Really thought there’d be more to write about training for my first 50 miler. But, when it comes down to it, running is simple.
Run a lot—mostly at an easy pace, but sometimes hard.
Get sleep.
Eat well.
Do some cross training.
The most challenging part of it has been an unpredictable world and life. A pig escapes. A job goes late. Wildfires make the air unbreathable. Heatwaves. A quick errand to Fairfax turning into a day trip. And then there are the predictable parts like a friend’s bachelor party and wedding or my own fifth year anniversary with Charlotte. It’s been a rare week I didn’t tweak the the plan, swapping runs, moving a workout.
The second most challenging part has been the boredom. Six weeks out from any race, I always grow frustrated with running. Too much time in my own head. Too much monotony. I itch for change, the free time during tapering, life after the race.
But, I really want a 60 mile week before Masochist. It’s a mileage I’m not sure I’ve ever hit. Breaking 50 has always been difficult. It’s happened three times year. Sixty is mostly a mental benchmark, a solid number my brain decided it needs to feel prepared. Sixty is going to be a mental slog.
At this point, I doubt the body will care. The months of training should have hardened it by now. The brain gets bored, though, and throws temper tantrums. It’s a toddler forced into a day of running errands with a parent—the bank, groceries, an oil change—when all it wants is to watch cartoons. It’ll start whining and tank the day. So this guy’s brain is getting the equivalent of a sucker from the bank teller. Earbuds. Music. A little distraction. Definitely going to need it at some point on Nov 4.