Last long run before.....Big Horn

Jemez Mountain Trail Run 50K was set up as my last long run of training for the Big Horn 100. I debated about going for the 50 mile vs 50K. Last year I started the 50 miler and dropped at mile 36. I was so hot I thought I was gonna die. I couldn't face that long trip around the caldera. Hot and dusty is not for me. I chose the 50K. Thank heavens.


It was a totally different experience this year. We tried camping (RV) in the mountains. Went up on Thursday and things were good. And then it rained. And hailed. And rained Thursday night. Friday morning? The RV battery was dead. We debated about buying a new battery or heading home. Since it was cold and raining, with rain predicted for Friday and Saturday, we headed home.

Saturday morning race start was 6 AM. I left the house at 3 AM and drank a thermos of coffee and ate an egg salad sandwich on the drive up. It rained on the way. At the start, it was dry but I had seen the forecast. I didn't bother with sun screen or sun glasses. I did take a rain poncho and a long sleeve shirt.

Everything was going well. I power-hiked the major climbs. My feet were fine. My GI system was fine. It was warm and sunny (sun screen?????). About mile 20, some mostly naked man went streaking by. That was Tony! He was running the 50 mile race and was way ahead of everyone else.

About mile 25 or so, it started to drizzle. There was the occasional sound of thunder. The wind picked up. The temperature dropped. And it began to rain in earnest.  I made it to the end wet but feeling good. Others were not so lucky. Seems there was a blizzard going on at the higher altitudes. They stopped the race and worked on getting runners off the mountain and warmed up.

As a training run, it was a success. I did not feel bad, my feet were good, really couldn't complain. I had plenty left in the tank. However, the thought of running the course two more times was completely unfathomable. Seriously. How will I complete Big Horn? I am muy loco!!

Training or Having Fun?

Training for a 100 miler can be fun but after a while, it becomes work. WORK! I am tired of work!

The whole idea of training for a 100 miler (or any race!) is stress and recover. You need to stress the body but then you need to recover. I have been stressing my body for weeks. Doing 50 miles a week, running back-to-back 20 milers, racing with a cold, keeping the pressure on. Every day...do I run? How far? How hard? Where? I am losing the fun.

But, I am getting close to the end of training. This week will be easy and then next Saturday is a 50K. Then I get to recover. I want to recover. I want to have fun with running, want to be impulsive, not tied to a training schedule.

But, the doubt is sneaking in. THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL I CAN RUN A 100 MILER. Why  not? Because I don't have the motivation. Why did I sign up for this ridiculous race? Why do people run 100 milers? Why in the world did I think this was a good idea? Think about it: I will hurt all over. I will be chafed all over. I will be exhausted. Hungry. Thirsty. Exhausted. Totally and completely exhausted. Why would I put myself through that? I don't even like getting up early. Why would I skip a whole night's sleep?

Because, no woman 60 years or over has completed this race. I will have the record. I will be the first. Good heavens, does my ego rule my world? Evidently it does.

This is not the time to make decisions about going or dropping out. This is the time to start recovering.