Doing some research...

I started looking up how one begins to train for 100 mile race. None of what I found out really surprised me, but I'm questioning whether I really want to be as selfish as it would require. Here's just a few things this one ultramarathoner does throughout the year before a 100 mile race:

1. Two workouts a day, both at least 10 miles. (Okay, maybe manageable)
2. Long runs are all at least 22 miles. (Doable)
3. Every 3-4 weeks run 25-50 miles instead of the usual 22 miles. (Mini Chi would freak!)
4. Weight training 2-3 times a week. (When?)
5. All weekly long runs should be on a trail with hills. (Anyone know a nanny?)
6. Track workouts of 800 meters at 80%-90% effort. (Ouch)

Obviously I would have to do those things to be ready to run on a trail for 100 miles, but looking at it broken down like that, it's clear that I would have to be away from my family for hours every day. A nice idea, but unless I don't ever want to sleep, probably not going to happen. I do have a goal though, to wake up and run before my kids need to get up for school so that it doesn't take up half my morning anymore. I can get it out of the way before I start the day. I set my alarm last night for 5:00 AM, and then turned it off at 11:00 PM before I fell asleep. I'm such a chicken. I really, really hate getting up early.

Tomorrow. I'll start tomorrow.

P.S.

The headband is called Bondi Band and they are on the web.

3:40!

This is the only picture I have of the starting line because it was SO COLD I could not take off my gloves. I was shivering so uncontrollably. I wanted to try and get in to the bonfires but it was so packed already I couldn't have gotten close. When we had to take off our sweats and put them in the bags for the trucks to take back, some total strangers and I huddled up together until the gun went off. It was painfully cold! OH, and Stacey, the DJ at the starting line said that the only state that wasn't represented in the marathon was VERMONT!! Funny huh? It was quite a party going on. Things have changed since I did this marathon 13 years ago. I was surprised to only see one person I knew from Salt Lake and just a couple I knew from St. George.

I'll be happy with a personal best of 3:40. I also have to attribute that faster time to the fact that I didn't have to use the potty once after I started running. I usually have eaten and drank the whole hour before the race starts. This time I didn't start drinking till the race started. I ate a GU and drank a whole bottle in the first half mile and drank A LOT during the race, but still didn't need to pee. That makes a huge difference considering the lines at the pottys. Thank you for the playlist suggestions! It helped so much to have great music at the points that I really wanted to start walking.


I found lots of nifty new things at the fitness expo picking up my number the day before. I was glad to have them. The greatest one was this headband. It's just a strip of really thin spandex-like material. Perfect because it covers your ears when it's cold, but it's not super thick and HOT like most sweat bands and ear warmers are, so I could wear it the whole race and it kept the sweat out of my eyes but didn't heat me up. I can't read the label very well, but I think it says "bana band." Some girl cut strips of spandex, put a stitch in the back and is selling them for $8.00 a piece. I bought three!


I also got a little belt made out of the same stuff that holds about 8 GUs. Really soft and lightweight. It's call the "Spibelt." I can't remember how much a paid for it. They're on the web.

I also love the Nathan's Bottle Holders. I was lucky enough to have a niece volunteering at mile 13 so I gave her a bottle of my favorite energy drink to hand me. It was a miracle I saw her because I didn't realize I was at mile 13, so wasn't watching for her. She just happened to be the girl I took a cup of water from and said, "OH! AMY! Got my bottle?" and of course like a good little niece, she did. Yeay for Amy. I've blogged about the Nathan's things before. I like them better than the other's I've tried because they hold on to your hand tighter so that you barely have to grip the bottle. It's also padded so it's more comfortable. They also hold about 3-4 GU packets in an outside pocket.

At the fitness expo I sampled some stuff I had never seen before by Cliff Shot. It's a recovery drink. It was so yummy and it has a few things in it that Perpetuem doesn't. I asked if I could buy some and the guy looked kind of surprised and said, "Uh, no. We don't have any to sell." Ok, so thanks for the sample. Then about 10 minutes later he chased me down and said, "Hey, we don't have many people that love this stuff so why don't you just take this." and handed me a $40.00 container of it for free. Yeay for free crap! It has a little bit more sugar, less fat, and more protein than Perpetuem. Exactly what I think Perpetuem needs to change. I mixed them together for the start of the race and the bottle that Good-Little-Niece Amy handed me.

When you're not an elite runner, so much of a race is finding all the "stuff" that will help you get to the finish line without the blisters, chafing, cramping... whatever. Many a race was ruined for me because got some weird problem happening in the middle of a race from eating something wrong or bad choice of clothing. I think I found a great combo of products that work for me. For the people that are done with the thing in 2 hours they don't have to worry so much about those things!

Registration for the Wasatch 100 is in January. It's a draw for a number, so no guarantee I will get in, but I will let you know so that you can all sign up to run a leg of it with me as a pacer! You know you want to.

Thanks for your encouragement, y'all!!