My 24 HR run turned out to be only about 10.5 hours. I ended up running about 100k in a little under 10 hours and then walking until about 65 miles somewhere around 7:30 at night. I couldn't believe the race still wasn't even halfway over. The first couple hours had gone by fast, leading me to think- ah look at that, 1/24th of the way done already and I just started! 1/12th of the way done and wasn't that easy! Once at 10 hours though reality was sinking in. I haven't even run half of forever yet, just 10/24ths of forever. Feels like the same thing. My quads had been tightening up for awhile and I had been fighting it but by 65 miles I pretty much couldn't run anymore. I wanted to walk for awhile but Joel didn't want me to injure myself if I couldn't make the world standard- 120 miles, so he would rather I stopped. I was pretty disappointed and it was hard for me to disapoint Joel and Jim and I was feeling guilty that meant we would have to get a hotel for the night which would cost even more money. But I was not quite physically or mentally ready to make it.
I felt proud that I had tried at least and made a very good effort at reaching the distance, covering half the distance I would need in about 10 hours. I didn't mean to but I was leading the race for the first 8 hours. Maybe because as Jim says- I don't know how to run slow. It didn't feel like I was running fast- it felt normal. I don't like to force myself to run slower than what feels normal- it makes me cranky and it makes my legs cranky. Joel made me do a 21 mile run where I had to run 10 minute pace and it was one of the hardest runs I've ever done. It felt even worse than when I used to sprint 21 mile long runs at 7 minute pace. My legs were aching after only about 10 miles of that run and when I tried to pick it up to run even like 9:30s it felt like I was running up a wall.
I'm also disappointed I missed the night run. I like running after dark, seems faster when you can't really see where you are going. Also the weather during the day was hot and also windy so I was both hot and cold at the same time and ended up with a worse sunburn across my shoulders than the pain in my legs. Both of which hurt very badly and kept me up that night, thinking of those still running.
I am going to do a couple 12 hour runs to practice and then try again next year. Hey it's a little crazy to do a 24 hour run when you've never even done a 100k- at least I have now completed one of those! And the nice thing about the 24 hour run is that even if you stop after less than that hours you still technically finished. When everyone asks you how your race went you don't have to tell them you didn't finish and most people still seem to be impressed when you say you only ran 65 miles.
The race went on to be won by Sabrina Moran in a new American record of 147 miles. I feel good about being able to run with her for even 1/3 of the race. I think it means I have a good future in the 24 hr distance as there is not another race I could lead the American record holder for even a 1/3 of the distance. I couldn't run a 4:40 mile to lead the 5k, couldn't run 5:18 pace for 9 miles in the marathon ( or even 1), and I don't think I could even run the record mile pace if I sprinted my guts out for 100 meters.
I felt proud that I had tried at least and made a very good effort at reaching the distance, covering half the distance I would need in about 10 hours. I didn't mean to but I was leading the race for the first 8 hours. Maybe because as Jim says- I don't know how to run slow. It didn't feel like I was running fast- it felt normal. I don't like to force myself to run slower than what feels normal- it makes me cranky and it makes my legs cranky. Joel made me do a 21 mile run where I had to run 10 minute pace and it was one of the hardest runs I've ever done. It felt even worse than when I used to sprint 21 mile long runs at 7 minute pace. My legs were aching after only about 10 miles of that run and when I tried to pick it up to run even like 9:30s it felt like I was running up a wall.
I'm also disappointed I missed the night run. I like running after dark, seems faster when you can't really see where you are going. Also the weather during the day was hot and also windy so I was both hot and cold at the same time and ended up with a worse sunburn across my shoulders than the pain in my legs. Both of which hurt very badly and kept me up that night, thinking of those still running.
I am going to do a couple 12 hour runs to practice and then try again next year. Hey it's a little crazy to do a 24 hour run when you've never even done a 100k- at least I have now completed one of those! And the nice thing about the 24 hour run is that even if you stop after less than that hours you still technically finished. When everyone asks you how your race went you don't have to tell them you didn't finish and most people still seem to be impressed when you say you only ran 65 miles.
The race went on to be won by Sabrina Moran in a new American record of 147 miles. I feel good about being able to run with her for even 1/3 of the race. I think it means I have a good future in the 24 hr distance as there is not another race I could lead the American record holder for even a 1/3 of the distance. I couldn't run a 4:40 mile to lead the 5k, couldn't run 5:18 pace for 9 miles in the marathon ( or even 1), and I don't think I could even run the record mile pace if I sprinted my guts out for 100 meters.
Pff, 65 miles is nothing! I could drive that in like an hour on the freeway!
ReplyDeleteJK, Proud of you ;)