quietly packed my gear, headed to the car and went home.

I am very satisfied with the run.  It was great training and provided many lessons that will hopefully serve me well in my training ... and coaching.

• A lesson I have learned in marathon & ironman training and racing:  the good times and the bad times will pass... so just keep moving. 
• Take care of blisters, chafing, etc as soon as you feel it.  It will only get worse and the damage increases exponentially as the miles pass. 
• Take all of the advice you can get from those experienced athletes around you.  
• Watch those same athletes and see how they succeed.  I had a front row seat to watch some very experienced ultra runners run 50, 80, 100+ miles.  I watched how they pace, eat and focus. Impressive stuff.
• A peanut butter & jelly sandwich at 2am is really, really good. 
• Just keep moving forward.
• This run only solidified my desire to answer the question: "How far can I run?"
• DO NOT SIT IN THE CHAIR.