79.67 strong to a dead stop.

Leading into Delirium I believed I had solid training under my feet. I was having feet issues heading into this race but I prayed that they would just hold up.

Starting this race I took my first 5k fast, 23something, pretty sure the first 10 or 15 miles my pace stayed around 8:40s. I finally eased into a slower pace 9:30s.

The course was flat, trail, rained for a few hours, got very muddy in sections and hard to run through.

I knew in the back of my head there's was no way I was going to be running out there the full 24 hours, but I believe I could possibly get sub 18 hour 100 even if I walked an hour.

I think I started to fall a sleep around 35 miles, then started to run with man in the 6 hour event, we got to talking and I didn't even realize my paces were dropping sub 9 minutes again. He did well 40ish miles in 6 hours. I too reached 40 in 6 hours, told myself to slow down.

I hit a wall again at this point and changed from my Hokas to my

Mizunos around 46 miles bc they were so much coated in dirt they felt like bricks.

Got to moving again, felt good and cranked out a few laps in a sub 9 minute pace then settled in again. Reached 50 miles in 7:53.

I started to have negative thoughts, and I was trying to get myself out of it so I started to set little goals for myself. My goal was to get to the 100k in under 10 hours, I was 9:53. Then my new goal was to see how if I can get 70 miles in 12 hours, I got over 73 miles.

I was good to go for a couple more miles. Then all hell happened, instantly couldn't take another step without agonizing pain. My toe was bothering me for the past 30 miles but I felt a snap, I thought it has snapped off. And of course that cramp that I has been having an issue with in my other foot, that was something I might have still could have pushed through, but whatever I did to my knee, I couldn't move. I walked slowly the last lap, I didn't want to call it quits, mentally I was fine.

I ran so comfortable and relaxed for 79.67 miles in sub 13 hours, disappointed that I couldn't reach 100 due to my feet, mentally I was ready I had more to give, lesson learned, Hokas for entire race!

Not sure what is next, I was planning on running another 24 hour race soon but my motivation and determination is low, I should just look at Delirium as a really long training run. Not sure what I want to do with running now so taking time to think about that....

Comments

Worlds End Ultra 50k

If you don't look off to the sides, bears aren't there. If you don't focus so much on the trail infront of you, you don't see snakes... Maybe that noise I just heard was just some other runner falling into rubbish or maybe it's a bear? Well no bear and no snakes sights during this event, which is a win in my eyes! World's End Ultra Marathon. Location: Worlds End State Park, Pennsylvania Distance: 50k Elevation gain: 6200+ft Course conditions: Wet, Mud Nutrition: 2 liters water, 4 oz coke. Looking back at all the ultra marathons I have ran (over 30 finishes) closer to over 40 If you want to count the few DNFs and a few distance switches. Besides the point, out of 30+ ultras I have ran, Worlds End is the toughest, most challenging course I have come across for the 50k distance, and to make the race even more brutal, we ran it in a heat wave. Rewind to 2 weeks prior. I got an email that my name was selected off the waitlist to be a participant. I ...

Skidaway Island Marathon

Since I ended up getting sick at Caumsett 50k earlier this month I felt like I should jump into another race since I was/am "race ready" I put in the work so I might as well do a race to see where I stand. Skidaway Island Marathon fell on March 26th, which was a good weekend for me to have a race. I didn't really have a goal in mind for this marathon, other than to have a good race. I thought I may be able to get 3:10/3:15 after hearing the horror stories of how humid/hot and the amount of winding turns being made on course. Weather was calling for thunderstorms, lightening and heavy rain. Yay!! Luckily I wasn't raining at the start. I started out slower than I typically would for a road marathon- which was a good move on my part, I didn't look at my watch from mile 1 to until I reached the half marathon point. I just ran comfortably chatting along with a few other runners. The course was marked very well- and was it a very zig-zagy course for sure! I'm not ...

RH Armadillo Broil 50k

Training. Or lack of. I took a few months off of running due to a nagging injury... Also, moving to Savannah I was swamped with lack of time and finding a job etc... I decided that I would have to save Leadville Trail 100 for next year, and shoot for a 50k to keep my mind preoccupied. Armadillo Broil 50k is Richmond Hill GA first Ultra taking place at JF Gregory Park. 3.1 mile loop, mostly paved "trail" and about a mile dirt trail, flat as can be expected for running in the Savannah area. Shade for most of the trail minus the start/finish area. Weather that day was high 80* with a heat index of 112* due to the humidity. Parts of the trail were muggier than others. Race was very well organized, there was a 25k option and 50k option. Great race for runners looking for a long training run for upcoming fall marathons and also great ultra for anyone looking to run their first 50k, my advice, run in the heat to get use to the humidity and also practice nutrition during your long r...

One Run Closer

Search This Blog