I’m training for my next Ultramarathon
Doing my marathon back in September made me realize how much I miss training for a big goal. Since I did my last Ironman and Half Ironman back in September 2021, I haven’t really trained for anything significant. Of course I have continued to train strength and fitness and have done some local Strongman or CrossFit competitions. Those are fun, but don’t quite “scratch the itch” of doing something that presents both a physical challenge and a mental challenge…something that I love.
Hearing a little bit about the origin story of David Goggins, a retired Navy Seal, ultrarunner, author, etc., his first ultramarathon was on a running track in California and it was a 24 hour race. No goal distance, but a goal of running as much as possible for 24 hours. Having heard about that, it has always been in the back of my mind as something I’d like to try some day.
A few months back, I was mentioning it to one of my clients as something I was possibly considering for next year, but wasn’t feeling super mentally committed to it. Enjoying the challenge of an under-trained marathon (I know..that doesn’t make any sense), the idea of a 24-hour race really started moving to the forefront of my mind.
Beginning of October, I decided to start working with one of my favorite coaches again, Coach Mike of Mayhem Performance Coaching. He saw me through some of my other triathlons, ultramarathons, and other fun feats of physical fitness. Initially, I told him I didn’t really have anything on the schedule, but mentioned that this one race type was on my mind.
After hanging up with him, I decided to look up 24-hour races again and found one in New Jersey that matched what I was looking for. It’s really a 6-day race, where one can rack up as many miles as they want in 6 days. Now THAT’s not quite what I am looking for (yet lol), but they did also have a 24-hour option. The race also takes place on a 0.25 mile track.
Yes…you read that right…you run in the same circle for 24 hours…and I couldn’t be more excited about that. Don’t worry…they mix it up. You change directions every 6 hours!
I was pumped. I found my desired race! Bonus points, it’s not tremendously far away.
My initial goal for this race was that I wanted to do 100 miles again. I worked out the math to know what pace I needed and how many miles per hour, and it seemed doable. However, I thought, “100 miles…I’ve already done that. I think I should shoot for at least 101 miles.” Again, did the math, know my goal pace, and I believe it’s doable. As a matter of fact, I think I will actually accomplish more.
April 12th and 13, 2025, we will find out just how much!
As of this writing, I am 22 weeks out. Just under 6 months. Whereas I did the marathon on a moderate whim, I am taking this one a bit more seriously and have started training for it. I do some smaller bits of running during the week in my workouts, but my main “training run” is on the weekend.
Still starting small at the moment and last week did a 20 minute easy run on Sunday. This Sunday, the run will be 25 minutes. What I generally do at the moment is divide the time in half and run around the track in one direction for that time, then run in the other direction the other half of the time. It’s an early way in which I am trying to replicate race day.
I share this story with you for a few reasons.
1) I’d like to encourage you to set a goal for yourself in the upcoming year that really pushes you to strive for something more than you could have imagined. Perhaps you strive for a 5K once per month…rain, snow, sleet or shine. I don’t care if you walk it or run it or sign up for something official. Just do it. It doesn’t even have to be a 5K…just pick something challenging. I promise come the end of the year, you will be so proud of yourself.
2) If the idea of a 24-hour race sounds like too much, they do have a 12-hour race option as well. There is no goal or required distance for you to go. It’s up to you how much you do. It’s your time to use however you like. You can go out onto the track and do a mile and hour, then go back and sit at your tent area, then come back out and do it again the next hour. I invite you to join me for the race and you do whatever suits you best!
3) I invite you to join me on my training sessions. Starting next weekend, Sunday, November 17th, I’ll post my planned training run times and places on my business Facebook page. My goal is to do as many of them as I can at the local High School track to best replicate race day. If I come across that being closed, my backup plan on a given day is the D&L trail. Generally speaking, at the moment, most training runs will be about 3:00 in the afternoon.
A little note about my training for this event and race day: this goal means a lot to me and I have to be selfish to accomplish it. I welcome you to join me, but I am not waiting for you. If training time starts at 3:00, that is when I am starting, whether you are there or not. If you cannot run at my pace, which, don’t worry, is not super fast, I am not waiting on you and walking.
I don’t say all of that to turn you away, but I like to share expectations ahead of time as well. “Selfish” might be a strong word, but perhaps more people use the word “having boundaries” today. I wish more people would be more selfish with the things that matter most to them and contribute to their well-being. Yes, there might be days or weekends where I have to adjust the time or the day, but it will get done and it will be my time. I apply the same general rule to my workouts during the week.
I am hopeful that by sharing my training times and locations, people will come out, regardless of their ability. Perhaps people of varying abilities will show up. Even if my goal is not to walk at all that day, there might be walkers there. Even if you aren’t running with a pack, at least you are in the presence of others, AND, at number one, at least you got out there and did something! I always like to encourage folks with, “don’t focus on what you cannot do, focus on what you CAN do.” If you can get out and walk for 25 minutes, then be proud of doing that. If all you can do is get out and walk for 15 minutes, then be proud of doing that!
Come race day, again, I have a mission and that is the forefront of my mind. I will absolutely encourage you when I am in your presence, but I will not stop and wait on you or stop to give you a pep talk. I also wouldn’t want someone to sacrifice their goal for me. You get out there and you either want it or you don’t.
Even if you don’t want to do the race, I will be looking to form a support crew for race weekend. Those folks will be our team encouragers. More to come on that!
In closing, although a tremendously challenging experience physically, it is one of the best mental experiences as well. More than just race day, the experiences in training help build character and resilience as well.
The invitation is there, it is now up to you.