Runners
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New shoes. Now I have a race shoe for trail ultras (orange hokas), a slow trail shoe for training (navy), and then a slow road shoe (black), and a tempo road shoe (white).
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Another week of running and making progress again. The training program I am using is progressive in nature and a great template to better my overall conditioning wth the caveat of interpreting the intensity levels correctly. I was at running at too high of a level for where I was in my overall conditioning and started to move backwards in my training and recovery.
Changing my shoes helped tremendously as well as backing off in intensity and running at lower HR zones during my training runs. I'm sleeping better, running better, faster, and lower heart rates again. Overall I'm pleased with how my summer training has been going, but anticipate that I won't be able to compete in the race I have been eyeing this fall. I was hoping to run a 50km trail run, but may settle on the 25km race instead. This is the same race that I ran with the family last year called the Fat Ass Trail Run with 5, 7.5, 12.5, 25 and 50 km's races throughout the day. If the family is interested in running again this year, everything may go out the window and decide to run with them.
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@goosehd The main thing is that you’re back on track with training, and have race options to look forward to. Either way, it sounds like it will be a good day, either long solo, short family, or somewhere in between.
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What's your longest run so far @goosehd ? I claim that if you could go out and run 25km now then you would be able to finish the 50km, especially if you set the goal as finishing and not at any specific pace. Worst case scenario you drop out early. It can be fun to head out on a run that you don't know you'll be able to finish
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@Nik Around 18-20 km's, but I was finding that around 15 km that I would have to take a walk break or two, my times started to drift, and my heart rate would get harder to control. Started doing the food thing every 45 minutes which did help some. Also was during the heat of the summer which may have been a factor.
Just finished a run in 65F temperature and loved it. 10km just under an hour and still feel fresh.
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walking break is great, I do that a lot on ultras!
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@Nik Me too (or I used to).
Curious to know how you got on balancing your ‘long’ weekend training around the party. Sorry we didn’t actually get to speak.
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@Mister_Brue yeah doing 31 miles on saturday and 21 on sunday for a total of 84 that week meant didn't have the energy to party as much as I might have otherwise liked to. I was worn out but also in a good satisfied way. It is nice being around friendly faces in that state and I didn't want to miss it, so was definitely fun to be there.
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@Nik I weirdly miss it…
I’ll take this opportunity to say best of luck to you in the upcoming race.I guess your injury is better too?
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Thank you @Mister_Brue yeah calf is healing up. Still can't do faster pace stuff, but not much need to with another 100 miler in two weeks.
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@Nik Are you doing the Grand Slam this year?
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Nope. Just South Downs Way and Autumn 100 with Centurion. Was only planning SDW but my buddy signed up for Saddles 100 in Arizona and I couldn't make it to that so wanted to do another race around the same time. Him and I doing Paris Marathon and Eastern States 100 next year. Might also try to get some stones and will enter lotteries for Western States and UTMB. You?
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@Nik I have unfortunately had a long term injury. I’m not sure if I will be able to do marathon+ distance again, but I hope so. There are a few 200’s about now too..
How do you feel about the route for the A100? I only ever did linear 100 routes, which I enjoyed. I’d be interested to know if this has a different affect on your race, psychologically speaking.
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I’m looking forward to being able to see all the other runners and I don’t mind an out and back.
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@Nik That’s a good point. It can often be lonely out there….
Have you done many spurred ultras in the past?
And if you like seeing other runners, have you ever done, or considered running a track ultra?
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Track ultra not something I've considered yet, still enjoying trails the most. And Autumn 100 will be my first spurred race.
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@Nik Oh, trails are definitely the best, but the track is different beast if and when you want a new challenge.
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Autumn 100 mile ultramarathon starts at 9am British time this Saturday 12 October. I’m bib 262, here’s a live gps tracker if anyone’s interested.
https://live.opentracking.co.uk/A100-2024/
Going to be cold, some big puddles but mostly dry. I’m getting excited. -
Centurion Autumn 100 mile Ultramarathon
5th out of 252 starters.
Went out fast. Had the usual struggle before halfway point. After 50 miles was able to catch some people on hills, then on the last leg forced more carbs in and just ran my own race.
The 4 out and back spurs/legs were fun because it meant seeing all the other runners out there. Must have said/heard ‘well done’ about 200 times. Centurion organised a great race again, would recommend.
Some thoughts about kit and nutrition: waterproof socks work well for when you have to step in standing water. Same strategy again of mostly tailwind drink and sometimes water supplemented by gu gels worked well. Eating a gel every two miles is tough and I couldn’t manage it the whole time but it does keep the engine running.
Also I got stung by a bee towards the beginning.
Gear was satisfy running techsilk and cloud merino followed by arcteryx norvan tights and iron heart fleece western for the final cold 25 miles. Shoes were hoka tecton x 2 the whole time with two sock changes. No blisters.
Most importantly: these extended endurance events use up my whole body, including my lungs, heart, and brain. At times I got emotional and had little whimpers of almost tears. I imagined everyone I love alive and dead with me pushing me forward. I felt them with me through the race. I did not do this on my own.
For any strava users here's a link to the activity https://www.strava.com/activities/12641853197
Two 100 mile belt buckles
