Toughest thing about Ultra Training

So, the JFK 50 miler is coming up on Saturday and since I am tapering, I have had a lot of time to reflect. If I have said it once, I have said it 100 times - Training for an Ultramarathon is hard. No joke. It's hard on your mind and hard on your body. There are no short cuts. (You could pretty much say this for running in general though. You get out what you put into it.)

Yes, the back to back long runs were tough; Figuring out a nutrition/hydration strategy was challenging; Getting up at 5am on the weekends to beat the heat took a lot of motivation; But it wasn't until this past weekend when I figured out what the toughest part of training was for me. It was the NOT racing fast part. I signed up for several races just as training runs in preparation for the JFK 50. I love racing. I love the feeling of running so hard that I can't catch my breath, pushing my limits and leaving everything out there on the course. I could not do that in these races because they were training runs. I thought it would be much easier for me to log some miles running next to thousands of my best friends rather than having to do it by myself on the trail. Now that I think about it, it was easier, but also hard at the same time. I had to sit on the sidelines, watching everyone run their hearts out while I just "slogged" along. Although I was sooooo happy for everyone that accomplished all these amazing goals, it kinda made me feel like a slacker. A slacker slogger :-) Now, I know I was not slacking. I am working towards another goal right now, but that was just the feeling I walked away with. I don't like giving anything less than 100% in anything I do.

I love this shirt and am always tempted to buy it at race expos!

But, I knew from the start of this training I would need to slow down in my races if I chose to run them as training runs. When you are running back to back long runs, you are more prone to injury and really shouldn't push it too hard when it comes to speed. I came close to injury a couple times. At the Ragnar Relay, I pushed it hard and scared myself because my shins started to "twinge." (It felt sooooo good though to run up and down mountains fast in my sparkle skirt!) 


At Ragnar - "Does this skirt make my butt look fast?"

The next real challenge after the JFK 50 for me will be resting so that I can recover and start on fresh legs when it comes time to train for Boston. I am actually thinking about hanging up my running shoes for a full 2 weeks. I'm serious and the thought of that freaks me out just a little. (I might even jump in the pool!! That freaks me out a little more!!) This whole ultra training journey is going to make me a stronger runner. I will gain an appreciation for a different type of discomfort which is going to help me get faster which is why I wanted to do this in the first place.

There will be many Personal Bests in 2012. For that I am certain! Not just running-wise, but personally, spiritually, and professionally. They all will blend together I have a feeling :-)