ChuckRuns: May 2019

Saturday May 18 at 9 am I started my goal race of the year – 3 Days at the Fair 24 Hour Race. I had hopes and a detailed plan to complete over 100 miles. But I stopped after 10 and a half hours with 45 miles. Huh? Really. After months of looking toward this event, I dropped out before it was half done.

This is a fixed time event, which means trying for as many miles as possible in the time allowed. It is different from the typical fixed distance race where we try to finish in the least time possible. You can stop and restart at your own choosing. There were several other races in progress at the same time, 6 Hours, 12 Hours, 48 Hours, 72 Hours, 6 Days, 10 Days, marathon and 50k. It was a little like a carnival or fair with running as the attraction; and it was held on a county fairground on a one mile loop. Runners had tents and campers set up around the course. Families and friends were along the course in support of their runners. The fairground kitchen and concession were in service supporting the runners.

A fun thing that this race does is to encourage participants to celebrate their accomplishments. At the timing mat and food station area there is a bell that can be rung by any runner at any time to celebrate any mile mark or time completed. Off and on through my time there runners were ringing the bell.
Ringing the bell video

Race details and results can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/njtrailseries/fair

My run plan called for running the first hour at my easy long run pace - about 9:30 to 10:00 minute miles. Then I would switch to walk about a fourth of each lap which covered the uphill part of the loop and I expected this to result in lap times of 12 minutes more or less. I planned to eat and drink regularly from the race provided aid as well as taking some of my own food and drink. As needed I would walk more. Overall my goal was to keep moving 90 to 95% of the time. My calculations pointed to 105 to 110 miles if I could execute my plan.

In spite of all my training, planning, etc I was not ready mentally when things got difficult a few hours into the race. From my knees down to my feet, I was sore and achy like is normal after a long time on your feet. The sunny weather made me hotter than just the air temp in the low 70s. My stomach contents were sloshing a bit.

My friend Angie was in the 6 hour race which started the same time as mine and I ran the first hour with her before switching to my run/walk plan. Later she and I did some miles together in the last hour of her race. By this time I was lamenting (whining) how I felt and that I no longer had any interest in continuing to try.

Before


After Angie's 6 hour race

Sunny afternoon conditions

I tried to give my body (and mind) a chance to pull out of the slump by walking more, focusing more on fluids and food, and interacting with other runners. Eventually I stopped and called my wife Rose to talk about the trouble I was having. She gave some medium strength encouragement to continue trying, but also gave non-judgmental consent if stopping was what I wanted to do. I resumed the effort for 10 more miles (mostly walking), then at about 7:30 pm I decided to lay down for a nap before deciding whether to quit. My legs did feel better after the nap, but my motivation still had not returned. I knew that I could resume running since my body worked okay again and I felt like I "should" continue. But I just didn’t want to. I didn't want to enter the "fight" again. So I officially withdrew from the race a little before midnight. I showered and lay down again till morning.

One of many posters for inspiration - wish I had seen it!

Why the problem?
The thing with my legs may have been related to the heavy compression socks I was wearing. While laying down I kept the socks on until I decided that I would not return to the course. My legs were aching that whole time. Soon after removing the socks I got up and walked to my pickup truck to pack up my supplies. Once I finished with that and started toward the place to turn in my timing chip, I realized my legs felt completely okay. Maybe the socks had restricted circulation to the point of bringing on leg pain.

A number of other things probably also contributed to my lack of motivation. 1. My stomach was a little off due I think to my dinner meal the night before and eventually the heat and effort. 2. I had not slept well due to the noisy surroundings where my tent was placed. 3. And my preparations had focused on the practical details of food, equipment, run plans. There was significant physical effort and time on my feet in the last 24 hours collecting and setting up everything.

A successful runner who I follow online has pointed out that while many realize that the mind (our will) decides what the body will do, the mind is also part of the body and is affected by the same conditions that weaken the body. Will power is not immune to the body's physical depletion.

Perhaps most importantly, now after the race I realize I was over-confident and neglected to really acknowledge and prepare for the challenge I was facing physically and mentally. I had a successful prior 24 hour race. I read and copied what successful runners have done in making my plan. I was anticipating writing of my successful run. So I had taken for granted that I could and would step up to overcome any difficulties during the event. I quickly found out how wrong I was about that.

In spite of how things went for me, I enjoyed being there. Already I am thinking about what’s next and how to prevent a similar result.

Some notable memories of people there, some I spoke with:

Barkley Marathons finisher, John Fegyveresi was competing in the 50k
The men's 10 day race was won with 731 miles, the women's winner had 530
French runner Serge Girard, age 65, finished second in the 10 day with 600 miles - he has run across several continents, one year he averaged 47 miles per day all year long
First runner to reach 2000 miles in race history (10 yrs). I ran with Gary several times that day
Third runner to reach 2000 miles in race history (10 yrs) - 37 year run streak. I recently read Fred's book Running Home which refers to races in my hometown area.
Fourth runner to reach 2000 miles in race history (8 yrs for him) Jim reached both 1500 & 2000 miles in the 10 day event and finished in 3rd place with 540 miles. Gary (above introduced us and asked me to explain my Walking Purchase story.
I made a friend, Scott who I had seen at another race, shared most of my last 10 miles with him
I met Amy, the winner of women's 48 hours with 202 miles; also a friend of my local friend Laurie
Saw elite level runner Gina Slaby who ran 100 miles in 15 hours something, then stopped around 22.5 hours (of the 48 hour race) with 130 miles, finishing 5th and her husband Steve who was leading the men's 24 hour until stopping around 9 hours with 60 miles
I spoke w/ a boy about 10 yrs old who had done 13 miles and was walking w/ dad mostly holding hands
Also spoke w/ a boy about 12/13 yrs old who had done 20 miles by late afternoon. I asked if he was having fun. He said yes except that he was now walking because his leg wouldn't allow him to run anymore. He had goal of 34 miles because he did 33 last year and race director said he should try for more.