Ultrarunners are nuts. That's what I kept thinking this past Saturday as I was running with my buddy Doug. He was doing a trail race with a unique format. The race started at 8am, and was a 4.1 mile lollypop type loop. You had an hour to run each loop. If you didn't make it back by the top of the hour, you were 'finished'.
So, there is some strategy there, either run fast and have a good amount of time to rest before the next lap, or run it slower, but then not have so much time to rest. I arrived at the ract at noon and Doug had been putting in really steady 53 minute laps. Enough time to refuel a bit and restock anything you'd need for the run and then head back out.
It was an entirely self-supported race, but in true ultrarunner style, everyone brought all kinds of goodies. Cookies, brownies, nutella sandwiches, pickles, gus, bars, blocks, broth, soda, and lots more. You name it, they had it.
Luckily this day was fairly warm and most folks were wearing shorts and long sleeve shirts. I had on tights and a long sleeve, and was just a smidge warm. I came out to pace Doug on those last laps. The dark ones, ones where some people get cranky, illogical, and downright nutty.
Doug and I get to that place almost instantly when we run together, so it's no big deal for us. Jim was also running and being an experienced ultrarunner, was helping coach Doug through those final laps. I was just trying to run an even pace and be there if Doug needed anything.
At about mile 28 of his run, we had a decent buffer to make it back, 1 mile in 18 minutes. But, even then, I could tell Doug wanted to stop. Mostly becuase of his body language...and the way he said, "I want to stop." I was really hoping he'd go out for 1 more lap and get his 50k. But, hey...who am I to tell anyone to run more, I'd only been there for 2 laps.
When we finished that lap, Doug told Charlie (who was counting laps) that he was finished. Charlie grabbed his shoulder and said...1 more lap and you've got 50k. Somehow Doug reached deep and decided to go out for another lap. So, I grabbed a little nutrition, refilled water, and we headed out again.
The goal was 50k...and since it was a lollypop type run, we went out...cut over on another trail and Doug crossed the line with 50k under his belt! He dug deep and gutted out those last miles...I can't even express how impressed I am that he accomplished that, way to go Doug! You're officially Nuts!
