I failed on my first 100 mile experience, the TP100 last month, due to bowel issues but mainly nutrition, so I really want to have a go at this 24h track race and get to that magical 100.
A week or so after registering for the Gloucester 24h track race, I read Centurion Running Race Director James Elson's report on his own 24h track experiences (here), which was very useful reading and made me think about several things, one of those, the race plans.
He suggested runners to come up with three plans for an ultra:
"Plan A: Dream goal but an achievable dream goal, it's not good to set one so high that you come off it very early and give yourself a big negative early on.
Plan B: The solid result, finishing in a good time/ place.
Plan C: Finishing."
I normally have Plan A- finish, Plan B- Dont be last, so I wanted to follow Jame's advice here.
Race Plans
Plan A: Get to 112.5 miles (180km)
This would qualify me to enter my dream ultra race, the Spartathlon!!
I would have to average 12.48 min/mile for the entire 24 hours!! This is very very very hard to do on a 24h race track!
The plan: due to the track being flat and food/toilet easily accessible, I could try and average 11 min/mile for the first 12h (including breaks for eating/drinking/toilet) getting me to 65 miles at half way. I would then inevitably start to slow down a LOT, but if I managed to keep a very optimistic 14 min/mile pace for the remaining 12h (~4miles/hour), I would finish with 116 miles so, with 3.5 miles to spare (yeah right!)
Like James Elson said, it is a dream goal but an achievable one it seems.
When I mean achievable I don't mean its easy at all! This is just a goal if all goes perfectly to plan, if my body behaves perfectly, if I keep running/walking all 24h with just small breaks, if my mind doesn't give up on me on the low moments I will have several times, specially during the night time... It really needs to be a perfect day, and even then, I'm not sure I would reach that mileage, but nice to have a goal above the 100 miles just if all goes 100% right on the day.
Plan B: Get to 100 miles (160km)
This is my FINISHING. I won't stop until I get to 100 miles.
I would need to average 14.24 min/mile which seems again achievable on paper. I could run as slow as 12 min/mile (again seems easy but including all little breaks its hard) on my first 12h and then slow to 16min/mile on the remaining 12h and make it 100!
Plan C:
Usually Plan C is finish however on a 24h you can't not finish, you can quit at any time and have a result no matter what, being 50 miles, 70 miles etc.
My finish to me is to get to 100 miles, so Plan B is my Plan C!
If I don't get to 100 miles I DNFed in my eyes. If I end up managing 90, it will still be my furthest ever compared to the 85 miles I managed on TP100 but still not what I want! It that happens it means the race went quite badly once again so I don't want to plan on that..
If I got to 85 miles in 23h44m at the TP100 with all those problems, it seems that I could get another 15 miles in so, I will do all it takes to get there.
Easy Right?
Now, it seems all easy but its not!
24h track races are one of the most mentally tough races out there, thats what people say to me who have done them or heard stories about them, and having done a 24h event (5 mile loop mind you) myself, I know its really hard mentally. People underestimate the fact that you just keep on doing the same lap over and over again, hundredths of times.
I have also checked some 24h track ultras past results, and not many people go over the 100 miles from those taking part. Its usually a minority, and several of those ones that don't reach 100, are much more accomplished ultra runners then myself, so I know this will be the hardest thing I ever tried!
I will list here what I think are the pros and cons of this format for me:
Pros
- Flat course
- No navigation
- Easily accessible toilets
- Food and drinks at every 400m, very accessible
- No need to take backpack with water/food - 3kg lighter already!
- Change of clothes anytime you want at your own "aid station"
- Always running with someone or with people always nearby, never alone.
- You actually see the top runners and the slow ones so you meet everyone, which is different from a normal 100 miler where I never meet or talk to the leaders
- Screen to watch own and others progress live so always aware of your own mileage
- Can always quit and won't be a DNF (negative as well)
Cons
- Very repetitive and small 400m loop
- Nothing changes on the course in 24h!
- Nothing fun and exciting to look at in 24h!
- No aid station to look forward
- If tired or sleepy can always stop and rest or sleep for as long as one wants!
- Have I mentioned repetitive??
So I think for now, and after my bad 100 mile experience, I think the Pros are winning. I will try and make myself eat from early on and take advantage of the hot meals provided, and hopefully if I have any bowel issues I will be OK as I don't have to walk miles to get to one and not lose much time.
I know that I will be hating this race for most of the 24h but if I manage any of the Plan A or B (anything else is a DNF for me), I will be over the moon I am sure!
Training
I have been training really well. I am loving running at the moment which is very exciting and motivating.
On Sunday (25th May) I went for a longish run on flat trail near Reading, and ended up doing a half marathon in a PB time of 1h42h55, which was fun and surprising.
I am clocking at least 30 miles/week which is good after the effort on TP100 three weeks ago. In the next 2 weekends I will try and log two long back to back runs of around 20 miles each, maybe one in the morning and one after 12am in the dark to run on tired legs and at night and averaging 50+ miles on those two weeks.
One of the reasons I am a bit faster now is that I am losing weight, I am much lighter now. I have been eating healthier, yes, not much chocolate, crisps, cookies, fast food (can you believe it?, its hard work not eating all the sweets I want as most of you know..)
I am now 62kg (9st 10lb) so 10kg lighter then I was after Christmas! This really makes a huge difference whilst running, making me going faster with much less effort.
My aim is to at least try and keep this weight and then carboload for 3 days before the race to get me into a nice 63kg maximum and run lighter then ever on an ultra.
As the race is on a 400m track I won't need to take any backpack with water/food so another 3kg off my back.
Injury wise, I still have some issues with my IT band on both knees, more on my right one, but will take tape with me and will check online how to tape it and should be fine race day! So no excuses.
I am really excited and looking forward to starting this race and hopefully everything will go according to plan. I would love to meet some great people once again, which is something I also love in ultras.
Bring it on!!
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