I'm pacing a 100 miler

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I'm pacing a 100 miler

Rustyboy

LA, CA
Joined: 14 Dec 2004
Posts: 225

I'm pacing a 100 miler Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:04 am

In 2 1/2 weeks, I'll be running the overnight, final marathon leg of the San Diego 100 with a runner I met at my first ultra last January. I was so totally honored that he asked me: He was the guy that ran the last 10 or so miles of the 50k with me and really pulled me through. I'm nervous and excited as a hell! I've only run trails at night once, so I'll have to do a couple of training runs in the dark. It's easy to miss roots and rocks when all you have is your headlamp aimed 6 feet in front of you.

mfox

South Orange, New Jersey
Joined: 19 Dec 2004
Posts: 367

Re: I'm pacing a 100 miler Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 10:04 am

Wow, that sounds very exciting Rustyboy. I've never run trails at night but I imagine its a pretty strange experience. I've read reports from some ultrarunners who say the affect of the light from a bobbing headlamp can play tricks on your eyes not to mention make you dizzy. I understand the glow of the light from your headlamp can cast shadows that make it seem like there might be animals moving behind the trees/brush. I can imagine how this all plays on your mind when you're 70 miles into a trail run. Good luck. I'm eager to hear how it turns out. I'm giving very serious thought to registering for the JFK 50 mile race in Hagerstown, Maryland (part of which goes along the Appalacian Trail) in November. If I can work out the logistics of getting there and back I think I'm going to do it. I'm eager to do my first ultra.

Rustyboy

LA, CA
Joined: 14 Dec 2004
Posts: 225

Re: I'm pacing a 100 miler Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:56 pm

Yes, the one time I've run with a headlamp, I saw all sorts of weird stuff that the shadows created. Luckily, I was with someone, so we could talk eachother out of freaking out about bears, mountain lions, and the giant cockroach I was positive that I saw. JFK is legendary! What a great first ultra, if you decide to do it. And diving into a 50 miler first? SWEET! Keep this in mind: On one of my weekend long runs (yeah, back to back long runs are quite the fricking challenge), I came across another runner at a fairly high altitude. We chatted, and when I asked him if he ran ultras, he responded, "No way! Those races are for people like YOU!" People like me? Hell, everybody is "people like me"! Have any itchin' to do a 100? Boy, when you tell people that you're training to do over a marathon, you get the craziest looks.

mfox

South Orange, New Jersey
Joined: 19 Dec 2004
Posts: 367

Re: I'm pacing a 100 miler Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:09 pm

I gather that the JFK is 'relatively" easy in that the terrain isn't as challenging as most ultras I've read about. A good portion of it goes a long a flat canal path. I've done a lot of long training runs on a nearby canal path and from my experience I think a flat course is more difficult than a more hilly course. So I think I know better than to think this course will be "easy" just because it has a long flat section. But it sounds like a good one to do for a first ultra in that I won't be challenged with having to avoid getting lost. My ultimate goal is to do a 100 someday. Perhaps the two of us can meet up someday and do an ultra together. Anyone else want to join us?

mrbill

Sub-Chicago
Joined: 09 May 2006
Posts: 84

Re: I'm pacing a 100 miler Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 12:42 pm

That is totally cool!!! Good luck and please tell us all about it...

Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

Re: I'm pacing a 100 miler Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:53 am

Rustyboy wrote:
We chatted, and when I asked him if he ran ultras, he responded, "No way! Those races are for people like YOU!"

Ha! That's great.

Wow, 26 miles of tricky terrain, in the dark. My hat's off to you! I have enough trouble with after-dark runs around my neighborhood-- even with a headlamp, things look a bit confusing, and I'm always landing in a pothole or tripping on a curb.

Good luck!

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