| Most people know someone who has tackled the | | | | until you've run a 100 miler. |
| marathon distance but did you know there are those | | | | 7. How Long Does It Take You To Recover? I'm |
| who go beyond that? If you're curious about how and | | | | usually running again by the next weekend although I |
| why a person would take on the challenge of running | | | | stick to trails and go no further than 7 miles. Typically I |
| 100 miles then read on. | | | | do a "reverse taper" and am back to my average |
| 1. Do You Sleep During The Run? No, personally I do | | | | weekly mileage by about 3-4 weeks after the race. I |
| not. Since these are races my goal is to finish the | | | | ran the Rock Creek 50K three weeks after Traveller |
| distance as quickly as I can; also there is a 30 hour | | | | and missed my 50K PR by 3 minutes placing 7th |
| time limit for most 100 milers leaving little time for naps. | | | | overall; my recovery time is getting shorter and shorter |
| 2. Do You Walk? Yes, I would say that I walk about | | | | as I get more miles on my body. |
| 30% of the total distance (30 miles). The "plan" is to | | | | 8. What Do You Think About As You Run? When |
| walk the uphills, jog the flats and run the downs; of | | | | running a race of this distance you focus on how |
| course if the race is relatively flat then you must | | | | you're feeling (body scan from head to toe and |
| include scheduled walk breaks. At Arkansas Traveller I | | | | internally), keeping your hydration/electrolytes in |
| didn't follow this plan and ran everything for the first 16 | | | | balance, following your fueling strategy and what |
| miles which almost caused me to DNF early in the | | | | you're going to need at upcoming aid stations. When |
| race due to the heat and humidity. | | | | you scan and something isn't right you then move into |
| 3. Do You Eat While You Run? Yes, you're supposed | | | | a solution oriented mode to figure out what you need |
| to. In a 100 mile race I'll burn around 15,000 calories so it | | | | to do to fix the problem before it gets any worse. If |
| is essential that I replace these calories during the run. | | | | you are at a REALLY LOW POINT you start thinking |
| For me I have a hard time eating as I tend to have no | | | | about why you're doing this as you search for |
| appetite and an unsettled stomach; I force myself to | | | | meaning and inspiration to push on. |
| eat whatever "looks" good or something I can just gulp | | | | 9. How Much Do You Have To Train? I average about |
| down. At Arkansas Traveller I lived on Coke and Soup | | | | 50 miles per week and a typical week consists of 4-5 |
| during the last 60 miles but typical aid station fare | | | | runs of 6 to 10 miles and one long run over 15 miles. |
| includes Soda, M&Ms, Gels, Sports Drink, candy, | | | | The Long Run is really the key as it primarily trains the |
| chips, cookies, PB and Jelly sandwiches, boiled | | | | endocrine system to handle the stress you will |
| potatoes and about anything else you can imagine | | | | encounter during a 100 miler. I ran at least one race of |
| (pancakes, sausage, bacon, hamburgers, etc.). You | | | | 50K or longer practically every month this year. |
| must also replace your electrolytes during the race by | | | | 10. Doesn't It Hurt? Yes! There are times when the |
| either consuming salt or electrolyte capsules. | | | | pain seems unbearable; you must know the difference |
| Personally I take Succeed Caps and in hot weather | | | | between "safe" pain and pain which signifies a problem |
| consume about 3-4 an hour; during the AT100 I took | | | | so serious that you must quit. By about mile 50 |
| over 60 S-Caps throughout the 24 hours I was running. | | | | everything hurts to some extent so it simply becomes |
| 4. Do You Stop To Rest? There are aid stations | | | | varying degrees of pain. At Arkansas I actually started |
| about every 4-5 miles where we fill our water bottles, | | | | feeling better as the race progressed during the last |
| grab something to eat and see our crew if the station | | | | 50 miles; I've found that for me late in a race it is less |
| is accessible to them. My rule is to get in and out of an | | | | painful when I'm running than when I'm walking or |
| aid station in 2 minutes or less as I take food out with | | | | standing still. As Davy said, after the race the pain |
| me to eat while I'm walking. My crew usually walks | | | | subsides but the memories and sense of |
| along side refilling me with Hammer Gels, S-Caps, | | | | accomplishment last a lifetime! |
| Woerther's Candies, Starlight Mints, Clip 2 and Tums. I | | | | 11. Do You Get Blisters? I am blessed in that I have |
| almost NEVER sit; as the old ultra saying goes | | | | very few foot problems and rarely get blisters. If I do |
| "Beware of the chair!" It has been the cause of many | | | | they are small and relatively insignificant; I usually don't |
| DNF's (Did Not Finish) for other runners. | | | | even notice them until the race is over. |
| 5. How Long Does It Take To Run 100 Miles? As | | | | 12. What Kind Of Shoes Do You Run In? I run in trail |
| Davy says in his response it really depends on the | | | | running shoes and love the Asics Gel Trabucos; I've |
| course. Kettle was my first 100 miler and I finished in | | | | tried others but keep coming back to these. I also |
| 27 hours and 11 minutes due to the fact that I walked | | | | wear Injinji Socks, use Sole orthotic insoles and Dirty |
| the entire last 38 miles. At Arkansas I finished in 24 | | | | Girl Gaiters. During Arkansas Traveller I ran in the |
| hours and 35 minutes as I was better prepared both | | | | same pair of shoes the entire race, never changed my |
| mentally and physically for the night portion; I practically | | | | socks and my feet felt great (it's all relative). |
| ran an even split (1st 50 miles in 12:09 and last 50 miles | | | | 13. How Many Miles Do You Run In A Year? I just |
| in 12:26). My short-term goal is to run a sub-24 but my | | | | started running in September, 2005 so: |
| "stretch" goal is to beat 22 hours. | | | | 2005 - 492 Miles, 2006 - 2454 Miles, 2007 - 2750 Miles |
| 6. Why Do You Like To Run 100 Miles? That's the | | | | 14. How Often Do You Run 100 Miles? I've only run |
| Million Dollar question that I get all the time! First and | | | | two 100 milers and completed both of them in 2007. I |
| foremost I like to push myself to see exactly what I'm | | | | also ran races of all distances including two marathons, |
| capable of; the feeling of accomplishment when you | | | | six 50K's, one 6 Hour Timed Event and one 50 miler. |
| finish is unsurpassed by anything else I've ever | | | | For 2008, I will run fewer races and plan to participate |
| experienced. I love the people I meet during the | | | | in three 100 milers; I will run less 50k's and no |
| journey and the beautiful places I get to see. I've | | | | marathons. |
| learned a lot about myself; I can achieve anything I set | | | | 15. Do You Win? Not Yet. I am relatively young and |
| my mind to and when the going gets tough I'm able to | | | | early in my ultra career; the highest I've placed in a 100 |
| handle the stress in a calm manner (something I try to | | | | miler was 20th at Arkansas. My running times in |
| apply in everyday life). I enjoy reflecting back on the | | | | general have improved quite dramatically this year and |
| race and going through the "play by play" with family | | | | I do think that someday I'll be able to run a sub-20 hour |
| and friends; it's like reliving the excitement all over again! | | | | 100 miler. Is that good enough to win? Depends who |
| Lastly, you can't truly appreciate "rest" or a shower | | | | shows up that year. |