Follow Up to the 4X4X48

Four miles, every four hours, for forty-eight hours.

Well the Goggins Challenge ended up being a lot more of an experience than I thought it would be, and probably could've been more. I just wanted a reason to get out more than normal and run, and it ended up being perfect for that. It also gave me a chance to test out my injury and see how it would fair over a longer time frame without compromising a race. 

Being an "event" I not only was given a reason to run more, but also it gave me the go ahead to run within family time, which I rarely do. However, it turned into a pretty big deal, with a low key feel.

I was never too concerned about the physical side of this, I knew I could easily run all the needed miles outside of how my injury would react. However the sleep deprivation would be the big question mark. I never worried about being tired running but I was concerned about being tired around my family all day long. I get really grumpy when I'm tired, I just want to be left alone, and with two kids good luck with that! It's like being hungover, the reason I rarely drink. Kids. I no longer am able to lay on the couch all day long watching movies. The call for daddy beacons incessantly and my work ethic, being a stay at home dad, means there's always shit to do. Throughout the entire process I managed all the laundry (washed, dried, folded) including two sets of bed sheets stripped and replaced! Pretty much all the cooking for the family. All the dishes, I dusted, swept, vacuumed.....all the usual crap I do throughout the day. Naps? Good luck! During the day I never even considered a nap because I know as soon as I make an attempt the beacon calls.... "Daaaaaddddddyyyyyyy!"

I never really felt the hammer from no sleep. I did at night attempt to get some shut eye, between the running shifts of 8pm - 12am and 12am - 4am, I likely got maybe 1 1/2 hours of unsettled sleep but that's obviously not enough.

I got bored of my route options. That was likely my biggest complaint. I prefer to avoid people (even when there isn't a pandemic!) and with the weather so nice here there were people everywhere during normal hours of the day. I guess you could slot this one in mental challenges; boredom. I'm sure I was significantly better off than some due to living in a smaller town on the border of the countryside.

Now the one thing that made this special was the community involved which I should've taken advantage of. Maybe it was because I was usually surrounded by family so I didn't have time to get on Zoom early and chat with people but eavesdropping it seemed like pretty cool connections were being made. Not to mention the surprise running celebrities that ended up dropping knowledge and inspiration.

I'm not a huge fanboy of the sport of trail and ultrarunning. I kind of lurk on social media and have a limited finger on the pulse, but in general I'm not following it incessantly. It seemed as if Billy had on the fly gotten in touch with people to get involved which is pretty rad on his part. Oh, did I mention this was all free?

I've read and listened to David Goggins' book, "Can't Hurt Me" many times, it's fantastic and very inspirational. It opened my eyes to many things in life so I was pretty stoked when I saw his face, even before he opened his mouth letting Billy Yang know he was there. It seemed to me that Billy didn't even expect him to be on. Either way what a way to kick off the challenge!?

I had seen Twitter posts about Michael Wardian being involved as he's very active on social media so it was no surprise to see him. Any and all reports about him are that he's a top notch person with a passion for running over anyone, and it showed. I could feel his enthusiasm and all he was doing was walking on a treadmill playing video games!

All the other running celebs that popped in were pretty cool to see, however I missed most of it other than the last few sentences before heading out the door. I did get some knowledge out of Jason Coop, the CTS coach, about sleep deprivation and his experience in the Tor des Geants. Of course it was cool to see legends such as Dean Karnazes and then Rich Roll as well. Fascinating people that have done, and are doing, fascinating things to not only help runners but other people as well .

I'm really happy I stumbled on Billy Yang's Tweet about the "event." It was a last minute "why the hell not?" that I am really glad I did. I came out of it with a solid test of my injury, yes it's still there and needed some major rest, but it's runnable and getting better. I also realized I can still consistently run at a faster pace with little effort. Likely due to a lot of the strength training I've been doing as well as some "muscular awakening"/posture work I've been doing. It did screw up my routine. I had a solid program of a lot of martial arts, strength work, and running going on everyday. I'll need to refocus and get back to that.

I once again was shown the strong worldwide community that are trail and ultra runners. I still struggle with being a part of it all. I don't know why. Maybe it's just my personality being a fairly introverted person?  I enjoy the camaraderie, it was the same you get during an ultra, but I never wholly become a part of it. I usually just keep to myself and once it's all over I realize, oh, that could've been so much more. Maybe next time.   

4-4-48 Report #3

The final stretch, 

Saturday May 9

Midnight -

Alarm goes off and I seem to have slept for maybe a couple hours. I dread this run. Nothing worse than midnight and 3am. 

I’m a bit behind focusing on sleep vs Zoom chat sessions, night is the only option I have to try to sleep. During the day I’m doing my best to be “normal.” I’m dealing with kids, cooking, cleaning, it is normal! I just have a 30 minute run break every 4 hours. Oh, and as normal, naps are never an option!  I turn on the Zoom anyway and I get a last snippet of one of the top female ultra runners in the world (not to mention she’s a former Minnesota Nordic skier, and I ran with her for a while at Superior 100 before anyone new who she’d become.)

Blurrily I recall maybe 30 seconds of ”chat” and everyone saying “bye,” “be safe,” “have fun!” And I’m out the door. The usual road loop is silent. Zero cars. Zero people. I guess midnight Friday in the current situation isn’t all that bad. Leg feels fine, must be the ibuprofen. 

I return home and do my routine, cool off, drink, eat, then try for sleep. I’m excited for 4am once again, truly my favorite time to be out! 

4:00am -

Alarm goes and I’m up and at ‘em. I don’t remember how I felt but it was easy to motivate. I manage a little Zoom and this time it’s CTS running coach Jason Koop fielding questions. He talks a bit about sleep deprivation and his experience at the Tor des Geants. Good info, nothing helpful since you can’t train for it, you just have to deal with it, but it clears any questions! 

We’re off. A little different road loop but a nice humid cool morning. No problems. I return, do my routine, and manage 45 minutes sleep. We’re back at being a dad. The little guy is up at 550am. 

8:00am -

Everyone is up. Screaming occurs due to iPads. Things calm down and I briefly listen to the zoom chat, shortly I’m off on the Severn Way for 4 miles of out and back trail running. Leg is sore but doing ok. It’s not getting worse so I’m hoping it stays that way. Beautiful sunny morning, a handful of dog walkers are out. 

I return home, and like yesterday, I shout “who wants pancakes!!!!?????” The kids of course yell “yes!” “Me!” and I indeed want them too! So I whip up a batch of pancakes and they are all gobbled up! 

More coffee, now I wait until noon.

12:00pm - 

Sun’s out gun’s out, working on my tan today!A little bit of road and then on to the trail. Tired at first then felt fine. Nothing really to write home about just getting tired but still staying positive! 

4:00pm - 

Excited to be done, I’m struggling to find a new route, I’ve depleted my four mile options and they’ve become boring. I want to avoid people but they seem to be everywhere! I opt for the Severn Way out and back on the trails again. A little threat of rain kept many away. Still running alright! One more to go!

7:40pm -

I try to log on to Zoom early for the final chat despite it being the kid’s bedtime, a myriad of  “Daddy”s ensue, JUST GO TO SLEEP!!! I get on the Zoom and immediately see Dean Karnazes speaking! What the hell?! Ultramarathoner and bestselling author. Here’s a link if you don’t know him, his books are fantastic, specifically Ultramarathon Man. A very inspirational person. 

http://www.ultramarathonman.com/web/about/bio.shtml

So after a few minutes of inspiration from “Karno” he moves on, likely to go for a run in the Marin Headlands where he lives, and other people are chatting back and forth. Billy Yang asks people to hang on a few extra minutes for yet another surprise guest. Many people are excited to get going and some seem to leave a few minutes early. Billy keeps saying to hang on despite the fourth hour beginning. Michael Wardian cracks me up as he says the rules are to start on the hour as he fires up his treadmill when the hour mark hits. 

A couple more minutes go by and a new face appears, it’s Rich Roll! I came across Rich way back when his inspirational memoir “Finding Ultra” came out. He’s obviously the guy who does The Rich Roll Podcast. He and his wife also have published multiple plant based cookbooks of which I’d definitely recommend. 

https://www.richroll.com/bio/ 

After all the celebrity excitement I’m out the door shortly after 8pm. It’s still humid out and I decide to hit the road and crank out the final 4 miles. My legs are feeling great despite my injury humming a little when I’m not running. I return home shortly dripping in sweat having just knocked off my final and fastest 4 miles of the challenge! 

And it’s done. I feel alright, have a quick shower, get some food and settle in just like any other night. 

*it’s Sunday morning as I write this. I’ll do a follow up blog of course when I get a chance! 

4-4-48 Report #2

May 8 continued -

In the pre-run zoom chat people are talking about running for Ahmaud, the guy that was shot in the street while on a run because two assholes thought he was a burglar.  Wardian, with excitement in his eyes, suggests running an extra 2.23 miles for this cause making Friday a total of a marathon in distance. People are tired and don’t seem too enthusiastic about “more” when they could just use the 4 miles for both. I like the idea! 

4:00pm - 

It’s hot out but I’m feeling alright. I decide to hit the trails to avoid people as it’s crazy busy out due to the weather and also VE Day celebrations. I still see a fair amount of people but less. My leg is sore when I walk around but once I’m moving it’s better and doesn’t seem to hinder running. It’s getting me worried though. 

I return and most of the neighborhood is out having drinks and picnics in their driveways chatting away. It’s sad it took VE Day and Covid to get neighbors to get to know each other. The wife had a bottle of wine in her and got to know everyone which was pretty cool. 

8:00pm -

I miss the zoom chat due to dealing with kids. Still humid out and I’ve been sweating like crazy, it shows when I pee. It’s raining lightly as I head out the door. I follow my normal loop with plans to add the extra 2.23. Doing a bit of research I follow a 7 mile loop I’d done before that I can hopefully modify to meet my needs. There are people all over, drunk of course, and it appears the social distance has been reduced to 1 meter over the recommendation of 2! No surprise. I meander my way around and notice things I haven’t in the past, an interesting warning sign, the River Stour surrounded by willows, the light is looking good due to the rain moving on. I hit 4 miles and stop my run. 

I begin a separate run with intentions of hitting 2.23 and landing at home. A couple loops here and there I think I’ve got it. Of course in translation Strava reduces it to 2.20! 

I get home and try my best to cool off, eat, rehydrate, and get some sleep until midnight. Day 1 over. 

Kind of disappointed Polar didn’t record all of that running as 26.2, but hey what can you do?  

4-4-48 Report #1

Thursday May 7 -

I went to bed at normal times and set my alarms for 1140pm as well as every other upcoming “run time.” I got a little sleep, but I don’t really think it will matter! 

I logged on to Zoom with 150 or so other people. Some talking about random things, most, like me just quietly watching. I had to keep quiet anyway for fear of waking kids. I start scrolling through the people and not only do I spot Michael Wardian, an elite runner at all distances and holder of multiple world records, but David Goggins has joined in, creator of this mental challenge (Navy Seal and author of Can’t Hurt Me). 

They both pipe up letting Billy Yang know they are there. Pretty rad as I don’t think this was official, they heard about it and joined in. 

Goggins

After some words of encouragement, random questions, thank you’s, and a run down of the “rules” we were all off. People from all over the world running “together” yet alone. It’s not a race, there will be no winner, no entry fee, but a challenge to see if you can.

Friday May 8 - 

Midnight-

I run an easy road loop around town. It’s silent. I see zero cars. The moon is full and of a light pink color. I don’t even turn on my music. I’m tired already from a full day. I realize this challenge will most likely not be physical unless my old injury rears  up. It will be mainly mental. Lack of sleep is hard to deal with. I get back, eat some food, chug some water, and attempt some sleep.

3:45am

My alarm sounds and I’m up from a short stint of broken sleep. I’m ready to go! It’s my normal running time! I log on to Zoom and catch the end of some guy’s running story and it’s time to go. Billy says “looks like it’s time to go!” We’re off. The birds are out so I keep my music off, it’s once again silent, no cars. I run down the middle of the road and smile. I return, still trying to figure out an ideal loop, eat, drink, try to sleep.

5:50am

My son is up of course! No big deal, this is fairly normal. My wife is awake to hit the treadmill as she does at 6am normally anyway. 

7:20am

I’m groggy as expected and looking forward to 8am and getting out the door. My injury site is a bit sore but I hit it with the foam roller and it seems better. The family is up and everyone is happy which is good! I just need to stay happy as the lack of sleep and increase in movement grows. 

8:00am

Feeling good. Still prefer the 4am run as people are beginning to emerge. 

12:00pm

I’m distracted by family so don’t get an opportunity to chat which I regret. Anyway, out the door I go. A bit hesitant about my leg but it feels fine when I’m running! A lot of people outside, it’s nice and people are getting set up for driveway picnics for VE Day, Victory over Europe commemorating the surrender of Nazi Germany. An easy, probably too fast 4 miles goes by and I’m hot and sweaty, bring on the night! 

For some reason I’m having trouble loading photos. I’ll post this and start a new one. Feeling tired as expected but good at the same time. 

Goggins Challenge

It’s a go! I’m on the list and have the Zoom links for the Goggins Challenge. Not sure how I feel about it as now, 7:40pm, my bed is looking pretty nice! It’s only 4 miles, but the sleep deprivation.....

Not sure if there’s any way to follow along but the hashtag #gogginschallenge will be the best place to look, and probably on Twitter or Instagram.

Here’s a link to the original Tweet:

https://twitter.com/billyyang/status/1257498985901682690?s=21

4,4,48!?

So those Altra Duo 1.5’s I was so psyched about? Well, after 7 miles they destroyed my feet! I never get blisters. Both heels and two toes! Oof! Still excited to fine tune the fit but need to heal up first. Kind of disappointed but haven’t wrote them off yet. 

So with all the race cancellations there have been a lot of crazy virtual races going on. Anywhere from 5km to  4000km or the equivalent distance across Tennessee! None have really caught my attention though and considering my injury still is there, although minor, best for me to not run 100 miles around my garden! It would be rad to have a once in a lifetime award from these crazy times though. 

However, as I mentioned, not really into it, that is until I saw this. It’s a David Goggins run that he does every year. However the film maker Billy Yang is promoting it as a virtual run starting tomorrow (Thursday, May 7) at 4pm PST. It’s called the Goggins Challenge. You run 4 miles, every 4 hours, for 48 hours giving you 48 miles total with all the fun of sleep deprivation! Everyone starts at 4pm PST, I’d start at midnight over here, run four miles. Then at 4am (we’ll talk in my time) I do it again. And at 8am, noon, 4pm, 8pm, midnight........... until midnight Saturday night I run my final 4 miles!

It works well around family and Friday is a holiday here in the UK so my wife is off. I’m only “away” for 30-45 minutes. Also it’s spread out and I’m hoping won’t be so hard on my injury. 

I’ve sent an email off for more info, I’m excited about it, so I guess I’ll let you know if or how it goes tomorrow!