Not a great year for me, but an improvement on last year.
At the end of 2013 and into the beginning of 2014, I was recovering from a knee injury. This threw my running way off mileage wise. I also found any speed (not that I had much anyway) was pretty well shot. I still managed 12 events/races as well as several volunteer opportunities at races.
2015 I had hoped to be a comeback year and in some ways it was. I doubled my mileage for the year. I did 14 events/races as well as continued with the volunteering at races. But I struggled with consistency and I’m still slower than before my injury. However in the events I repeated in 2015 from 2014 I showed definite improvement.
I’ d like to highlight some of these events;
In May, I ran 3 Days at the Fair in Augusta NJ. This is my 3rd year doing this event, which consists of how many time you can run a 1 mile loop in 72 hours. It’s a great event, with a fully stocked kitchen where you can get just about anything you want. Just order it and it will be there when you finish your next loop. If you’re not into 72 hours, there are multiple other options, from 6, 12, 24, 48 hours with varied start times as well as marathon (including the option for multiple marathons) and 50k distances. They don’t give out medals, but lifetime achievement coins. Combine your miles from repeat events for coins for 100 miles, 250 miles, 500 miles, 1000 miles and each additional 500 miles. In 2015 they introduced Buckles for 101 miles and 200 miles. So if you come out and run 101 miles you’ll get a coin for 100 and the buckle for 101. In 2015 I set a personal mileage best of 187 miles (300.95k). I’ll definitely be back and going for 200.
My next big event was EndurRun in Aug., in Conestoga, my 5th year running the event. EndurRun is 7 stages in 8 days. A half marathon, a 15k Time Trial, a 30k Trail Run, a Hilly 10 miler, a rest day, followed by a 25.6k Alpine Run, a 10k Time Trial and a Marathon. 160k of roads and trail. Lots of support, from great post race food, massages, pool and (sometimes) hot tub availability. As well as down time get togethers. A lot of veterans return again and again. This year was an improvement over last year, but still far from my best. Already registered for 2016 for some redemption.
September was time for a little beast mode;
Sept 5-7, I ran A Race for the Ages, in Manchester TN. This was a handicap race on a 1 mile loop. For every year you were over 24 you got an extra hour to run. The oldest participant was 84 years old and started on Friday morning. I started Saturday morning and the official finish was 6pm on Monday. I hurt my back at work just before this event and along with some very hot weather and mostly running along asphalt under wide open skies, I didn’t do as well as I would have liked. I did manage 116 miles (186.68k) and brought home a buckle and an I was there trophy. Not a lot of extras at this event, unless you paid extra. The big draw was a lot of big names in ultras for an unknown like me to rub elbows with.
I followed that up with the North Coast 24hr in Cleveland Ohio on Sept 20-21. A 0.9 mile loop around a path at Edgewater Park. Another 5th year event. Here I meet up with an online running group. Some veterans and some newbies every year. Good support and a lot of fun. Managed 80 miles (124.74k)
Then 24hrs again, at Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence in Ottawa on Sept 27-28. A 400 meter loop on a rubberized track inside a dome. An opportunity to visit family in Ottawa and continue pushing my limits. Managed 131.18k (81.5 miles).
A lot of hamster running in Sept., but not the beast I was referring too. I followed Sept with 1 50k run, Run for the Toad on Oct 3. 4 events in 5 weekends for 492.6k of racing.
Looking forward to 2016 and seeing what I can do.
