24-Hour Run, Sandy Bottom Park, Hampton Roads Virginia

24-hour Run for Cancer take #2.  This was my first time back to this great race since 2012.  WOW is a good way to explain this run in one word. This 24-hour ultra marathon is one of those unique races, no set miles; more of how many miles you want to run in the 24-hour period. What a great cause (American Cancer Society) and wonderful running Team Run4Life...raising money, awareness and beating cancer!  I dedicated this run to Marty Bernich and Traci Bernicke Inman who are currently battling this terrible disease. 

When people see the title or I explain I am running a 24-hour race, heads turn, people look at me funny and normally the first words they say are "You stay up all night?" or "Why? I don't get it".

Preparation for a race like this, requires more training and planning than normal.  You need extra fuel (In my case fig newtons, nutra grain bars, gatorade and water).  Without these items, there is no way a person could survive the 24-hours.  Yes, it is a 3.75 mile loop through the park so you start and finish in the same location, but as you complete a lap, fuel is needed.  The race did provide pizza at midday and afternoon, so that was a blessing! 

I arrived the day before the race and meet up with my running mentor Brian Burk and new friend Paul Starling.  We spent a couple of hours catching up over water and pizza (Hey lots of carbs and great company).  As the night progressed I decided that an early turn-in would be a good idea with the thought of what was ahead the next day so I went back to my hotel and prepped for the race.  I fell asleep early (well for me) at 9pm watching what else...Harry Potter.

The 0400 wake up call came early.  I was up and ready and quickly ate my normal breakfast before a race, which included oatmeal, milk and coffee.  I made it to the park at 0500 and we setup base camp.  The Run4Life team consisted of 12 male and females so we had two tents for our food and chairs.  It was great to catch up with a few runners that run for USMES and to meet several new runners that comprised the Team.  All the members are long distance runners and I consider myself the "tag along" as most of the team members normally run 50 and 100 mile races.  For me this was my 3rd long distant run.  Below is the amazing Run4Life Team:

Pictured below are my Run4Life Teammates that have served this country with honor.

We also had the honor of meeting a 93 year old World War 2 Veteran who was walking the race.  Last year he walked 22 miles...amazing honor to be a part of this picture and meet such a distinguished gentlemen. 

The weather forecast for the day was miserable...mid-80s and humidity about the same, thus making it feel like 101 in the middle of the day.  We had a pre-race briefing from our course director, with the BIG take away...his request that we walk rather than run from NOON-4pm for our safety.  We ended the briefing with a wonderful rendition of the National Anthem sung by a active duty military member.

0700 arrived and we were off.  I treated this race as me as a "Tortoise", remember the Tortoise and Hare"...yep no hurry here.  After my first lap I was already drenched in sweat and provided an update via Facebook Live.  I was feeling really good, grabbed some snacks and off for lap 2.

The first 6 laps went as planned.  Slow and smooth.  I was deliberately holding back and at times walking and running.  My intervals were a 8 min run and 2 min walk.  This worked great until we got to the afternoon.  The heat had set in and my intervals were more of a 2 min run, 2 min walk.  My goal was to do a lap an hour in the afternoon.  If I walked with a purpose I could walk the 3.75 mile loop in just under an hour.  This seemed to work well all afternoon and it was saving my body for the evening run.  Goal was to step up the pace once the sun went down.

We had several organizations represented during the race.  The Red, White and Blue organization was out all day walking with American Flags...what a show of patriotism!  After completing one of my laps and starting a new one I crossed paths with one of the walkers coming in and asked to take the flag for a lap.  He was more than willing so I did.  See the picture below with my teammate Paul:

Mile 37 arrived and it was time for an equipment change...shoe and sock refresher.  It was like night and day for my feet and my body.  I felt light on my feet and quickly made it into the 40s and 50s.

As the sun began to fall and evening set in, the temps receded and it was time to ramp up the miles.  I went back to 8 min run and 2 min walk as I did earlier in the day.  With the sun setting and the night sky taking over, I stopped at base camp and obtained my flashlight.  With the trail being off the beaten path and out in the forest, you can imagine how dark it was.  This does create a change in how you run and closely watching what is in front of you.  It also means a slower pace.  There were a few times I felt a face plant coming, but was able to recover with a slight fall.  The other thing I tried to do was run with someone.  Being out on the trail by yourself was an eerie feeling, slight noises were alarming and a time to watch for animals.  Back in 2012 I had several encounters with raccoons.  They sure are cute from a distance, but up close...they get aggressive and Tasmanian at times!  This time around I didn't have any encounters with raccoons, but I did have a deer run right in front of me early in the race...so close that there might have been a close encounter of a deer kind.

During the night, I met an amazing gentlemen in his 60's, a multiple Ultra Marathon finisher, who just a few years ago was struck by a tree which impaired his ability to balance when he walks.  He was using a jogging stroller with some amazing lights.  Over time, I ran into him several times and walked several miles with him.  We discussed running, his distances and our love for running.  I believe he finished with 60 some miles...amazing!

As mid-night arrived, I was finally starting to feel sleep deprived.  I had been awake continuously since 0400 the day before and as I was finishing up a lap around 0100, I caught myself sleeping.  Yes, it happened, I was walking and all of the sudden I looked around and said "What just happened, where am I".  I am not sure how far I had been sleep walking, but yes it happened.  By 0200 it was just too much, I had just completed a lap and decided a nap was in the cards.  Now, everyone around me said if I went to sleep the race would be over for me.  I did the same thing back in 2012 and yep, the race was over.  This time I set my alarm for 0230 and told myself..SELF you will wake back up!  Before I knew it the alarm sounded, I turned it off and told myself...just a few more mins.  That turned into about 15, but I was awake.  As I set in my chair for another 45 mins with a blanket and my feet hurting, I remember thinking...it is time to quit the race, even telling my running mentor Brian Burk who was sitting right next to me that I was done.  But with all my races the thought of my mileage started getting to me, realizing I was sitting on the exact mileage from the 2012 race.  I jumped up and walked over to the personnel keeping track of our laps and asked...yep I was sitting on 63.75 miles.  There is NO way this runner was going to stop now.  I told the lap counter I was going to run out to the 1/2 mile marker and back just to set a PR for mileage.  She said "I'll be waiting".  I headed out for what I thought was a final mile.  As I approached the 1/2 mile marker, I was feeling really good.  The hour or so of sleep and rest really rejuvenated my body.  I began to run and walk and was feeling better with each step.  I caught up with Paul and decided to walk with him, but it became apparent I really wanted to continue running.  I had several teammates that were ahead of me on their final lap and catching them was the goal..  After a bit that happened, Joshua, Eric and Ruthie were very surprised to see me.  We walked the rest of the lap together, which put me at 67.5 miles with only a few hours remaining in the race.  Could the goal of 75 miles actually happen?  I was determined now!  I grabbed some fig newton's and water and set out on my quest. 

After a combination of running and walking another 3.75 miles was complete.  This put me at 71.25.  With the end of the race drawing near, we were limited to going to the .625 mile marker and back.  So to get to 75 miles this required 3 out and backs.  The first two seemed easy, but the final one was a test of endurance.  I remember thinking as I had 1 mile left and looking at my watch...SELF you better get moving and fast.  I crossed the finish line with 4 mins to spare.  75 miles...wow!  Without my teammates this would have never happened.  Blessed beyond words!

Thanks to Brian, Paul, Eric, Joshua, Else, Andrea and Ruthie for all the words of encouragement, running and walking miles with me!  YOU made the difference, YOU kept me pushing for a personal record, which turned out to be my best race for individual stats...tied for 19th overall and 2nd in my age group.

Rock and Roll Marathon, Washington DC

RnR Marathon DC take #2.  Back in 2012 when we lived here in DC I ran the inaugural RnR Marathon so it was nice to return and do this race again.  This year's race was MUCH different than 2012.  At the start it was in the lower 20's with 10-15 MPH winds.  So I had my long leggings, long-sleeved shirt, gloves and beanie on and ready for the 7:00am start.  Hunter joined me for this race which made it really special and with the metro safe track continuing it made our transportation to the race a challenge.  In advance of this we scheduled a taxi to pick us up at 5:00am.  We were not sure how long it would take to get to the race and really hoped the taxi could get us as close to the start as possible.  Luckily, he was able to get us two blocks from the start and it only took 15 min to get there...AMAZING considering DC traffic.  Arriving that early caused a problem though.  With the temperatures in the 20s you can imagine how quickly we became overwhelmingly cold.  Starbucks came to the rescue...we found one just a block or so from the race and were welcomed by the staff.  Hunter and I were the first racers to find it and take advantage, but as the morning progressed more and more racers arrived.  After some good coffee, it was time to walk to our Corral (4) for the start of the race. 

One thing I like about the Rock and Roll Marathons is the way they have a phased approach to their starts.  The elites leave first and then each Corral is about 1 1/2 mins or so apart.  I never have a problem getting on pace early in the race and we are spaced out and running with the group of runners that will finish around the same time.  One race that I wish would change the start is the Marine Corps Marathon.  It is a mass start and you are crowded for the first 8 or so miles.  So if you are looking for a race to PR, the Marine Corps marathon is not the race to do it...well unless you are an elite at the beginning of the race :):).

Back to the RnR.  The first 5K of the race went really well.  Hunter and I were on pace crossing in 28 mins.  We stayed steady the next 3 miles, Hunter had to take a pit stop around Mile 6 or so, I kept going and after about a mile I realized he might not know I kept going.  I continued though knowing we would eventually link back up during the race.  As I approached Mile 7 we encountered our first Hill.  We were greeted by the "Wear Blue:  Run To Remember" crew.  They had pictures and tributes to Fallen military members (Photos Below), as the Hill started they were screaming and waving the American Flags...such a PROUD moment running by them with 25 years of faithful service under my belt.  I finally reached the top of the Hill, made a corner turn and we were back to running on a flat surface.  It was shortly after this that I had someone tap my shoulder...I looked over and Hunter had caught up :):).  He was winded and said he had just ran a 7 min mile to catch me.  He was understandably irritated and I told him we had a miscommunication at his pit stop.  He thought I would stop at the water station and wait for him, I told him I would continue running, just at a slower pace.

Mile 8 was uneventful.  Hunter and I made a deal that if we crossed the half in around 2 hrs, that he would push me for a PR.  Hunter was feeling really good at this point in the race.  I however was developing problems in my left leg.  By Mile 9 I was starting to cramp.  I had never experienced cramps during a race, so I was in unchartered territory.  I figured it was temporary and just dealt with it, but it did slow my pace and Hunter could tell.  We discussed my stride and how I was running.  As we approached the half way point, I actually felt good about our time.  We crossed in 2:09 and I really thought this might be the race where I finally finish the back 13 better than the first 13.  Reality is...this would be one of my worst back 13 since starting to race in 2009.  As the miles continued, cramps developed in both legs and  Hunter at one point looked at me and asked if I was OK...I said Bud, the legs are done, from the waist down I am done.  I remember telling myself..SELF, what are you doing?  Get it together?  There is no quit so you will just have to deal with it!  YES, I actually was arguing with myself :).  We made it to Mile 17-18 and I took out my last CLIF Shock and proceeded to eat them.  Another first, I actually felt nauseated and told Hunter I felt like throwing up.  Again, I started to argue with myself.  SELF...you have to be kidding me!  I threw the Shocks in the trash at the water station at Mile 18 and we continued.  Mile 18-22 was just one struggle after another.  I remember seeing the 5 hr pacer pass me...all I could do is throw my arms in the air and scream "Really!!??".  Well I didn't scream, but it sure felt like I was.

As we made it to Mile 23, the Hills were back.  We had one right after the other through Mile 24.  Who does that!  Just wrong!  I know what you are thinking...Jay come on...this is a marathon, YOU signed up for this!.  As I took the roundabout exit close to Mile 25, I remember thinking...this is almost over.  There was a bridge separating us from the finish and you guessed it, we were running against the wind.  It was still in the 20s and that wind just ripped right through both of us.  Mile 26 arrived and the finish line was in sight.  Normally, as I make it this close to a finish line, I turn on the after burners and run as hard as I can...today was not that day :).  I actually walked across the finish line.

This Rock and Roll ranked as the second hardest of my 23 marathons.  With the weather, cramps, nausea and Hills (Again, I say WRONG) it was a rough race.  To keep it all in perspective.  I ran the race, have a hard earned finisher medal, didn't DNF, not injured, and finished with my son.  I live to concur another race in 2017.  Next up...April 2nd and the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler here in DC.

Thanks Bud for all the words of encouragement and finishing with your Dad!  Another one completed!