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.
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.
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!
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