Finished it a week ago, it took 23 hrs and 50 min to run 100 miles. (official distance of run was 102 miles) 5am on Saturday to 4:50am Sunday. Longest distance I've ever covered in more than 22 years of running.
The temperature got warm and humidity was up there, but the thing that really got to me were the relentless ups and downs on the hills, the rocks, roots, & mud patches. Wow, it was tough! I consider myself to be a decent trail runner, but it took its toll.
My pal Brad joined me at 65 miles and ran as my pacer.
The most exciting part of the run was the last 20 miles, when things cooled off and I realized I stood a good chance of finishing, and under 24 hours at that.
I hope to put a detailed acct in the "stories" soon.
Went down to the course the "Big Run" will take place on in 3 weeks. My friend (armed with a GPS unit) who agreed to pace me in the last 37 miles wanted to be prepared, and wanted to run/preview this section with me to make sure he was familar with it.
Put out 5 aid drops where we were able to. The calories were plenty, but the fluids were barely sufficient for the warm humid day....
Temperature rose from 70F to 87F.
Using the course map and description, and some race stickers on trail posts, we successfully navigated it in 8:55. The last 5 miles became tough.
The GPS called it 38 miles, (we went took a few wrong turns then backtracked when we realized we were going the wrong way.)
Awesome place to run. The trails were tough, rocks and roots prevalent, the hills relentless, and the bugs made their presence known.
Went to site of "The Big Run" and met with others training for it. Was a lot of fun, great people.
Ran tough trails 8pm to 1am, then showered & crawled into tent (in the rain), ate a can of stew and slept 6 hours.
Got up and met group for another 5 hour run (mostly country roads) 9am to 2pm. Took a 4 hour nap in tent again and woke up for dinner and beer with other runners in the campground. Hit the tent at 10p, slept like a rock. I forgot about my cooler and the racoons got to it. Half a loaf of bread and 10 slices of cheese gone...... plastic shredded all over the place and I never heard it going on.
Some of the other runners were going for another 20 miler in the morning but I had to leave and do some family things. I really did want to join them, really was a bonding experience.
chrissy1 says:
Certainly impressive. good job! How many miles in total did that come to?
johnnyk8 says:
WOW! A true warrior! Stay safe.
mike R says:
21 + 26 miles
mike R says:
Thanks JK8, always being careful. We are only human!
Had to get another long run in prep for the "Big Run".
Saturday was the day of opportunity, despite the weather.
Started with the idea of running the perimeter of the township I live in, about 30 miles, mostly roads/sidewalks. Meant to do this for several years now, doubt anyone has ever done this....
Windy, cool, rained periodically. Felt sluggish from the start. After an hour, stopped at Wal-Greens to get sports drink and snacks. The clerks regarded me with raised brows.....
Felt better, but running in the chilly rain, and against traffic, was demoralizing...
After 90 minutes, stopped for a pit stop near a horse/bridle trail. The dirt trail looked less miserable....so I bailed on the "Town Perimeter Run" and went off-road.
Commenced on a odyssey taking me through 4 different townships/suburbs, some of the highlights (or lowlights) being a snack stop at another drugstore containing perplexed customers, cursing at park water fountains that hadn't been turned on yet, sto... Read full entry
Last Saturday
Another step in getting ready for the "big run"......
Completed out (almost to Lake Erie) & back on mostly dirt trail and some bike path. Thought it might turn out to be 40 miles, but pal Brad's GPS stated 44.25 when done, took us 8.5 hours.....
Temp at 5:15am start was 32F, ended up around 60F when we finished. No rain, thank God!
Total of 4 "aid stops" each way. One was a vehicle stocked with aid, the others were bags hung in a tree.
The raccoons pillaged one of them, but we stopped at a golf course shop and bought $9.00 in snacks and drinks to make up for it. If they had gotten into one more aid drop, the run would have to had been cut short.
Recovered well. Took next two days off of running, just did some hiking.
6 days later ran a 5K race, set a master's PR for myself, my fastest in almost 8 years. Just ticked that I let 2 young fellers outkick me in the last half mile to bump me from 3rd to 5th place, but...that's racing for you, have to want it... Read full entry
aljdudkin says:
WOW! this leaves me speachless!!!! 40 miles?!?!?!?!?!
Did fairly well in the trail 50k a week and some ago.
Will be running longer than I ever have in my 22 years of being a runner.
I am obsessed with my goal.
Mury says:
If you just did a 50K and speak of another run as the "big run" what is it?
johnnyk8 says:
Super Cool - 50Km+!! You animal!!!!
mike R says:
hi mury
100 miles
I attempted the distance 7 years ago with a bad dehydration DNF at 70.
Hoping to take care of some unfinished business.
Much more experience (and humility)under my belt.
It's time.
mike
mike R says:
Thanks JK8
Keep on running.
mike
Mury says:
Awesome, which one you doing? I've been doing a lot of reading about ultras and the people that run them. I can't say that I have any dreams of running one, but it sure makes getting out the door and running 8 miles a lot easier.
